Sketches from Life in Town and Country And some Verses: By Edward Carpenter: With Portrait |
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THE ARTIST TO HIS LADY |
 | Sketches from Life in Town and Country |  |
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THE ARTIST TO HIS LADY
I put my hands together palm to palm,
And say: Take these; and, wheresoe'er thou wilt,
Go—I will follow. For indeed I have
No other life than this—to follow Thee.
And say: Take these; and, wheresoe'er thou wilt,
Go—I will follow. For indeed I have
No other life than this—to follow Thee.
The Lady of my love is very fair;
Often when morning rose above the rain
She waved her white hand at the window-pane,
And passed and mounted thro' the fields of air.
Often when morning rose above the rain
She waved her white hand at the window-pane,
And passed and mounted thro' the fields of air.
I never saw her face or felt her smile—
She seemed to pine among the haunts of men;
Till at the last I left my city den,
And followed in her footsteps for a while.
She seemed to pine among the haunts of men;
Till at the last I left my city den,
And followed in her footsteps for a while.
She led me where the light shines freely down,
She set me by the river-fringes green,
And turned herself; and in her face, I ween,
The glories of all worlds to me were shown.
She set me by the river-fringes green,
And turned herself; and in her face, I ween,
The glories of all worlds to me were shown.
Her radiant front is not of mortal mould,
Her look is of the lands which are not seen,
Broad is her brow, somewhat austere her mien,
Yet magical her beauty to behold.
Her look is of the lands which are not seen,
Broad is her brow, somewhat austere her mien,
Yet magical her beauty to behold.
For all the friendless way hedged with offence,
For all the hours forsaken of her face,
Now to behold in peace her peerless grace
Is and remains my perfect recompense.
For all the hours forsaken of her face,
Now to behold in peace her peerless grace
Is and remains my perfect recompense.
| Sketches from Life in Town and Country | |