 | New songs of innocence |  |
60
MY REFUGE.
From vain attempts to show to men
The folly of their prejudices,
I turn me to my tower again
That still the lower turmoil misses.
And here I meet my maiden bright—
My maiden-moon of spotless splendour—
With eyes of unabated light,
And open arms how soft and tender!
The folly of their prejudices,
I turn me to my tower again
That still the lower turmoil misses.
And here I meet my maiden bright—
My maiden-moon of spotless splendour—
With eyes of unabated light,
And open arms how soft and tender!
O maiden mine, here will we dwell!
The world beneath in mist is blended;
It scoffs at all the dreams we tell,
Its hopes are low and narrow-minded.
Here will we sit and spin and weave
Our fine-drawn theories and notions,
Nor heed the human waves that heave
About our tower in vain commotions.
The world beneath in mist is blended;
It scoffs at all the dreams we tell,
Its hopes are low and narrow-minded.
Here will we sit and spin and weave
Our fine-drawn theories and notions,
Nor heed the human waves that heave
About our tower in vain commotions.
Here will we sit as lone and far
As ladies fair of old enchanted,
Or dwellers in some distant star,
Or two new souls in Eden planted.
Forgotten Eden! hidden still
Behind some forest's green defences,
And holding, to the fearless will,
Enjoyment both for soul and senses.
As ladies fair of old enchanted,
Or dwellers in some distant star,
Or two new souls in Eden planted.
61
Behind some forest's green defences,
And holding, to the fearless will,
Enjoyment both for soul and senses.
But is it hid in space or time,
This Eden that we seek to enter?
Earth's lofty mountains must we climb,
Or penetrate her hidden centre?
Or pierce the purpose of the years
That wait without the Present's portal?
—Or trust in patience till appears
The gloomy guide to life immortal?
This Eden that we seek to enter?
Earth's lofty mountains must we climb,
Or penetrate her hidden centre?
Or pierce the purpose of the years
That wait without the Present's portal?
—Or trust in patience till appears
The gloomy guide to life immortal?
While thus I muse in dull eclipse
Of that same hope my spirit vaunted,
My maiden lifts her smiling lips
And questioning eyes of love undaunted.
O darling innocence and truth!
Flower of my life, my day's bright morrow,
Within the Eden of thy youth
I rest, and find relief from sorrow.
Of that same hope my spirit vaunted,
My maiden lifts her smiling lips
And questioning eyes of love undaunted.
O darling innocence and truth!
Flower of my life, my day's bright morrow,
Within the Eden of thy youth
I rest, and find relief from sorrow.
| New songs of innocence | |