 | The soul's legend |  |
i
L'ENVOI.
Hast
seen a fair rose blow,
Blood-red, then white as snow?
The bird that loves her best
Lights never on her breast,
But sings afar where darkling olives grow.
Blood-red, then white as snow?
The bird that loves her best
Lights never on her breast,
But sings afar where darkling olives grow.
The bird sang clear at morn,
It singeth clear at eve,
Its breast hath felt the thorn;
For oft the rose's scorn,
And oft her love, hath made the sweet bird grieve.
It singeth clear at eve,
Its breast hath felt the thorn;
For oft the rose's scorn,
And oft her love, hath made the sweet bird grieve.
And if its music brings
Most gladness or most grief,
Or if it only sings
To give its wound relief
I know not; but its song is broken, sweet, and brief.
Most gladness or most grief,
Or if it only sings
To give its wound relief
I know not; but its song is broken, sweet, and brief.
ii
Full oft to me at close
Of Autumn eve it sings;
No light wind stirs the rose;
The air is full of wings
Unseen, and in the grass a sound of hidden springs.
Of Autumn eve it sings;
No light wind stirs the rose;
The air is full of wings
Unseen, and in the grass a sound of hidden springs.
Would any follow where
I hear it sing, I say
They shall not find that fair
Lone sunset garden; there
None led me, and to none I show the way.
I hear it sing, I say
They shall not find that fair
Lone sunset garden; there
None led me, and to none I show the way.
Two mighty angels, Love
And Pain, its warders be:
The one is winged to flee,
The other doth not move;
Each bears a flaming sword, and each hath smitten free.
And Pain, its warders be:
The one is winged to flee,
The other doth not move;
Each bears a flaming sword, and each hath smitten free.
Without the garden's gate
A level desert lies;
A dim, colossal Fate
Peers over it, with eyes
Intent, impassive, blank of love or hate.
A level desert lies;
A dim, colossal Fate
Peers over it, with eyes
Intent, impassive, blank of love or hate.
iii
To earth enchained, its vast
Regard still questions doom,
Its stony shadow cast
Across the garden's bloom
Falls, and unlifted lies upon the garden's tomb.
Regard still questions doom,
Its stony shadow cast
Across the garden's bloom
Falls, and unlifted lies upon the garden's tomb.
October 17th, 1870.
| The soul's legend | |