 | The complete poetical works of John Hay |  |
253
SONGS AND LYRICS
VESPERS
My Star has vanished in the west,
And with it dies the day,
And all the rosy light of life
Is fading into gray.
And with it dies the day,
And all the rosy light of life
Is fading into gray.
The sky is full of other stars,
But none to me are dear;
Their silvery light fills all the night,
But still the world is drear.
But none to me are dear;
Their silvery light fills all the night,
But still the world is drear.
Far in the west one tender flush
The dim horizon stains,—
A memory of hours that were,
A hope that yet remains.
The dim horizon stains,—
A memory of hours that were,
A hope that yet remains.
For, wheeling over many lands
And brightly shining on,
In happier days my Evening Star
Will be my Star of Dawn.
And brightly shining on,
In happier days my Evening Star
Will be my Star of Dawn.
254
TO THE VESPER SPARROW
Sing the last word of the day!
Voice of the sparrow belated!
What hast thou seen by the way?
What hast thou loved most or hated?
Sadness to melody mated,
What is the grudge thou wouldst pay?
Voice of the sparrow belated!
What hast thou seen by the way?
What hast thou loved most or hated?
Sadness to melody mated,
What is the grudge thou wouldst pay?
Work, is it sadder than play?
Sorrow or joy sooner sated?
Dreams the sweet blossom of May
To what dull fruitage 't is fated?
When life and death are translated,
Seems Death or Life the more gay?
Sorrow or joy sooner sated?
Dreams the sweet blossom of May
To what dull fruitage 't is fated?
When life and death are translated,
Seems Death or Life the more gay?
Linger, shy singer, O stay!
Though the swift night has abated
Sky, lake, and woodland to gray.
Long have we questioned and waited.
Question and answer unmated
Die with the vanishing day.
Though the swift night has abated
Sky, lake, and woodland to gray.
Long have we questioned and waited.
Question and answer unmated
Die with the vanishing day.
255
THY WILL BE DONE
Not in dumb resignation
We lift our hands on high,
Not like the nerveless fatalist,
Content to trust and die.
Our faith springs like the eagle
Who soars to meet the sun,
And cries exulting unto Thee,
O Lord, Thy Will be done!
We lift our hands on high,
Not like the nerveless fatalist,
Content to trust and die.
Our faith springs like the eagle
Who soars to meet the sun,
And cries exulting unto Thee,
O Lord, Thy Will be done!
When tyrant feet are trampling
Upon the common weal,
Thou dost not bid us bend and writhe
Beneath the iron heel.
In Thy name we assert our right
By sword or tongue or pen,
And even the headsman's axe may flash
Thy message unto men.
Upon the common weal,
Thou dost not bid us bend and writhe
Beneath the iron heel.
In Thy name we assert our right
By sword or tongue or pen,
And even the headsman's axe may flash
Thy message unto men.
256
Thy Will! It bids the weak be strong,
It bids the strong be just;
No lip to fawn, no hand to beg,
No brow to seek the dust.
Wherever man oppresses man
Beneath Thy liberal sun,
O Lord, be there Thine arm made bare,
Thy righteous will be done.
It bids the strong be just;
No lip to fawn, no hand to beg,
No brow to seek the dust.
Wherever man oppresses man
Beneath Thy liberal sun,
O Lord, be there Thine arm made bare,
Thy righteous will be done.
257
EROS EPHEMERIS
Enough of thunderous passion
That clouds life's weary way.
Bid now in merrier fashion
The jocund pulses play.
Welcome the airy fancies
That charm and pass away,
The light loves,
The bright loves,
The loves that live a day.
That clouds life's weary way.
Bid now in merrier fashion
The jocund pulses play.
Welcome the airy fancies
That charm and pass away,
The light loves,
The bright loves,
The loves that live a day.
Too rude for mortal bosoms
The storms that rage for aye;
Ask not from frost the blossoms
That deck the laughing May.
Bid welcome all the gay loves
That wither if they stay,
The sweet loves,
The fleet loves,
The loves that live a day.
The storms that rage for aye;
Ask not from frost the blossoms
That deck the laughing May.
Bid welcome all the gay loves
That wither if they stay,
The sweet loves,
The fleet loves,
The loves that live a day.
258
IS SHE HERE?
He came in victory's lambent flame
'Mid myriad shouts and trumpets' blare,
While the glad people's loud acclaim
Made vocal all the summer air.
'Mid myriad shouts and trumpets' blare,
While the glad people's loud acclaim
Made vocal all the summer air.
But while the cannon's thunder boomed
Half-heard amid the loyal cry,
And starry banners glowed and bloomed
In beauty neath that western sky,
Half-heard amid the loyal cry,
And starry banners glowed and bloomed
In beauty neath that western sky,
He from the highway turned apart
And to a quiet nook drew near,
The dearest pulses of his heart
Beating the question, “Is she here?”
And to a quiet nook drew near,
The dearest pulses of his heart
Beating the question, “Is she here?”
The glory well and hardly earned
In civic toil and battle's fire
Was all forgotten as he turned
To meet his human heart's desire.
In civic toil and battle's fire
Was all forgotten as he turned
To meet his human heart's desire.
259
And light as dust lay in the scale
The favor of a flattering world
Weighed by that joy which cannot fail
In love and faith and honor furled.
The favor of a flattering world
Weighed by that joy which cannot fail
In love and faith and honor furled.
Like fire within the opal's heart,
Like fragrance in the rose's breast,
A sacred joy, serene, apart,
The highest and the holiest.
Like fragrance in the rose's breast,
A sacred joy, serene, apart,
The highest and the holiest.
260
MATINS
The trembling pulses of the dawn
Fill with faint glow the violet skies,
And on the moist, day-smitten lawn
The peace of morning lies.
Fill with faint glow the violet skies,
And on the moist, day-smitten lawn
The peace of morning lies.
A blessed truce of woe and sin,
A glad surcease of care's annoy;
The waking world has pleasure in
Its matin light and joy.
A glad surcease of care's annoy;
The waking world has pleasure in
Its matin light and joy.
And all the joy that fills the air,
And all the light that gilds the blue,
I see it in your eyes and hair,
I know it, love, in you.
And all the light that gilds the blue,
I see it in your eyes and hair,
I know it, love, in you.
O'er lips and eyes and golden floss
There floats a charm I cannot reach,
A glimpse of gain, a threat of loss,
Beyond my subtlest speech.
There floats a charm I cannot reach,
A glimpse of gain, a threat of loss,
Beyond my subtlest speech.
261
The amethyst flush will fade above
Into the dust-dim glare of noon:
The love of youth, the youth of love,
Will fade and pass as soon.
Into the dust-dim glare of noon:
The love of youth, the youth of love,
Will fade and pass as soon.
Kiss close, belov'd! for never yet
Could love its bloom unchanging keep.
There are no hearts but they forget,
There are no eyes but sleep.
Could love its bloom unchanging keep.
There are no hearts but they forget,
There are no eyes but sleep.
262
SWEETEST AND DEAREST
Vain are all names
To express what thou art,
Gem, rose, or morning-star,
Joy of my heart.
Still do the fond old words
Ring best and clearest—
Thou art my love, my own,
Sweetest and dearest.
To express what thou art,
Gem, rose, or morning-star,
Joy of my heart.
Still do the fond old words
Ring best and clearest—
Thou art my love, my own,
Sweetest and dearest.
Every warm heart-beat chimes
These words to me;
Needless all others
Between me and thee.
In the deep silences
One voice thou hearest—
'T is my heart calling thee
Sweetest and dearest.
These words to me;
Needless all others
Between me and thee.
In the deep silences
One voice thou hearest—
'T is my heart calling thee
Sweetest and dearest.
263
REVEILLE
Fly, poppied drowse, away!
Across the marshes sweep,
Chasing the fallen moon, the shadows gray;
Make me not laggard, Sleep!
Across the marshes sweep,
Chasing the fallen moon, the shadows gray;
Make me not laggard, Sleep!
Against the morning move,
Fronting the reddening miles!
Touch the white eyelids of the girl I love,
And fill her dreams with smiles.
Fronting the reddening miles!
Touch the white eyelids of the girl I love,
And fill her dreams with smiles.
264
TWO ON THE TERRACE
Warm waves of lavish moonlight
The Capitol enfold,
As if a richer noon light
Bathed its white walls with gold.
The great bronze Freedom shining,
Her crest in ether shrining,
Peers eastward as divining
The new day from the old.
The Capitol enfold,
As if a richer noon light
Bathed its white walls with gold.
The great bronze Freedom shining,
Her crest in ether shrining,
Peers eastward as divining
The new day from the old.
Mark the mild planet pouring
Her splendor o'er the ground;
See the white obelisk soaring
To pierce the blue profound.
Beneath the still heavens beaming,
The lighted town lies gleaming,
In guarded slumber dreaming—
A world without a sound.
Her splendor o'er the ground;
See the white obelisk soaring
To pierce the blue profound.
Beneath the still heavens beaming,
The lighted town lies gleaming,
In guarded slumber dreaming—
A world without a sound.
265
No laughter and no sobbing
From those dim roofs arise,
The myriad pulses throbbing
Are silent as the skies.
To us their peace is given,
The meed of spirits shriven;
I see the wide, pure heaven
Reflected in your eyes.
From those dim roofs arise,
The myriad pulses throbbing
Are silent as the skies.
To us their peace is given,
The meed of spirits shriven;
I see the wide, pure heaven
Reflected in your eyes.
Ah love! a thousand æons
Shall range their trooping years;
The morning stars their pæans
Shall sing to countless ears.
These married States may sever,
Strong Time this dome may shiver,
But love shall last forever
And lovers' hopes and fears.
Shall range their trooping years;
The morning stars their pæans
Shall sing to countless ears.
These married States may sever,
Strong Time this dome may shiver,
But love shall last forever
And lovers' hopes and fears.
So let us send our greeting,
A wish for trust and bliss,
To future lovers meeting
On far-off nights like this,
Who, in these walls' undoing
Perforce of Time's rough wooing,
Amid the crumbling ruin
Shall meet, clasp hands, and kiss.
A wish for trust and bliss,
To future lovers meeting
On far-off nights like this,
266
Perforce of Time's rough wooing,
Amid the crumbling ruin
Shall meet, clasp hands, and kiss.
267
“RHYMES”
APPARENTLY COMPOSED DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE CIVIL WAR
Sown sparsely through earth's lifetime there are hours
That teem with giant forms of novel powers;
When from an idler century's budding gloom
The petals of an epoch burst to bloom,
Vaguely revealing to the questioning skies
Anthers and spikes of unfamiliar dyes;
When through life's growing woof, run suddenly,
Threads, dim—presageful of the fate to be,
And omens darkly from the distance stray,
Like orient splendors out of morn's dull gray,
Whispering low, as gather from afar
The vague foreshadows of the distant war,
The war-cries heavy with the hate of years
The murmurous clashing of the myriad spears;
Omens that presage not the honest fields
Where alien mottoes mark opposing shields,
Where loyal men-at-arms, with martial glee
With sword blades carve an emperor's decree,
Where trumpets wail and silken banners wave
Proudly and mournfully o'er valor's grave;
Far darker lowers the promise of the fight
Which locks in desperate grapple wrong and right,
Where o'er the legions of embattled hosts
Float the dim shadows of indignant ghosts
Where good and evil armed and regnant stand
Shouting the battle cry to either band,
And men thus fired with hate and vengeance grim
Strive with the sinews of the Anakim
And on the trampled turf distills the stain
That tinged the sod of Armageddon's plain.
That teem with giant forms of novel powers;
When from an idler century's budding gloom
The petals of an epoch burst to bloom,
Vaguely revealing to the questioning skies
Anthers and spikes of unfamiliar dyes;
When through life's growing woof, run suddenly,
Threads, dim—presageful of the fate to be,
And omens darkly from the distance stray,
Like orient splendors out of morn's dull gray,
Whispering low, as gather from afar
The vague foreshadows of the distant war,
The war-cries heavy with the hate of years
The murmurous clashing of the myriad spears;
Omens that presage not the honest fields
Where alien mottoes mark opposing shields,
268
With sword blades carve an emperor's decree,
Where trumpets wail and silken banners wave
Proudly and mournfully o'er valor's grave;
Far darker lowers the promise of the fight
Which locks in desperate grapple wrong and right,
Where o'er the legions of embattled hosts
Float the dim shadows of indignant ghosts
Where good and evil armed and regnant stand
Shouting the battle cry to either band,
And men thus fired with hate and vengeance grim
Strive with the sinews of the Anakim
And on the trampled turf distills the stain
That tinged the sod of Armageddon's plain.
At such a time Art sickens through the world,
Song slumbers with lethargic pinions furled,
Listless the painter at his easel stands,
Drops the dulled chisel from the sculptor's hands,
The harp hangs silent with untrembling chords
For deeds are now more eloquent than words.
As, when reluctant night is half-withdrawn,
Steals on the wold the mystery of dawn,
The grove may rustle with unquiet wings
But never a bird from out his covert sings.
But when the routed shadows break and flee
And Light stands victor on the dew-lit lea
Glad in the triumph, from the twittering throng
How pours the jubilant cataract of song!
In this vague twilight poets silent wait
While the stern Sisters chant the runes of fate.
For fuller than the measure of their rhyme
Swells the grand cadence of avenging Time,
And deeper than the trembling of their chords
The Anvil Chorus of the clashing swords.
Song slumbers with lethargic pinions furled,
Listless the painter at his easel stands,
Drops the dulled chisel from the sculptor's hands,
The harp hangs silent with untrembling chords
For deeds are now more eloquent than words.
269
Steals on the wold the mystery of dawn,
The grove may rustle with unquiet wings
But never a bird from out his covert sings.
But when the routed shadows break and flee
And Light stands victor on the dew-lit lea
Glad in the triumph, from the twittering throng
How pours the jubilant cataract of song!
In this vague twilight poets silent wait
While the stern Sisters chant the runes of fate.
For fuller than the measure of their rhyme
Swells the grand cadence of avenging Time,
And deeper than the trembling of their chords
The Anvil Chorus of the clashing swords.
Not mine the task to wander far away
Into the rose-mists of a happier day,
To re-create beneath these leaden skies
The hues of a forgotten Paradise,
Or soothe the soul with love's voluptuous swells,
Soft as a Lydian dancer's ankle-bells:
Not this. For I have neither will nor power
To scorn the regal summons of the hour
And you'll forgive the unmelodious rhyme
That beats the jangled rhythm of the time,
For never since the days of that July,
Consecrate through all time to Liberty,
Since the glad light of that grand summer morn
Kissed the bright forehead of an empire born,
Has any hour brought in its flight a freight
So cumbered with the mysteries of fate.
Into the rose-mists of a happier day,
To re-create beneath these leaden skies
The hues of a forgotten Paradise,
Or soothe the soul with love's voluptuous swells,
Soft as a Lydian dancer's ankle-bells:
270
To scorn the regal summons of the hour
And you'll forgive the unmelodious rhyme
That beats the jangled rhythm of the time,
For never since the days of that July,
Consecrate through all time to Liberty,
Since the glad light of that grand summer morn
Kissed the bright forehead of an empire born,
Has any hour brought in its flight a freight
So cumbered with the mysteries of fate.
While all the earth in dread suspense is bowed,
We can but watch the piling of the cloud.
Out of its depths no blinding flash has come,
Still sleep inert the inner thunders dumb.
Until this cloud and gloom be overpast
And the torn mist goes sailing down the blast
And the glad earth, green in the springtime rain,
Laughs with the sunshine and the flowers again,
Of fairer themes what man shall dare to sing?
The lute is silent, while the trumpets ring.
And Pleasure's lilt, and Fancy's airy play
Wait for the freedom of a brighter day.
We can but watch the piling of the cloud.
Out of its depths no blinding flash has come,
Still sleep inert the inner thunders dumb.
Until this cloud and gloom be overpast
And the torn mist goes sailing down the blast
And the glad earth, green in the springtime rain,
Laughs with the sunshine and the flowers again,
Of fairer themes what man shall dare to sing?
The lute is silent, while the trumpets ring.
271
Wait for the freedom of a brighter day.
In the proud chronicles of a future age
These passing days will fill the proudest page,
Topping the landmarks of the coming time,
The beacons of to-day will loom sublime.
This is our hour supreme: this storm and stress
Shall blot or vindicate our worthiness.
This is the promise vague of fate's decree
And other hours have been that this might be.
These passing days will fill the proudest page,
Topping the landmarks of the coming time,
The beacons of to-day will loom sublime.
This is our hour supreme: this storm and stress
Shall blot or vindicate our worthiness.
This is the promise vague of fate's decree
And other hours have been that this might be.
Far back through elder years and distant climes
Shines the stern presage of the passing times.
To keep the truth now periled, bright and pure,
The people fought their King on Marston Moor,
Where curled court darlings sank to death's eclipse—
Sweet names of English ladies on their lips,
And still the tyrant-hating lifestream ran
Hot from the gashed veins of the Puritan.
Charged with the germ of days to come like these,
The Mayflower shivering sailed the wintry seas
And her stern crew beneath that iron sky
Sang their first hymn to God and Liberty.
Shines the stern presage of the passing times.
To keep the truth now periled, bright and pure,
The people fought their King on Marston Moor,
Where curled court darlings sank to death's eclipse—
Sweet names of English ladies on their lips,
And still the tyrant-hating lifestream ran
Hot from the gashed veins of the Puritan.
272
The Mayflower shivering sailed the wintry seas
And her stern crew beneath that iron sky
Sang their first hymn to God and Liberty.
| The complete poetical works of John Hay | |