 | Threescore, and other poems |  |
14
MAY-SPIRIT.
Earth her breast again is warming,
And in mystery deep are spun
Lives uncounted, joyful swarming
Out to meet th' ascending sun:
Kisses flames he in a flood,
Sparkling through their mounted blood.
And in mystery deep are spun
Lives uncounted, joyful swarming
Out to meet th' ascending sun:
Kisses flames he in a flood,
Sparkling through their mounted blood.
What a resurrection's glory!
Souls upwaking toward the Soul,
One and many, young and hoary,
That so raptureth the whole,
Not the least, but it must be
Each an immortality.
Souls upwaking toward the Soul,
One and many, young and hoary,
That so raptureth the whole,
Not the least, but it must be
Each an immortality.
15
See the foremost lilies, lancing
With quick green their winter roof,
Round about them timid glancing
If the snow be all aloof;
While above, fresh-orbed with flowers,
Glows a maple through the showers.
With quick green their winter roof,
Round about them timid glancing
If the snow be all aloof;
While above, fresh-orbed with flowers,
Glows a maple through the showers.
Everywhere the mould is bursting
With imprisoned souls enfreed,
Each for blossoms hotly thirsting
To revive the earth with seed;
And at night around their sleep
Stars a watchful heaven sweep.
With imprisoned souls enfreed,
Each for blossoms hotly thirsting
To revive the earth with seed;
And at night around their sleep
Stars a watchful heaven sweep.
Still diviner than what poureth
Ecstasy through earth and space
Is the might that calmly soareth,
Keeping all in peaceful place;
Motion, fervor, safely folding,
Law unbroken aye upholding.
Ecstasy through earth and space
Is the might that calmly soareth,
Keeping all in peaceful place;
16
Law unbroken aye upholding.
Thunder liveth that ne'er sounded,
Closely held in lightning's lap,
Closely by the Might unbounded:
Lo! if they should flash and clap,
Heaven itself would cease to be,
And be shrunk Infinity.
Closely held in lightning's lap,
Closely by the Might unbounded:
Lo! if they should flash and clap,
Heaven itself would cease to be,
And be shrunk Infinity.
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