 | Through the Gateway |  |
9
DAWN AMONG THE ALPS.
So softly, twice ten myriad morns ago,
The golden-footed Angel of the Day
Lighted on yon o'ertopping towers of snow;
So darkling all the ice-world under lay.
The golden-footed Angel of the Day
Lighted on yon o'ertopping towers of snow;
So darkling all the ice-world under lay.
And on the green knees of those rocky scars,
Ages ere man arose to mark the hours,
The dawn descending kissed awake blue stars
Of gentians, and all tender Alpine flowers.
Ages ere man arose to mark the hours,
The dawn descending kissed awake blue stars
Of gentians, and all tender Alpine flowers.
I, now, one moment in the vast of Time,
With eyes divinely hungered gazing there,
By earthly stairways into Heaven climb,
And pass the gates of Eden unaware.
With eyes divinely hungered gazing there,
By earthly stairways into Heaven climb,
And pass the gates of Eden unaware.
I look, I love, I worship; yet mine eyes
Are held from their desire. I cannot see
What every floweret in its place descries,
Or worship as they worship, conscience-free.
Are held from their desire. I cannot see
What every floweret in its place descries,
Or worship as they worship, conscience-free.
Man is so large before the eyes of man,
He cannot think of Earth but as his own;
All his philosophies have guessed no plan
That leaves him not the lordship and the throne.
He cannot think of Earth but as his own;
All his philosophies have guessed no plan
That leaves him not the lordship and the throne.
10
He is so blind, he cannot see the glory
Of gods hill-haunting, haters of the street;
He hath no ears but for the human story,
Though lives more lovely blossom round his feet.
Of gods hill-haunting, haters of the street;
He hath no ears but for the human story,
Though lives more lovely blossom round his feet.
Hath he considered what a jewel-girth
Of beauty, every hurrying human day,
Doth like a Venus-girdle ring the earth?
For man's eyes only, where's the fool will say?
Of beauty, every hurrying human day,
Doth like a Venus-girdle ring the earth?
For man's eyes only, where's the fool will say?
What flower-life spares he where he digs for gold?
What hill-side leaves he from his steelroad free?
His gaze some apish mimicry will hold
From all the pageantries of cloud and sea.
What hill-side leaves he from his steelroad free?
His gaze some apish mimicry will hold
From all the pageantries of cloud and sea.
Nay, there are eyes, I know not whose, not man's,
For whom the world is fair; some worthier love
Than poets' worship all earth's wonder scans.
We gather crumbs, the feast is far above.
For whom the world is fair; some worthier love
Than poets' worship all earth's wonder scans.
We gather crumbs, the feast is far above.
11
Those shadow-pencilled valleys while I view,
Those snow-domes 'neath the hyacinthine skies,
A Presence is beside me, gazing too,
With richer love than mine, and holier eyes.
Those snow-domes 'neath the hyacinthine skies,
A Presence is beside me, gazing too,
With richer love than mine, and holier eyes.
Or when amid the flowers I kneel, and dream
O'er starry morsels of heaven's sapphire floor,
A larger happiness than mine doth seem
To dote there too, and make my gladness more.
O'er starry morsels of heaven's sapphire floor,
A larger happiness than mine doth seem
To dote there too, and make my gladness more.
Thou whom I know not, when mine eyes delight
In this Thy world, oh, let my spirit be
From self-love loosed and purified of sight,
To love what Thou dost love, at one with Thee!
In this Thy world, oh, let my spirit be
From self-love loosed and purified of sight,
To love what Thou dost love, at one with Thee!
| Through the Gateway | |