 | Flotsam and Jetsam |  |
81
TWO PICTURES.
[From East to West his dark wings spread]
I
From East to West his dark wings spreadAcross the lurid clouds full-fed
With thunder rolling dun and red!
His puissant arm raised zenith high;
His falchion flashing to the sky;
The streaming of his golden hair
Mocking the fiery sunset's glare:—
With eyes that fixed straightforward, burn
With doom,—relentless, ruthless, stern—
And seem to warn: ‘Through endless Time,
Think, think of all the effects of crime!’—
Such the form, high Justice pleads,
The power to conquer Evil needs!
82
II
In saintly robes that simply flow,As white as soft unsullied snow
Or blue as skies that cloudless glow:
While cherubs round her swarm and shine
Through golden atmosphere divine;
Her fair arms crossing, lightly prest
Upon her young maternal breast;
With eyes that upward turned adore
The goodness they for all implore;
Or downward bent in pity, say:
‘Think, think of all that tempts astray!’—
Such the form fond Mercy pleads,
The power to conquer Evil needs!
83
[What matter—what matter—O friend, though the Sea]
I
What matter—what matter—O friend, though the Sea
In lines of silvery fire may slide
O'er the sands so tawny and tender and wide,
Murmuring soft as a bee?—
In lines of silvery fire may slide
O'er the sands so tawny and tender and wide,
Murmuring soft as a bee?—
‘No matter, no matter, in sooth,’ said he:
‘But the sunlit sands and the silvery play,
Are a trustful smile long past away:
—No more to me!’
‘But the sunlit sands and the silvery play,
Are a trustful smile long past away:
—No more to me!’
II
What matter—what matter—dear friend, can it be,
If a long blue stripe, dim-swelling and dark
Beneath the lighter blue headland, may mark
All of the town we can see?—
If a long blue stripe, dim-swelling and dark
Beneath the lighter blue headland, may mark
All of the town we can see?—
‘No matter, no matter, in truth,’ said he:
‘But the streak that fades and fades as we part,
Is a broken voice and a breaking heart:
—No more to me!’
‘But the streak that fades and fades as we part,
Is a broken voice and a breaking heart:
—No more to me!’
1875.
| Flotsam and Jetsam | |