 | Poems (1901) |  |
47
MANY MOODS
49
APRIL
A black North Wind that chills
New leaves and songs scarce sung;
It was not so in Aprils
When I was young.
New leaves and songs scarce sung;
It was not so in Aprils
When I was young.
Thrush-notes and blackbird-trills
The blossomy boughs among;
All in the leafy Aprils
When I was young.
The blossomy boughs among;
All in the leafy Aprils
When I was young.
Showers on the heavenly hills
Rainbow and silver hung;
Such tears and smiles were April's
When I was young.
Rainbow and silver hung;
Such tears and smiles were April's
When I was young.
Small streams and babbling rills,
Green ways where gossamers swung;
The young lambs leaped in Aprils
When I was young.
Green ways where gossamers swung;
The young lambs leaped in Aprils
When I was young.
Daisies and daffodils,
Primroses newly sprung;
Fragrant and fresh the Aprils
When I was young.
Primroses newly sprung;
Fragrant and fresh the Aprils
When I was young.
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Here in this town that kills,
The heart for cold is wrung.
It's O for the happy Aprils
When I was young!
The heart for cold is wrung.
It's O for the happy Aprils
When I was young!
51
MATER DEI
She looked to east, she looked to west,
Her eyes, unfathomable, mild,
That saw both worlds, came home to rest,—
Home to her own sweet child.
God's golden head was at her breast.
Her eyes, unfathomable, mild,
That saw both worlds, came home to rest,—
Home to her own sweet child.
God's golden head was at her breast.
What need to look o'er land and sea?
What could the winged ships bring to her?
What gold or gems of price might be,
Ivory or miniver,
Since God Himself lay on her knee?
What could the winged ships bring to her?
What gold or gems of price might be,
Ivory or miniver,
Since God Himself lay on her knee?
What could th' intense blue heaven keep
To draw her eyes and thoughts so high?
All heaven was where her Boy did leap,
Where her foot quietly
Went rocking the dear God asleep.
To draw her eyes and thoughts so high?
All heaven was where her Boy did leap,
Where her foot quietly
Went rocking the dear God asleep.
The angel folk fared up and down
A Jacob's Ladder hung between
Her quiet chamber and God's Town.
She saw unawed, serene;
Since God Himself played by her gown.
A Jacob's Ladder hung between
Her quiet chamber and God's Town.
She saw unawed, serene;
Since God Himself played by her gown.
52
SLOW SPRING
As the day lengthens, the year strengthens.
Strengthen, young year!
Grow strong and handsome, gallant and winsome,
Comely and dear.
Strengthen, young year!
Grow strong and handsome, gallant and winsome,
Comely and dear.
Gray days shall hold you, sweet days shall fold you,
Till there shall come
The wind-flowers dancing, the tulips glancing,
The swallows home.
Till there shall come
The wind-flowers dancing, the tulips glancing,
The swallows home.
The nests not yet in the grass are set
For larks in the sky
To love you madly and hail you gladly,
Hail you and die.
For larks in the sky
To love you madly and hail you gladly,
Hail you and die.
The rose-tree shows not a trace of the rose
That shall crown your head.
The leaves are furled in a silent world
Till your word be said.
That shall crown your head.
The leaves are furled in a silent world
Till your word be said.
O year, grow slowly. Exquisite, holy,
The days go on
With almonds showing the pink stars blowing,
And birds in the dawn.
The days go on
With almonds showing the pink stars blowing,
And birds in the dawn.
53
Grow slowly, year, like a child that is dear,
Or a lamb that is mild,
By little steps, and by little skips,
Like a lamb or a child.
Or a lamb that is mild,
By little steps, and by little skips,
Like a lamb or a child.
54
THE FAITHFUL LOVER
Cheer up now, my daughter, I have news for your pleasure:
A young man, a rich man, comes seeking my treasure.
Now say, shall I tell him that he may come wooing?
You are young, little daughter, and the past past undoing,
The dead sleeping quiet.
A young man, a rich man, comes seeking my treasure.
Now say, shall I tell him that he may come wooing?
You are young, little daughter, and the past past undoing,
The dead sleeping quiet.
O mother, little mother, do you think I'm forgetting
The long woe and fever, the fear and the fretting,
That the love of my heart still is tossing unburied,
At the will of the waves, by the winter winds hurried
Here and there through the riot?
The long woe and fever, the fear and the fretting,
That the love of my heart still is tossing unburied,
At the will of the waves, by the winter winds hurried
Here and there through the riot?
I am not forgetting, little daughter, your lover,
The brown head, the dear head the bitter waves cover;
But his soul is in glory, nor jealous nor grieving.
Turn round, little daughter, and think on the living:
You shall ride in your carriage.
The brown head, the dear head the bitter waves cover;
But his soul is in glory, nor jealous nor grieving.
Turn round, little daughter, and think on the living:
You shall ride in your carriage.
I would rather be his widow than a great chieftain's lady;
And 'tis, O that in shadow our one grave stood ready!
With my head on his breast and my mouth for his kisses,
I would envy no fond, faithful lover his blisses,
No sweet bride her marriage.
And 'tis, O that in shadow our one grave stood ready!
With my head on his breast and my mouth for his kisses,
I would envy no fond, faithful lover his blisses,
No sweet bride her marriage.
55
He has acres and crops and a mansion and cattle,
And a proud name well honoured on old fields of battle;
With his gold locks, his blue eyes, his smile true and tender,
'Tis to him many a young maid her love would surrender,
For sunshine or shadow.
And a proud name well honoured on old fields of battle;
With his gold locks, his blue eyes, his smile true and tender,
'Tis to him many a young maid her love would surrender,
For sunshine or shadow.
Now sleep, my sweet sorrow, as a babe with its mother
On the breast that shall know not the child of another.
Go bid my young sister, with eyes gay and fearless,
To comfort this young man for a cold heart and cheerless,
The heart of a widow.
On the breast that shall know not the child of another.
Go bid my young sister, with eyes gay and fearless,
To comfort this young man for a cold heart and cheerless,
The heart of a widow.
56
THE WEEPING BABE
She kneels by the cradle
Where Jesus doth lie;
Singing, Lullaby, my Baby!
But why dost Thou cry?
Where Jesus doth lie;
Singing, Lullaby, my Baby!
But why dost Thou cry?
The babes of the village
Smile sweetly in sleep;
And lullaby, my Baby,
That ever dost weep!
Smile sweetly in sleep;
And lullaby, my Baby,
That ever dost weep!
I've wrapped Thee in linen,
The gift of the Kings;
And wool, soft and fleecy,
The kind Shepherd brings.
The gift of the Kings;
And wool, soft and fleecy,
The kind Shepherd brings.
There's a dove on the trellis,
And wings in the door,
And the gold shoes of angels
Are bright on our floor.
And wings in the door,
And the gold shoes of angels
Are bright on our floor.
Then lullaby, my Baby!
I've fed Thee with milk,
And wrapped Thee in kisses
As soft as the silk.
I've fed Thee with milk,
And wrapped Thee in kisses
As soft as the silk.
57
And here are red roses,
And grapes from the vine,
And a lamb trotting softly,
Thy playfellow fine.
And grapes from the vine,
And a lamb trotting softly,
Thy playfellow fine.
Now smile, little Jesus,
Whom naught can defile;
All gifts will I give Thee
An thou wilt but smile.
Whom naught can defile;
All gifts will I give Thee
An thou wilt but smile.
But it's lullaby, my Baby!
And mournful am I,
Thou cherished little Jesus,
That still Thou wilt cry.
And mournful am I,
Thou cherished little Jesus,
That still Thou wilt cry.
58
MOUNTAIN ROSE
Cold and rough the North Wind blows,
Black in the morning early.
Whom should I meet but Mountain Rose
Among the stubble barley?
Black in the morning early.
Whom should I meet but Mountain Rose
Among the stubble barley?
All the world is under snows;
Blowing 'tis and snowing.
Whom should I meet but Mountain Rose
The way that I was going?
Blowing 'tis and snowing.
Whom should I meet but Mountain Rose
The way that I was going?
Not a leaf on the poplar-tree,
Not a flower on the heather.
Mountain Rose looked shyly at me
As we stepped out together.
Not a flower on the heather.
Mountain Rose looked shyly at me
As we stepped out together.
Mountain Rose, so airy and free,
Where are roses blowing?
Rose's cheek, half-turned from me,
The rose of love was showing.
Where are roses blowing?
Rose's cheek, half-turned from me,
The rose of love was showing.
Black and cold the North Wind blows,
Never a bird is singing.
There's a lilt in the voice of Rose
Sweet as the skylark ringing.
Never a bird is singing.
There's a lilt in the voice of Rose
Sweet as the skylark ringing.
59
Winter's black on heather and broom,
Where shall I find honey?
Rose's mouth is the honeycomb,
And Rose's laugh is sunny.
Where shall I find honey?
Rose's mouth is the honeycomb,
And Rose's laugh is sunny.
Black and cold the North Wind blows,
Winter comes in fairly.
I keep Summer with Mountain Rose
Among the stubble barley.
Winter comes in fairly.
I keep Summer with Mountain Rose
Among the stubble barley.
60
THE BIRDS' BARGAIN
“O spare my cherries in the net,”
Brother Benignus prayed; “and I
Summer and winter, shine and wet,
Will pile the blackbirds' table high.”
Brother Benignus prayed; “and I
Summer and winter, shine and wet,
Will pile the blackbirds' table high.”
“O spare my youngling peas,” he prayed,
“That for the Abbot's table be,
And every blackbird shall be fed;
Yea, they shall have their fill,” said he.
“That for the Abbot's table be,
And every blackbird shall be fed;
Yea, they shall have their fill,” said he.
His prayer, his vow, the blackbirds heard,
And spared his shining garden-plot.
In abstinence went every bird,
All the old thieving ways forgot.
And spared his shining garden-plot.
In abstinence went every bird,
All the old thieving ways forgot.
He kept his promise to his friends,
And daily set them finest fare
Of corn and meal and manchet-ends,
With marrowy bones for winter bare.
And daily set them finest fare
Of corn and meal and manchet-ends,
With marrowy bones for winter bare.
Brother Benignus died in grace:
The brethren keep his trust, and feed
The blackbirds in this pleasant place,
Purged, as dear heaven, from strife and greed.
The brethren keep his trust, and feed
The blackbirds in this pleasant place,
Purged, as dear heaven, from strife and greed.
61
The blackbirds sing the whole year long,
Here where they keep their promise given,
And do the mellowing fruit no wrong.
Brother Benignus smiles in heaven.
Here where they keep their promise given,
And do the mellowing fruit no wrong.
Brother Benignus smiles in heaven.
62
MOTHER-COUNTRY
She is the mother-country, she,
'Mid fields and hills and mists so gray,
That calls about her tender knee
Her wandering children far away.
'Mid fields and hills and mists so gray,
That calls about her tender knee
Her wandering children far away.
Her voice is like a lullaby.
'Tis O, the mother's arms within
To close awhile the sleepy eye
And feel the time of rest begin!
'Tis O, the mother's arms within
To close awhile the sleepy eye
And feel the time of rest begin!
The sweetest heart, the softest breast,
To win her children and to keep.
There where the dream of rest is best
Rock us to sleep, rock us to sleep!
To win her children and to keep.
There where the dream of rest is best
Rock us to sleep, rock us to sleep!
63
GREEN BUSHES
The green bushes when first I loved you,
When we met and my heart approved you,
Tossed the gold and the scarlet high,
Gold and scarlet went drifting by.
Ochone, the wind and the weather!
Days when you and I were together;
Much we heeded the leaf on the tree:
'Twas heart's spring-time to you and me.
When we met and my heart approved you,
Tossed the gold and the scarlet high,
Gold and scarlet went drifting by.
Ochone, the wind and the weather!
Days when you and I were together;
Much we heeded the leaf on the tree:
'Twas heart's spring-time to you and me.
The green bushes when we were married
White rose and the red rose carried,
When you drew me your threshold o'er,
Rose and white for our wedding floor.
Ochone, the days that are over!
I beloved, and you my lover,
Little we cared what the world might say,
You and I on our wedding day.
White rose and the red rose carried,
When you drew me your threshold o'er,
Rose and white for our wedding floor.
Ochone, the days that are over!
I beloved, and you my lover,
Little we cared what the world might say,
You and I on our wedding day.
The green bushes grow thin and shiver,
You and I we are lovers ever;
Cheek to cheek and heart to heart,
Still true lovers whom none can part.
Ochone, winter goes sighing,
Love in a world of care and dying;
Ah, forget that I made you sad,
Yet remember I made you glad.
You and I we are lovers ever;
Cheek to cheek and heart to heart,
Still true lovers whom none can part.
Ochone, winter goes sighing,
Love in a world of care and dying;
64
Yet remember I made you glad.
The green bushes grow gray and vernal,
Spring comes back and Love is eternal;
In your arms come kiss, forgive me:
Had you ever the heart to grieve me,
Ochone?
Spring comes back and Love is eternal;
In your arms come kiss, forgive me:
Had you ever the heart to grieve me,
Ochone?
65
IMMORTALITY
So I have sunk my roots in earth
Since that my pretty boys had birth;
And fear no more the grave and gloom,
I, with the centuries to come.
Since that my pretty boys had birth;
And fear no more the grave and gloom,
I, with the centuries to come.
As the tree blossoms so bloom I,
Flinging wild branches to the sky;
Renew each year my leafy suit,
Strike with the years a deeper root.
Flinging wild branches to the sky;
Renew each year my leafy suit,
Strike with the years a deeper root.
Shelter a thousand birds to be,
A thousand herds give praise to me;
And in my kind and grateful shade
How many a weary head be laid.
A thousand herds give praise to me;
And in my kind and grateful shade
How many a weary head be laid.
I clothe myself without a stain.
In me a child is born again,
A child that looks with innocent eyes
On a new world with glad surprise.
In me a child is born again,
A child that looks with innocent eyes
On a new world with glad surprise.
The old mistakes are all undone,
All the old sins are purged and gone.
Old wounds and scars have left no trace,
There are no lines in this young face.
All the old sins are purged and gone.
Old wounds and scars have left no trace,
There are no lines in this young face.
66
To hear the cuckoo the first time,
And 'mid new roses in the prime
To read the poets newly. This,
Year after year, shall be my bliss.
And 'mid new roses in the prime
To read the poets newly. This,
Year after year, shall be my bliss.
Of me shall Love be born anew,
I shall be loved and lover too;
Years after this poor body has died
Shall be the bridegroom and the bride
I shall be loved and lover too;
Years after this poor body has died
Shall be the bridegroom and the bride
Of me shall mothers spring to know
The mother's bliss, the mother's woe;
And children's children yet to be
Shall learn their prayers about my knee.
The mother's bliss, the mother's woe;
And children's children yet to be
Shall learn their prayers about my knee.
And many million lights of home
Shall light for me the time to come.
Unto me much shall be forgiven,
I that make many souls for heaven.
Shall light for me the time to come.
Unto me much shall be forgiven,
I that make many souls for heaven.
67
ALICE
Without surcease of breath
Her soul hath slipped its sheath,
And walks among us, beautiful, unafraid,
So mortal eyes may see
How immortality
Transcends all beauty that must fail and fade.
Her soul hath slipped its sheath,
And walks among us, beautiful, unafraid,
So mortal eyes may see
How immortality
Transcends all beauty that must fail and fade.
Colours of air and flame,
The glory whence she came,
Yet float about her in our dusty sphere.
Silence and rapture still
Brought from the heavenly hill,
Whence she hath travelled to our exile drear.
The glory whence she came,
Yet float about her in our dusty sphere.
Silence and rapture still
Brought from the heavenly hill,
Whence she hath travelled to our exile drear.
Slight as a lance she is,
And tall as Lent lilies,
Aspiring like a flame in windless air.
Incense and breath of spice,
Kept from her Paradise,
Haunt her from slender feet to ebon hair.
And tall as Lent lilies,
Aspiring like a flame in windless air.
Incense and breath of spice,
Kept from her Paradise,
Haunt her from slender feet to ebon hair.
Lingering and lovely voice—
Lutes, dulcimers, hautboys—
Her voice remembers how the music went,
Still holds the rise and fall,
The sob ecstatical,
Of some most heavenly-sweet wind instrument.
Lutes, dulcimers, hautboys—
Her voice remembers how the music went,
Still holds the rise and fall,
The sob ecstatical,
Of some most heavenly-sweet wind instrument.
68
THE RETURN
When we came back to the old beloved places,
Home of our dreams, we had forgotten quite
Days of our grief when new o'er little faces
Grass waved and dew fell in the starless night.
Home of our dreams, we had forgotten quite
Days of our grief when new o'er little faces
Grass waved and dew fell in the starless night.
Leaves of green silk, laughing skies of azure,
Rose freshly blowing, and birds in the bowers:
So in that May the Spring spilled out her treasure,
Young Love went walking knee-deep in flowers.
Rose freshly blowing, and birds in the bowers:
So in that May the Spring spilled out her treasure,
Young Love went walking knee-deep in flowers.
Just for a space our hearts forgetting wholly
Wreckage of winter and blight in the groves;
How Death came walking heavily and slowly
O'er the saddest garlands that once were Love's.
Wreckage of winter and blight in the groves;
How Death came walking heavily and slowly
O'er the saddest garlands that once were Love's.
Mercy of mercies! We were so glad returning,
Old griefs forgotten, old joys renewed;
Death that was Life no longer wears the mourning,
Death that was Love hath raised his shadowy hood.
Old griefs forgotten, old joys renewed;
Death that was Life no longer wears the mourning,
Death that was Love hath raised his shadowy hood.
69
A PRAYER
Now wilt me take for Jesus' sake,
Nor cast me out at all;
I shall not fear the foe awake,
Saved by Thy City wall;
But in the night with no affright
Shall hear him steal without,
Who may not scale Thy wall of might,
Thy bastion, nor redoubt.
Nor cast me out at all;
I shall not fear the foe awake,
Saved by Thy City wall;
But in the night with no affright
Shall hear him steal without,
Who may not scale Thy wall of might,
Thy bastion, nor redoubt.
Full well I know that to the foe
Wilt yield me not for aye,
Unless mine own hand should undo
The gates that are my stay;
My folly and pride should open wide
Thy doors and set me free
'Mid tigers striped and panthers pied
Far from Thy liberty.
Wilt yield me not for aye,
Unless mine own hand should undo
The gates that are my stay;
My folly and pride should open wide
Thy doors and set me free
'Mid tigers striped and panthers pied
Far from Thy liberty.
Unless by debt myself I set
Outside Thy loving ken,
And yield myself by weight of debt
Unto my fellow-men.
Deal with my guilt Thou as Thou wilt,
And “hold” I shall not cry,
So I be Thine in storm and shine,
Thine only till I die.
Outside Thy loving ken,
And yield myself by weight of debt
Unto my fellow-men.
Deal with my guilt Thou as Thou wilt,
And “hold” I shall not cry,
So I be Thine in storm and shine,
Thine only till I die.
70
PARENTHOOD
These are the years our God
Lays down, and nothing loth,
His sceptre and His rod
As He were tired of both.
Bids men and women take
His empire for a while,
To ban, to bless, to make
The children weep or smile.
Lays down, and nothing loth,
His sceptre and His rod
As He were tired of both.
Bids men and women take
His empire for a while,
To ban, to bless, to make
The children weep or smile.
All power be yours, He saith,
Over My little ones:
The power of life and death,
The power of clouds and suns.
The power of weal and harm
Be yours to have and hold:
In you they shall go warm,
In you be pinched with cold.
Over My little ones:
The power of life and death,
The power of clouds and suns.
The power of weal and harm
Be yours to have and hold:
In you they shall go warm,
In you be pinched with cold.
Just for these God-like years
Ye shall not know th' intense
Pang beyond prayers and tears
Of your love's impotence.
Be yours to make, to mar,
This lovely thing I wrought,
With love brought from afar,
And My eternal thought.
Ye shall not know th' intense
Pang beyond prayers and tears
Of your love's impotence.
Be yours to make, to mar,
This lovely thing I wrought,
With love brought from afar,
And My eternal thought.
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This fashioned I of joy,
Much hope, without a stain,
Pure gold without alloy
Redeemed in mine own pain.
For this the wine-press trod,
Ensanguined to the knee.
Afterwards—saith our God—
Ye will account to Me.
Much hope, without a stain,
Pure gold without alloy
Redeemed in mine own pain.
For this the wine-press trod,
Ensanguined to the knee.
Afterwards—saith our God—
Ye will account to Me.
For every needless tear,
For all the smiles unsmiled,
For lonely wrong and fear
Wrought on My little child,
Myself will exact the fee,
A God of wrath and scorn:
Better that day that ye
Were dead ere ye were born.
For all the smiles unsmiled,
For lonely wrong and fear
Wrought on My little child,
Myself will exact the fee,
A God of wrath and scorn:
Better that day that ye
Were dead ere ye were born.
Contrariwise—His wrath
Our Lord God put away—
Your watchful love till death
I will repay, repay.
Lord of the skies and lands
Take pity on Thy dust,
Strengthen our mortal hands
Lest we betray Thy trust!
Our Lord God put away—
Your watchful love till death
I will repay, repay.
Lord of the skies and lands
Take pity on Thy dust,
Strengthen our mortal hands
Lest we betray Thy trust!
72
RECALL
As the blue swallow flies,
Tracking the summer,
As the gray pigeon hies,
Ever a homer.
Tracking the summer,
As the gray pigeon hies,
Ever a homer.
So on her sunset path
Goes my heart flying,
Fears not the storm-wind's wrath
Nor the sea's sighing.
Goes my heart flying,
Fears not the storm-wind's wrath
Nor the sea's sighing.
Wears like the sea-swallows
Sea's tints upon her,
Goes as the carrier goes,
Ringed by her owner.
Sea's tints upon her,
Goes as the carrier goes,
Ringed by her owner.
Westward she flieth forth,
And who shall bind her?
Looks not to south or north,
East lies behind her.
And who shall bind her?
Looks not to south or north,
East lies behind her.
Like a gold flash she gleams,
Straight to the sunset;
Hurls her o'er seas and streams
With a wild onset.
Straight to the sunset;
Hurls her o'er seas and streams
With a wild onset.
73
Straight to that tender heart,
By the dim water.
If they might never part,
Mother and daughter!
By the dim water.
If they might never part,
Mother and daughter!
74
THE LEGEND OF ST. AUSTIN AND THE CHILD
St. Austin, going in thought
Along the sea-sands gray,
Into another world was caught,
And Carthage far away.
Along the sea-sands gray,
Into another world was caught,
And Carthage far away.
He saw the City of God
Hang in the saffron sky;
And this was holy ground he trod,
Where mortals come not nigh.
Hang in the saffron sky;
And this was holy ground he trod,
Where mortals come not nigh.
He saw pale spires aglow,
Houses of heavenly sheen;
All in a world of rose and snow,
A sea of gold and green.
Houses of heavenly sheen;
All in a world of rose and snow,
A sea of gold and green.
There amid Paradise
The saint was rapt away
From unillumined sands and skies
And floor of muddy clay.
The saint was rapt away
From unillumined sands and skies
And floor of muddy clay.
His soul took wings and flew,
Forgetting mortal stain,
Upon the track of that bright crew
That homed to heaven again.
Forgetting mortal stain,
Upon the track of that bright crew
That homed to heaven again.
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Forgetting mortal dearth
It seized on heavenly things,
Till it was cast again to earth,
Because it had not wings.
It seized on heavenly things,
Till it was cast again to earth,
Because it had not wings.
Because the Three in One
He could not understand,
Baffled and beaten and undone,
He gazed o'er sea and land.
He could not understand,
Baffled and beaten and undone,
He gazed o'er sea and land.
Then by a little pool
A lovely child he saw;
A harmless thing and beautiful,
And yet so full of awe,
A lovely child he saw;
A harmless thing and beautiful,
And yet so full of awe,
That with a curved sea-shell,
Held in his rosy hand,
Had scooped himself a little well
Within the yielding sand.
Held in his rosy hand,
Had scooped himself a little well
Within the yielding sand.
And to and fro went he,
Between it and the wave,
Bearing his shell filled with the sea,
To find a sandy grave.
Between it and the wave,
Bearing his shell filled with the sea,
To find a sandy grave.
“What is it that you do,
You lovely boy and bold?”
“I empty out the ocean blue,
You man so wise and old!
You lovely boy and bold?”
“I empty out the ocean blue,
You man so wise and old!
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“See you how in this cup
I bind the great sea's girth!”
“Ah no, the gray sands suck it up
Your cup is little worth.
I bind the great sea's girth!”
“Ah no, the gray sands suck it up
Your cup is little worth.
“Now put your play aside,
And let the ocean be.
Tell me your name, O violet-eyed,
That empty out the sea!
And let the ocean be.
Tell me your name, O violet-eyed,
That empty out the sea!
“What lineage high and fine
Is yours, O kingly boy,
That sure art sprung of royal line,
A people's hope and joy.”
Is yours, O kingly boy,
That sure art sprung of royal line,
A people's hope and joy.”
“Austin, as you have said,
A crown my Sire doth wear,
My mother was a royal maid
And yet went cold and bare.”
A crown my Sire doth wear,
My mother was a royal maid
And yet went cold and bare.”
He shook his golden curls,
A scornful laugh laughed he.
“The night that I was born, the churls,
They would not shelter me.
A scornful laugh laughed he.
“The night that I was born, the churls,
They would not shelter me.
“Only the ox and ass,
The night that I was born,
Made me a cradle of the grass
And watched by me till morn.
The night that I was born,
Made me a cradle of the grass
And watched by me till morn.
77
“The night that I was born
The ass and ox alone,
Betwixt the midnight and the morn,
Knelt down upon the stone.
The ass and ox alone,
Betwixt the midnight and the morn,
Knelt down upon the stone.
“The bitter night I came,
Each star sang in its sphere.
Now riddle, riddle me my name,
My Austin tried and dear.”
Each star sang in its sphere.
Now riddle, riddle me my name,
My Austin tried and dear.”
Austin is on his face,
Before that vision bright.
“My Lord, what dost Thou in this place
With such a sinful wight?”
Before that vision bright.
“My Lord, what dost Thou in this place
With such a sinful wight?”
“I come not here in wrath,
But I come here in love,
My Austin, skilled in life and death,
Thy vanity to prove.
But I come here in love,
My Austin, skilled in life and death,
Thy vanity to prove.
“Mortal, yet over-bold
To fly where th' eagle flies,
As soon this cup the sea will hold
As thou My Mysteries.
To fly where th' eagle flies,
As soon this cup the sea will hold
As thou My Mysteries.
“Patience a little yet,
And thou shalt be with Me,
And in thy soul's small cup unmeet
Myself will pour the sea.”
And thou shalt be with Me,
And in thy soul's small cup unmeet
Myself will pour the sea.”
78
When Austin raised his head
No child was there beside,
But in the cup the Child had made
There swelled the rising tide.
No child was there beside,
But in the cup the Child had made
There swelled the rising tide.
| Poems (1901) | |