 | Poetical Works of Lionel Johnson |  |
CADGWITH
To Laurence Binyon.
I
Man
is a shadow's dream!
Opulent Pindar saith:
Yet man may win a gleam
Of glory, before death.
Opulent Pindar saith:
Yet man may win a gleam
Of glory, before death.
Saith golden Shakespeare: Man
Is a dream's shadow! Yet,
Though death do all death can,
His soul toward life is set.
Is a dream's shadow! Yet,
Though death do all death can,
His soul toward life is set.
88
I, living with delight
This rich autumnal day,
Mark the gulls' curving flight
Across the black-girt bay.
This rich autumnal day,
Mark the gulls' curving flight
Across the black-girt bay.
And the sea's working men,
The fisher-folk, I mark
Haul down their boats, and then
Launch for the deep sea dark.
The fisher-folk, I mark
Haul down their boats, and then
Launch for the deep sea dark.
Far out the strange ships go:
Their broad sails flashing red
As flame, or white as snow:
The ships, as David said.
Their broad sails flashing red
As flame, or white as snow:
The ships, as David said.
Winds rush and waters roll:
Their strength, their beauty, brings
Into mine heart the whole
Magnificence of things:
Their strength, their beauty, brings
Into mine heart the whole
Magnificence of things:
That men are counted worth
A part upon this sea,
A part upon this earth,
Exalts and heartens me.
A part upon this sea,
A part upon this earth,
Exalts and heartens me.
Ah, Glaucus, soul of man!
Encrusted by each tide,
That, since the seas began,
Hath surged against thy side:
Encrusted by each tide,
That, since the seas began,
Hath surged against thy side:
Encumbering thee with weed,
And tangle of the wave!
Yet canst thou rise at need,
And thy strong beauty save!
And tangle of the wave!
Yet canst thou rise at need,
And thy strong beauty save!
89
Tides of the world in vain
Desire to vanquish thee:
Prostrate, thou canst again
Rise, lord of earth and sea:
Desire to vanquish thee:
Prostrate, thou canst again
Rise, lord of earth and sea:
Rise, lord of sea and earth,
And winds, and starry night.
Thine is the greater birth
And origin of light.
And winds, and starry night.
Thine is the greater birth
And origin of light.
1892.
II
My windows open to the autumn night,
In vain I watched for sleep to visit me:
How should sleep dull mine ears, and dim my sight,
Who saw the stars, and listened to the sea?
In vain I watched for sleep to visit me:
How should sleep dull mine ears, and dim my sight,
Who saw the stars, and listened to the sea?
Ah, how the City of our God is fair!
If, without sea, and starless though it be,
For joy of the majestic beauty there,
Men shall not miss the stars, nor mourn the sea.
If, without sea, and starless though it be,
For joy of the majestic beauty there,
Men shall not miss the stars, nor mourn the sea.
1892.
III
Mary Star of the sea!
Look on this little place:
Bless the kind fisher race,
Mary Star of the sea!
Look on this little place:
Bless the kind fisher race,
Mary Star of the sea!
Send harvest from the deep,
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
Let not these women weep.
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
Let not these women weep.
90
Mary Star of the Sea!
Give wife and mother joy
In husband and in boy:
Mary Star of the Sea!
Give wife and mother joy
In husband and in boy:
Mary Star of the Sea!
With intercession save,
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
These children of the wave.
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
These children of the wave.
Mary Star of the Sea!
Pour peace upon the wild
Waves, make their murmurs mild:
Mary Star of the Sea!
Pour peace upon the wild
Waves, make their murmurs mild:
Mary Star of the Sea!
Now in thy mercy pray,
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
For sailors far away.
Mary Star of the Sea!
Mary Star of the Sea!
For sailors far away.
Mary Star of the Sea!
Now be thy great prayers said
For all poor seamen dead:
Mary Star of the Sea!
Now be thy great prayers said
For all poor seamen dead:
Mary Star of the Sea!
1892.
| Poetical Works of Lionel Johnson | |