Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
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I.—HELL.
MEMORY.
I did remember all my sins, they flocked
Like gibbering ghosts and sheeted
Unearthly shapes that mowed at me and mocked,
Unsummoned and ungreeted;
And with a threatening hand and thwart
Set gaze of features grim and swart,
They came and frowned and fleeted.
Like gibbering ghosts and sheeted
Unearthly shapes that mowed at me and mocked,
Unsummoned and ungreeted;
And with a threatening hand and thwart
Set gaze of features grim and swart,
They came and frowned and fleeted.
Old buried vices from forgotten graves
Like skeletons upstarted,
Re-kindling embers pale in sunless caves,
And cursed me and departed;
But, ere they went, they did bequeath
The cerements that hope enwreath,
And left me broken-hearted.
Like skeletons upstarted,
Re-kindling embers pale in sunless caves,
And cursed me and departed;
But, ere they went, they did bequeath
The cerements that hope enwreath,
And left me broken-hearted.
The charities of piety long past,
No more with sweet perfuming
About the error of my footsteps cast
A gentle fair illuming;
And conscience, with its funeral bell
Tolled only, and the thought was hell—
A secret slow consuming.
No more with sweet perfuming
About the error of my footsteps cast
A gentle fair illuming;
And conscience, with its funeral bell
Tolled only, and the thought was hell—
A secret slow consuming.
II.—HEAVEN.
MEMORY.
I did remember all my brother's deeds,
The loyalties and tender
Shy ministries that, out of golden creeds,
Bloomed with no passing splendour;
And in the shadow where he dwelt
That we might shine, I richly felt
The life that was surrender.
The loyalties and tender
Shy ministries that, out of golden creeds,
Bloomed with no passing splendour;
And in the shadow where he dwelt
That we might shine, I richly felt
The life that was surrender.
The services of ripe and reverend use
Whereby he was surrounded,
The healing touch of light, and gifts profuse
In which his path abounded;—
I warmed my wintry heart, and drank
Of these pure fountains, though I shrank
Before his love confounded.
Whereby he was surrounded,
The healing touch of light, and gifts profuse
In which his path abounded;—
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Of these pure fountains, though I shrank
Before his love confounded.
But O the praise was medicine to me yet,
That purged with gracious sifting,
And made a morning that could never set
Among these pageants drifting;
I gathered to me what he wrought
In blessing, and heaven was the thought—
And God's own great uplifting.
That purged with gracious sifting,
And made a morning that could never set
Among these pageants drifting;
I gathered to me what he wrought
In blessing, and heaven was the thought—
And God's own great uplifting.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |