 | English Roses |  |
THE SONGWRIGHT.
Room for the Songwright setting the wrong right,
Raise him a throne
Grander than fiction, earth's benediction,
Standing alone!
Not the law-maker is the earth-shaker
And real lord,
With his dark vision's narrow decisions
Fenced by the sword;
Not the new argo richer in cargo
Now than the old,—
Corn and the scarlet vices and varlet
Lives and red gold;
Not in the gilded cage that is builded
Up for the king,
He who with tethers wears the gay feathers
But cannot sing.
Raise him a throne
Grander than fiction, earth's benediction,
Standing alone!
Not the law-maker is the earth-shaker
And real lord,
With his dark vision's narrow decisions
Fenced by the sword;
Not the new argo richer in cargo
Now than the old,—
Corn and the scarlet vices and varlet
Lives and red gold;
Not in the gilded cage that is builded
Up for the king,
He who with tethers wears the gay feathers
But cannot sing.
Room for the greater true Legislator
Crowned by no fear,
Swaying affection, ruling reflection
Hearts overhear!
Down in his smithy forging the pithy
Precepts of flame,
Counsels of splendour though shy and tender
As is love's name;
There he is shaping bright the escaping
Flashes of night,
Humanly holding, craftily moulding
Shadows to light.
Lo, from the dimmer deeps comes a glimmer,
Message of morn,
Where by his giving leaps into living
Thought like a thorn.
Room for the master, more than disaster,
Treading it low;
Calm, with his fating finger, creating
Glamour and glow!
Daintily, under pageants and thunder,
Pulling the strings;
Momently making, momently breaking
Countries and kings;
See, beneath iron wheels that environ
Matter and mind,
Largely he measures earth and its treasures
Ruling behind.
Room for his regnant spirit and pregnant
Music and art.
Blest beyond faction, fruiting in action—
Room in the heart!
Crowned by no fear,
Swaying affection, ruling reflection
Hearts overhear!
Down in his smithy forging the pithy
Precepts of flame,
Counsels of splendour though shy and tender
529
There he is shaping bright the escaping
Flashes of night,
Humanly holding, craftily moulding
Shadows to light.
Lo, from the dimmer deeps comes a glimmer,
Message of morn,
Where by his giving leaps into living
Thought like a thorn.
Room for the master, more than disaster,
Treading it low;
Calm, with his fating finger, creating
Glamour and glow!
Daintily, under pageants and thunder,
Pulling the strings;
Momently making, momently breaking
Countries and kings;
See, beneath iron wheels that environ
Matter and mind,
Largely he measures earth and its treasures
Ruling behind.
Room for his regnant spirit and pregnant
Music and art.
Blest beyond faction, fruiting in action—
Room in the heart!
| English Roses | |