 | Ailes d'Alouette |  |
1
THE SECRET OF POESY
Wide
must the poet wander
To garnish his golden cells,
For in Yesterday and in Yonder
The secret of poesy dwells.
To garnish his golden cells,
For in Yesterday and in Yonder
The secret of poesy dwells.
It is where the rainbow resteth,
And the gates of the sunset be,
And the star in the still pool nesteth,
And the moon-road lies on the sea.
And the gates of the sunset be,
And the star in the still pool nesteth,
And the moon-road lies on the sea.
2
ANIMVLA VAGVLA
Whither
, O wandering feet?
Why quit ye Paradise?
Why seek a sweeter sweet,
When Eden round you lies?
Why quit ye Paradise?
Why seek a sweeter sweet,
When Eden round you lies?
The soul is a bird of air,
That ever of flight is fain;
And her wings are—Would I were there!
And—Would I were back again!
That ever of flight is fain;
And her wings are—Would I were there!
And—Would I were back again!
3
SOVND AND SILENCE
All
night I heard the waterfall;
The torrent shook my chamber-wall;
I heard no other sound at all.
The torrent shook my chamber-wall;
I heard no other sound at all.
Now, far from thence, where night is deep
And noiseless, in mine ears I keep
That thunder for a charm of sleep.
And noiseless, in mine ears I keep
That thunder for a charm of sleep.
4
AN ENGLISH EDEN
Roses
drop their petals all around
In that enchanted ground,
And all the air is murmurous with sound
From the white-tumbling weir,
So that all sounds or voices heard anear
Do half unreal appear.
In that enchanted ground,
And all the air is murmurous with sound
From the white-tumbling weir,
So that all sounds or voices heard anear
Do half unreal appear.
As one, half-wakened from a dreamless sleep
Is fain his thought to keep
Thus floating ever 'twixt the night's black deep
And the blank glare of day;
So in that Eden pauses life midway
'Twixt dawning and noonday.
Is fain his thought to keep
Thus floating ever 'twixt the night's black deep
And the blank glare of day;
So in that Eden pauses life midway
'Twixt dawning and noonday.
5
THE WAVE
Roll
into gloom!
Break into white!
Thunder and boom
In the caverns of night!
Break into white!
Thunder and boom
In the caverns of night!
Strong is thy wrath.
Stronger thy fate,
And a wind-blown froth
Is the end of hate.
Stronger thy fate,
And a wind-blown froth
Is the end of hate.
6
THE MATTERHORN
See
how unmoved the rock-browed Matterhorn
Taketh the rosy kissings of the Morn!
Beneath him are the glaciers; for he throws
Impatient from his head Heaven's softest snows
And grinds them at his feet to steely ice,
Spurning the chilly crowns of Paradise.
Taketh the rosy kissings of the Morn!
Beneath him are the glaciers; for he throws
Impatient from his head Heaven's softest snows
And grinds them at his feet to steely ice,
Spurning the chilly crowns of Paradise.
Like some great human spirit in whose breast
Nor heavenly love nor earthly e'er may rest.
To endure is all. Love, hatred, friend or foe,
Honour or scorn, are winds that come and go.
Yet one who counts Love life, dare choose and love thee,
Say why who can, above the heights above thee.
Nor heavenly love nor earthly e'er may rest.
To endure is all. Love, hatred, friend or foe,
Honour or scorn, are winds that come and go.
Yet one who counts Love life, dare choose and love thee,
Say why who can, above the heights above thee.
7
ENCHANTMENT
When
Music, like a wizard's ring,
Shuts for a while the world away,
The soul unfolds a dainty wing,
Forsakes her prison-house of clay,
Shuts for a while the world away,
The soul unfolds a dainty wing,
Forsakes her prison-house of clay,
And poised above the fields of strife,
With wing-beats soft as poet's rhyme,
Watches the yeasty frets of life,
And wild disordered waves of Time.
With wing-beats soft as poet's rhyme,
Watches the yeasty frets of life,
And wild disordered waves of Time.
8
A POET TO A MVSICIAN
Why
, my rare-sweet music-bird,
Seek another song?
Chaining it to rhyme and word
Should thy rapture wrong.
Seek another song?
Chaining it to rhyme and word
Should thy rapture wrong.
Wouldst thou steal but half thy soul
From thine own sweet Muse?
She I serve demands the whole,
And the voice says—Choose!
From thine own sweet Muse?
She I serve demands the whole,
And the voice says—Choose!
9
TO A PAINTER
Whoever
opens me
The secret of the earth, the sky, the sea,
In the soft trance of song,
Or painter's mirror-magic yet more strong;
The secret of the earth, the sky, the sea,
In the soft trance of song,
Or painter's mirror-magic yet more strong;
That voice, that hand I bless.
For 'tis my heart's faith, to bring loveliness
Is more than to bring ease,
To make a soul more than to mend disease.
For 'tis my heart's faith, to bring loveliness
Is more than to bring ease,
To make a soul more than to mend disease.
10
BONA DEA
No
daughters of thine,
Dear Mother, were they,
The Muses nine
Of an ancient day.
They smote on lyre,
They wrote with pen,
They spake no higher
Than the speech of men.
Dear Mother, were they,
The Muses nine
Of an ancient day.
They smote on lyre,
They wrote with pen,
They spake no higher
Than the speech of men.
Not these I serve
By wood and stream,
Where the waters curve
And the summits gleam.
No voice I hear,
Nor vision see,
But a soul draws near
To the soul in me.
By wood and stream,
Where the waters curve
And the summits gleam.
No voice I hear,
Nor vision see,
But a soul draws near
To the soul in me.
11
MY WORSHIP
For
you the temple made with hands,
And prayer an utterable word,
And service as old use commands,
And God a Presence seen and heard.
And prayer an utterable word,
And service as old use commands,
And God a Presence seen and heard.
Where'er man is not is my shrine,
And Nature's face my book of hours;
Some larger Spirit embraces mine,
And prayer mounts as the breath of flowers.
And Nature's face my book of hours;
Some larger Spirit embraces mine,
And prayer mounts as the breath of flowers.
12
A CLAY IMAGE
Till
ye can tell me why
Yon cloud-web in the sky
Mocks the lace-weaver's dainty-fingered pain;
Why no inlayer's art
So whispers to the heart
As 'neath the maple the leaf-chequered lane;
Yon cloud-web in the sky
Mocks the lace-weaver's dainty-fingered pain;
Why no inlayer's art
So whispers to the heart
As 'neath the maple the leaf-chequered lane;
I cry against your creed
That Man is Lord indeed,
Judge of his own due and his Maker's duty;
Nor own that ye have wrought
The Godhead of your thought
More true to Deity than Art to Beauty.
That Man is Lord indeed,
Judge of his own due and his Maker's duty;
Nor own that ye have wrought
The Godhead of your thought
More true to Deity than Art to Beauty.
13
THE NATVRE-LOVER
The
stars, the seas, the mountains, are they only
Mirrors of Man? and is the landscape lonely
And loveless in your eyes unless ye mark
The smoke-wreath rising, or the white-sailed barque?
Mirrors of Man? and is the landscape lonely
And loveless in your eyes unless ye mark
The smoke-wreath rising, or the white-sailed barque?
Ah, happier souls, that love the solitude
Where Man comes rarely and no voice is rude!
These find no footsteps where no feet have trod,
And hear woods whispering the thoughts of God.
Where Man comes rarely and no voice is rude!
These find no footsteps where no feet have trod,
And hear woods whispering the thoughts of God.
14
THE PASSING OF WINTER
A leaden
sleep the world oppressed,
The day was dark with rain;
The low-browed windows of the west
Opened ere day did wane.
The day was dark with rain;
The low-browed windows of the west
Opened ere day did wane.
The sun with golden fingerings
Touched the slant-falling drops,
And lo, ten thousand silver sirings
Made music through the copse.
Touched the slant-falling drops,
And lo, ten thousand silver sirings
Made music through the copse.
15
A SPRING PARABLE
Where
the last year's seed lay sleeping
Cold and calm,
See, two tiny leaves are peeping,
Palm to palm.
Cold and calm,
See, two tiny leaves are peeping,
Palm to palm.
So let hands in prayer long-pressing
Then outspread,
Duly to receive the blessing
Duly shed.
Then outspread,
Duly to receive the blessing
Duly shed.
16
A DEAD LEAF AND A DAFFODIL
I saw
the golden daffodil
By a leaf-girdle bound,
A withered oak-leaf, her soft will
Had lifted from the ground.
By a leaf-girdle bound,
A withered oak-leaf, her soft will
Had lifted from the ground.
Alas, poor leaf! a poet's tongue
Shall voice thy misery:
“Had Love come so when I was young,
And meet, sweet flower, for thee!”
Shall voice thy misery:
“Had Love come so when I was young,
And meet, sweet flower, for thee!”
17
INSCIA REGINA
Ever
blossom, and never fruit!
Vain the effort of leaf and root,
The joy of sunlight, sorrow of rain,
The winter's patience, the knife's sharp pain!
Vain the effort of leaf and root,
The joy of sunlight, sorrow of rain,
The winter's patience, the knife's sharp pain!
Sighed the pride of the garden so,
Sighed the Rose, and did not know
Only to be the Rose is more
Than all the apples that Eden bore.
Sighed the Rose, and did not know
Only to be the Rose is more
Than all the apples that Eden bore.
18
EVENING SADNESS
The
last breath of the dying day
Has kissed the dying rose;
And in the air a soft despair
Grows, as the starlight grows;
Has kissed the dying rose;
And in the air a soft despair
Grows, as the starlight grows;
For all the beauty that daily dies,
And cometh again no more;
For every day is a once-played play,
And vainly we cry Encore!
And cometh again no more;
For every day is a once-played play,
And vainly we cry Encore!
19
A CHANCE WOVND
“
Like
love too late returning comes the rain
Vpon the hopesick land;
How can the yellowing leaves grow green again,
Or perished buds expand?”
Vpon the hopesick land;
How can the yellowing leaves grow green again,
Or perished buds expand?”
Idly I spoke; but in her eyes I read
I know not what of yearning;
And very softly to herself she said:—
“Like love too late returning!”
I know not what of yearning;
And very softly to herself she said:—
“Like love too late returning!”
20
AVTVMN SINGERS
When
woods are gold and hedges gay
With jewelled Autumn's brief array,
And diamonds sprinkle every spray,
The robin sings
His soft melodious well-a-day
For dying things.
With jewelled Autumn's brief array,
And diamonds sprinkle every spray,
The robin sings
His soft melodious well-a-day
For dying things.
Yet often, when a riotous night
Has ruined all the wood's delight,
There breaks a Spring-day warm and bright,
And the thrush sings,
As if his April were in sight,
Of quickening things.
Has ruined all the wood's delight,
There breaks a Spring-day warm and bright,
And the thrush sings,
As if his April were in sight,
Of quickening things.
21
THE TREASON
The
birds of the Summer are flown
Beyond the sea;
The leaves of the Summer are blown
From hedge and tree.
Beyond the sea;
The leaves of the Summer are blown
From hedge and tree.
But the winds of the Summer proclaim,
With recreant breath,
(O traitors, have ye no shame?)
The triumph of Death.
With recreant breath,
(O traitors, have ye no shame?)
The triumph of Death.
22
OFFERINGS
Where
breaking waves have kissed the sand,
Are fading wreaths of foam,
The sea's last offering to the land
Ere the voice called him home.
Are fading wreaths of foam,
The sea's last offering to the land
Ere the voice called him home.
They die uncared-for at her feet,
Bitter and poor and grey;
A thousand roses red and sweet
Wreathe her head far away.
Bitter and poor and grey;
A thousand roses red and sweet
Wreathe her head far away.
23
VIBRATIONS
What
wonder if, when Love awakes
Suddenly, the tense heart breaks?
As at the organ's thundering
Snaps the lute's responsive string.
Suddenly, the tense heart breaks?
As at the organ's thundering
Snaps the lute's responsive string.
Ah, sadder heart, where Love has grown
Stealthily, his name unknown!
As quietly some soundless air
Awakes the wind-harp to despair.
Stealthily, his name unknown!
As quietly some soundless air
Awakes the wind-harp to despair.
24
A DAY OF LOVE
Dear
is the sunny between-while
Of April skies,
Though black with storm in the meanwhile
The clouds arise.
Of April skies,
Though black with storm in the meanwhile
The clouds arise.
Tho' the clouds that shall burst on the morrow
Be gathering above,
So dear in a year of sorrow
Is a day of love.
Be gathering above,
So dear in a year of sorrow
Is a day of love.
25
A CHARM OF SLEEP
England
holds her;
She is not over sea.
The same night folds her
Whose darkness falls on me.
She is not over sea.
The same night folds her
Whose darkness falls on me.
The same stars shining
With silent dewy eyes
From day's declining
Do watch her till day rise.
With silent dewy eyes
From day's declining
Do watch her till day rise.
26
A YEAR AGO
Yes
, I was walking yonder
Only a year ago,
But the blue of heaven was fonder,
More white the snow.
Only a year ago,
But the blue of heaven was fonder,
More white the snow.
A year? nay, the sun burns colder;
'Tis a million years are fled,
And the old Earth is æons older,
And Love is dead.
'Tis a million years are fled,
And the old Earth is æons older,
And Love is dead.
27
NON IMMORTALIS AMOR
To-day
within my heart
A green grave opened, and dead Love arose;
We wandered as of old in woods apart,
As fair as those.
A green grave opened, and dead Love arose;
We wandered as of old in woods apart,
As fair as those.
But of that joy I drew
No draught not bittered with this misery,
That having found him mortal once, I knew
That Love can die.
No draught not bittered with this misery,
That having found him mortal once, I knew
That Love can die.
28
THE WANDERER
There
stood a girl with a golden key
At the gate of Paradise;
A rose she gathered and gave it me;
Alas! I was not wise.
At the gate of Paradise;
A rose she gathered and gave it me;
Alas! I was not wise.
She walketh where the lilies shine;
I go where the wind goes;
Hers is the key of Eden, mine
The world and a withered rose.
I go where the wind goes;
Hers is the key of Eden, mine
The world and a withered rose.
29
VARIVM ET MVTABILE
Lips
, that taught me to revere
Love, would have me now profane it;
Eyes, that shewed me Heaven clear,
Bid me doubt now or disdain it.
Love, would have me now profane it;
Eyes, that shewed me Heaven clear,
Bid me doubt now or disdain it.
Girl, you know not what you do!
You can change not Love nor Heaven.
For her sake who once was you,
She who is you be forgiven!
You can change not Love nor Heaven.
For her sake who once was you,
She who is you be forgiven!
30
AN ETERNAL MOMENT
Here
there is rain & dead leaves whirling?
I hear not, see not. In mine eyes
Is sunlight, in mine ears the swirling
Of snow-fed waters. Which are lies?
I hear not, see not. In mine eyes
Is sunlight, in mine ears the swirling
Of snow-fed waters. Which are lies?
Ah, living dream! The cloudlike splendour
Of Monte Rosa far above;
And at our feet the Alp-flowers tender,
A thousand blue eyes looking love.
Of Monte Rosa far above;
And at our feet the Alp-flowers tender,
A thousand blue eyes looking love.
31
A DREAM-HAVEN
Where
is my soul to-night? Around me
Were friendless streets and loveless eyes;
The naming of thy name unbound me,
I fled to sapphire lakes and skies.
Were friendless streets and loveless eyes;
The naming of thy name unbound me,
I fled to sapphire lakes and skies.
Where is my soul? far yonder, singing
With nightingales 'neath starlit trees?
Or here, bereft and songless, wringing
Joy drop by drop from memory's lees?
With nightingales 'neath starlit trees?
Or here, bereft and songless, wringing
Joy drop by drop from memory's lees?
32
ANIMA CAPTIVA
I was
halfway to Heaven, the stars
Were large and low above me,
Forgotten all earth's bonds and bars,
No heart to hate or love me.
Were large and low above me,
Forgotten all earth's bonds and bars,
No heart to hate or love me.
Love me!—alas, the word! At this
The waning world re-brightened;
Ev'n at the very gates of bliss
The tether of earth was tightened.
The waning world re-brightened;
Ev'n at the very gates of bliss
The tether of earth was tightened.
33
A NOCTVRNE
A svdden
wind has rent the veil
That hid the heaven from me;
The white moon spreads her silver sail,
And swims the jewelled sea.
That hid the heaven from me;
The white moon spreads her silver sail,
And swims the jewelled sea.
She brings me dreams of thee in freight;
Oh, would she take of me
My fancies down the milky strait,
What dreams she'l bring to thee!
Oh, would she take of me
My fancies down the milky strait,
What dreams she'l bring to thee!
34
PRIMITIÆ AMORIS
Yon
shining top, that taketh
The sun's first kiss,
No sad lamenting maketh
To be not his,
But with the whole world share
The noon's exceeding glare.
The sun's first kiss,
No sad lamenting maketh
To be not his,
But with the whole world share
The noon's exceeding glare.
O love! the first sweet kisses
Live on the lips,
Through many-partnered blisses,
Through love's eclipse,
Through all life takes away,
Through all that death can pay.
Live on the lips,
Through many-partnered blisses,
Through love's eclipse,
Through all life takes away,
Through all that death can pay.
35
STELLA STELLARVM
O star
of all the stars! O face
Of all the faces! In thine eyes
Now seems it better to find grace
Than to be great or wise.
Of all the faces! In thine eyes
Now seems it better to find grace
Than to be great or wise.
A thousand other stars might shine,
A thousand faces fair might be,
And hold me to the earth; but thine
Has opened Heaven to me.
A thousand faces fair might be,
And hold me to the earth; but thine
Has opened Heaven to me.
36
A WASTED WORD
I was
a fiddler playing
Alone to a crowded hall;
And what my fingers were saying
No one knew of them all.
Alone to a crowded hall;
And what my fingers were saying
No one knew of them all.
I love you! I love you! I love you!—
I played it soft and loud;
And you were there and heard it,
And knew no more than the crowd.
I played it soft and loud;
And you were there and heard it,
And knew no more than the crowd.
37
THE FIRST NIGHTINGALE
Song
of the singing-bird
Over the sea,
Heard, and yet hardly heard,
While bush and tree
Sleep yet, and keep yet their new robes for thee.
Over the sea,
Heard, and yet hardly heard,
While bush and tree
Sleep yet, and keep yet their new robes for thee.
See, but the snow-thorn
Hath put on her snows,
The thorn-guarded sloe-thorn.
Oh, safely in those
Nest thee, and rest thee, and wait for the rose!
Hath put on her snows,
The thorn-guarded sloe-thorn.
Oh, safely in those
Nest thee, and rest thee, and wait for the rose!
38
THE RETVRNING
In
the sea is a song,
In the wind a sweet whisper,
And the wavelets along
The low sand-waste run crisper,
For the wind and the sea
Have a message to me:
‘We are bringing, are bringing thy love back to thee!’
In the wind a sweet whisper,
And the wavelets along
The low sand-waste run crisper,
For the wind and the sea
Have a message to me:
‘We are bringing, are bringing thy love back to thee!’
The dying stars said—
She hath done with our guidings;
And the dawn blushing red
On her sails brought the tidings;
And the wings far at sea
Waved white signals to me:
‘She is coming, is coming, thy love back to thee!’
She hath done with our guidings;
And the dawn blushing red
On her sails brought the tidings;
And the wings far at sea
Waved white signals to me:
‘She is coming, is coming, thy love back to thee!’
39
THE WASTE GARDEN
In
a garden I had planted (my heart, I say, my garden)
A lily-flower of Eden so delicately fair,
That when I first beheld it I knelt and wept for pardon
To God who had created a loveliness so rare.
A lily-flower of Eden so delicately fair,
That when I first beheld it I knelt and wept for pardon
To God who had created a loveliness so rare.
A wind of desolation has wasted all my garden,
(My heart, I say, my garden) and where the lily shone
Is a phantom black and evil. What wonder if I harden
My heart, or leave it fallow and let the weeds grow on?
(My heart, I say, my garden) and where the lily shone
Is a phantom black and evil. What wonder if I harden
My heart, or leave it fallow and let the weeds grow on?
40
FEAR
O hvnted
eyes that haunt my dream,
Because before my harmless tread
Some timid creature of the stream
To-day in terror fled!
Because before my harmless tread
Some timid creature of the stream
To-day in terror fled!
Dame Nature hath us all at school;
We live and move by laws austere;
But of all sanctions of her rule
The most abhorred is Fear.
We live and move by laws austere;
But of all sanctions of her rule
The most abhorred is Fear.
41
THE ANT IN THE HOVR-GLASS
From
under our feet are falling
For ever the sands of Time;
Hardly with slow feet crawling
One step higher we climb.
For ever the sands of Time;
Hardly with slow feet crawling
One step higher we climb.
This day and that we o'ercome it—
The sinking vortex of sand;
And the hour we reach the summit
The end is near at hand.
The sinking vortex of sand;
And the hour we reach the summit
The end is near at hand.
42
SALVAGE
Wrovght
from the wreck of suns
The little round earth runs
A world life-freighted 'mid the lifeless ones;
A raft upon the deep
Where some few ship-wrecked keep
A little salvage from the gulfs of sleep.
The little round earth runs
A world life-freighted 'mid the lifeless ones;
A raft upon the deep
Where some few ship-wrecked keep
A little salvage from the gulfs of sleep.
So is Love left amid
Suns darkened and moons hid,
Sole salvage of the foundered hope of youth,
A life more frail than life,
By strife o'erliving strife,
The only glory and the only truth.
Suns darkened and moons hid,
Sole salvage of the foundered hope of youth,
A life more frail than life,
By strife o'erliving strife,
The only glory and the only truth.
43
STILL WATERS
The
wind at its loudest
Has whispers half heard,
And the heart at its proudest
Will break at a word.
Has whispers half heard,
And the heart at its proudest
Will break at a word.
At a word rightly spoken,
A voice from dead years,
The deep is up-broken,
The man melts in tears.
A voice from dead years,
The deep is up-broken,
The man melts in tears.
44
THE REFVSE
A leaf
has fallen; all Summer
It danced in delight to see
The vision of its green beauty
In the deep pool under the tree.
Now the river bears it rolling,
Rolling on to the sea.
It danced in delight to see
The vision of its green beauty
In the deep pool under the tree.
Now the river bears it rolling,
Rolling on to the sea.
A life is ended; a woman,
Who once was fair to see,
Has chosen the death of the river.
Is the leaf more missed, or she?
And the river is rolling, rolling,
Rolling on to the sea.
Who once was fair to see,
Has chosen the death of the river.
Is the leaf more missed, or she?
And the river is rolling, rolling,
Rolling on to the sea.
45
A STRAY BENEDICTION
Is
there a wind
Of the winds of heaven
For a soul that has sinned
To be kissed forgiven?
Of the winds of heaven
For a soul that has sinned
To be kissed forgiven?
An answer straying
From some child's prayer
To a soul past praying
That has sinned somewhere?
From some child's prayer
To a soul past praying
That has sinned somewhere?
46
VOICES
A sovlless
thing is the Sea;
But somewhere in Heaven or Earth must be
A soul titanic and torn with agony,
That cries so loud in the Sea.
But somewhere in Heaven or Earth must be
A soul titanic and torn with agony,
That cries so loud in the Sea.
A sinless thing is the Wind;
But somewhere a spirit is that hath sinned,
A passionate outcast, unrepentant and blind,
Who wails so wild in the Wind.
But somewhere a spirit is that hath sinned,
A passionate outcast, unrepentant and blind,
Who wails so wild in the Wind.
47
THE CALL
The
topmost towers of the night
At noon are under our feet.
If the depth be as the height,
Is Heaven a cheat?
At noon are under our feet.
If the depth be as the height,
Is Heaven a cheat?
How climb to a star that falls
Or ever the feet come near?
Hark! from the Infinite calls:—
Climb! I am here!
Or ever the feet come near?
Hark! from the Infinite calls:—
Climb! I am here!
48
REFRESHMENT OF THE SOVL
Father
unseen, whose hand I feel
In earth and sea and skies,
When knowledge opens seal by seal
And man grows proudly wise,
And more and more beneath his heel
Fair ruined Nature lies;
In earth and sea and skies,
When knowledge opens seal by seal
And man grows proudly wise,
And more and more beneath his heel
Fair ruined Nature lies;
Oh, lead me in some lonely spot
Where simple wood-flowers blow;
And as I ask for whom, for what
So wonderful they grow,
Whisper my soul—Man knows it not,
And may not hope to know.
Where simple wood-flowers blow;
And as I ask for whom, for what
So wonderful they grow,
Whisper my soul—Man knows it not,
And may not hope to know.
49
AN AWAKENING
A rose
above the gateway hung,
A rose of Paradise;
And as I passed, the petals flung
Their sweet dews on my eyes.
A rose of Paradise;
And as I passed, the petals flung
Their sweet dews on my eyes.
Darkened the world and its desire,
My naked sin I see.
Oh, is it balm, or burning fire,
This grace that falls on me?
My naked sin I see.
Oh, is it balm, or burning fire,
This grace that falls on me?
50
NEARING THE END
Over
my head that wave!
Once I had topped a greater.
One must be my grave;
What matters now, or later?
Once I had topped a greater.
One must be my grave;
What matters now, or later?
What gain or loss of me,
Say, if I die to-morrow?
Less by one soul shall be
The vast sum of Earth's sorrow.
Say, if I die to-morrow?
Less by one soul shall be
The vast sum of Earth's sorrow.
51
FAILVRE
From
the light of Love behind me
Falls the shadow of my soul
On my pathway, to remind me
I have passed, not won, the goal.
Falls the shadow of my soul
On my pathway, to remind me
I have passed, not won, the goal.
For behind me is the glory,
And before me is the gloom,
The unknown end of the story,
Darkness, solitude, and doom.
And before me is the gloom,
The unknown end of the story,
Darkness, solitude, and doom.
52
THE BOOK OF PSALMS
The
rivers of a rainless land,
Which some far rain-world fills,
Go whispering through the leagues of sand
How blesséd were the hills.
Which some far rain-world fills,
Go whispering through the leagues of sand
How blesséd were the hills.
And we who walk a godless earth
Beneath a giftless sky
Drink living waters that had birth
Where Earth and Heaven were nigh.
Beneath a giftless sky
Drink living waters that had birth
Where Earth and Heaven were nigh.
53
JOHN RVSKIN
Qvenched
is the lamp, ev'n in its flickering dear;
We miss the light, we would not have him here;
No carping littlenesses lift their head
Where he is, 'mid the great unjealous dead.
We miss the light, we would not have him here;
No carping littlenesses lift their head
Where he is, 'mid the great unjealous dead.
He thirsted, as a thirsty land for rain,
For Beauty, and for Good as men for gain;
Now may he drink of the immortal tide,
Ever athirst and ever satisfied.
For Beauty, and for Good as men for gain;
Now may he drink of the immortal tide,
Ever athirst and ever satisfied.
54
THE PEOPLE OF ROSSETTI'S PICTVRES
They
are not of this common day;
They are not of our human clay;
I know not what they are nor who;
They are not of our human clay;
I know not what they are nor who;
Their world is very far away;
But whence they are my soul is too,
And thither seeketh, her life through.
But whence they are my soul is too,
And thither seeketh, her life through.
55
OMNIA PVRA
Lo
, the maid-moon now, as a queen ashaméd,
Gathering light clouds to her like a garment,
Rideth no more an unabashed Godiva
Naked in heaven.
Gathering light clouds to her like a garment,
Rideth no more an unabashed Godiva
Naked in heaven.
Nay, the thought wrongs her! there is none in Nature,
Saving Man, so dares to rebuke the Maker,
Hiding as shameful the Eternal Artist's
Exquisite artwork.
Saving Man, so dares to rebuke the Maker,
Hiding as shameful the Eternal Artist's
Exquisite artwork.
56
TIME
A tide
that floweth, but doth never ebb;
A pen that writes, but leaves no written tale;
A loom that weaves, but none can see the web;
A kindly lord with whom no prayers prevail;
A pen that writes, but leaves no written tale;
A loom that weaves, but none can see the web;
A kindly lord with whom no prayers prevail;
A thief who taketh what he cannot use;
A bell that striketh, but we hear no chime;
A friend or foe according as we choose;
Thus may we paint—but who can picture?—Time.
A bell that striketh, but we hear no chime;
A friend or foe according as we choose;
Thus may we paint—but who can picture?—Time.
57
JANVARY
Here
and there a song bird in the hedges,
Here and there a primrose in the lane;
Tarry, eager Spring, till all the ledges
Of the white-streaked hills are green again!
Here and there a primrose in the lane;
Tarry, eager Spring, till all the ledges
Of the white-streaked hills are green again!
Tarry, eager flowers, eager thrushes!
Hardly yet forget we our dead year,
And your blithe notes, ere the new spring blushes,
Are as sounds of revel round a bier.
Hardly yet forget we our dead year,
And your blithe notes, ere the new spring blushes,
Are as sounds of revel round a bier.
58
FEBRVARY
Between
the winter and the spring,
Between the snows and the flowers,
On leafless tops the thrushes sing
To the lengthening evening hours.
Between the snows and the flowers,
On leafless tops the thrushes sing
To the lengthening evening hours.
And all the land is wet with rain,
And floods reflect blue heaven;
Hope is the morning-star again,
And Love the star of even.
And floods reflect blue heaven;
Hope is the morning-star again,
And Love the star of even.
59
MARCH
Like
a fair novice who forsakes the world
Vntasted yet,
Taketh her veil of snow the half-unfurled
White violet.
Vntasted yet,
Taketh her veil of snow the half-unfurled
White violet.
At eve, a too-late lover, warm and red
The sun appears;
How may she greet him save with drooping head
And icy tears?
The sun appears;
How may she greet him save with drooping head
And icy tears?
60
APRIL
In
blue and silver came the morning,
Earth in the lap of Heaven lay,
And I could almost hear the angels
Who broke the shadows and brought the day.
Earth in the lap of Heaven lay,
And I could almost hear the angels
Who broke the shadows and brought the day.
Every year is the gate of Eden
Opened, and all the earth made fair;
And every year is the old tale acted,
And sons of Adam bring sorrow there.
Opened, and all the earth made fair;
And every year is the old tale acted,
And sons of Adam bring sorrow there.
61
MAY
Oh
, to be a wood-bird
Singing to the sunset
In the month of May!
Oh, to be the singer,
Sweet and true and perfect,
Of a golden day!
Singing to the sunset
In the month of May!
Oh, to be the singer,
Sweet and true and perfect,
Of a golden day!
Hope nor fear before me;
Just the very moment
All in all to me!
Oh, the benediction!
Who hath ears to hearken,
Who hath eyes to see?
Just the very moment
All in all to me!
Oh, the benediction!
Who hath ears to hearken,
Who hath eyes to see?
62
JVNE
The
rose is in her place to-day,
The nightingale on her old spray;
Come live a moment while you may
Simple as bird and flower!
To-morrow leave, and yesterday!
Count but the actual hour!
The nightingale on her old spray;
Come live a moment while you may
Simple as bird and flower!
To-morrow leave, and yesterday!
Count but the actual hour!
Lock up the chambers of your brain!
Your pencil and your pen refrain!
Your labour shall not give again
The ecstasy of June;
Nor all your schemes for joy or gain
Revive so vast a boon.
Your pencil and your pen refrain!
Your labour shall not give again
The ecstasy of June;
Nor all your schemes for joy or gain
Revive so vast a boon.
63
JVLY
Now
is the greenwood all a sanctuary,
Dim-lighted, faint with incense, whispering
With sighs; the columned aisles are solitary,
And all the choristers have left to sing.
Dim-lighted, faint with incense, whispering
With sighs; the columned aisles are solitary,
And all the choristers have left to sing.
O paths of peace no worldling may discover!
Now comes no sportsman, nor bird-nesting boy,
Nor primrose-raider. Nature waits her lover
Alone nor of her inmost heart is coy.
Now comes no sportsman, nor bird-nesting boy,
Nor primrose-raider. Nature waits her lover
Alone nor of her inmost heart is coy.
64
AVGVST
The
year has reached the swooning-day
Of perfected desire,
The crowning of the hopes of May,
The height that hath no higher.
Of perfected desire,
The crowning of the hopes of May,
The height that hath no higher.
Her myriad children round her throng,
Flower and bird and bee.
Ah, nightingale! why fails thy song?
Is joy for all but thee?
Flower and bird and bee.
Ah, nightingale! why fails thy song?
Is joy for all but thee?
65
SEPTEMBER
As
a fair maid grown
To a mother fair,
When years have flown,
Takes back unware
Some touch or tone
Of her maiden air;
To a mother fair,
When years have flown,
Takes back unware
Some touch or tone
Of her maiden air;
So doth the year,
When the summer wood
Shows one leaf sere,
Doff matron-hood,
And awhile appear
In her April mood.
When the summer wood
Shows one leaf sere,
Doff matron-hood,
And awhile appear
In her April mood.
66
OCTOBER
Green
leaves or golden
Which love you best,
New loves or olden,
O swallow, sweet guest?
Which love you best,
New loves or olden,
O swallow, sweet guest?
The warm airs that wake you
And waft you hither?
The dark winds that take you
We know not whither?
And waft you hither?
The dark winds that take you
We know not whither?
67
NOVEMBER
A time
there is for laughter;
This is the time for tears,
To look before and after,
And number the flying years.
This is the time for tears,
To look before and after,
And number the flying years.
When the low red sun sets early,
And the fog hangs heavy and white,
And at noon the meads are pearly
With the undried tears of the night.
And the fog hangs heavy and white,
And at noon the meads are pearly
With the undried tears of the night.
68
DECEMBER
The
joy of the year is over,
The dead leaves fill the air;
No voice in copse or cover,
Nor one flower anywhere.
The dead leaves fill the air;
No voice in copse or cover,
Nor one flower anywhere.
Call, robin, call, from the garden wall!
Sing of the spring to be!
Call, robin, call! Tho' the red leaf fall
The red breast shines on the tree.
Sing of the spring to be!
Call, robin, call! Tho' the red leaf fall
The red breast shines on the tree.
| Ailes d'Alouette | |