 | Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan |  |
23
SECOND SIGHT.
“Sister,” said blind Dara,
“What do you behold?”
Round her and St. Brigid
Flowed the dawn's gold.
“Sister,” said blind Dara,
“Would that I might see
Veils of gold and silver
Drawn on hill and lea!”
“What do you behold?”
Round her and St. Brigid
Flowed the dawn's gold.
“Sister,” said blind Dara,
“Would that I might see
Veils of gold and silver
Drawn on hill and lea!”
Over her and Brigid
Carolled the lark;
Hills were heights of Heaven,
Though their feet were dark.
Dew in the shadow
Pearled the gossamer;
Kine in the meadow
'Gan to low and stir.
Carolled the lark;
Hills were heights of Heaven,
Though their feet were dark.
Dew in the shadow
Pearled the gossamer;
Kine in the meadow
'Gan to low and stir.
Mists from the bogland
Curled like silver smoke,
Young birds were singing
In the arching oak.
To the east and southward
Scarlet grew the world,
And the sun leapt upward,
As a ball is hurled.
Curled like silver smoke,
Young birds were singing
In the arching oak.
To the east and southward
Scarlet grew the world,
And the sun leapt upward,
As a ball is hurled.
24
Brigid, lost in praying,
Touched her sister's eyes;
“Oh,” she said, “my sister,
Dove of God, arise!
Eyes no longer sightless,
See His glory spread!”
Dara, with a loud cry,
Lifted up her head:
Touched her sister's eyes;
“Oh,” she said, “my sister,
Dove of God, arise!
Eyes no longer sightless,
See His glory spread!”
Dara, with a loud cry,
Lifted up her head:
Saw the little rivers
Glide through bogland brown,
Where the yellow iris
Flaunted her gold gown:
Saw that sea of scarlet
Flush on hill and wood;
Praised God's name, rejoicing
That His works were good.
Glide through bogland brown,
Where the yellow iris
Flaunted her gold gown:
Saw that sea of scarlet
Flush on hill and wood;
Praised God's name, rejoicing
That His works were good.
“Yet,” she said, “my sister,
Blind me once again,
Lest His presence in me
Groweth less plain.
Stars and dawn and sunset
Keep till Paradise,
Here His face sufficeth
For my sightless eyes.”
Blind me once again,
Lest His presence in me
Groweth less plain.
Stars and dawn and sunset
Keep till Paradise,
Here His face sufficeth
For my sightless eyes.”
25
“Oh!” she said, “my sister,
Night is beautiful,
Where His face is shining
Who was mocked as fool.
More than star and meteor,
More than moon or sun,
Is the thorn-crowned forehead
Of the Holy One.”
Night is beautiful,
Where His face is shining
Who was mocked as fool.
More than star and meteor,
More than moon or sun,
Is the thorn-crowned forehead
Of the Holy One.”
“Haste,” she said, “and plunge me
Once again in night,
Lest perchance I lose Him,
Gaining my sight.”
Brigid, lost in praying,
Touched her eyes once more,
And the light went fading
Off sea and shore.
Once again in night,
Lest perchance I lose Him,
Gaining my sight.”
Brigid, lost in praying,
Touched her eyes once more,
And the light went fading
Off sea and shore.
All His creatures praise Him,
From daylight to dun,
Stars and moon and cloudland,
And Messer the Sun;
Seas and hills and forests,
And the frozen waste:
Dara in her blindness
Praiseth Him best.
From daylight to dun,
Stars and moon and cloudland,
And Messer the Sun;
Seas and hills and forests,
And the frozen waste:
Dara in her blindness
Praiseth Him best.
| Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan | |