 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
48
IN THE VALLEY
The trees stood up in stillness,
There was no wind to sigh,
Like warm tears fell the sudden rain
Out of the morning sky,
There was no wind to sigh,
Like warm tears fell the sudden rain
Out of the morning sky,
Then ceased; and the autumn quiet
Was broken by no sound,
As the last gold leaves of the maple
Fell wavering to the ground.
Was broken by no sound,
As the last gold leaves of the maple
Fell wavering to the ground.
Then the waking world blushed softly
With tender tints of rose,
And I heard from the far, wild mountains
The clamoring of the crows.
With tender tints of rose,
And I heard from the far, wild mountains
The clamoring of the crows.
And I knew how, high in the heavens,
O'er the forest-tops and the rocks,
They wheeled in the furthest distance
Their ragged and dusky flocks.
O'er the forest-tops and the rocks,
They wheeled in the furthest distance
Their ragged and dusky flocks.
Their faint and broken clamor,
That rang through the cloudy sky,
Seemed calling me out of the quiet,
With harsh, imperious cry.
That rang through the cloudy sky,
Seemed calling me out of the quiet,
With harsh, imperious cry.
As if from the world's dull tumult
Of hurry and strife and wrong,
Beyond the protecting mountains,
A summons sounded strong.
Of hurry and strife and wrong,
Beyond the protecting mountains,
A summons sounded strong.
49
But O, the peace of the valley!
And fain was I to stay.
Clasping such warm, kind hands in mine,
So sheltered and safe alway.
And fain was I to stay.
Clasping such warm, kind hands in mine,
So sheltered and safe alway.
O faint, discordant voices,
O dark, sad birds that call,
Tomorrow, I said, I wander
Beyond the blue mountain-wall.
O dark, sad birds that call,
Tomorrow, I said, I wander
Beyond the blue mountain-wall.
But the valley's peace shall be sweeter
For the blessing I leave behind;
For thoughts like troops of white-winged doves
Sent back to this threshold kind.
For the blessing I leave behind;
For thoughts like troops of white-winged doves
Sent back to this threshold kind.
The love I leave in the gentle house
Shall blossom sweet as a rose;
Shall linger with all summer's warmth,
Untouched by the winter snows.
Shall blossom sweet as a rose;
Shall linger with all summer's warmth,
Untouched by the winter snows.
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |