 | Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton |  |
187
GLEANINGS.
188
TO MARY SOPHIA SUTTON.
If any it pleases to see
Past work of thy poet,
'Tis wholly from thee and to thee
They have and they owe it;
Hadst thou not its author and it
So tenderly cherish'd,
It would in its burial-pit
Have quietly perish'd.
Past work of thy poet,
'Tis wholly from thee and to thee
They have and they owe it;
Hadst thou not its author and it
So tenderly cherish'd,
It would in its burial-pit
Have quietly perish'd.
And now that the summer is o'er,
And the autumn is ending,
I through the old garden once more
My way have been wending,
To cull, in the mist and the cold
And the wet and the waning,
Whatever of new or of old
Might still be remaining.
And the autumn is ending,
I through the old garden once more
My way have been wending,
To cull, in the mist and the cold
And the wet and the waning,
Whatever of new or of old
Might still be remaining.
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Well knowing towards all that is mine
Thy generous leanings,
I boldly denominate thine
These ultimate gleanings;
And gladly I bring unto thee,
(Strong love's weak expression,)
This handful of flowers to be
Thy special possession.
Thy generous leanings,
I boldly denominate thine
These ultimate gleanings;
And gladly I bring unto thee,
(Strong love's weak expression,)
This handful of flowers to be
Thy special possession.
Thou'lt prize them no less though they tell
That winter is coming;
Yet let them foreshadow as well
Our heavenly homing;
The winter will nip and will sting
And blacken and harden,
But in the soon-following Spring
We'll have a new garden.
That winter is coming;
Yet let them foreshadow as well
Our heavenly homing;
The winter will nip and will sting
And blacken and harden,
But in the soon-following Spring
We'll have a new garden.
November, 1885.
190
All things were made by Him; and without Him
was not any thing made that hath been made.’
191
A HYMN OF CREATION.
I.
God! The Alone, the Infinite, the Whole!
Star-dust condenses, suns burn, planets roll
From Thy Word's fountain, O Creator sole!
All that Thou makest, art Thou; and yet far
More high, deep, wide, than all creations are.
Star-dust condenses, suns burn, planets roll
From Thy Word's fountain, O Creator sole!
All that Thou makest, art Thou; and yet far
More high, deep, wide, than all creations are.
Thou Who of all things the Inventor art,
Whether of spirit-powers we speak, apart
From things material, or of things that be
Subjected to those powers,—the company
Of rolling orbs throughout immensity:—
Whether of spirit-powers we speak, apart
From things material, or of things that be
Subjected to those powers,—the company
Of rolling orbs throughout immensity:—
Thou by Whom, ere our system's flow of things,
Their fatherly first beat Time in his wings
Retain'd; where, scarcely breathing, he did stand
Still, eager, tremulous, till the first sand
Might drop down in the hour-glass in his hand:—
Their fatherly first beat Time in his wings
Retain'd; where, scarcely breathing, he did stand
Still, eager, tremulous, till the first sand
Might drop down in the hour-glass in his hand:—
192
Thou, at whose Voice Space, like a sleep, was broke,
To carry in her arms when she awoke
Another orb, Thy offspring; that her breast
And mother-arms might foster and invest
Our sun, one babe the more to be caress'd:—
To carry in her arms when she awoke
Another orb, Thy offspring; that her breast
And mother-arms might foster and invest
Our sun, one babe the more to be caress'd:—
Thou by whose Word that sun, infill'd with fire
By the eternal sun, mother and sire
Became, and brought at length to blazing birth,
And caused to roll in its own orbit's girth,
Each moonless or moon-lighted planet-earth:—
By the eternal sun, mother and sire
Became, and brought at length to blazing birth,
And caused to roll in its own orbit's girth,
Each moonless or moon-lighted planet-earth:—
Thou, Who with bursting fires and various flow
Of winds above, and floods and seas below,
With masses crystalline, and metal-vein,
And ooze, and sediment, and heaps immane,
Layest the bases strong for heart and brain;—
Of winds above, and floods and seas below,
With masses crystalline, and metal-vein,
And ooze, and sediment, and heaps immane,
Layest the bases strong for heart and brain;—
Who dost lift up the continents, and spread
For every sea its deep, its shifting bed
For every stream; whose operant hand defines
The bearings of all trends and serpentines,
And levels of all risings and inclines:—
For every sea its deep, its shifting bed
For every stream; whose operant hand defines
The bearings of all trends and serpentines,
And levels of all risings and inclines:—
193
Who chillest flowing waves to icy rock,
And rains to snow and hail, and dost unlock
And set all free again with fervent air;
Who all the mineral creatures dost endow
With man-foreseeing uses:—Lo, we bow!
And rains to snow and hail, and dost unlock
And set all free again with fervent air;
Who all the mineral creatures dost endow
With man-foreseeing uses:—Lo, we bow!
II.
God! Whose incessant hand still weaves a robe
Of verdure and of glory for the globe;
Adding cells living to the living cell,
Until to aspects multiform they swell,
With order'd parts, symmetric, parallel;
Of verdure and of glory for the globe;
Adding cells living to the living cell,
Until to aspects multiform they swell,
With order'd parts, symmetric, parallel;
Taking possession wide with leafy hands
And branches for their arms; about the lands
In green profuseness, and in flowers the while
Thy thought inscribing in symbolic style
Gorgeous on every continent and isle:—
And branches for their arms; about the lands
In green profuseness, and in flowers the while
Thy thought inscribing in symbolic style
Gorgeous on every continent and isle:—
Yea, Thine! And none the less because outwrought
By instruments subservient to Thy thought;
Quick honey-seeking wingëd things that fly
From flower to flower, strange pollen to supply,
And make the future all the past outvie;—
By instruments subservient to Thy thought;
Quick honey-seeking wingëd things that fly
From flower to flower, strange pollen to supply,
And make the future all the past outvie;—
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Thine, still, the flowers; in Thy designs array'd;
Their insects, too, are Thine; them hast Thou made,
Thy purposes to struggle toward, and aid;—
In all are shown the wonders of Thy lore
Creative:—Thee, Great Maker, we adore!
Their insects, too, are Thine; them hast Thou made,
Thy purposes to struggle toward, and aid;—
In all are shown the wonders of Thy lore
Creative:—Thee, Great Maker, we adore!
III.
O God, Who, working now in subtler moods
Within the cells where coming sentience broods,
Makest the earth with faunal growths abound
In myriad moving forms of being, found
In homes of air, of water, and of ground;—
Within the cells where coming sentience broods,
Makest the earth with faunal growths abound
In myriad moving forms of being, found
In homes of air, of water, and of ground;—
Artist profound of countless lives that look
And feel all round us, for whom every nook
Of Nature hastens to provide new nests,
Fired by Thy liberal heart, which manifests
So grand a yearning for increase of guests;—
And feel all round us, for whom every nook
Of Nature hastens to provide new nests,
Fired by Thy liberal heart, which manifests
So grand a yearning for increase of guests;—
From Whose fount flow all various things that thrive
On feet or wings, or, watery, float and dive;—
For whose progressive change Thou dost contrive
Needs that them force, by slow but sure degrees,
New strange developments to snatch and seize;—
On feet or wings, or, watery, float and dive;—
For whose progressive change Thou dost contrive
Needs that them force, by slow but sure degrees,
New strange developments to snatch and seize;—
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Who all their motions movest in, and art
Of their sensations the invisible heart;—
Who kindlest passions swift, hot, cold, or slow,
Mothers of thought and gesture:—Thee to know
We seek, and to adore Thee, bending low!
Of their sensations the invisible heart;—
Who kindlest passions swift, hot, cold, or slow,
Mothers of thought and gesture:—Thee to know
We seek, and to adore Thee, bending low!
IV.
God! by Whose lives in nostrils breathed, our race
Is lift above its animal being-base
Unto a noble heritage and place,—
A race of higher power and renown,
All Nature's monarch, all Creation's crown;—
Is lift above its animal being-base
Unto a noble heritage and place,—
A race of higher power and renown,
All Nature's monarch, all Creation's crown;—
Thou, Who instillest thought that weighs the spheres
And dives in problem-seas there to enmesh
Whatever subtly-wandering thing appears,
And mak'st the books be written o'er afresh
With vast increases through advancing years;—
And dives in problem-seas there to enmesh
Whatever subtly-wandering thing appears,
And mak'st the books be written o'er afresh
With vast increases through advancing years;—
Who with oar, sail, steam, rail, and throbbing wire
Dwindlest the earth to bring the peoples nigher,
That far-off lands may mutual aid arrange,
That east with west may commune and exchange,
And north to south be helpful, and not strange;—
Dwindlest the earth to bring the peoples nigher,
That far-off lands may mutual aid arrange,
That east with west may commune and exchange,
And north to south be helpful, and not strange;—
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Beauteous Inspirer of each high attempt
In form, sound, colour, language, to protract
Æsthetic influences death-exempt,
That whoso sees or hears may re-enact
In dreams poetic what the artist dreamt;—
In form, sound, colour, language, to protract
Æsthetic influences death-exempt,
That whoso sees or hears may re-enact
In dreams poetic what the artist dreamt;—
Whose sea of sacred light divine includes
All souls, solicits all, and watches still
For entrance, and with ceaseless patience broods,
And is aggrieved unless it may infill
Each helpless heart with power to do Thy will;—
All souls, solicits all, and watches still
For entrance, and with ceaseless patience broods,
And is aggrieved unless it may infill
Each helpless heart with power to do Thy will;—
Who art the true light, clearly or darkly seen,
That lights us all the womb and grave between,
Illumining the clouds that intervene
Betwixt us and thy Spirit-sun above,
And glowing brightest when we pray and love;—
That lights us all the womb and grave between,
Illumining the clouds that intervene
Betwixt us and thy Spirit-sun above,
And glowing brightest when we pray and love;—
Who beam'st forth in the noble, sweet surprise
That streams, forgiving, from the tearful eyes
Of injured gentleness; and hast a place
In sacred gleams where shines the martyr's face,
In tender smiles where holy hearts embrace;—
That streams, forgiving, from the tearful eyes
Of injured gentleness; and hast a place
In sacred gleams where shines the martyr's face,
In tender smiles where holy hearts embrace;—
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Whose will it is that we severely hate
And wrestle with the lusts that suffocate
Thy Spirit in our hearts, and slowly gain
At length the utter victory, and reign
With Thee triumphant over sin and pain;—
And wrestle with the lusts that suffocate
Thy Spirit in our hearts, and slowly gain
At length the utter victory, and reign
With Thee triumphant over sin and pain;—
Dost Thou not weep in all our righteous tears?
Joyest Thou not in our true joys? Thy years
Are they not mission'd that they shall not cease
To its just stature Thy great masterpiece,
The grand organic manhood, to increase?
Joyest Thou not in our true joys? Thy years
Are they not mission'd that they shall not cease
To its just stature Thy great masterpiece,
The grand organic manhood, to increase?
Yea, Father, even so! And still Thy love
Strives ever to attract our hearts above
To Thee and to Thy high angelic throne;—
And yet to basest levels we how prone,
And deaf to all Thy Word's appealing tone!
Strives ever to attract our hearts above
To Thee and to Thy high angelic throne;—
And yet to basest levels we how prone,
And deaf to all Thy Word's appealing tone!
But now we kneel before Thee, and we say—
Prayer lived in, lived out, this th' appointed way;
O help us then to live e'en as we pray,
Humbly, and taught of God, and striving still
To be obedient to Thy holy will;—
Prayer lived in, lived out, this th' appointed way;
O help us then to live e'en as we pray,
Humbly, and taught of God, and striving still
To be obedient to Thy holy will;—
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Thence rising to the sure unfailing trust;
The good deeds done, no more because we must,
But that we love to do them;—sevenfold peace
All other peace, all ecstasy above;—
Light ever-growing;—ever-largening love.
The good deeds done, no more because we must,
But that we love to do them;—sevenfold peace
All other peace, all ecstasy above;—
Light ever-growing;—ever-largening love.
A NEW YEAR'S GIFT.
The old year, loath, disappears
In wind and in rain,
With passionate gusts and with tears
Protesting in vain.
The new year, eager, receives
The greetings of peace;
And oh may its morns and its eves
Thy blessings increase!
In wind and in rain,
With passionate gusts and with tears
Protesting in vain.
The new year, eager, receives
The greetings of peace;
And oh may its morns and its eves
Thy blessings increase!
If I pray thee a prayer, believe it
A service of love;
If I give thee a gift, receive it
Its worth far above;
I love thee much more than with prayer
Or gift I can speak,
Or hand within hand, or with lips, Love,
Aglow on thy cheek.
A service of love;
If I give thee a gift, receive it
Its worth far above;
I love thee much more than with prayer
Or gift I can speak,
Or hand within hand, or with lips, Love,
Aglow on thy cheek.
199
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
All spiritual questions yet unsolved
Are ask'd by their own answers, which, concealed
At first, are sure at last to be revealed;
Bills safe, or soon or later, to come due;
Safe at the right time to be honoured too;—
Are ask'd by their own answers, which, concealed
At first, are sure at last to be revealed;
Bills safe, or soon or later, to come due;
Safe at the right time to be honoured too;—
For this great universe is not a nest
Of boxes within boxes, to be forced
Lid after lid, until the last and least
Rewards the searcher with, forsooth, at best
An empty rhyme, or an insulting jest.
Of boxes within boxes, to be forced
Lid after lid, until the last and least
Rewards the searcher with, forsooth, at best
An empty rhyme, or an insulting jest.
Shall it be thought that the great Lord o' th' world
Hath twisted up its fibres into curled
Notes of interrogation, whose bent backs
Man shall not straighten, but must still let stand
Crooked and querying still on every hand?
Hath twisted up its fibres into curled
Notes of interrogation, whose bent backs
Man shall not straighten, but must still let stand
Crooked and querying still on every hand?
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Let us not cast such stone at our Creator,
Nor doubt that He will prove full Revelator:—
The world ignores man with her scornful eye;
‘O Sphinx!’ he falters; but she with the cry
‘O Œdipus!’ must finally reply.
Nor doubt that He will prove full Revelator:—
The world ignores man with her scornful eye;
‘O Sphinx!’ he falters; but she with the cry
‘O Œdipus!’ must finally reply.
The promised Cubic City, full of light,
E'en now descending from God's heavenly height,
Has touched the earth. O happy they whose right
It is to find a path that penetrates
Within its twelvefold angel-guarded gates!
E'en now descending from God's heavenly height,
Has touched the earth. O happy they whose right
It is to find a path that penetrates
Within its twelvefold angel-guarded gates!
But sorrow for the nations, who, with creed
Ill understood, or shattered, darkly stray,
And in wastes godless, or false-godded, bleed!
Be gentle with them, teachers, who essay
To show them than their own a better way.
Ill understood, or shattered, darkly stray,
And in wastes godless, or false-godded, bleed!
Be gentle with them, teachers, who essay
To show them than their own a better way.
And oh be ours indeed the better way!
Be ours the truest, worthiest thoughts of Thee,
Thoughts that behold, not dream; adore, not play;
Sincere and brave, large and sublimely free,
Yet led not by ourselves, O Lord, but Thee!
Be ours the truest, worthiest thoughts of Thee,
Thoughts that behold, not dream; adore, not play;
Sincere and brave, large and sublimely free,
Yet led not by ourselves, O Lord, but Thee!
201
THE EARTH DEFACED.
How wonderful, how beautiful, the world!
At its continual creation, Thou,
O Lord, art present Maker;—fashioned thus
Because it is a dwelling-place to be
Of them who shall be dwelling-place for Thee.
At its continual creation, Thou,
O Lord, art present Maker;—fashioned thus
Because it is a dwelling-place to be
Of them who shall be dwelling-place for Thee.
Thou, Father, build'st this palace for Thy child;
A surface river-marbled, flower-emboss'd,
Scribed with old-time inscriptions in its floor;
Close-clustered trees for its arched columns tall,
And sun, and moon, and stars, high over all.
A surface river-marbled, flower-emboss'd,
Scribed with old-time inscriptions in its floor;
Close-clustered trees for its arched columns tall,
And sun, and moon, and stars, high over all.
'Tis we who shear the lustre from the sun,
And glory from the flowers. Wigwams of mud
We build within thy lofty Parthenon,
Between the noble pillars, and deface
With our mean uses the majestic place.
And glory from the flowers. Wigwams of mud
We build within thy lofty Parthenon,
Between the noble pillars, and deface
With our mean uses the majestic place.
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The robes Thou giv'st of very cloth of heaven
We tear to shreds wherewith to bind our limbs
In livid pressures; then to those same bonds
We, self-tied, point; to Thee appeal for ease,
And cry, ‘O God! why didst Thou send us these?’
We tear to shreds wherewith to bind our limbs
In livid pressures; then to those same bonds
We, self-tied, point; to Thee appeal for ease,
And cry, ‘O God! why didst Thou send us these?’
Forth from its marvellous founts the air, new-made,
Creeps glad, with health, to the abodes of men;
We shut our doors in the kind creature's face,
And offer incense of deflowered breath—
Invoking-incense—unto Pain and Death.
Creeps glad, with health, to the abodes of men;
We shut our doors in the kind creature's face,
And offer incense of deflowered breath—
Invoking-incense—unto Pain and Death.
The good soul of the trees and flowers we warn
Off from our homes, and will not have her arm
Cast kindly round us; but, close crowding, stand,
Lest, leaving room amongst us, we begin
Haply to let our gentle lover in:
Off from our homes, and will not have her arm
Cast kindly round us; but, close crowding, stand,
Lest, leaving room amongst us, we begin
Haply to let our gentle lover in:
And though to her, indeed, our very frames
Their being owe, for flowers possess their kin
In our own flesh, we hate her even there,
And make our homes dark, that she may not thrive
E'en in our bodies which she keeps alive.
Their being owe, for flowers possess their kin
In our own flesh, we hate her even there,
And make our homes dark, that she may not thrive
E'en in our bodies which she keeps alive.
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THE BATTLE OF GOD.
Ah, what a day was that! A sweeter ne'er
Oped wonderingly its gentle eyelids mild
On the warm breast of any nursing year.
As looks and smiles a mother on her child,
So Nature on that young morn look'd and smiled.
Oped wonderingly its gentle eyelids mild
On the warm breast of any nursing year.
As looks and smiles a mother on her child,
So Nature on that young morn look'd and smiled.
She wrapp'd it in a robe of fleeciest sky;
Trimm'd it afresh those lamps the poet sees
Burn every flower in odours secretly;
Of each bloom-breathing wind she had, did seize
The richest moments; then said, ‘Dear, take these!’
Trimm'd it afresh those lamps the poet sees
Burn every flower in odours secretly;
Of each bloom-breathing wind she had, did seize
The richest moments; then said, ‘Dear, take these!’
On that same day magnifical, great joy
Lay landscape-like a certain man before,
To whom it seemed there could be no employ
Awaited or conceived, save only o'er
Wide wilds of bliss to wander evermore.
Lay landscape-like a certain man before,
To whom it seemed there could be no employ
Awaited or conceived, save only o'er
Wide wilds of bliss to wander evermore.
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Then in the chamber of his heart there came
A whisper of the Voice that still will bless;—
A naming of the everlasting Name;—
A Presence working the glad heart to impress,
And warm its each beat into thankfulness;—
A whisper of the Voice that still will bless;—
A naming of the everlasting Name;—
A Presence working the glad heart to impress,
And warm its each beat into thankfulness;—
A sense as when a babe, half-sleeping, lies,
And with a gradual dawning comes aware,—
Less by the actual warrant of the eyes,
Than by the consciousness of tenderest care,—
Of presence of its watchful mother there.
And with a gradual dawning comes aware,—
Less by the actual warrant of the eyes,
Than by the consciousness of tenderest care,—
Of presence of its watchful mother there.
And then he heard a solemn, priest-like sound,
Given in his inner spirit, to convey
A sense of ceasing, perfect and profound,—
As if all things around had paused, to say
‘Here endeth the first lesson. Let us pray!’
Given in his inner spirit, to convey
A sense of ceasing, perfect and profound,—
As if all things around had paused, to say
‘Here endeth the first lesson. Let us pray!’
And soon a sob, a sinking, and a sigh,
A trance, a breathless sleep with open eye;
And then a vision stretching heaven-high,
Of loves that kneel and sing, and thoughts that thank,
Incarnate all, like angels rank o'er rank.
A trance, a breathless sleep with open eye;
And then a vision stretching heaven-high,
Of loves that kneel and sing, and thoughts that thank,
Incarnate all, like angels rank o'er rank.
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Out of which heavenly trance ere long he strayed
Where lo! with flowery streets, umbrageous greens,
And palaces, old earth was happy made;
Happy all over with such perfect scenes
As poet, heaven on earth foreseeing, means;—
Where lo! with flowery streets, umbrageous greens,
And palaces, old earth was happy made;
Happy all over with such perfect scenes
As poet, heaven on earth foreseeing, means;—
O blessëd vision of old earth new-made;
The law divine unquestioned and obeyed;
Trod down for ever all things that degrade;
All life by art and poetry refined;
And God-love, man-love, blessing all mankind!
The law divine unquestioned and obeyed;
Trod down for ever all things that degrade;
All life by art and poetry refined;
And God-love, man-love, blessing all mankind!
Was this mere idle dream,—as when, in car
Pendent from earth, in space's solar sea,
With our great globe balloon-wise over me,
I seem'd to float once, voyaging afar
Past moon and planet, nebula and star?
Pendent from earth, in space's solar sea,
With our great globe balloon-wise over me,
I seem'd to float once, voyaging afar
Past moon and planet, nebula and star?
Or was that better earth an orb that goes
In company with our earth, undescried,
As in dead night a traveller walks and knows
Naught of the angel who upon that wide
And desolate heath moves, silent, by his side?
In company with our earth, undescried,
As in dead night a traveller walks and knows
Naught of the angel who upon that wide
And desolate heath moves, silent, by his side?
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Or was this the great vision that still waits
To enter as a fact earth's opening gates;—
A fact which all the prophets true foretell;—
An earth where Christ as King and Lord shall dwell,
In world where all is new, and all is well?
To enter as a fact earth's opening gates;—
A fact which all the prophets true foretell;—
An earth where Christ as King and Lord shall dwell,
In world where all is new, and all is well?
So strive, so reign, Almighty Lord of all!
So greatly win Thy planet-victory!
So gloriously what baffleth bring in thrall!
So strongly work, earth's lasting jubilee
With gladness and with singing to install!
So greatly win Thy planet-victory!
So gloriously what baffleth bring in thrall!
So strongly work, earth's lasting jubilee
With gladness and with singing to install!
And man may work with the great God! Yea, ours
This privilege—all others how beyond!—
To tend the great Man-root until it flowers;
To scorn with godly laughter when despond
Tamely before a hoary hindrance cowers;
This privilege—all others how beyond!—
To tend the great Man-root until it flowers;
To scorn with godly laughter when despond
Tamely before a hoary hindrance cowers;
Effectually the planet to subdue,
And break old savagehood in claw and tusk;
That noble end to trust in and pursue
Which under Nature's half-expressive husk
Lies ever to the base concealed from view;
And break old savagehood in claw and tusk;
That noble end to trust in and pursue
Which under Nature's half-expressive husk
Lies ever to the base concealed from view;
207
To draw our fellows up, as with a cord
Of love, unto their high appointed place;
Till from our state barbaric and abhorred
We do arise unto a royal race,
Becoming blessëd children of the Lord.
Of love, unto their high appointed place;
Till from our state barbaric and abhorred
We do arise unto a royal race,
Becoming blessëd children of the Lord.
THE BEST OF IT.
The seasons swiftly come and go,And still we two remain,
Standing amid the changeful flow
Of joy and pain.
The joy we claim; the pain, not small,
We dimly understand;
But oh, thank God, we live through all
Still hand in hand!
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THE SIGHT OF GOD
The pearl, the amethyst, the gold, which shone
The stately creature's breast so bright upon,
No brilliance lent to her; for she was decked,
I saw, to far more glorious effect
In that life-light she seem'd half to reflect,
The stately creature's breast so bright upon,
No brilliance lent to her; for she was decked,
I saw, to far more glorious effect
In that life-light she seem'd half to reflect,
Half radiate, from her presence; the soft flow
Of breath, and beat of vital pulse, the show
Of growth unflawed, symmetric, and the glow
Of health resplendent, which I must have been
Most dull, if them unthankful I had seen.
Of breath, and beat of vital pulse, the show
Of growth unflawed, symmetric, and the glow
Of health resplendent, which I must have been
Most dull, if them unthankful I had seen.
But then, with what intenser wonder-gaze
I looked upon her face, beheld the blaze
Of light intelligent, observed the streak
And flush of fresh emotion on her cheek,
And saw her soul in every movement speak!
I looked upon her face, beheld the blaze
Of light intelligent, observed the streak
And flush of fresh emotion on her cheek,
And saw her soul in every movement speak!
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The more I looked, the more and more amazed
The marvel made me whereupon I gazed;
But when I marked the love of God arise
In prayer and pureness in her mien and eyes,
And in her hands His faithful charities,
The marvel made me whereupon I gazed;
But when I marked the love of God arise
In prayer and pureness in her mien and eyes,
And in her hands His faithful charities,
Then said I: ‘Lord! Though I, 'mongst atheists driven,
Walked through their death-shade vale, Thy staff and rod
Would me console, since here is Thine abode;
This is none other than a house of God;
This is indeed a very gate of heaven!’
Walked through their death-shade vale, Thy staff and rod
Would me console, since here is Thine abode;
This is none other than a house of God;
This is indeed a very gate of heaven!’
And yet what can the outward vision see
But symbols mere, which far below Him fall?
Only in His Divine Humanity,
High over every creature, are we free
To see in very truth the Lord of all.
But symbols mere, which far below Him fall?
Only in His Divine Humanity,
High over every creature, are we free
To see in very truth the Lord of all.
210
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
As robe majestic down a statue flows,
So noble thought down Emerson. Withal,
Such sweetness went, you even might suppose,
Spite of that bearing dignified and tall,
A woman's gentle heart beat under all;
So noble thought down Emerson. Withal,
Such sweetness went, you even might suppose,
Spite of that bearing dignified and tall,
A woman's gentle heart beat under all;
For while no prayers his constancy could shake,
No storm avail his spirit's barque to make
From anchor of his settled purpose break,
His every action could not but confess
The tempering of ingrainëd tenderness.
No storm avail his spirit's barque to make
From anchor of his settled purpose break,
His every action could not but confess
The tempering of ingrainëd tenderness.
Yet, while our young souls loved him, 'twas agreed
Amongst us that this man, though ever apt
For kind deed, and in self so little wrapped,
Almost too high for love was; had indeed
Of no man's love or admiration need.
Amongst us that this man, though ever apt
For kind deed, and in self so little wrapped,
Almost too high for love was; had indeed
Of no man's love or admiration need.
211
And yet he, loving, liked to be beloved;
And if at times it might appear he moved
Austerely calm and cold, that was because
Grand hearts may not transcend their nature's laws
Either to beat more quickly or to pause.
And if at times it might appear he moved
Austerely calm and cold, that was because
Grand hearts may not transcend their nature's laws
Either to beat more quickly or to pause.
There was the genial waiting on his friend
That friendship loves to feel. Absence would send
As much pain, as much pleasure presence lend
To him as one could wish; but the control
Was over all of a self-mastered soul.
That friendship loves to feel. Absence would send
As much pain, as much pleasure presence lend
To him as one could wish; but the control
Was over all of a self-mastered soul.
Therefore in our brief intercourse was mixed,
With strangeness, intimacy; and a feud
There came our awe and confidence betwixt;
And moods of his there were that must be viewed
Like gated ways where none might dare intrude.
With strangeness, intimacy; and a feud
There came our awe and confidence betwixt;
And moods of his there were that must be viewed
Like gated ways where none might dare intrude.
One foolish man, by his sweet mien betrayed,
An undue freedom took. Swift silence played
Like lambent lightning round, and on us fell
Awe of the great majestic soul that well
Knew, still or speaking, how to be obeyed.
An undue freedom took. Swift silence played
Like lambent lightning round, and on us fell
Awe of the great majestic soul that well
Knew, still or speaking, how to be obeyed.
212
So have I seen in festive season go
A summer barque, laugh-lightened, 'neath the flow
Of waving flags, the while, in their sweet pride,
On deck the youths and maidens gaily glide
With motions by sweet music justified.
A summer barque, laugh-lightened, 'neath the flow
Of waving flags, the while, in their sweet pride,
On deck the youths and maidens gaily glide
With motions by sweet music justified.
Sudden, o'er sunken rock, harsh grates the keel;
From every mouth the merry laughter dies;
The founts of music freeze; astonished eyes
Gaze wide on eyes astonished; and all feel
The fears proud hearts indignantly conceal.
From every mouth the merry laughter dies;
The founts of music freeze; astonished eyes
Gaze wide on eyes astonished; and all feel
The fears proud hearts indignantly conceal.
But, no new shock confirming what each dreads,
Again the music melts and flows; its threads
The dance reweaves; over each mouth there spreads
The young vermilion laughter; and once more
The fluttering flags wave wind-filled as before.
Again the music melts and flows; its threads
The dance reweaves; over each mouth there spreads
The young vermilion laughter; and once more
The fluttering flags wave wind-filled as before.
1849.
213
THE REASON OF IT.
Ah why, why should the good so often lean
On arms which beats no worthy heart between?
And why should noble hearts so oft be seen
In loneliness and ageing anguish keen
For want of the sweet home that should have been?
On arms which beats no worthy heart between?
And why should noble hearts so oft be seen
In loneliness and ageing anguish keen
For want of the sweet home that should have been?
And souls unselfish, who have gladly done
The generous deeds that have for others won
New scope and happier life beneath the sun,
Why must they, reaping, bind into their sheaf
The night-shades and the hebenon of grief?
The generous deeds that have for others won
New scope and happier life beneath the sun,
Why must they, reaping, bind into their sheaf
The night-shades and the hebenon of grief?
It is because, let man do what he will,
Joy-light requires its sorrow-shadow still;—
It is because away God will not throw
His labour, letting His dear children go
Robb'd of the needful discipline of woe;—
Joy-light requires its sorrow-shadow still;—
It is because away God will not throw
His labour, letting His dear children go
Robb'd of the needful discipline of woe;—
214
It is because of this world's good th' excess,
Ill helping our eternal blessedness,
Is a less worthy God-gift than distress;—
It is because 'tis not well, in His ken,
That we be happy, until we be Men.
Ill helping our eternal blessedness,
Is a less worthy God-gift than distress;—
It is because 'tis not well, in His ken,
That we be happy, until we be Men.
215
THE BRAGGART MOON.
The Moon moved proud the stars among,And spake aloud with scornful tongue:
‘Stars! minions! rushlights of the sky!
Mean, ineffectual, worthless fry!
Mere drops of waste ungathered light!
Gilt buttons on the coat of night!
My plagiarists,—moon-copyists small!
See how I trample o'er you all.
‘I, how magnificent I shine!
What splendours and what glory mine!
Mark, of what genius possessed,
I grandly march from east to west,
And pour o'er farm and town and tower
My many-sided beams of power.
216
Were I divided into bits,
My fragments scattered o'er the blue
Would all be stars as good as you.’
Did any of the stars reply
To this poor braggart of the sky?
With lofty joy I saw them keep
A silence strenuously deep.
They heeded not the scornful tongue;
But each, his family among,
On his dark planet-children glowed,
And in the God-appointed road,
With faithful heart and watchful eye,
Led on his darlings through the sky.
It pleased the Lord our God that soon
There came a change across the Moon;
Like pain we inly strive to hide,
There's blackness gnawing at her side,
Until, with anguish and affright,
She dwindles to a strip of light,
For o'er her face earth's shadow slips
A veil of humbling and eclipse.
Scorn of the stars deserts her eye;
Her tears are dropped about the sky.
There came a change across the Moon;
Like pain we inly strive to hide,
There's blackness gnawing at her side,
Until, with anguish and affright,
She dwindles to a strip of light,
For o'er her face earth's shadow slips
A veil of humbling and eclipse.
Scorn of the stars deserts her eye;
Her tears are dropped about the sky.
217
So weeps the poor Moon, sunk in ruth;
Then, suddenly, she sees the truth;
Sees that the light whereof she'd grown
So proud, was nothing of her own,
And that her splendour wholly came
From the God-given solar flame.
O Lord! if I, self-confident,
Then, suddenly, she sees the truth;
Sees that the light whereof she'd grown
So proud, was nothing of her own,
And that her splendour wholly came
From the God-given solar flame.
Should claim as mine what Thou hast lent,
Or ever, penetrate with pride,
Should be disposed to swerve aside
To sign my own certificate
As being good, or wise, or great,
Command this braggart Moon to rise
That moment in my spirit's skies,
And light me up, a thing forlorn,
Meet object for her withering scorn.
218
‘THAT THY WAY MAY BE KNOWN UPON EARTH; THY SAVING HEALTH AMONG ALL NATIONS.’
When spring through thrush and cuckoo cries,
The root that in some cavern lies,
To cold and darkness thrall,
But dimly hears her call.
The root that in some cavern lies,
To cold and darkness thrall,
But dimly hears her call.
With sick shoots, pallid, piteous hopes,
Wan, idiot fingers, how it gropes;
Lost for defect of light,
A scandal to the sight!
Wan, idiot fingers, how it gropes;
Lost for defect of light,
A scandal to the sight!
Such are the souls that live untaught,
Unlit of spiritual thought;—
Poor sickly growths that shame
E'en vegetation's name.
Unlit of spiritual thought;—
Poor sickly growths that shame
E'en vegetation's name.
219
What! suffer human minds to dwell
Thus dark in ignorance's cell?
O give to them the bright
Shingings of heavenly light!
Thus dark in ignorance's cell?
O give to them the bright
Shingings of heavenly light!
Of truth divine all should be heirs;
Her pathways should be thoroughfares
Free as the woodland wild
To every human child.
Her pathways should be thoroughfares
Free as the woodland wild
To every human child.
Whatever of God's truth is known
Common as grass-seed should be sown;
O stint not; let it fall
Free, free, for all, for all!
Common as grass-seed should be sown;
O stint not; let it fall
Free, free, for all, for all!
THE CROCUS.
Oh no, take not the CrocusTo be your symbol-flower,
For love that is too passionate
Will soon itself devour.
The crocus's gold trumpets
Soon burst, and, in dismay,
Split up with love's intenseness,
In yellow flames decay.
220
AN UNSENT FAREWELL.
Castle built in Spain,
At some lover's cost;—
Seek for key in vain;—
Key is lost.
At some lover's cost;—
Seek for key in vain;—
Key is lost.
Though you chide for all I do,
Yet am I in love with you.
Though you bid me to forget,
I shall love you—love you yet.
Yet am I in love with you.
Though you bid me to forget,
I shall love you—love you yet.
Though you trod upon my heart,
That the blood did gush and start,
I should answer, death until,
I forgive and love you still.
That the blood did gush and start,
I should answer, death until,
I forgive and love you still.
To forget? No; dream it not.
I by you shall be forgot;
You by me, howe'er you plan,
Never, never, never can.
I by you shall be forgot;
You by me, howe'er you plan,
Never, never, never can.
221
Think you, minds with love that tremble
Wax or paper do resemble?
After various fashions fold?
Take a shape from every mould?
Wax or paper do resemble?
After various fashions fold?
Take a shape from every mould?
No; my soul did once reply
To the impress of a die;
Thenceforth never could it own
Any print save yours alone.
To the impress of a die;
Thenceforth never could it own
Any print save yours alone.
God forbid, indeed, indeed,
You from hurt like mine should bleed,
With the true love of your soul
Drained into a broken bowl!
You from hurt like mine should bleed,
With the true love of your soul
Drained into a broken bowl!
Or that, weighed in such false scale
As wherein my love did fail,
Other's should with you succeed,
God forbid, indeed, indeed!
As wherein my love did fail,
Other's should with you succeed,
God forbid, indeed, indeed!
Was it well thus, in the trough
Of grief's sea to cast me off?
Bid me trust to some chance reef?
Leave me weltering in my grief?
Of grief's sea to cast me off?
Bid me trust to some chance reef?
Leave me weltering in my grief?
222
Yet this by-you-caused distress
Cannot make me love you less;—
Noble, sure, the deed you do,
Seeing it is done by you.
Cannot make me love you less;—
Noble, sure, the deed you do,
Seeing it is done by you.
So my high-esteeming breaks
Every bar your coolness makes,
And, whatever way you move,
Still I honour, still I love.
Every bar your coolness makes,
And, whatever way you move,
Still I honour, still I love.
Yet, since grief to me appears
Worse in your than in my tears,
(For your sorrow mine must make
Twofold sorrow for your sake,)
Worse in your than in my tears,
(For your sorrow mine must make
Twofold sorrow for your sake,)
Therefore nor in word nor mien
Henceforth shall my love be seen,
Nor with whatsoe'er I do
Will I ever trouble you;—
Henceforth shall my love be seen,
Nor with whatsoe'er I do
Will I ever trouble you;—
Ever gaze where I adore,
Where your face with smiles runs o'er;
Seek to quaff their generous wine,
Or to mix your soul with mine;—
Where your face with smiles runs o'er;
Seek to quaff their generous wine,
Or to mix your soul with mine;—
223
No, I will not; nor yet seek
One poor friend-thought to bespeak;
I shall gaze where I adore
Never, never, never more.
One poor friend-thought to bespeak;
I shall gaze where I adore
Never, never, never more.
So I go my way unblest,
With a heart whose wild unrest—
Never may its secret tell;—
Ah, my dear, farewell, farewell!
With a heart whose wild unrest—
Never may its secret tell;—
Ah, my dear, farewell, farewell!
Fare you well! And be there said
God's best blessings o'er your head;—
Blessings of the heavenly steep
And the under-couching deep;
God's best blessings o'er your head;—
Blessings of the heavenly steep
And the under-couching deep;
Blessings of the fruitful bough,
By the well-side prospering now;
(Ne'er could I have spoken thus
But for Him who died for us!)—
By the well-side prospering now;
(Ne'er could I have spoken thus
But for Him who died for us!)—
Blessings of the breasts,—ah me!—
Child-encradling arm and knee;—
All earth's bliss that can be given,
Not imperilling your heaven;—
Child-encradling arm and knee;—
All earth's bliss that can be given,
Not imperilling your heaven;—
224
Bliss to be still yours, my dear,
Wheresoe'er, with whomsoe'er;
Plenteous basket, bounteous store,
Yours, and theirs, for evermore.
Wheresoe'er, with whomsoe'er;
Plenteous basket, bounteous store,
Yours, and theirs, for evermore.
As for me, I stiffen still
An unconquerable will;
To despair no inch shall give;
Hating life, go on to live.
An unconquerable will;
To despair no inch shall give;
Hating life, go on to live.
Some day will God's reasons tell;
Some day He will break the spell
That has turned His universe
Glorious, to His creature's curse.
Some day He will break the spell
That has turned His universe
Glorious, to His creature's curse.
Though it cannot be conceived,
Yet it stands to be believed;
Breaking heart, so grief-beset,
God will bind, will heal it yet.
Yet it stands to be believed;
Breaking heart, so grief-beset,
God will bind, will heal it yet.
How, I cannot comprehend,
But, in some way, in the end,
He His miracle will give;—
God will teach me how to live.
But, in some way, in the end,
He His miracle will give;—
God will teach me how to live.
225
LOVE'S FREEMASONRY.
Written, as I think,
In some secret ink;
Yet the meaning, found,
Will prove good and sound.
In some secret ink;
Yet the meaning, found,
Will prove good and sound.
‘Ah, if to know the sign she fail,’
He said, ‘Woe, woe!’ and he grew pale.
The sign was made; but not a trace
Of knowing was upon her face.
He said, ‘Woe, woe!’ and he grew pale.
The sign was made; but not a trace
Of knowing was upon her face.
As if death's mouth, the grave, had spoke,
His blood its law of flowing broke,
And he felt twist in every vein,
Snake-like, a nerve of swollen pain.
His blood its law of flowing broke,
And he felt twist in every vein,
Snake-like, a nerve of swollen pain.
There wrestled he, standing apart
To force it back unto the heart,
If haply to a running flood
It might dissolve, of living blood.
To force it back unto the heart,
If haply to a running flood
It might dissolve, of living blood.
226
O life in death and death in life!
O torturing, damn'd, yet conquering strife!
For yet, years afterwards, made whole,
He held the sceptre of his soul.
O torturing, damn'd, yet conquering strife!
For yet, years afterwards, made whole,
He held the sceptre of his soul.
And lo! with faces all elate
With such a joy, so deep, so great,
That its most dear, most sweet, and chief
Resemblance was to glorious grief,
With such a joy, so deep, so great,
That its most dear, most sweet, and chief
Resemblance was to glorious grief,
They stood in voiceless transport round,
Naught owing to articulate sound;
But a soft music forth doth press
And swells, and falls, from all their dress;
Naught owing to articulate sound;
But a soft music forth doth press
And swells, and falls, from all their dress;
For, as their nature stands above
The power of tongue to tell their love,
God makes from forth their garments' hem
Music go out and speak for them.
The power of tongue to tell their love,
God makes from forth their garments' hem
Music go out and speak for them.
These looked, and loved him with their eyes
Filled with pass-words from Paradise;
‘And evermore,’ he sang, ‘the sign
Given, swift-answered, proves them mine!’
Filled with pass-words from Paradise;
‘And evermore,’ he sang, ‘the sign
Given, swift-answered, proves them mine!’
227
‘Ah, Lord,’ he said, ‘I did but seek
To bless with love a maiden meek;
A maiden given a royal, free,
Most god-like gift,—but not to me.
To bless with love a maiden meek;
A maiden given a royal, free,
Most god-like gift,—but not to me.
‘I and my staff, wherein amassed
Was all my wealth, this Jordan passed;
'Tis Thou who mak'st me here to stand
Augmented to a twofold band.’
Was all my wealth, this Jordan passed;
'Tis Thou who mak'st me here to stand
Augmented to a twofold band.’
228
LOVE ETERNAL.
Love, if I love thee, 'tis because I needNot eyes to gaze into; not lips to kiss;
Not a soft breast for solace; not the bliss
Of being loved while loving;—this, indeed,
I thank thee that thou giv'st; but I should bleed
Down in my heart for loving so amiss
If I had only loved thee, Love, for this—
Sure to shake off some day like idle weed
Entangled round my foot upon the shore.
No, if I love thee, Love, it is because
Beauty that is eternal I adore,
And must pursue it, whereso'er it draws.
And lo! I travel on; I may not pause;
With thee I travel on for evermore.
229
THE SNOWDROP.
Thy month and mine,—bleak Februere,—
The shivering snowdrop month, we share;—
Snowdrop, whereby doth Nature show
How much her thoughts excel the snow.
The shivering snowdrop month, we share;—
Snowdrop, whereby doth Nature show
How much her thoughts excel the snow.
Sweet frigid firstling of the year,
Slight scent is in this flower sincere,
Yet Februere for us doth bring
The joy of all the flowers of spring.
Slight scent is in this flower sincere,
Yet Februere for us doth bring
The joy of all the flowers of spring.
So take the little gift, and dream
Of lilies floating down a stream
With early roses, breathing scent
Full spring-like and most excellent.
Of lilies floating down a stream
With early roses, breathing scent
Full spring-like and most excellent.
And in like spirit dream this gift
Is precious; or, if thou must sift
Reality from dream, yet say,
This is a true love-gift to-day;
Is precious; or, if thou must sift
Reality from dream, yet say,
This is a true love-gift to-day;
230
A gift of love as true and fair,
As is our flower of Februere,
Whose early coming doth express
Both purity and faithfulness.
As is our flower of Februere,
Whose early coming doth express
Both purity and faithfulness.
And know, that if the gift had been
Co-equal with the love, no queen
Could look more rich, though she made bold
Her brow and dress with gems and gold.
Co-equal with the love, no queen
Could look more rich, though she made bold
Her brow and dress with gems and gold.
THE SHEPHERDESS.
What plenteous largess from her hands
Descends in gentle showers!
The maiden in the garden stands,
And feeds her flock of flowers.
Descends in gentle showers!
The maiden in the garden stands,
And feeds her flock of flowers.
I thank thee, duteous Shepherdess;—
Though 'tis unknown to me
Whether those streams enlivening bless
The flowers most, or thee.
Though 'tis unknown to me
Whether those streams enlivening bless
The flowers most, or thee.
231
A RAILWAY RIDE.
While I ride, while I ride,
While past field and village glide,
Streaming goes my heart's desire
Like a back-blown flame of fire,
Longing ever to abide
Far behind me, while I ride.
While past field and village glide,
Streaming goes my heart's desire
Like a back-blown flame of fire,
Longing ever to abide
Far behind me, while I ride.
O my Queen, O my Queen,
Canst thou feel that flame unseen,
Flame not hurting though it burns,
Flame that homeward still returns,
Growing ever, eager, keen,
To thee rushing, O my Queen?
Canst thou feel that flame unseen,
Flame not hurting though it burns,
Flame that homeward still returns,
Growing ever, eager, keen,
To thee rushing, O my Queen?
Dost thou know, dost thou know
What it is that warms thee so,
Bids thee be of happy cheer,
Lifts thee into heavenly sphere,
Makes thee every fear forego
In my absence,—dost thou know?
What it is that warms thee so,
Bids thee be of happy cheer,
Lifts thee into heavenly sphere,
Makes thee every fear forego
In my absence,—dost thou know?
232
It shall burn, it shall burn
Till its master doth return,
Nor shall then its glowings cease,
But for evermore, in peace,
Fed from an exhaustless urn
By good angels, it shall burn.
Till its master doth return,
Nor shall then its glowings cease,
But for evermore, in peace,
Fed from an exhaustless urn
By good angels, it shall burn.
While I ride, while I ride,
While o'er railway swiftly glide
On the wheels whose rhythmic beat
Sets itself to music sweet,
This the song of loving pride
Sung within me while I ride.
While o'er railway swiftly glide
On the wheels whose rhythmic beat
Sets itself to music sweet,
This the song of loving pride
Sung within me while I ride.
233
TO A. M. W.
ON RECEIPT OF AURORA, A VOLUME OF POEMS BY A. A. & A. M.
What though on my floor
I stood foot-sore,
Weary with wintry weather?
From my friend, like a bird,
There comes a word,
And I dance as on thyme and heather;
For I hear a voice
That sings to a voice,
And a voice to a voice replying,
And well may the songs
The hearer rejoice
Of two such hearts close-lying.
I stood foot-sore,
Weary with wintry weather?
From my friend, like a bird,
There comes a word,
And I dance as on thyme and heather;
For I hear a voice
That sings to a voice,
And a voice to a voice replying,
And well may the songs
The hearer rejoice
Of two such hearts close-lying.
‘With hands well wed,
On the loom,’ I said,
‘They have wrought in golden weather,
He with the warp,
She with the weft,
On the wonderful loom together.
'Tween the threads he has brought
Of regal thought
Her magic shuttle plying,
A noble woof
Is this they have wrought
Of poesy undying.’
On the loom,’ I said,
‘They have wrought in golden weather,
He with the warp,
She with the weft,
On the wonderful loom together.
234
Of regal thought
Her magic shuttle plying,
A noble woof
Is this they have wrought
Of poesy undying.’
My friend, it shall rest
A star on my breast,
It shall be in my cap a feather,
That mine is a share
Of the fabric fair
That ye twain wove together.
Hear now a voice
That sings to a voice,
And a voice to a voice replying,
‘Your thought-robe fair
Your friends will wear
And love with a love undying.’
A star on my breast,
It shall be in my cap a feather,
That mine is a share
Of the fabric fair
That ye twain wove together.
Hear now a voice
That sings to a voice,
And a voice to a voice replying,
‘Your thought-robe fair
Your friends will wear
And love with a love undying.’
1874.
235
THE DRINK DRAGON.
There is a murderous Thing abroad,
What need to tell its name?
Is it not written everwhere
In deeds of sin and shame?
A Dragon huge this monster is;
Its claws are many and strong,
What living thing it sets them on
Shall not last overlong.
Its eyelids are like doors of vaults
Set over against each other;
Its cruel eyes would never shut
From one year's end to another,
Only at given, law-set times
They are forced to droop and blink;
But ever it chews and champs its chain,
This greedy Dragon of Drink.
Now where shall we the weapon find
That must this monster slay?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
What need to tell its name?
Is it not written everwhere
In deeds of sin and shame?
A Dragon huge this monster is;
Its claws are many and strong,
What living thing it sets them on
Shall not last overlong.
Its eyelids are like doors of vaults
Set over against each other;
Its cruel eyes would never shut
From one year's end to another,
Only at given, law-set times
They are forced to droop and blink;
But ever it chews and champs its chain,
This greedy Dragon of Drink.
Now where shall we the weapon find
That must this monster slay?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
236
A woman slinks along the street;
Her face is hungry and thin;
The gaps in her rags, if pieced, are but pieced
With patches of shivering skin.
Would you believe it? A happier bride
There never was than she
On the day when her lover said ‘I will’
Neath the church's old roof-tree.
Yes, and his true intent it was
To love and cherish her then,
But the Dragon of Drink, though it goes to church,
Has never said Amen.
‘I will;’—the words were strong and clear;
—Now lies the sot in the gutter,
And scarcely a thing's to be understood
Of aught that he can utter.
How shall we make him a man again,
His wife's defence and stay?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
Her face is hungry and thin;
The gaps in her rags, if pieced, are but pieced
With patches of shivering skin.
Would you believe it? A happier bride
There never was than she
On the day when her lover said ‘I will’
Neath the church's old roof-tree.
Yes, and his true intent it was
To love and cherish her then,
But the Dragon of Drink, though it goes to church,
Has never said Amen.
‘I will;’—the words were strong and clear;
—Now lies the sot in the gutter,
And scarcely a thing's to be understood
Of aught that he can utter.
How shall we make him a man again,
His wife's defence and stay?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
How sweet to watch yon little child
With curly locks that twist
About the neck and cheek that seem
Made chiefly to be kissed!
O guard the precious human life
Within that tender frame!
You would not have it come to harm
For anything we could name.
Alas! that child has ceased to breathe;
It perished yesterday;—
The little thing was scalded to death
In midst of its childish play;—
Or, the hard cart-wheel crush'd down its head
And mixed the brain with the mire;
Or, it died in flames, while its mother's throat
Was inflamed with a slower fire.
Oh how shall we deal with that which takes
The very babes for a prey?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
With curly locks that twist
About the neck and cheek that seem
Made chiefly to be kissed!
237
Within that tender frame!
You would not have it come to harm
For anything we could name.
Alas! that child has ceased to breathe;
It perished yesterday;—
The little thing was scalded to death
In midst of its childish play;—
Or, the hard cart-wheel crush'd down its head
And mixed the brain with the mire;
Or, it died in flames, while its mother's throat
Was inflamed with a slower fire.
Oh how shall we deal with that which takes
The very babes for a prey?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
How sweet to watch yon little child
With curly locks that twist
About the neck and cheek that seem
Made chiefly to be kissed!
O guard the precious human life
Within that tender frame!
You would not have it come to harm
For anything we could name.
Alas! that child has ceased to breathe;
It perished yesterday;—
The little thing was scalded to death
In midst of its childish play;—
Or, the hard cart-wheel crush'd down its head
And mixed the brain with the mire;
Or, it died in flames, while its mother's throat
Was inflamed with a slower fire.
Oh how shall we deal with that which takes
The very babes for a prey?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
With curly locks that twist
About the neck and cheek that seem
Made chiefly to be kissed!
237
Within that tender frame!
You would not have it come to harm
For anything we could name.
Alas! that child has ceased to breathe;
It perished yesterday;—
The little thing was scalded to death
In midst of its childish play;—
Or, the hard cart-wheel crush'd down its head
And mixed the brain with the mire;
Or, it died in flames, while its mother's throat
Was inflamed with a slower fire.
Oh how shall we deal with that which takes
The very babes for a prey?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
She stands by his side, no lawful bride;—
All her heart's love misplaced;—
No manly thought was in his soul
That the drink has not effaced.
Alas for love not soaring above
Earth's miserable mire!
And alas for honour foully cast
In passion's lake of fire!
O fallen, fallen evermore,
And lost her honest fame!
Ah, mother dear, ah, father dear,
She brings you sorrow and shame!
'Twas Drink that lent him power to blight;—
Drink drugg'd her conscience dim,
And bound her soul on an altar cursed,
A sacrifice to him.
How shall we stop such wrongs and shames,
Committed day by day?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
All her heart's love misplaced;—
No manly thought was in his soul
That the drink has not effaced.
Alas for love not soaring above
Earth's miserable mire!
And alas for honour foully cast
In passion's lake of fire!
238
And lost her honest fame!
Ah, mother dear, ah, father dear,
She brings you sorrow and shame!
'Twas Drink that lent him power to blight;—
Drink drugg'd her conscience dim,
And bound her soul on an altar cursed,
A sacrifice to him.
How shall we stop such wrongs and shames,
Committed day by day?
We thank you, noble men of Maine,
For ye have shown the way.
This cell is tenanted by one
Who broke a house in the night;
This other holds one heavy-eyed,
Who slew a man in a fight;
Here is a lad not ten years old,—
Vice led, he followed its trail;
But if they who bred him had shunn'd the Drink,
He would not have been in jail.
Yonder's the thing that bruised his wife
Within an inch of her life;
On this bed lies the gasping wretch
Who opened his throat with a knife.
There's not one here on whom the law
Has lock'd the prison-door,
Whose doom had not gone out of the mouth
Of the Dragon of Drink before.
O brothers, let us up and cure
This monster-ill of the day!
We thank the noble men of Maine,
That they have shown the way.
Who broke a house in the night;
This other holds one heavy-eyed,
Who slew a man in a fight;
Here is a lad not ten years old,—
Vice led, he followed its trail;
But if they who bred him had shunn'd the Drink,
He would not have been in jail.
Yonder's the thing that bruised his wife
Within an inch of her life;
On this bed lies the gasping wretch
Who opened his throat with a knife.
239
Has lock'd the prison-door,
Whose doom had not gone out of the mouth
Of the Dragon of Drink before.
O brothers, let us up and cure
This monster-ill of the day!
We thank the noble men of Maine,
That they have shown the way.
1854.
240
THE MAINE LAW-HAMMER.
There's a thing that is done,
Have ye seen? Have ye seen
This horrible thing that is done?
For silver and gold
Destruction is sold
To scores, for the profit of one.
Good creatures of God
Stamp'd down in the clod,
Stamp'd down inch by inch and piecemeal,
Flesh and blood, flesh and blood
Trod down into mud,
And it reddens the drinkseller's heel!
Have ye seen? Have ye seen
This horrible thing that is done?
For silver and gold
Destruction is sold
To scores, for the profit of one.
Good creatures of God
Stamp'd down in the clod,
Stamp'd down inch by inch and piecemeal,
Flesh and blood, flesh and blood
Trod down into mud,
And it reddens the drinkseller's heel!
O to think of it, beat
And broke under his feet!
And still, when his crime we condemn,
Men say, ‘It must be;
No help for it; he
Has an interest vested in them!’
Though even the rod
And the staff of their God,
To be fuel for him, some have sold;
We're forbidden to say,
‘Snatch, snatch them away!’
Lest the publican's fire grow cold!
And broke under his feet!
And still, when his crime we condemn,
Men say, ‘It must be;
No help for it; he
Has an interest vested in them!’
241
And the staff of their God,
To be fuel for him, some have sold;
We're forbidden to say,
‘Snatch, snatch them away!’
Lest the publican's fire grow cold!
Ah! yet there's a word,—
Have ye heard? Have ye heard?
There's a small living thought like a seed;
In good soil it was sown;
To a word it has grown;
Hurrah! it shall grow to a deed!
That deed, like a tree,
Shall luxuriant be;
It shall shelter the world, for it ought;
Oh! it's good, it is grand,
With the knee and the hand,
To pray and to work for that thought!
Have ye heard? Have ye heard?
There's a small living thought like a seed;
In good soil it was sown;
To a word it has grown;
Hurrah! it shall grow to a deed!
That deed, like a tree,
Shall luxuriant be;
It shall shelter the world, for it ought;
Oh! it's good, it is grand,
With the knee and the hand,
To pray and to work for that thought!
We have dared to conceive,
We have dared to believe,—
Ay, bound ourselves fast with a bond,—
Though down to our day
This wrong has had sway,
Not long shall it tarry beyond.
Do ye doubt? Do ye dare
To doubt and despair?
O look to the west, o'er the sea!
What we have begun
They already have done,
And they are but mortals as we.
We have dared to believe,—
Ay, bound ourselves fast with a bond,—
Though down to our day
This wrong has had sway,
Not long shall it tarry beyond.
242
To doubt and despair?
O look to the west, o'er the sea!
What we have begun
They already have done,
And they are but mortals as we.
Again and again,
O brothers! O men!
We have ventured to bruit it about,
That the drinkseller's cask,
His bottle and flask,
Were improved if their bottoms were out!
Already we stand
With hammer in hand,
The mighty law-hammer of Maine,
And devoutly we vow,
God helping us now,
It shall not be lifted in vain.
O brothers! O men!
We have ventured to bruit it about,
That the drinkseller's cask,
His bottle and flask,
Were improved if their bottoms were out!
Already we stand
With hammer in hand,
The mighty law-hammer of Maine,
And devoutly we vow,
God helping us now,
It shall not be lifted in vain.
1854.
| Poems by Henry Septimus Sutton | |