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 | Orta-undis, and other poems |  |
TO HER WHOSE VIRTUES AND EARNEST AFFECTION ARE THE PRIDE AND HAPPINESS OF MY LIFE; TO THE SWEETEST ROSE OF GEORGIA, I DEDICATE THIS LITTLE VOLUME.
1
THE REAPER.
How still Earth lies!—behind the pines
The summer clouds sink slowly down.
The sunset gilds the higher hills
And distant steeples of the town.
The summer clouds sink slowly down.
The sunset gilds the higher hills
And distant steeples of the town.
Refreshed and moist the meadow spreads,
Birds sing from out the dripping leaves,
And standing in the breast-high corn
I see the farmer bind his sheaves.
Birds sing from out the dripping leaves,
And standing in the breast-high corn
I see the farmer bind his sheaves.
2
It was when on the fallow fields
The heavy frosts of winter lay,
A rustic with unsparing hand
Strewed seed along the furrowed way.
The heavy frosts of winter lay,
A rustic with unsparing hand
Strewed seed along the furrowed way.
And I too, walking through the waste
And wintry hours of the past,
Have in the furrows made by griefs
The seeds of future harvests cast.
And wintry hours of the past,
Have in the furrows made by griefs
The seeds of future harvests cast.
Rewarded well, if when the world
Grows dimmer in the ebbing light,
And all the valley lies in shade,
But sunset glimmers on the height.
Grows dimmer in the ebbing light,
And all the valley lies in shade,
But sunset glimmers on the height.
Down in the meadows of the heart
The birds sing out a last refrain,
And ready garnered for the mart
I see the ripe and golden grain.
The birds sing out a last refrain,
And ready garnered for the mart
I see the ripe and golden grain.
1847.
3
TO MY VERY DEAR SISTER.
No need is there of being wise
To read the love within thine eyes;
Thy love thou canst not all disguise.
To read the love within thine eyes;
Thy love thou canst not all disguise.
Thy hair is brown, thy eyes are gray,
And many tender things they say;
(Sweet eyes, thus speak to me alway!)
And many tender things they say;
(Sweet eyes, thus speak to me alway!)
Thy forehead white beneath its veins
Soft throbbing, secret wealth contains,
Fair fruit of fertilizing rains.
Soft throbbing, secret wealth contains,
Fair fruit of fertilizing rains.
For often, lying in the shade,
Thy tresses loosened from their braid,
An open book before thee laid;
Thy tresses loosened from their braid,
An open book before thee laid;
4
Thou readest many wondrous things
That give unto thy spirit wings;
And dreamy old imaginings.
That give unto thy spirit wings;
And dreamy old imaginings.
But more than tress or witching eyes,
Or all that therein hidden lies,
Thy love I infinitely prize.
Or all that therein hidden lies,
Thy love I infinitely prize.
Thy love is like a joyous rill
That rippling down life's rugged hill,
The crevices with gold-dust fill.
That rippling down life's rugged hill,
The crevices with gold-dust fill.
Let others covet gold:—for me,
In thy great love great wealth I see,
Nor more endowed I care to be.
In thy great love great wealth I see,
Nor more endowed I care to be.
1846.
5
GEORGIANA.
A mother sits beside her child
With lips God only knows when smiled,
And eyes with watching weary,
Her bosom grieving, throbbing, aching,
As one from hideous dreams awaking,
Throughout that darkness dreary.
With lips God only knows when smiled,
And eyes with watching weary,
Her bosom grieving, throbbing, aching,
As one from hideous dreams awaking,
Throughout that darkness dreary.
She hears the night-bird from the wood
Mourn in his sable feather hood,
She hears her own heart beating.
The dull watch ticking 'gainst the wall,
The leaves that rustle as they fall
Across the window fleeting.
Mourn in his sable feather hood,
She hears her own heart beating.
The dull watch ticking 'gainst the wall,
The leaves that rustle as they fall
Across the window fleeting.
6
The shadows waving to and fro,
Across the bedclothes noiseless go,
Across the face of Death.
The bloodless cheeks their life regain,
And part the pallid lips again,
Yet part without a breath.
Across the bedclothes noiseless go,
Across the face of Death.
The bloodless cheeks their life regain,
And part the pallid lips again,
Yet part without a breath.
The golden locks, the waveless breast,
The silken lashes soft that rest
Upon the marble face:
All that was pure, beloved, and bright,
All that is chill and clothed in night,
Sleeps in the shroud's embrace.
The silken lashes soft that rest
Upon the marble face:
All that was pure, beloved, and bright,
All that is chill and clothed in night,
Sleeps in the shroud's embrace.
Not swiftly spent, but day by day
This mother noted pass away
The life with anguish sore.
A sea retreating wave by wave,
That ebbing left to view the grave
Deep yawning in the shore.
This mother noted pass away
The life with anguish sore.
A sea retreating wave by wave,
That ebbing left to view the grave
Deep yawning in the shore.
7
Oh Niobé, who thus dost mourn
A daughter from thy bosom torn,
Oh plaining heart, be dumb.
Tu qui cuncta scis et vales,
Qui nos pacis hic mortales
Jesu da solatium.
A daughter from thy bosom torn,
Oh plaining heart, be dumb.
Tu qui cuncta scis et vales,
Qui nos pacis hic mortales
Jesu da solatium.
8
AMY.
This is the pathway where she walked,
The tender grass pressed by her feet.
The laurel boughs laced overhead,
Shut out the noonday heat.
The tender grass pressed by her feet.
The laurel boughs laced overhead,
Shut out the noonday heat.
The sunshine gladly stole between
The softly undulating limbs.
From every blade and leaf arose
The myriad insect hymns.
The softly undulating limbs.
From every blade and leaf arose
The myriad insect hymns.
A brook ran murmuring beneath
The grateful twilight of the trees,
Where from the dripping pebbles swelled
A beech's mossy knees.
The grateful twilight of the trees,
Where from the dripping pebbles swelled
A beech's mossy knees.
9
And there her robe of spotless white,
(Pure white such purity beseemed!)
Her angel face and tresses bright
Within the basin gleamed.
(Pure white such purity beseemed!)
Her angel face and tresses bright
Within the basin gleamed.
The coy sweetbriers half detained
Her light hem as we moved along!
To hear the music of her voice
The mockbird hushed his song.
Her light hem as we moved along!
To hear the music of her voice
The mockbird hushed his song.
But now her little feet are still,
Her lips the Everlasting seal;
The hideous secrets of the grave
The weeping eyes reveal.
Her lips the Everlasting seal;
The hideous secrets of the grave
The weeping eyes reveal.
The path still winds, the brook descends,
The skies are bright as then they were.
My Amy is the only leaf
In all that forest sear.
The skies are bright as then they were.
My Amy is the only leaf
In all that forest sear.
1845.
10
TO A LILY.
Go bow thy head in gentle spite,
Thou lily white.
For she who spies thee waving here,
With thee in beauty can compare
As day with night.
Thou lily white.
For she who spies thee waving here,
With thee in beauty can compare
As day with night.
Soft are thy leaves and white: Her arms
Boast whiter charms.
Thy stem prone bent with loveliness
Of maiden grace possesseth less:
Therein she charms.
Boast whiter charms.
Thy stem prone bent with loveliness
Of maiden grace possesseth less:
Therein she charms.
Thou in thy lake dost see
Thyself: So she
Beholds her image in her eyes
Reflected. Thus did Venus rise
From out the sea.
Thyself: So she
Beholds her image in her eyes
Reflected. Thus did Venus rise
From out the sea.
11
Inconsolate, bloom not again
Thou rival vain
Of her whose charms have thine outdone:
Whose purity might spot the sun,
And make thy leaf a stain.
Thou rival vain
Of her whose charms have thine outdone:
Whose purity might spot the sun,
And make thy leaf a stain.
1845.
12
QUÆ CARIOR?
Behold, nor lands nor gold have I,
Yet great my riches are:
My treasure stands without a guard,
My door without a bar.
Ye who would wealthy live and die,
Go seek a love like this:
Quis pudor desiderio
Tam cari capitis?
Yet great my riches are:
My treasure stands without a guard,
My door without a bar.
Ye who would wealthy live and die,
Go seek a love like this:
Quis pudor desiderio
Tam cari capitis?
The eyes, the locks, the lips, the smile,
Not these my love retain.
A Venus trusting in her charms
Assails my breast in vain.
The soul serene that taper-like
Burns quietly within;
The gentle kindliness of heart
And purity from sin.
Not these my love retain.
A Venus trusting in her charms
Assails my breast in vain.
13
Burns quietly within;
The gentle kindliness of heart
And purity from sin.
The blood that flushes in her cheek,
Flows in my every vein;
The good old blood of ancient times
Without reproach or stain!
Right loth am I to own our Sires,
Stout Huguenots of yore,
From Anjou, Maine, or Languedoc,
So bright a jewel bore.
Flows in my every vein;
The good old blood of ancient times
Without reproach or stain!
Right loth am I to own our Sires,
Stout Huguenots of yore,
From Anjou, Maine, or Languedoc,
So bright a jewel bore.
I love her arm to lean on mine
To guide her steps aright;
I love her eyes to speak to me
Affection pure and bright.
And proud within my heart am I
That, come what may, the arm
On which she rests is strong enough
To shelter her from harm.
To guide her steps aright;
I love her eyes to speak to me
Affection pure and bright.
And proud within my heart am I
That, come what may, the arm
On which she rests is strong enough
To shelter her from harm.
14
She tells me all her little joys,
Her troubles and her fears,
I smile with her, I share her grief,
I kiss away her tears.
And thus we journey hand in hand
Along this path of ours:
The thorns we crush beneath our feet,
Our bosoms hold the flowers.
Her troubles and her fears,
I smile with her, I share her grief,
I kiss away her tears.
And thus we journey hand in hand
Along this path of ours:
The thorns we crush beneath our feet,
Our bosoms hold the flowers.
1844.
15
GEORGIA.
Thou, like a dove, dost make thy moan,
Although thou utterest no tone,
Nor pleadest with thy voice alone.
Although thou utterest no tone,
Nor pleadest with thy voice alone.
The pallid brow beneath thy hair,
Thy gentle uncomplaining air,
Make captives of us unaware.
Thy gentle uncomplaining air,
Make captives of us unaware.
Why art thou armèd otherwise
Than Nature made thee, since thine eyes
An host within themselves comprise?
Than Nature made thee, since thine eyes
An host within themselves comprise?
The axe may do a king's behest,
Keen lances pierce the stubborn breast,
Thy eyes—they rob us of our rest!
Keen lances pierce the stubborn breast,
Thy eyes—they rob us of our rest!
16
Ah, weary eyes with watching sore,
And suffering, that evermore
Look back, afraid to look before:
And suffering, that evermore
Look back, afraid to look before:
And thou who on thy bed forlorn,
In pain, hast often watched the dawn,
Sad sighing—‘will it ne'er be morn?’
In pain, hast often watched the dawn,
Sad sighing—‘will it ne'er be morn?’
Take heart: I see thee blooming grow
As erst, where balmy zephyrs blow,
And blue waves ripple to and fro.
As erst, where balmy zephyrs blow,
And blue waves ripple to and fro.
And like that sea, a tide will wake
In thy young heart, no more to make
The truant blood thy cheek forsake.
In thy young heart, no more to make
The truant blood thy cheek forsake.
No longer wilt thou drooping stand,
With thy poor, pale, blue-veinéd hand,
(The costliest gift in all the land!)
With thy poor, pale, blue-veinéd hand,
(The costliest gift in all the land!)
17
Sun warmed thy cheek will grow, and brown.
Health will become thee as a crown,
And light will smile where night did frown.
Health will become thee as a crown,
And light will smile where night did frown.
And thou shalt clearly then perceive
That God did only make thee grieve
More elevated faith to leave.
That God did only make thee grieve
More elevated faith to leave.
As costly diamonds in their lees,
Washed from beneath the roots of trees
By torrents, find the Bengalese.
Washed from beneath the roots of trees
By torrents, find the Bengalese.
1845.
18
HAW-BLOSSOMS.
While yesterevening, through the vale
Descending from my cottage door
I strayed, how cool and fresh a look
All nature wore.
Descending from my cottage door
I strayed, how cool and fresh a look
All nature wore.
The calmïas and golden-rods,
And tender blossoms of the haw,
Like maidens seated in the wood,
Demure, I saw.
And tender blossoms of the haw,
Like maidens seated in the wood,
Demure, I saw.
The recent drops upon their leaves
Shone brighter than the bluest eyes
And filled the little sheltered dell
Their fragrant sighs.
Shone brighter than the bluest eyes
And filled the little sheltered dell
Their fragrant sighs.
19
Their pliant arms they interlaced,
As pleasant canopies they were:
Their blossoms swung against my cheek
Like braids of hair.
As pleasant canopies they were:
Their blossoms swung against my cheek
Like braids of hair.
And when I put their boughs aside
And stooped to pass, from overhead
The little agitated things
A shower shed
And stooped to pass, from overhead
The little agitated things
A shower shed
Of tears. Then thoughtfully I spoke;
Well represent ye maidenhood,
Sweet flowers. Life is to the young
A shady wood.
Well represent ye maidenhood,
Sweet flowers. Life is to the young
A shady wood.
And therein some like golden-rods,
For grosser purposes designed,
A gay existence lead, but leave
No germ behind.
For grosser purposes designed,
A gay existence lead, but leave
No germ behind.
20
And others like the calmïas,
On cliff-sides inaccessible,
Bloom paramount, the vale with sweets
Yet never fill.
On cliff-sides inaccessible,
Bloom paramount, the vale with sweets
Yet never fill.
But underneath the glossy leaves,
When, working out the perfect law,
The blossoms white and fragrant still
Drop from the haw;
When, working out the perfect law,
The blossoms white and fragrant still
Drop from the haw;
Like worthy deeds in silence wrought
And secret, through the lapse of years,
In clusters pale and delicate
The fruit appears.
And secret, through the lapse of years,
In clusters pale and delicate
The fruit appears.
In clusters pale and delicate
But waxing heavier each day,
Until the many-colored leaves
Drift from the spray.
But waxing heavier each day,
Until the many-colored leaves
Drift from the spray.
21
Then pendulous, like amethysts
And rubies, purple ripe and red,
Wherewith God's feathered pensioners
In flocks are fed.
And rubies, purple ripe and red,
Wherewith God's feathered pensioners
In flocks are fed.
Therefore, sweet reader of this rhyme,
Be unto thee examples high
Not calmïas and golden-rods
That scentless die:
Be unto thee examples high
Not calmïas and golden-rods
That scentless die:
But the meek blossoms of the haw,
That fragrant are wherever wind
The forest paths, and perishing
Leave fruits behind.
That fragrant are wherever wind
The forest paths, and perishing
Leave fruits behind.
1846.
22
AHAB-MOHAMMED.
A peasant stood before a king and said;
‘My children starve, I come to thee for bread.’
On cushions soft and silken sat enthroned
The king, and looked on him that prayed and moaned.
Who cried again;—‘for bread I come to thee.’
For grief, like wine, the tongue will render free.
Then said the prince with simple truth; ‘Behold
I sit on cushions silken-soft, of gold
And wrought with skill the vessels which they bring
To fitly grace the banquet of a king.
But at my gate the Mede triumphant beats,
And die for food my people in the streets.
Yet no good father hears his child complain
And gives him stones for bread, for alms disdain.
Come, thou and I will sup together—come.’
The wondering courtiers saw—saw, and were dumb:
Then followed with their eyes Ahab led
With grace the humble guest, amazed, to share his bread.
‘My children starve, I come to thee for bread.’
On cushions soft and silken sat enthroned
The king, and looked on him that prayed and moaned.
Who cried again;—‘for bread I come to thee.’
For grief, like wine, the tongue will render free.
Then said the prince with simple truth; ‘Behold
I sit on cushions silken-soft, of gold
And wrought with skill the vessels which they bring
To fitly grace the banquet of a king.
But at my gate the Mede triumphant beats,
And die for food my people in the streets.
Yet no good father hears his child complain
And gives him stones for bread, for alms disdain.
23
The wondering courtiers saw—saw, and were dumb:
Then followed with their eyes Ahab led
With grace the humble guest, amazed, to share his bread.
Him half abashed the royal host withdrew
Into a room, the curtained doorway through.
Silent behind the folds of purple closed,
In marble life the statues stood disposed:
From the high ceiling, perfume breathing, hung
Lamps rich, pomegranate-shaped, and golden-swung.
Gorgeous the board with massive metal shone,
Gorgeous with gems arose in front a throne:
These through the Orient lattice saw the sun.
If gold there was, of meat and bread was none
Save one small loaf; this stretched his hand and took
Ahab Mahommed, prayed to God, and broke:
One half his yearning nature bid him crave,
The other gladly to his guest he gave.
‘I have no more to give’—he cheerly said;
‘With thee I share my only loaf of bread.’
Humbly the stranger took the offered crumb
Yet ate not of it, standing meek and dumb:
Then lifts his eyes,—the wondering Ahab saw
His rags fall from him as the snow in thaw.
Resplendent, blue, those orbs upon him turned:
All Ahab's soul within him throbbed and burned.
Into a room, the curtained doorway through.
Silent behind the folds of purple closed,
In marble life the statues stood disposed:
From the high ceiling, perfume breathing, hung
Lamps rich, pomegranate-shaped, and golden-swung.
Gorgeous the board with massive metal shone,
Gorgeous with gems arose in front a throne:
These through the Orient lattice saw the sun.
If gold there was, of meat and bread was none
Save one small loaf; this stretched his hand and took
Ahab Mahommed, prayed to God, and broke:
One half his yearning nature bid him crave,
The other gladly to his guest he gave.
24
‘With thee I share my only loaf of bread.’
Humbly the stranger took the offered crumb
Yet ate not of it, standing meek and dumb:
Then lifts his eyes,—the wondering Ahab saw
His rags fall from him as the snow in thaw.
Resplendent, blue, those orbs upon him turned:
All Ahab's soul within him throbbed and burned.
Ahab Mahommed, spoke the vision then;
From this thou shalt be blessèd among men.
Go forth—thy gates the Mede bewildered flees,
And Allah thank thy people on their knees.
He who gives somewhat does a worthy deed,
Of him the recording angel shall take heed.
But he that halves all that his house doth hold,
His deeds are more to God, yea more than finest gold.
From this thou shalt be blessèd among men.
Go forth—thy gates the Mede bewildered flees,
And Allah thank thy people on their knees.
He who gives somewhat does a worthy deed,
Of him the recording angel shall take heed.
But he that halves all that his house doth hold,
His deeds are more to God, yea more than finest gold.
1846.
25
QUÆ PULCHRIOR?
I woo thee, thou bright One,
With soul and with song.
Thy praise from my bosom
Flows fervid and strong.
I'll teach thee the love
That Euridyce knew,
When the passionate hand
Of her Orpheus drew
Sweet words from his lyre.
With soul and with song.
Thy praise from my bosom
Flows fervid and strong.
I'll teach thee the love
That Euridyce knew,
When the passionate hand
Of her Orpheus drew
Sweet words from his lyre.
I seek not, (as Danæ
Jove conquered of old,)
To dazzle thy vision
With showers of gold.
No jewels I bring thee,
No titled renown.
But the lover has hope,
And the poet a crown
For the queen of his bosom.
Jove conquered of old,)
To dazzle thy vision
With showers of gold.
26
No titled renown.
But the lover has hope,
And the poet a crown
For the queen of his bosom.
The blue veinéd temples
Thy soft tresses bind;
Thy knowledge, thy genius,
Thy carcanet mind;
Thy gentlest of voices,
Thy sunshiny smile,
Thy silken lashed eye-lids,
Thy lips without guile,
If e'er such were created.
Thy soft tresses bind;
Thy knowledge, thy genius,
Thy carcanet mind;
Thy gentlest of voices,
Thy sunshiny smile,
Thy silken lashed eye-lids,
Thy lips without guile,
If e'er such were created.
Thy white glancing shoulders,
Thy ivory arms—
What pencil can paint thee,
What lip chaunt thy charms!
Superb as a Queen is,
Yet gentle and kind.
Where sunny-eyed beauty,
Thy mate can I find?
(In thy heart's depth, you murmur.)
Thy ivory arms—
What pencil can paint thee,
What lip chaunt thy charms!
Superb as a Queen is,
Yet gentle and kind.
27
Thy mate can I find?
(In thy heart's depth, you murmur.)
Thy soul as a lake is,
Deep, waveless, and pure.
Thy heart as an ocean
That meeteth no shore.
Thou, child of Minerva,
A Venus doth stand.
What gift shall I bring thee
To kiss the white hand
Lying passive in mine?
Deep, waveless, and pure.
Thy heart as an ocean
That meeteth no shore.
Thou, child of Minerva,
A Venus doth stand.
What gift shall I bring thee
To kiss the white hand
Lying passive in mine?
Thou knowest,—no longer,
With lance lain in rest,
The chosen one doeth
His charmer's behest.
No longer, tall nodding,
His love-lifted plume,
Floats fleet as a meteor
Through battle and gloom,
In the front of the tempest.
With lance lain in rest,
The chosen one doeth
His charmer's behest.
No longer, tall nodding,
His love-lifted plume,
Floats fleet as a meteor
Through battle and gloom,
In the front of the tempest.
28
Lo, spacious and wide
Are the lists of the world,
Though corslet be rusted,
And battle-flag furled:
As matchless the glances
Of beauty—as proud
The chaplet—the voice
Of the clarion as loud,
As at Bayard's command.
Are the lists of the world,
Though corslet be rusted,
And battle-flag furled:
As matchless the glances
Of beauty—as proud
The chaplet—the voice
Of the clarion as loud,
As at Bayard's command.
We earn not these laurels
Through rage and turmoil:
No blood-stain the wreath
Of the scholar doth soil:
No tear of the anguished
Can blister that leaf
Whose winning hath cost not
One doating heart grief,
Through the breadth of the land.
Through rage and turmoil:
No blood-stain the wreath
Of the scholar doth soil:
No tear of the anguished
Can blister that leaf
Whose winning hath cost not
One doating heart grief,
Through the breadth of the land.
Oh, far, far more radiant
Olympia's crown,
Than Rome's haughty purple
Or Sylla's renown.
Thou—beautiful, glorious;
I—loveless and plain:
What can I—what must I,
Thy love to obtain,
With a hope that is dearer?
Olympia's crown,
29
Or Sylla's renown.
Thou—beautiful, glorious;
I—loveless and plain:
What can I—what must I,
Thy love to obtain,
With a hope that is dearer?
I steer on an ocean
Broad, stormy and wild,
With heart of a giant,
With arm of a child.
My heaven's vast blackness
Doth hold but one star.
I worship—I woo thee,
Bright maid, from afar.
Saidest thou,—‘come then nearer?’
Broad, stormy and wild,
With heart of a giant,
With arm of a child.
My heaven's vast blackness
Doth hold but one star.
I worship—I woo thee,
Bright maid, from afar.
Saidest thou,—‘come then nearer?’
1844.
30
WOMAN OF CANAAN.
Once there came a woman weeping,
Weeping to the Savior's feet,
She had left her daughter sleeping
Grievously consumed by heat.
Through the crowd the troubled mother
Striving anxiously to see,
Cried unto the wondrous stranger;
Χριστος, ελεησον με.
Weeping to the Savior's feet,
She had left her daughter sleeping
Grievously consumed by heat.
Through the crowd the troubled mother
Striving anxiously to see,
Cried unto the wondrous stranger;
Χριστος, ελεησον με.
When she saw the Lord had passed her
Heeding not, she worshipped near,
Saying;—Heal her, gentle Master:
Saying;—Holy Master, hear.
Looking on her, Jesus answered;
Think you it is meet to give
Unto dogs the bread of children,
Bread whereby the children live?
Heeding not, she worshipped near,
Saying;—Heal her, gentle Master:
Saying;—Holy Master, hear.
31
Think you it is meet to give
Unto dogs the bread of children,
Bread whereby the children live?
But this woman full of sorrow,
Full of woman's hope and love,
Trusting earnestly, did borrow
Wisdom from a source above.
Truth,—she meekly answered, Master,
Yet they have their own award;
For the dogs are fed with fragments
From the table of their Lord.
Full of woman's hope and love,
Trusting earnestly, did borrow
Wisdom from a source above.
Truth,—she meekly answered, Master,
Yet they have their own award;
For the dogs are fed with fragments
From the table of their Lord.
Marvelled much our Lord's disciples,
Such exalted faith to find
In the kneeling Canaanitess.
Unto her no longer blind,
Then said Jesus; As thou willest
Be it to thee even now.
Rise and go unto thy daughter;
Μεγαλη η πιστις σου.
Such exalted faith to find
In the kneeling Canaanitess.
Unto her no longer blind,
Then said Jesus; As thou willest
Be it to thee even now.
Rise and go unto thy daughter;
Μεγαλη η πιστις σου.
32
Quick she rose and went rejoicing,
Went rejoicing on her way;
Flew unto the little chamber
Where her child had lain the day.
Pale and heavy-eyed no longer,
Healed and beauteous to see,
Came the maiden to the mother,
Sobbing;—Δοξα σοι, Κυριε.
Went rejoicing on her way;
Flew unto the little chamber
Where her child had lain the day.
Pale and heavy-eyed no longer,
Healed and beauteous to see,
Came the maiden to the mother,
Sobbing;—Δοξα σοι, Κυριε.
Happy in the dread hereafter,
Threefold happy wilt thou be,
Seeing Christ compassionately,
Meek one, looking upon thee.
Then thy heart will beat with gladness,
Saying; Blessedest art thou
Unto whom our Lord has spoken;
Μεγαλη η πιστις σου.
Threefold happy wilt thou be,
Seeing Christ compassionately,
Meek one, looking upon thee.
Then thy heart will beat with gladness,
Saying; Blessedest art thou
Unto whom our Lord has spoken;
Μεγαλη η πιστις σου.
1846.
33
ORNITHOLOGOI.
Thou, sitting on the hill-top bare,
Dost see the far hills disappear
In Autumn smoke, and all the air
Filled with bright leaves. Below thee spread
Are breast-high harvests, and the red
Wide fallow fields: while overhead
The jays to one another call,
And through the stilly woods there fall
Ripe nuts at intervals, where'er
The squirrel perched in upper air,
From tree-top barks at thee his fear:
His cunning eyes mistrustingly
Do spy at thee around the tree,
Then prompted by a sudden whim,
Down leaping on the quivering limb
Gains the smooth hickory, from whence
He nimbly scours along the fence
To secret haunts.
Dost see the far hills disappear
In Autumn smoke, and all the air
Filled with bright leaves. Below thee spread
Are breast-high harvests, and the red
Wide fallow fields: while overhead
The jays to one another call,
And through the stilly woods there fall
Ripe nuts at intervals, where'er
The squirrel perched in upper air,
From tree-top barks at thee his fear:
His cunning eyes mistrustingly
Do spy at thee around the tree,
Then prompted by a sudden whim,
Down leaping on the quivering limb
34
He nimbly scours along the fence
To secret haunts.
But thou, where roar
The pine woods in long corridor,
Sonorously and evermore,
When through the budding shrubs descried
Green slope the fields on every side;
When jasmines and azalias fill
The air with sweets, and down the hill
Turbid no more descends the rill,
The wonder of thy hazel eyes
Soft opening on the misty skies,
Dost smile within thyself to see
Things uncontained in, seemingly,
The open book upon thy knee:
And through the quiet woodlands hear
Sounds full of mystery to ear
Of grosser mould; bird-voices, deer
Bleets, the innumerable cries
That from the teeming world arise;
Which we, self-confidently wise,
Pass by unheeding. Thou did'st yearn
From thy weak babyhood to learn
Arcana of creation; turn
Thy eyes on things intangible
To mortals; when the earth was still,
Hear dreamy voices on the hill
In wavy woods, that sent a thrill
Of joyousness through thy young veins.
Ah, happy thou, whose seeking gains
All that thou lovest, man disdains;
A sympathy in joys and pains
With dwellers in the long green lanes,
With wings that shady groves explore,
With watchers at the torrent's roar,
And waders by the reedy shore.
For Nature, through thy purity,
Is open as a book to thee.
The pine woods in long corridor,
Sonorously and evermore,
When through the budding shrubs descried
Green slope the fields on every side;
When jasmines and azalias fill
The air with sweets, and down the hill
Turbid no more descends the rill,
The wonder of thy hazel eyes
Soft opening on the misty skies,
Dost smile within thyself to see
Things uncontained in, seemingly,
The open book upon thy knee:
And through the quiet woodlands hear
Sounds full of mystery to ear
Of grosser mould; bird-voices, deer
Bleets, the innumerable cries
35
Which we, self-confidently wise,
Pass by unheeding. Thou did'st yearn
From thy weak babyhood to learn
Arcana of creation; turn
Thy eyes on things intangible
To mortals; when the earth was still,
Hear dreamy voices on the hill
In wavy woods, that sent a thrill
Of joyousness through thy young veins.
Ah, happy thou, whose seeking gains
All that thou lovest, man disdains;
A sympathy in joys and pains
With dwellers in the long green lanes,
With wings that shady groves explore,
With watchers at the torrent's roar,
And waders by the reedy shore.
For Nature, through thy purity,
Is open as a book to thee.
36
Croak, croak.—Who croaketh overhead
So hoarsely, with his pinion spread
Dabbled in blood and dripping red.
Croak, croak:—a RAVEN'S curse on him
The giver of this shattered limb.
Albeit young, (a hundred years,
When next the forest leaved appears!)
Will Duskywing behold this breast
Shot-riddled, or divide my nest
With wearer of so tattered vest?
I see myself with wing awry
Approaching; Duskywing will spy
My altered air, and shun my eye.
With laughter bursting, through the wood
The birds will scream;—‘she's quite too good
For thee.’ And yonder meddling Jay,
I hear him chatter all the day;
‘He's crippled,—send the thief away.’—
At every hop—‘don't let him stay!’
I'll catch thee yet, despite my wing,
For all thy fine blue plumes thou'lt sing
Another song! Is't not enough
The carrion in the swamp we snuff,
And gathering down upon the breeze,
Release the valley from disease.
If longing for more fresh a meal,
Around the tender flock we wheel,
A marksman doth some bush conceal.
This very morn I heard an ewe
Bleat in the thicket; there I flew
With lazy wing slow circling round,
Until I spied unto the ground
A lamb by tangled briers bound.
The ewe meanwhile from hillock-side
Bleat to her young—so loudly cried
She heard it not when it replied.
Ho, ho—a feast!—I 'gan to croak,
Alighting straightway on an oak;
Whence gloatingly I eyed aslant
The little trembler lie and pant:
Leaped nimbly thence upon its head;
Down its white nostril bubbled red
A gush of blood. Ere life had fled
My beak was buried in its eyes
Turned tearfully upon the skies,
Strong grew my voice and weak its cries—
So hoarsely, with his pinion spread
Dabbled in blood and dripping red.
Croak, croak:—a RAVEN'S curse on him
The giver of this shattered limb.
Albeit young, (a hundred years,
When next the forest leaved appears!)
Will Duskywing behold this breast
Shot-riddled, or divide my nest
With wearer of so tattered vest?
I see myself with wing awry
Approaching; Duskywing will spy
My altered air, and shun my eye.
With laughter bursting, through the wood
The birds will scream;—‘she's quite too good
For thee.’ And yonder meddling Jay,
I hear him chatter all the day;
‘He's crippled,—send the thief away.’—
At every hop—‘don't let him stay!’
I'll catch thee yet, despite my wing,
For all thy fine blue plumes thou'lt sing
37
The carrion in the swamp we snuff,
And gathering down upon the breeze,
Release the valley from disease.
If longing for more fresh a meal,
Around the tender flock we wheel,
A marksman doth some bush conceal.
This very morn I heard an ewe
Bleat in the thicket; there I flew
With lazy wing slow circling round,
Until I spied unto the ground
A lamb by tangled briers bound.
The ewe meanwhile from hillock-side
Bleat to her young—so loudly cried
She heard it not when it replied.
Ho, ho—a feast!—I 'gan to croak,
Alighting straightway on an oak;
Whence gloatingly I eyed aslant
The little trembler lie and pant:
Leaped nimbly thence upon its head;
Down its white nostril bubbled red
38
My beak was buried in its eyes
Turned tearfully upon the skies,
Strong grew my voice and weak its cries—
No longer could'st thou sit and hear
This demon prate in open air
Deeds horrible to maiden ear.
Begone!—thou spokest. Overhead
The startled fiend his pinion spread,
And croaking maledictions, fled.
But hark:—who at some secret door
Knocks loud and knocketh evermore.
Thou seëst how around the tree,
With scarlet head for hammer, he
Probes where the haunts of insects be.
The worn in labyrinthian hole
Begins his sluggard length to roll:
But crafty Rufus spies the prey,
And with his mallet beats away
The loose bark crumbling with decay.
This demon prate in open air
Deeds horrible to maiden ear.
Begone!—thou spokest. Overhead
The startled fiend his pinion spread,
And croaking maledictions, fled.
But hark:—who at some secret door
Knocks loud and knocketh evermore.
Thou seëst how around the tree,
With scarlet head for hammer, he
Probes where the haunts of insects be.
The worn in labyrinthian hole
Begins his sluggard length to roll:
But crafty Rufus spies the prey,
And with his mallet beats away
The loose bark crumbling with decay.
39
Then chirping loud, with wing elate
He bears the morsel to his mate.
His mate, she sitteth on her nest,
In sober feather garments dressed,
A matron underneath whose breast
Three little tender heads appear.
With bills distent from ear to ear,
Each clamors for the larger share:
And whilst they clamor, climb, and lo
Upon the margin to and fro,
Unsteady poised, one wavers slow.
Stay, stay;—the parents anguished, shriek—
Too late: For venturesome yet weak,
His frail legs falter under him,
He falls,—but from a lower limb
A moment dangles; thence again
Launched out upon the air: in vain
He spreads his little plumeless wing,
A poor blind, dizzy, helpless thing.
He bears the morsel to his mate.
His mate, she sitteth on her nest,
In sober feather garments dressed,
A matron underneath whose breast
Three little tender heads appear.
With bills distent from ear to ear,
Each clamors for the larger share:
And whilst they clamor, climb, and lo
Upon the margin to and fro,
Unsteady poised, one wavers slow.
Stay, stay;—the parents anguished, shriek—
Too late: For venturesome yet weak,
His frail legs falter under him,
He falls,—but from a lower limb
A moment dangles; thence again
Launched out upon the air: in vain
He spreads his little plumeless wing,
A poor blind, dizzy, helpless thing.
40
But thou, who all did'st see and hear,
Young, active, wast already there
And caught the flutterer, in air.
Then up the tree to topmost limb,
A vine for ladder, borest him.
Against thy cheek his little heart
Beat soft. Ah, trembler that thou art;
Thou spokest smiling; comfort thee.
With joyous cries, the parents flee
Thy presence none; confidingly
Pour out their earnest hearts to thee.
The Mockbird sees thy tenderness
Of deed; doth with melodiousness
In many tongues thy praise express.
And all the while, his dappled wings
He claps his sides with as he sings,
From perch to perch his body flings.
A poet he, to ecstasy
Wrought by the sweets his tongue doth say.
Young, active, wast already there
And caught the flutterer, in air.
Then up the tree to topmost limb,
A vine for ladder, borest him.
Against thy cheek his little heart
Beat soft. Ah, trembler that thou art;
Thou spokest smiling; comfort thee.
With joyous cries, the parents flee
Thy presence none; confidingly
Pour out their earnest hearts to thee.
The Mockbird sees thy tenderness
Of deed; doth with melodiousness
In many tongues thy praise express.
And all the while, his dappled wings
He claps his sides with as he sings,
From perch to perch his body flings.
A poet he, to ecstasy
Wrought by the sweets his tongue doth say.
41
Who shouts so loud?—Hallo, hallo!
Who in the pine-top to and fro
Rocks gallantly? Ha, brother Crow,
Why cawest thou so loud, below?
Caw—caw: Last spring good Roger came
And sowed his corn: a tenth we claim.
Look you, I wear a satin hood
Blue-black and monkish, reason good
For taking tithe of all we would
According to the good old law.
Caw—caw! quoth I. ‘I'll stop your “caw”
Quoth Roger; Ever mortal saw
Such a lean, lazy lizzard thing!
No longer will I tatters bring
To fright him off, his neck I'll wring.’
Since then has Roger soon and late,
With rusty barrel lain in wait.
I'm twice as old and thrice as wise
As Roger, therefore while he lies,
I dig his corn before his eyes.
This morning Roger came once more,
And sowed a furrow as before.
Hey!—muttered I—Here's something strange;
The seasons all ha' made a change,
Unless a bad account I keep!
The fellow's certainly asleep,
He sows in Autumn, when 'ill he reap?
Off Roger goes: A feast—I cry,
A feast! From every furrow nigh
The brotherhood their pinions fly,
Now while we single grain from grain
Right busily, adown the lane
Creeps Roger stealthily again.
Look to yourselves!—our sentries shriek.
With wings grown wonderously weak
To rise into mid air we seek;
But reeling back, some lie as dead,
While others with their pinions spread
Flap in the dust. Amid the din
Of cawing, Roger runneth in:
In either hand around he slings
An anguished trunk with panting wings,
Then off the headless carcass flings.
I who had played the host, and fed
But sparingly, in season fled
To pine-top. Never farmer reaped
So cursèd crop; in spirits steeped,
His maize a hideous harvest yields,
A malediction on his fields.
No green and waving blade appears,
In place of sweet and golden ears,
Blood soppèd fruit his furrow bears.
Who in the pine-top to and fro
Rocks gallantly? Ha, brother Crow,
Why cawest thou so loud, below?
Caw—caw: Last spring good Roger came
And sowed his corn: a tenth we claim.
Look you, I wear a satin hood
Blue-black and monkish, reason good
For taking tithe of all we would
According to the good old law.
Caw—caw! quoth I. ‘I'll stop your “caw”
Quoth Roger; Ever mortal saw
Such a lean, lazy lizzard thing!
No longer will I tatters bring
To fright him off, his neck I'll wring.’
Since then has Roger soon and late,
With rusty barrel lain in wait.
I'm twice as old and thrice as wise
As Roger, therefore while he lies,
I dig his corn before his eyes.
This morning Roger came once more,
42
Hey!—muttered I—Here's something strange;
The seasons all ha' made a change,
Unless a bad account I keep!
The fellow's certainly asleep,
He sows in Autumn, when 'ill he reap?
Off Roger goes: A feast—I cry,
A feast! From every furrow nigh
The brotherhood their pinions fly,
Now while we single grain from grain
Right busily, adown the lane
Creeps Roger stealthily again.
Look to yourselves!—our sentries shriek.
With wings grown wonderously weak
To rise into mid air we seek;
But reeling back, some lie as dead,
While others with their pinions spread
Flap in the dust. Amid the din
Of cawing, Roger runneth in:
In either hand around he slings
An anguished trunk with panting wings,
43
I who had played the host, and fed
But sparingly, in season fled
To pine-top. Never farmer reaped
So cursèd crop; in spirits steeped,
His maize a hideous harvest yields,
A malediction on his fields.
No green and waving blade appears,
In place of sweet and golden ears,
Blood soppèd fruit his furrow bears.
Although a crafty profligate,
Thou heardest him his grief relate,
With sympathy. Will man abate,
(Thou saidest), nevermore his hate
To these, nor with the helpless share
That which without diviner care
Unrecompense of labor were.
Ah, let him give, but cheerfully
To them that now so fearfully
Flit up, and from his presence flee,
And he will smiling harvests see
Where indigence was wont to be.
For God loves all, and does not give
Life only, but the means to live.
Thou heardest him his grief relate,
With sympathy. Will man abate,
(Thou saidest), nevermore his hate
To these, nor with the helpless share
That which without diviner care
Unrecompense of labor were.
Ah, let him give, but cheerfully
To them that now so fearfully
Flit up, and from his presence flee,
44
Where indigence was wont to be.
For God loves all, and does not give
Life only, but the means to live.
Stay, stay—what small wings flutter now
Beneath yon flowering alder bough?
Therefrom a little plaintive voice,
That did at early morn rejoice,
Makes a most sad yet sweet complaint,
Saying; ‘My heart is very faint
With its unutterable wo.
What shall I do, where shall I go,
My cruel anguish to abate?
Oh, my poor desolated mate!
Dear Cherry, will our hawbush seek
Joyful, and beaming in her beak
Fresh seeds, and such like dainties won
By patient search: But they are gone
Whom she did brood and dote upon.
Oh, if there be a mortal ear
My sorrowful complaint to hear;
If manly breast is ever stirred
By wrong done to a helpless bird;
To them for quick redress I cry.’
Moved by the prayer, and drawing nigh,
On alder branch thou didst espy
How sitting lonely and forlorn,
His breast was pressed upon a thorn,
Unknowing that he leaned thereon.
Then bidding him take heart again,
Thou rannest down into the lane
To seek the doer of this wrong.
Nor under hedgerow hunted long,
When, sturdy, rude and sun-embrowned,
A child thy earnest seeking found.
To him in sweet and modest tone
Thou madest straight thy errand known;
With gentle eloquence did'st show
(Things erst he surely did not know,)
How great an evil he had done:
How, when next year the mild May sun
Renewed its warmth, this shady lane
No timid birds would haunt again;
And how around his mother's door
The robins, yearly guests before
He knew their names, would come no more.
But if his prisoners he released
Before their little bosoms ceased
To palpitate, each coming year
Would find them gladly reäppear
To sing his praises everywhere,
The sweetest, dearest songs to hear.
And afterwards, when came the term
Of ripened corn, the robber worm
Would hunt through every blade and turn,
Impatient thus his smile to earn.
Beneath yon flowering alder bough?
Therefrom a little plaintive voice,
That did at early morn rejoice,
Makes a most sad yet sweet complaint,
Saying; ‘My heart is very faint
With its unutterable wo.
What shall I do, where shall I go,
My cruel anguish to abate?
Oh, my poor desolated mate!
Dear Cherry, will our hawbush seek
Joyful, and beaming in her beak
Fresh seeds, and such like dainties won
By patient search: But they are gone
Whom she did brood and dote upon.
Oh, if there be a mortal ear
45
If manly breast is ever stirred
By wrong done to a helpless bird;
To them for quick redress I cry.’
Moved by the prayer, and drawing nigh,
On alder branch thou didst espy
How sitting lonely and forlorn,
His breast was pressed upon a thorn,
Unknowing that he leaned thereon.
Then bidding him take heart again,
Thou rannest down into the lane
To seek the doer of this wrong.
Nor under hedgerow hunted long,
When, sturdy, rude and sun-embrowned,
A child thy earnest seeking found.
To him in sweet and modest tone
Thou madest straight thy errand known;
With gentle eloquence did'st show
(Things erst he surely did not know,)
How great an evil he had done:
How, when next year the mild May sun
46
No timid birds would haunt again;
And how around his mother's door
The robins, yearly guests before
He knew their names, would come no more.
But if his prisoners he released
Before their little bosoms ceased
To palpitate, each coming year
Would find them gladly reäppear
To sing his praises everywhere,
The sweetest, dearest songs to hear.
And afterwards, when came the term
Of ripened corn, the robber worm
Would hunt through every blade and turn,
Impatient thus his smile to earn.
At first, flushed, angrily, and proud,
He answered thee with laughter loud
And brief retort. But thou did'st speak
So mild, so earnestly did'st seek
To change his mood, in wonder first
He eyed thee, then no longer durst
Raise his bold glances to thy face;
But looking down, began to trace,
With little naked foot and hand,
Thoughtful devices in the sand.
And when at last thou did'st relate
The sad affliction of the mate
When to the well known spot she came,
He hung his head for very shame.
His penitential tears to hide,
His face averted, while he cried;
‘Here take them all, I've no more pride
In climbing up to rob a nest:
I've better feelings in my breast.’
He answered thee with laughter loud
And brief retort. But thou did'st speak
So mild, so earnestly did'st seek
To change his mood, in wonder first
47
Raise his bold glances to thy face;
But looking down, began to trace,
With little naked foot and hand,
Thoughtful devices in the sand.
And when at last thou did'st relate
The sad affliction of the mate
When to the well known spot she came,
He hung his head for very shame.
His penitential tears to hide,
His face averted, while he cried;
‘Here take them all, I've no more pride
In climbing up to rob a nest:
I've better feelings in my breast.’
Then thanking him with heart and eyes,
Thou tookest from his grasp the prize,
And bid the little freedmen rise.
But when thou sawest how too weak
Their pinions were, the nest did seek,
And called thy client: Down he flew
Instant, and with him Cherry too.
And flitting after, not a few
Of the minuter feathered race
Filled with their chirpings all the place:
From hedge and pendant branch and vine
Recounted still that deed of thine;
Still sang thy praises o'er and o'er
Gladly: more heartily, be sure,
Were praises never sung before.
Thou tookest from his grasp the prize,
And bid the little freedmen rise.
But when thou sawest how too weak
Their pinions were, the nest did seek,
And called thy client: Down he flew
48
And flitting after, not a few
Of the minuter feathered race
Filled with their chirpings all the place:
From hedge and pendant branch and vine
Recounted still that deed of thine;
Still sang thy praises o'er and o'er
Gladly: more heartily, be sure,
Were praises never sung before.
Beholding thee, they understand
(These Minnesingers of the land)
How thou apart from all dost stand
Full of great love and tenderness
For all God's creatures: these express
Thy hazel eyes. With life instinct
All things that are, to thee are linked
By subtle ties; and none so mean,
Or loathsome, hast thou ever seen,
But wonderous in make hath been.
Compassionate, thou knowest none
Of insect tribes beneath the sun
That thou can'st set thy heel upon.
A sympathy thou hast with wings
In groves, and with all living things.
Unmindful if they walk or crawl,
The same arm shelters each and all,
The shadow of the curse and fall
Alike impends. Ah, truly great,
Who strivest earnestly and late
A single atom to abate
Of helpless wo and misery.
For very often thou dos't see
How sadly and how helplessly
A pleading face looks up to thee.
Therefore it is, thou can'st not choose
With petty tyranny to abuse
Thy higher gifts: And justly fear
The feeblest worm of earth or air
In thy heart's judgment to condemn,
Since God made thee, and God made them.
(These Minnesingers of the land)
How thou apart from all dost stand
Full of great love and tenderness
For all God's creatures: these express
Thy hazel eyes. With life instinct
All things that are, to thee are linked
By subtle ties; and none so mean,
Or loathsome, hast thou ever seen,
But wonderous in make hath been.
Compassionate, thou knowest none
49
That thou can'st set thy heel upon.
A sympathy thou hast with wings
In groves, and with all living things.
Unmindful if they walk or crawl,
The same arm shelters each and all,
The shadow of the curse and fall
Alike impends. Ah, truly great,
Who strivest earnestly and late
A single atom to abate
Of helpless wo and misery.
For very often thou dos't see
How sadly and how helplessly
A pleading face looks up to thee.
Therefore it is, thou can'st not choose
With petty tyranny to abuse
Thy higher gifts: And justly fear
The feeblest worm of earth or air
In thy heart's judgment to condemn,
Since God made thee, and God made them.
1846.
50
A PARABLE.
I lay one night and saw a dream
That thus, Irene appeared:
I saw sit shivering by a stream
A maiden silken-haired.
That thus, Irene appeared:
I saw sit shivering by a stream
A maiden silken-haired.
Her tender arms dejectly crossed,
Her radiant head bent down;
In melancholy fancies lost,
Her eyelids sought the ground.
Her radiant head bent down;
In melancholy fancies lost,
Her eyelids sought the ground.
‘All things in nature harmonize,
And sorrows joys enhance;
Why when the sunshine golden lies,
Art thou in mournful trance?
And sorrows joys enhance;
Why when the sunshine golden lies,
Art thou in mournful trance?
51
‘Why mournest thou?’ I said, and took
Her hands within mine own.
—All calmness straight my soul forsook
With tenderness o'erflown.
Her hands within mine own.
—All calmness straight my soul forsook
With tenderness o'erflown.
But lo, while thus the child apart
My arms encircling held,
And pressed against my throbbing heart,
Her bosom throbbed and swelled;
My arms encircling held,
And pressed against my throbbing heart,
Her bosom throbbed and swelled;
My lifted eyes a mocking crowd
Beheld about us stand:
With well-bred air each phantom bowed,
And smiled behind his hand.
Beheld about us stand:
With well-bred air each phantom bowed,
And smiled behind his hand.
‘Why smile ye, Sirs?’—I briefly cried:
‘Why come ye here at all?’
‘Faith,’ spoke a Shade, ‘thy bosom's pride
Hath sat beside us all!
‘Why come ye here at all?’
‘Faith,’ spoke a Shade, ‘thy bosom's pride
Hath sat beside us all!
52
‘We, as you see us standing here,
In turn have shared her heart.
A new Alcina charms thy ear,
And thou her Roland art.
In turn have shared her heart.
A new Alcina charms thy ear,
And thou her Roland art.
‘Not long its fragrance keeps the rose
That blooms to every gale.
For her who broadcast love bestows,
My heart is cased in mail.’
That blooms to every gale.
For her who broadcast love bestows,
My heart is cased in mail.’
Thus spoke in courteous tones the Shade,
Sarcastic smiled and turned.
With blushes burning stood the maid;
For me,—I no more burned!
Sarcastic smiled and turned.
With blushes burning stood the maid;
For me,—I no more burned!
Read me this parable, Irene,
That I may judge aright
If visions such by day are seen,
Or only haunt the night.
That I may judge aright
If visions such by day are seen,
Or only haunt the night.
1846.
53
TO ALCINA.
Cease to move me, gentle Venus,
Thou Minerva, spread between us
All thy books: That what is heinous
In her treating,
I repeating
Once for all, may then forget her.
(Banishment than hate is better.)
Thou Minerva, spread between us
All thy books: That what is heinous
In her treating,
I repeating
Once for all, may then forget her.
(Banishment than hate is better.)
How is this?—her eyes are tender,
Softly smiles she, white and slender
Are her hands!—The Furies lend her
Charms. Enchanting
Flies she panting,
To my bosom: Taken,—warmèd,
She is to an asp transformèd!
Softly smiles she, white and slender
Are her hands!—The Furies lend her
Charms. Enchanting
Flies she panting,
To my bosom: Taken,—warmèd,
She is to an asp transformèd!
54
Out upon my childish dreaming,
Out upon the cheating seeming,
That deceived me! Crafty, gleaming,
Saw I never
How for ever
In her hand a blade was holden,
Sheath whereof was silk and golden.
Out upon the cheating seeming,
That deceived me! Crafty, gleaming,
Saw I never
How for ever
In her hand a blade was holden,
Sheath whereof was silk and golden.
Well, despise me if thou choosest:
Nothing by thy hate thou losest.
Heart of mine alone refuseth
To be chided,
To be guided
Into hating where it perished.
(Better, loving, had it perished!)
Nothing by thy hate thou losest.
Heart of mine alone refuseth
To be chided,
To be guided
Into hating where it perished.
(Better, loving, had it perished!)
1846.
55
TOCCOA.
Can I forget that happiest day,
That happiest day of all the year,
When on the sloping rock I lay,
Toccoa dripping near?
The lifted wonder of thy eyes
The marvel of thy soul expressed.
Aloft I saw serenest skies,
Below, thy heaving breast.
That happiest day of all the year,
When on the sloping rock I lay,
Toccoa dripping near?
The lifted wonder of thy eyes
The marvel of thy soul expressed.
Aloft I saw serenest skies,
Below, thy heaving breast.
56
On wings of mist, in robes of spray
Long trailed, and flowing wide and white,
Adown the mountain steep and gray
We saw Toccoa glide.
Her garments sweeping through the vale,
Began the whispering leaves to wake,
And wafted like a tiny sail
A leaf across the lake.
Long trailed, and flowing wide and white,
Adown the mountain steep and gray
We saw Toccoa glide.
Her garments sweeping through the vale,
Began the whispering leaves to wake,
And wafted like a tiny sail
A leaf across the lake.
The murmur of the falling shower
Which did the solitude increase,
We heard; the cool and happy hour
Filled our young hearts with peace.
Thou satest with a maiden grace,
Thou sawest the rugged rocks and hoary,
As with a half-uplifted face
Thou listenedst to my story.
Which did the solitude increase,
We heard; the cool and happy hour
Filled our young hearts with peace.
Thou satest with a maiden grace,
Thou sawest the rugged rocks and hoary,
As with a half-uplifted face
Thou listenedst to my story.
How many of the banished race,
Those old red warriors of the bow,
Have slumbered in this shadowy place,
Have watched Toccoa flow.
Perchance, where now we sit, they laid
Their arms, and raised a boastful chaunt,
While through the gorgeous Autumn shade
The sunshine shot aslant.
Those old red warriors of the bow,
Have slumbered in this shadowy place,
Have watched Toccoa flow.
57
Their arms, and raised a boastful chaunt,
While through the gorgeous Autumn shade
The sunshine shot aslant.
One night, a hideous howling night,
The black boughs swaying overhead,—
Three painted Braves across the height
A false Pe-ro-kah led.
Bright were her glances, bright her smiles,
Wonderous her waving length of hair,
(Ye who descend through slippery wiles,
A maiden's eyes beware!)
The black boughs swaying overhead,—
Three painted Braves across the height
A false Pe-ro-kah led.
Bright were her glances, bright her smiles,
Wonderous her waving length of hair,
(Ye who descend through slippery wiles,
A maiden's eyes beware!)
What saw these swarthy Cherokees
In the deep darkness on the brink?
They saw a red fire through the trees,
Through the tossed branches wave and wink;
They saw pale faces white and dreaming,
Clutched their keen knives, and held their breath,
—All this was but a cheating seeming,
For them, not for the phantoms death.
In the deep darkness on the brink?
They saw a red fire through the trees,
Through the tossed branches wave and wink;
They saw pale faces white and dreaming,
Clutched their keen knives, and held their breath,
—All this was but a cheating seeming,
For them, not for the phantoms death.
58
Spoke then the temptress—(maid, or devil,)
‘Let the pale sleepers sleep no more!’
Whoop!—three good bounds on solid rock,
Then empty blackness for a floor.
Yelled the fierce Braves with rage and fright,
With fright their bristling war plumes rose:
On these down fluttering, did the night
Her jaws sepulchral close.
‘Let the pale sleepers sleep no more!’
Whoop!—three good bounds on solid rock,
Then empty blackness for a floor.
Yelled the fierce Braves with rage and fright,
With fright their bristling war plumes rose:
On these down fluttering, did the night
Her jaws sepulchral close.
These rocks tall-lifted, rent apart,
This Indian legend old
To thee, enchantress as thou art,
A warning truth unfold.
Who love, 'mid midnight dangers stand,
To them false fires wink:
Accurséd be the evil hand
That beckons to the brink.
This Indian legend old
To thee, enchantress as thou art,
A warning truth unfold.
Who love, 'mid midnight dangers stand,
To them false fires wink:
Accurséd be the evil hand
That beckons to the brink.
1845.
Toccoa and Tallulah, two falls in Upper Georgia. The first a mere rivulet falling in seldom more than a shower of spray from the edge of a lofty cliff into a lovely and secluded valley; the last, an impetuous torrent, raging down the gigantic granite steps at the head of a barranca upwards of a thousand feet deep, and whose gloomy grandeur is most impressive when a black cloud closes the narrow aperture overhead, and the towering precipices on either hand reverberate the deafening crash of the thunder.
59
TALLULAH.
Recollect thou, in thunder
How Tallulah spoke to thee,
When thy little face with wonder
Lifted upwards, rocks asunder
Riven, shattered,
Black and battered,
Thou aloft didst see?
How Tallulah spoke to thee,
When thy little face with wonder
Lifted upwards, rocks asunder
Riven, shattered,
Black and battered,
Thou aloft didst see?
Downward stalking through Tempesta,
Did a giant shape appear.
All the waters leaping after
Hound-like, with their thunder-laughter
Shook the valley
Teocalli,
Hill-top bleak and bare.
Did a giant shape appear.
All the waters leaping after
Hound-like, with their thunder-laughter
Shook the valley
Teocalli,
Hill-top bleak and bare.
60
Vast and ponderous, of granite,
Cloud enwrapt his features were.
In his great calm eyes emotion
Glimmered none; and like an ocean
Billowy, tangled,
Foam bespangled
Backward streamed his hair.
Cloud enwrapt his features were.
In his great calm eyes emotion
Glimmered none; and like an ocean
Billowy, tangled,
Foam bespangled
Backward streamed his hair.
On his brow like dandelions
Nodded pines: the solid floor
Rocked and reeled beneath his treading,
Black on high a tempest spreading,
Pregnant, passive,
As with massive
Portal, closed the corridor.
Nodded pines: the solid floor
Rocked and reeled beneath his treading,
Black on high a tempest spreading,
Pregnant, passive,
As with massive
Portal, closed the corridor.
Frighted, sobbing, clinging to me
In an agony of dread,
Sawest thou this form tremendous
Striding down the steep stupendous
With the torrent:
Night abhorrent
Closing overhead.
In an agony of dread,
Sawest thou this form tremendous
Striding down the steep stupendous
With the torrent:
Night abhorrent
Closing overhead.
61
Then my heart dissembling courage,
That thine own so loudly beat.
Comfort thee, I said, poor trembler:
Providence is no dissembler.
Higher power
Guards each flower
Blooming at thy feet.
That thine own so loudly beat.
Comfort thee, I said, poor trembler:
Providence is no dissembler.
Higher power
Guards each flower
Blooming at thy feet.
Flushed and tearful from my bosom
Thereat thou did'st lift thy face.
Blue and wide thy eyes resplendent,
Turned upon the phantom pendent,
Whose huge shadow
Overshadowed
All the gloomy place.
Thereat thou did'st lift thy face.
Blue and wide thy eyes resplendent,
Turned upon the phantom pendent,
Whose huge shadow
Overshadowed
All the gloomy place.
Back revolving into granite,
Foam and fall and nodding pine,
Sank the phantom. Slantwise driven
Through the storm-cloud rent and riven,
Sunshine glittered
And there twittered—
Birds in every vine
Foam and fall and nodding pine,
Sank the phantom. Slantwise driven
Through the storm-cloud rent and riven,
Sunshine glittered
And there twittered—
Birds in every vine
62
Then sonorous from the chasm
Pealed a voice distinct and loud:
‘Innocence and God-reliance
Set all evil at defiance.
Maiden, by these,
(As by snow, trees,)
Evil heads are bowed.’
Pealed a voice distinct and loud:
‘Innocence and God-reliance
Set all evil at defiance.
Maiden, by these,
(As by snow, trees,)
Evil heads are bowed.’
1845.
63
ON THE DEATH OF A KINSMAN.
I see an Eagle winging to the sun—
Who sayeth him nay?
He glanceth down from where his wing hath won:
His heart is stout, his flight is scarce begun,—
Oh hopes of clay!
Who sayeth him nay?
He glanceth down from where his wing hath won:
His heart is stout, his flight is scarce begun,—
Oh hopes of clay!
Saw he not how upon the cord was lain
A keen swift shaft;
How Death wrought out in every throbbing vein,
In every after agony of pain,
His bitter craft!
A keen swift shaft;
How Death wrought out in every throbbing vein,
In every after agony of pain,
His bitter craft!
64
Like old Demetrius, the sun had he
Beheld so long,
Now things of earth no longer could he see,
And in his ear sang Immortality
A pleasant song.
Beheld so long,
Now things of earth no longer could he see,
And in his ear sang Immortality
A pleasant song.
Icarus like, he fell when warm and near
The sunshine smiled:
He rose strong-pinioned in his high career—
—Thy dust remains, thy glorious spirit where,
Minerva's child?
The sunshine smiled:
He rose strong-pinioned in his high career—
—Thy dust remains, thy glorious spirit where,
Minerva's child?
Therefore him Fame had written fair and high
Upon her scroll,
Who fell like sudden meteor from the sky,
Who strenuous to win at last did die
E'en at the goal.
Upon her scroll,
Who fell like sudden meteor from the sky,
Who strenuous to win at last did die
E'en at the goal.
June 21st, 1843.
65
TO ANNE.
Disconsolate and ill at ease
The heart that is, a future sees
Affording nought to cheer or please.
The heart that is, a future sees
Affording nought to cheer or please.
But she that owns a quiet mind
To good or evil fate resigned,
No great unhappiness can find
To good or evil fate resigned,
No great unhappiness can find
In any lot. A child in years,
Already have maturer cares
Oppressed thee, and thy eyes to tears
Already have maturer cares
Oppressed thee, and thy eyes to tears
No strangers are. Fair, fresh, and young,
Thrice bitterly thy heart was wrung.
Thrice bitterly thy heart was wrung.
66
For what had they to do with thee,
In thy spring days, despondency,
Or any woful mysteries?
In thy spring days, despondency,
Or any woful mysteries?
Yet when thy eyes were no more blind
With weeping, self-possessed, resigned,
Preëminent arose thy mind.
With weeping, self-possessed, resigned,
Preëminent arose thy mind.
And resolute in doing well,
Didst henceforth teach thy breast to swell
With nought that maiden will could quell.
Didst henceforth teach thy breast to swell
With nought that maiden will could quell.
Thou sawest how man breathes a day
Before re-mingling with his clay:
How feeble in Almighty ken
The most omnipotent of men
Appears: And how the longest life
Is one short struggle in the strife
That rocks the world from age to age.
Before re-mingling with his clay:
How feeble in Almighty ken
The most omnipotent of men
Appears: And how the longest life
Is one short struggle in the strife
That rocks the world from age to age.
67
What worthy hand may write the page
Whose Alexandrine words unbind
Thy upwardly directed mind?
Whose Alexandrine words unbind
Thy upwardly directed mind?
One beat triumphant of the wings,
And dust no more about thee clings,
And all the galaxy of things
And dust no more about thee clings,
And all the galaxy of things
Intangible and vast, expand,
So that thou mayest safely stand
On hitherto a quaking sand.
So that thou mayest safely stand
On hitherto a quaking sand.
Yet must this excellence be wrought
Not by companionship with thought
Not by companionship with thought
Alone: By tracing down the stream
Of life, the glitter of a dream:
Of life, the glitter of a dream:
By repetition vain of creeds:
No,—it is by thy deeds—THY DEEDS,
The flowers will o'ertop the weeds
No,—it is by thy deeds—THY DEEDS,
The flowers will o'ertop the weeds
68
In thy God's-garden. Cheerfully
Do that allotted is to thee,
And fashion out thy destiny;
Do that allotted is to thee,
And fashion out thy destiny;
So that the tomb-doors may not be
Dreaded and dark, but ope to thee
A heaven far as thou can'st see.
Dreaded and dark, but ope to thee
A heaven far as thou can'st see.
1846.
69
THE TWO GIVERS.
Every morning, every morrow,
When at noon I cross the river,
Thee I thank right heartily
That thou art so kind a giver.
When at noon I cross the river,
Thee I thank right heartily
That thou art so kind a giver.
There it is, we nightly linger,
Gazing down into the stream;
It is like a nightly vision,
It is like a pleasant dream.
Gazing down into the stream;
It is like a nightly vision,
It is like a pleasant dream.
For we see, in silence standing
With thy fingers locked in mine,
In the waters darkly flowing
All the greater planets shine.
With thy fingers locked in mine,
In the waters darkly flowing
All the greater planets shine.
70
From the bridge and from the barges
On the river, redder lights
Gleam: Beyond the sleeping village
Others show along the heights.
On the river, redder lights
Gleam: Beyond the sleeping village
Others show along the heights.
All the city lies behind us,
Like a hive with busy cells;
And it warns how time is flying,
By the chiming of its bells.
Like a hive with busy cells;
And it warns how time is flying,
By the chiming of its bells.
All the city lies behind us,
And the toil of human hands:
But the better God-creation
Visible before us stands.
And the toil of human hands:
But the better God-creation
Visible before us stands.
When Diana dimly rising
Through the openwork of trees,
On the cliff-sides, on the steeples
Travels down by slow degrees
Through the openwork of trees,
On the cliff-sides, on the steeples
Travels down by slow degrees
71
Silently the pallid splendor,
Till behind our shadows stream,
Like the shapes uncouth and dismal
We encounter in a dream.
Till behind our shadows stream,
Like the shapes uncouth and dismal
We encounter in a dream.
Then the cool and quiet hour
Tranquillizes all my soul;
I no longer thirst for wisdom
And for worldly self-control.
Tranquillizes all my soul;
I no longer thirst for wisdom
And for worldly self-control.
Thee I thank with tenderness,
That thou bearest with my faults;
Knowing thou dost love me truly,
All my better self exalts.
That thou bearest with my faults;
Knowing thou dost love me truly,
All my better self exalts.
And with stronger gratitude
Thank the Universal Giver,
For the cool and quiet evening,
For the woods and flowing river.
Thank the Universal Giver,
For the cool and quiet evening,
For the woods and flowing river.
72
Grateful most that he hath planted
Pleasure in these hearts of ours,
Not in works and world endeavors,
But the sight and scent of flowers.
Pleasure in these hearts of ours,
Not in works and world endeavors,
But the sight and scent of flowers.
1846.
73
WHY SHE LOVES ME.
It is happiness to be
Loved by one so good as she,
Loved, and that so tenderly.
Loved by one so good as she,
Loved, and that so tenderly.
‘Why is it she loves me so?’
Into the deep woods I go
Pondering, that I may know.
Into the deep woods I go
Pondering, that I may know.
Underneath the branches spread
Green and tentlike overhead,
Full of happiness I tread.
Green and tentlike overhead,
Full of happiness I tread.
Soon I find a pleasant seat
Hidden from the summer heat,
Leaves and flowers at my feet.
Hidden from the summer heat,
Leaves and flowers at my feet.
74
Opposite, around a tree
Climbs a vine, most tenderly
Clasping it and fair to see.
Climbs a vine, most tenderly
Clasping it and fair to see.
Through the fanlike leaves appear
Pendulous like braids of hair,
Slender bunches everywhere.
Pendulous like braids of hair,
Slender bunches everywhere.
Truly now I understand
Why, and guided by what hand,
I alone her heart command.
Why, and guided by what hand,
I alone her heart command.
Outwardly she sees me rough:
That my heart of better stuff
Is,—she knoweth well enough.
That my heart of better stuff
Is,—she knoweth well enough.
What is it to her or me,
If of all ill-judged I be,
So that understandeth she.
If of all ill-judged I be,
So that understandeth she.
75
Well, if she can trust me so,
When the winds begin to blow,
Place of shelter shall she know.
When the winds begin to blow,
Place of shelter shall she know.
During Winters long and drear,
When the fruits all disappear,
Snow and sorrow everywhere,
When the fruits all disappear,
Snow and sorrow everywhere,
She shall in my arms remain,
Comforted and quit of pain,
Till the Summers come again.
Comforted and quit of pain,
Till the Summers come again.
1846.
76
THE WELCOME RAIN.
The beating rain
I will with hateful eyes behold again
No more, if it my Love restrain.
I will with hateful eyes behold again
No more, if it my Love restrain.
In haste she goes;
But rains incessant fall, and like a rose
My heart invigorate and fresher grows.
But rains incessant fall, and like a rose
My heart invigorate and fresher grows.
Now must she stay,
Since heaven itself gives reasons for delay;
The long black road and canopy of gray.
Since heaven itself gives reasons for delay;
The long black road and canopy of gray.
She loves me so,
It would be misery for her to go
Uncomforted by me, I dare to know.
It would be misery for her to go
Uncomforted by me, I dare to know.
77
With mournful eyes
She anxiously regards the sullen skies,
And for the dread of going, not of staying, sighs.
She anxiously regards the sullen skies,
And for the dread of going, not of staying, sighs.
Whene'er she sees
The beating drops, they are the swarming bees
That fetch us honey; so her heart decrees.
The beating drops, they are the swarming bees
That fetch us honey; so her heart decrees.
When I beheld
At dawn the driving clouds, my bosom swelled
With bitter thoughts and inwardly rebelled.
At dawn the driving clouds, my bosom swelled
With bitter thoughts and inwardly rebelled.
For then I thought
That I a hateful patience should be taught,
And she would sit expectant and unsought;
That I a hateful patience should be taught,
And she would sit expectant and unsought;
But now I know,
How over sodden graves meek blossoms blow,
Luxuriant the more for what's below.
How over sodden graves meek blossoms blow,
Luxuriant the more for what's below.
78
Henceforth, no rain
To bear, will I ungratefully complain,
If it this once my Love, my Life, detain.
To bear, will I ungratefully complain,
If it this once my Love, my Life, detain.
1846.
79
LOQUITUR DIANA.
My temples on my arm I lean,
While glides Diana through the screen
Of tall and overhanging trees,
Until my lifted face she sees,
And book spread idly on my knees.
While glides Diana through the screen
Of tall and overhanging trees,
Until my lifted face she sees,
And book spread idly on my knees.
High overheard the leaves are stirred:
From tree to tree, remotely heard
The katydid's incessant call:
Still through the boughs and over all,
The silver shafts of Dian fall.
From tree to tree, remotely heard
The katydid's incessant call:
Still through the boughs and over all,
The silver shafts of Dian fall.
Oh Dian, thou who from thy skies
Dost nightly look into her eyes,
(Her brown eyes unto thee upturned)
Say if her heart hath ever burned
As mine for her hath yearned?
Dost nightly look into her eyes,
80
Say if her heart hath ever burned
As mine for her hath yearned?
Remembers she each summer night
When we beheld thee, from the height,
The silent woods of gloom deliver:
And saw in eddies of the river
Thy arrows fall and shiver.
When we beheld thee, from the height,
The silent woods of gloom deliver:
And saw in eddies of the river
Thy arrows fall and shiver.
Caressingly I held in mine
Her little hands: No joys of wine,
Or gold, or books in mortal ken,
Can yield such happiness again.
—Ah, Dian, why repeat them then?
(Luna loquitur.)Her little hands: No joys of wine,
Or gold, or books in mortal ken,
Can yield such happiness again.
—Ah, Dian, why repeat them then?
‘Why bring them back?—Oh murmur vain!
Doth not the miser count his gain
In coffers hid?—Thou safe and fast
Beneath the lid that shuts the past,
These golden hours hast.
Doth not the miser count his gain
81
Beneath the lid that shuts the past,
These golden hours hast.
What more would'st thou or any one?
A precious heart thy deeds have won
For thee. Behold how earnestly
With lifted eyes she follows me,
Believing that I look on thee.’
A precious heart thy deeds have won
For thee. Behold how earnestly
With lifted eyes she follows me,
Believing that I look on thee.’
1846.
82
THE RISING OF THE RIVER.
While yestereve, still dark and drear
With driving clouds the heavens were;
And strong and fast
The river through the arches past;
With driving clouds the heavens were;
And strong and fast
The river through the arches past;
I crossed the quaking bridge alone,
Against whose pediments of stone
The surging tide
Swept trunks with arms distended wide.
Against whose pediments of stone
The surging tide
Swept trunks with arms distended wide.
With waters flowing broad and red,
The level lands were overspread;
Their early bloom
All withered in a common tomb.
The level lands were overspread;
Their early bloom
All withered in a common tomb.
83
The path so often trod of yore
No longer traced along the shore,
Before my eyes
The gloomy stream, the murky skies.
No longer traced along the shore,
Before my eyes
The gloomy stream, the murky skies.
Oh heart, (I groaned) in such a sea,
Were truth and honor swept from thee,
Which should have been
As rooted forests, firm and green.
Were truth and honor swept from thee,
Which should have been
As rooted forests, firm and green.
The flowers in my breast were drowned
By overwhelming passion;—found
My feet no more
A peaceful path along the shore.
By overwhelming passion;—found
My feet no more
A peaceful path along the shore.
But over rising sins and woes,
Alike, the simple arches rose
Of faith in God,
So that from shore to shore I trod.
Alike, the simple arches rose
Of faith in God,
So that from shore to shore I trod.
84
And when, oh Love, serene and fair
The heavens are, and reäppear
On every lea,
The fragrant bloom, the steadfast tree;
The heavens are, and reäppear
On every lea,
The fragrant bloom, the steadfast tree;
Then richer for these beating rains
When harvest comes, in golden grains
That heart will be,
That trusted in its God and thee.
When harvest comes, in golden grains
That heart will be,
That trusted in its God and thee.
1847.
85
A WRECK.
When the lost Atlantic, drifted
Shoreward, in the surges rolled,
By each wave successive lifted,
Slowly tolled
From the wreck a bell resounding
Solemnly across that sounding,
Where lay corpses manifold.
Shoreward, in the surges rolled,
By each wave successive lifted,
Slowly tolled
From the wreck a bell resounding
Solemnly across that sounding,
Where lay corpses manifold.
So, when wrecked are my desires
On the everlasting Never,
And my heart, with all its fires,
Out forever,
These fond words, with sad vibration
O'er your bosom's desolation
Will lament the dead forever.
On the everlasting Never,
And my heart, with all its fires,
Out forever,
These fond words, with sad vibration
O'er your bosom's desolation
Will lament the dead forever.
1847.
86
THE BOOK OF NATURE.
(“There are two books,” writes Sir Thomas Browne, in the Religio Medici, “from which I collect my divinity; besides that written one of God, another of his servant Nature—that universal and public manuscript, that lies expanded unto the eyes of all.” ------ “Possibly, even the heathens knew better how to join and read these mystical letters, than many Christians, who cast a more careless eye on these common hieroglyphics, and disdain to suck divinity from the flowers of nature.”)
The manuscript of Nature's book
Is open spread to every eye,
But few into the leaves will look
That round them lie.
Is open spread to every eye,
But few into the leaves will look
That round them lie.
In characters both quaint and old,
Yet easy to be understood;
On every hill and vale unrolled,
In every wood.
Yet easy to be understood;
On every hill and vale unrolled,
In every wood.
87
I see the oaks, like belted knights,
With sturdy sinews gird the land;
As Birnam wood besieged the heights
In Malcolm's hand.
With sturdy sinews gird the land;
As Birnam wood besieged the heights
In Malcolm's hand.
The solemn brotherhood of pines,
Like monks slow chaunting in the choir,
Nos miserere: Cypress nuns
In sad attire.
Like monks slow chaunting in the choir,
Nos miserere: Cypress nuns
In sad attire.
But where around the opening glade,
Aslant the golden light descends,
And through alternate sun and shade
The footpath wends;
Aslant the golden light descends,
And through alternate sun and shade
The footpath wends;
And deeper in, the level sward
With cooler shadows overspread—
(Oh page more worthy of award
Than eye hath read!)
With cooler shadows overspread—
(Oh page more worthy of award
Than eye hath read!)
88
From root to top the haws are crowned
With tïaras of snowy bloom,
Through purple violet lips the ground
Exhales perfume.
With tïaras of snowy bloom,
Through purple violet lips the ground
Exhales perfume.
And there, unto the poet's heart,
Illumined with a thousand dyes,
And granite claspings all undone,
The volume lies.
Illumined with a thousand dyes,
And granite claspings all undone,
The volume lies.
Be patient, poet—say the Haws;
The human heart that flowers bears,
Will ripen fruit in autumn days
Of after years.
The human heart that flowers bears,
Will ripen fruit in autumn days
Of after years.
Be humble—breathe the Violets;
More worthily is honour won,
If they a pleasing fragrance find
Who looked for none.
More worthily is honour won,
If they a pleasing fragrance find
Who looked for none.
89
And if thou—say the Calmias,
A pride in exaltation hast,
See how our bloom that crowns the cliff
Wastes every blast.
A pride in exaltation hast,
See how our bloom that crowns the cliff
Wastes every blast.
Love—saith the yellow Jasmine—Love!
In vain the storm menaces him
Who binds his bosom's tendrils round
A steadfast limb.
In vain the storm menaces him
Who binds his bosom's tendrils round
A steadfast limb.
And if indeed a poet's heart
Thou hast, who walkest in this wood,
Believe that God, in fruit or bloom,
Works out some good.
Thou hast, who walkest in this wood,
Believe that God, in fruit or bloom,
Works out some good.
1847.
90
FLOWERS IN ASHES.
Where, with unruffled surface wide,
The waters of the river glide
Between the arches dimly in the early dawn descried;
The waters of the river glide
Between the arches dimly in the early dawn descried;
While musing, Sweet, of thee,—once more
I crossed the bridge as oft of yore,
I saw a shallop issue from the shadow of the shore.
I crossed the bridge as oft of yore,
I saw a shallop issue from the shadow of the shore.
With practised ease the boatman stood,
And dipped his paddle in the flood:
And so the open space was gained, and left behind the wood.
And dipped his paddle in the flood:
And so the open space was gained, and left behind the wood.
The dripping blade, with measured stroke,
In ripples soft the surface broke;
As once Apollo, kissing oft, the nymph Cyrene woke.
In ripples soft the surface broke;
As once Apollo, kissing oft, the nymph Cyrene woke.
91
And, fast pursuing in his wake,
I heard the dimpling eddies break
In murmurs faint, as if they said—Herefrom example take.
I heard the dimpling eddies break
In murmurs faint, as if they said—Herefrom example take.
Unruffled as this river, lies
The stream of life to youthful eyes;
On either bank a wood and mart, and overhead God's skies.
The stream of life to youthful eyes;
On either bank a wood and mart, and overhead God's skies.
Behind thee slopes the pleasant shore,
The tumult of the town before,
And thou, who standest in the stern, hast in thy hand an oar.
The tumult of the town before,
And thou, who standest in the stern, hast in thy hand an oar.
Oh son of toil, whose poet's heart
Grieves from thy quiet woods to part,
And yet whose birthright high it is, to labor in the mart,
Grieves from thy quiet woods to part,
And yet whose birthright high it is, to labor in the mart,
92
To thee, a child, the bloom was sweet;
But manhood loves the crowded street,
And where in closes, loud and clear, the forging hammers beat.
But manhood loves the crowded street,
And where in closes, loud and clear, the forging hammers beat.
But even there may bloom for thee
The blossoms childhood loved to see;
And in the cinders of thy toil, God's fairest flowers be.
The blossoms childhood loved to see;
And in the cinders of thy toil, God's fairest flowers be.
1847.
93
A MAY MORN.
Last night the town was close and warm,
But while we slept, arose a storm:
And now how clear
And cool and fresh the morning air.
But while we slept, arose a storm:
And now how clear
And cool and fresh the morning air.
Between the swarthy trunks I walk,
Which she made lovely with her talk,
Saying;—‘Dear love,
‘I see these branches from above;
Which she made lovely with her talk,
Saying;—‘Dear love,
‘I see these branches from above;
‘And when you are no longer here,
I say—'t was there he called me “dear,”
His pride—his pet;—
So, absent, you are with me yet.’
I say—'t was there he called me “dear,”
His pride—his pet;—
So, absent, you are with me yet.’
94
How still it is!—the city lies
Behind, half hidden from the eyes;
And from the tops
Of trees around the moisture drops.
Behind, half hidden from the eyes;
And from the tops
Of trees around the moisture drops.
A bird with scarlet on his wings,
Down in the meadow sits and sings;
Beneath his weight
The long corn-tassels undulate.
Down in the meadow sits and sings;
Beneath his weight
The long corn-tassels undulate.
The thrush and red-bird in the brake
Flit up and from the blossoms shake,
Across the grass,
A fragrant shower where I pass.
Flit up and from the blossoms shake,
Across the grass,
A fragrant shower where I pass.
Ah, thank God for this peace and rest,
But more for that within my breast—
How with a song
The very river ebbs along.
But more for that within my breast—
How with a song
The very river ebbs along.
95
A song indeed most musical
To him who on death's threshold shall
Revive to know
The faint and melancholy flow.
To him who on death's threshold shall
Revive to know
The faint and melancholy flow.
Yet still the same as when he stood
With musing eyes bent on the flood,
And smiled to hear
The ripples say—‘I love thee, dear!’
With musing eyes bent on the flood,
And smiled to hear
The ripples say—‘I love thee, dear!’
Not that they said so in good sooth,
But that he—(I, in simple truth!)—
Seemed thence to hear
The words that in my bosom were:
But that he—(I, in simple truth!)—
Seemed thence to hear
The words that in my bosom were:
As once she said them with the braid
That bound her throbbing temples, laid
Against my cheek,
So I could even feel her speak.
That bound her throbbing temples, laid
Against my cheek,
So I could even feel her speak.
96
And when she, blushing, ceased,—and I
Was mute with joy—the ripples nigh
Took up the strain,
And said,—‘I love thee, Sweet!’—again.
Was mute with joy—the ripples nigh
Took up the strain,
And said,—‘I love thee, Sweet!’—again.
And thenceforth all that once was fair,
Grew fairer:—what unsightly were,
Divine, if she
But praised them incidentally.
Grew fairer:—what unsightly were,
Divine, if she
But praised them incidentally.
For she is dearer to me, than
Was ever woman yet to man;
Are one, be sure,
Her life and mine for evermore.
Was ever woman yet to man;
Are one, be sure,
Her life and mine for evermore.
1847.
97
LOVE'S HERALDRY.
Down where the river flows between
The city and the dusky screen
Of willow branches long and green
That dim the village lights behind,
With her who is so debonaire,
In excellence of heart and mind
So far—so far beyond compeer,
What happiness I find.
The city and the dusky screen
Of willow branches long and green
That dim the village lights behind,
With her who is so debonaire,
In excellence of heart and mind
So far—so far beyond compeer,
What happiness I find.
There yestereve, with hands in mine
Fast locked as in the olden time,
And words more musical than rhyme
To ears that listened wistfully
Yet scarce were satisfied—we stood
The queenly Dian's disk to see
Above the distant cypress wood
Soar up triumphantly.
Fast locked as in the olden time,
And words more musical than rhyme
To ears that listened wistfully
Yet scarce were satisfied—we stood
The queenly Dian's disk to see
Above the distant cypress wood
Soar up triumphantly.
98
And while we talked of what should be
Our future lot, nor could agree
Therein at first—‘Heart's-dearest, see
(I said)—a cloudy fess in twain
Divides Diana's silver shield.’
And while she gazed, I cried again;
‘Superior in the azure field,
Behold it ONE again!’
Our future lot, nor could agree
Therein at first—‘Heart's-dearest, see
(I said)—a cloudy fess in twain
Divides Diana's silver shield.’
And while she gazed, I cried again;
‘Superior in the azure field,
Behold it ONE again!’
So chid I gently. She is wise,
And quick to understand; her eyes
Turned to me with a glad surprise,
And such deep love, that I—(I own,)
When on my breast her head she laid,
Found my philosophy all flown.
For who hath courage to upbraid
A queen upon her throne?
And quick to understand; her eyes
Turned to me with a glad surprise,
And such deep love, that I—(I own,)
When on my breast her head she laid,
Found my philosophy all flown.
For who hath courage to upbraid
A queen upon her throne?
1847.
99
LAST GIFT.
Illustrious thy name shall be
To all who love in future years:
These little songs I sing to thee,
Thy tears,
Thy many griefs will I bequeath
To uncreated heirs.
To all who love in future years:
These little songs I sing to thee,
Thy tears,
Thy many griefs will I bequeath
To uncreated heirs.
Now, hidden are the quiet ways
That bring thee to my bosom nigh;
And when is spent thy term of days,
Thou'lt die:
Then shall thy virtues live in praise
That riches cannot buy.
That bring thee to my bosom nigh;
And when is spent thy term of days,
Thou'lt die:
Then shall thy virtues live in praise
That riches cannot buy.
100
Night shall descend upon thy eyes,
Thy lips no more repeat my name;
But all the virtuous and wise
Shall claim
Thee for their sister:—See, they'll say—
Her whom he raised to fame!
Thy lips no more repeat my name;
But all the virtuous and wise
Shall claim
Thee for their sister:—See, they'll say—
Her whom he raised to fame!
1847.
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