 | Poems by James Rhoades |  |
137
XXIII.
[O stars, my silent teachers! and thou, moon]
O stars, my silent teachers! and thou, moon,That dost triumphant walk the wide heavens through,
I have lov'd your glorious travels late and soon,
Your still deep drownings in the waters blue:
How is it that ye forsook me? ye, that knew
I could not join for ever all your joy!
“O come, while life is beautiful and new,
Light-hearted child,” ye said, “and merry boy:”
So evermore I shunned the world's annoy,
And ever toward your silent blisses grew;
But ah! though silent, plain ye speak, and well,
Your unimpassion'd utterance of pure light;
Whilst I am dumb for ever—I may not tell
What God has whisper'd in mine ear to-night.
| Poems by James Rhoades | |