Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
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THE YELLOW LEAF. |
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 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
THE YELLOW LEAF.
My heart is cold, my hand forgets the cunning
Which turned to beauty all it touched and made
Sweet music out of silence, and set running
Bright fountains in the shivering desert shade;
I do not see the treasures that I did
In stocks and stones, by fancy jewelled o'er,
And at my step turned into costly store
Upon my eager way of yesterday,
With revelations all from others hid;
My heart is cold,
These eyes are sad and old,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
Which turned to beauty all it touched and made
Sweet music out of silence, and set running
Bright fountains in the shivering desert shade;
I do not see the treasures that I did
In stocks and stones, by fancy jewelled o'er,
And at my step turned into costly store
Upon my eager way of yesterday,
With revelations all from others hid;
My heart is cold,
These eyes are sad and old,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
87
My mind is dark, and long hath lost the meaning
Of life's dear mystery that once lured me on,
And yet repelled me from the golden gleaning
In miry street or pillared Parthenon;
I am astray, a pilgrim without clue
Tost up and down by every idle whim
And beacons false that leave the path more dim
That dazzled with its ray but yesterday,
When all the heaven was one great rose of blue;
My mind is dark
And meets no guiding mark,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
Of life's dear mystery that once lured me on,
And yet repelled me from the golden gleaning
In miry street or pillared Parthenon;
I am astray, a pilgrim without clue
Tost up and down by every idle whim
And beacons false that leave the path more dim
That dazzled with its ray but yesterday,
When all the heaven was one great rose of blue;
My mind is dark
And meets no guiding mark,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
My hope is faint, and builds no more the visions
Of larger moments when the gates rolled back
And bars went down before its conquering track,
But round me close grey walls and blank derisions;
The weeds are simple weeds, and do not rush
To kingly robes of purple as I pass;
I see no skies reflected on the grass
Or common clay, as yesterday,
And earth remembers not its maiden blush;
My hope is faint
And feels a mortal taint,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
Of larger moments when the gates rolled back
And bars went down before its conquering track,
But round me close grey walls and blank derisions;
The weeds are simple weeds, and do not rush
To kingly robes of purple as I pass;
I see no skies reflected on the grass
Or common clay, as yesterday,
And earth remembers not its maiden blush;
My hope is faint
And feels a mortal taint,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
My sun hath set, the near horizons darken
With unfamiliar shadows that have grown
To shapeless phantoms, but are still my own;
I hear the winter's knell, and would not harken;
The world seems dying with me, as I go
Into the grave-like gloom, that opens arms
To bury me with all those cheating charms
That held their sweeter sway of yesterday,
And silence settles on me like the snow;
My sun hath set
Although I linger yet,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
With unfamiliar shadows that have grown
To shapeless phantoms, but are still my own;
I hear the winter's knell, and would not harken;
The world seems dying with me, as I go
Into the grave-like gloom, that opens arms
To bury me with all those cheating charms
That held their sweeter sway of yesterday,
And silence settles on me like the snow;
My sun hath set
Although I linger yet,
I have no fellow now the leaf is yellow.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |