 | Late songs |  |
35
THE OTHER SIDE
37
THE FULFILMENT
Who are these that go with our girl white as snow,
The one speckless lily since the world began?
They carry the well-water for our little dear daughter,
Their wings are as sapphire, my good wife Anne.
The one speckless lily since the world began?
They carry the well-water for our little dear daughter,
Their wings are as sapphire, my good wife Anne.
Joachim, my husband, there is naught amiss,
Though something's changed our girl from the child she was
When from the hidden Temple she came, gentle and simple—
Surely some wonderful thing of God has come to pass!
Though something's changed our girl from the child she was
When from the hidden Temple she came, gentle and simple—
Surely some wonderful thing of God has come to pass!
Anne, in the dawning when the lights were low
And the first bird was stirring I was sore afeard.
There was someone with our girl, clad in the rose and pearl,
For I heard his talking and her answer heard.
And the first bird was stirring I was sore afeard.
There was someone with our girl, clad in the rose and pearl,
For I heard his talking and her answer heard.
38
When she plucks the grapes from the clinging vine,
When she sweeps the hearth-place and kneads the bread,
There's a hand fine and slender, quick aid to render.
What light grows about her, our little maid?
When she sweeps the hearth-place and kneads the bread,
There's a hand fine and slender, quick aid to render.
What light grows about her, our little maid?
Anne, in the house there's a stirring of feet,
Winnow of wings and rustle upon the stair.
The flowers spring before her and the stars lean o'er her,
And a ring of light dazzles gold in her hair.
Winnow of wings and rustle upon the stair.
The flowers spring before her and the stars lean o'er her,
And a ring of light dazzles gold in her hair.
Joachim, my goodman, great things are afoot,
The Hour of God is striking and the Word fulfilled.
The child that shall be born shall wear the Crown of Thorn.
Yea, for world's healing His Blood be spilled.
The Hour of God is striking and the Word fulfilled.
The child that shall be born shall wear the Crown of Thorn.
Yea, for world's healing His Blood be spilled.
Mary goes by them, slender and young.
The Rose of Sharon's budded and Jesse's Rod in flower,
Magnificat she is singing and her song soaring, winging,
Sets all the roses swinging in Heaven's bower.
The Rose of Sharon's budded and Jesse's Rod in flower,
Magnificat she is singing and her song soaring, winging,
Sets all the roses swinging in Heaven's bower.
39
THE SLEEP
God thought of sleep, so that He might
Cradle His Man in the cool night
With more than mother's love, and hold
Warm to His breast the child of old.
Cradle His Man in the cool night
With more than mother's love, and hold
Warm to His breast the child of old.
Poor Man, that is so proud and high,
Yet he must fall asleep and lie
Open to all the winds and harms,
Unless God rocks him in His arms.
Yet he must fall asleep and lie
Open to all the winds and harms,
Unless God rocks him in His arms.
Poor Man, though all besmirched, shall keep
Yet the last innocence of sleep,
And like a child must lie alone
Defenceless, harmless, overthrown.
Yet the last innocence of sleep,
And like a child must lie alone
Defenceless, harmless, overthrown.
God's gentleness with sinners see!
In sleep they will not disagree
Nor hurt as only lovers can;
They are at one, God and His Man.
In sleep they will not disagree
Nor hurt as only lovers can;
They are at one, God and His Man.
40
Tenderly night shall find him, held
To a kind breast, who late rebelled;
New-reconciled with kisses he
Shall slumber on a mighty knee.
To a kind breast, who late rebelled;
New-reconciled with kisses he
Shall slumber on a mighty knee.
Man's but a toddling child, stripped bare
Of all the countless years that were;
Little and low: God's art to keep
A youngling thing in His arms asleep.
Of all the countless years that were;
Little and low: God's art to keep
A youngling thing in His arms asleep.
41
THE TRYST
Lest that His love should nod asleep,
His fainting arms fall by His side,
Lest He forget His tryst to keep,
One sinner turn away denied,
Wide on the Cross His arms are spread,
His bosom for the whole world's head.
His fainting arms fall by His side,
Lest He forget His tryst to keep,
One sinner turn away denied,
Wide on the Cross His arms are spread,
His bosom for the whole world's head.
Now, now, Himself He will not save,
His feet are halt for evermore.
Yea, though they lay Him in the grave
And seal the stone and guard the door,
He keeps the place He chose upon
The Hill: His anguish is not done.
His feet are halt for evermore.
Yea, though they lay Him in the grave
And seal the stone and guard the door,
He keeps the place He chose upon
The Hill: His anguish is not done.
The nails of Love have fixed Him there,
He will not take His bed and go.
His feet are hid in Magdalen's hair;
Through all the centuries, sad and slow,
While Heaven awaits Him He delays,
Love's Prisoner through the unending days.
He will not take His bed and go.
His feet are hid in Magdalen's hair;
Through all the centuries, sad and slow,
While Heaven awaits Him He delays,
Love's Prisoner through the unending days.
42
He broods above the battle-field,
His heavy head upon His breast:
Come, all ye wounded, and be healed.
Come, all ye broken hearts, and rest.
Come home, come home, black sheep and white,
In from the darkness to the light.
His heavy head upon His breast:
Come, all ye wounded, and be healed.
Come, all ye broken hearts, and rest.
Come home, come home, black sheep and white,
In from the darkness to the light.
43
LONELINESS
He who had all else Heaven and earth
Could give Him, till His human Birth
He had no mother, though He had
His Father's love, secure and glad;
Yet He made mothers for delight
Of the small babes in the cold night.
Could give Him, till His human Birth
He had no mother, though He had
His Father's love, secure and glad;
Yet He made mothers for delight
Of the small babes in the cold night.
He saw how well His hand had made
Her bosom for the baby's head,
How tender are her arms to fold
The shivering thing in a soft fold,
And how her voice goes hush-a-lo
Rocking the cradle to and fro.
Her bosom for the baby's head,
How tender are her arms to fold
The shivering thing in a soft fold,
And how her voice goes hush-a-lo
Rocking the cradle to and fro.
He has had all these for content.
For three-and-thirty years has leant
On a fond heart that fails him not.
He is in the fiery chariot!
The clouds have ta'en him and the wind.
But His sweet Mother's left behind!
For three-and-thirty years has leant
On a fond heart that fails him not.
He is in the fiery chariot!
The clouds have ta'en him and the wind.
But His sweet Mother's left behind!
44
What's wrong with Heaven? His Father's there,
The brooding Dove's aloft in air,
Heaven's as it was, serene, unflawed.
For the first time the Heart of God,
Lately made man, hath little ease,
For loneliness, for loneliness.
The brooding Dove's aloft in air,
Heaven's as it was, serene, unflawed.
For the first time the Heart of God,
Lately made man, hath little ease,
For loneliness, for loneliness.
45
THE SOUL PRAISES THE BODY
This holy body where Thou hast kept
For a brief season watch with me,
It shall not go unpraised, unwept,
When it shall break to set me free.
For a brief season watch with me,
It shall not go unpraised, unwept,
When it shall break to set me free.
At its low door Thou hast come in,
And in Thy passage made it bright;
The poor stones where Thy feet have been
Turn now to rose and diamond light.
And in Thy passage made it bright;
The poor stones where Thy feet have been
Turn now to rose and diamond light.
Face downward on my dusty floor,
Angels have bowed since Thou wert there,
And made it clean Thine eyes before,
Swept by their feathers and their hair.
Angels have bowed since Thou wert there,
And made it clean Thine eyes before,
Swept by their feathers and their hair.
Fragrances linger, a sweet smoke
Blown backward from Thy royal way,
So all the envious heavenly folk
Guess Thou wert here at break of day.
Blown backward from Thy royal way,
So all the envious heavenly folk
Guess Thou wert here at break of day.
46
This body is now Thy holy house
Where Thou didst come and sit at feast,
While all the golden birds in boughs
Acclaimed the Day-Star and my Guest.
Where Thou didst come and sit at feast,
While all the golden birds in boughs
Acclaimed the Day-Star and my Guest.
47
THE VISION OF MARY
There's a white rose on the thorn,
A red rose on the tree,
And Christ is born on Christmas morn
That all men may go free.
A red rose on the tree,
And Christ is born on Christmas morn
That all men may go free.
The white rose for Mary,
The red rose for her Son;
When she came down through the sleeping town,
The red and white were one.
The red rose for her Son;
When she came down through the sleeping town,
The red and white were one.
Curled like a little moon
He shone amid the hay,
The stars forsake their heavenly track
To sing him lullalay.
He shone amid the hay,
The stars forsake their heavenly track
To sing him lullalay.
She kneels for to adore
The earth and Heaven's Desire.
Oh, what is this beneath her kiss
Throbs like a little fire?
The earth and Heaven's Desire.
Oh, what is this beneath her kiss
Throbs like a little fire?
48
In each small hand she sees
A red rose-petal lie,
And while she sees hath little ease
Lest Herod should draw nigh.
A red rose-petal lie,
And while she sees hath little ease
Lest Herod should draw nigh.
And when on each small foot
She sees the red-rose stain,
She would snatch him fast unto her breast
Lest he in snares be ta'en.
She sees the red-rose stain,
She would snatch him fast unto her breast
Lest he in snares be ta'en.
Oh, when she sees the smirch
Of the red rose on His side,
What sword is in her heart; what dart
That will not be denied?
Of the red rose on His side,
What sword is in her heart; what dart
That will not be denied?
What coronal of gems,
Of ruby or coral spine,
Now, now is laid on His pretty head,
With His sweet curls doth twine?
Of ruby or coral spine,
Now, now is laid on His pretty head,
With His sweet curls doth twine?
His Mother stoops to kiss
The wounds of her Baby Son;
In dreams she sees a high trellis
And one red rose thereon.
The wounds of her Baby Son;
In dreams she sees a high trellis
And one red rose thereon.
49
The sword turns in her heart,
She clasps Him warm and close,
With lullaby-loo His fret unto
She lulls her Destined Rose.
She clasps Him warm and close,
With lullaby-loo His fret unto
She lulls her Destined Rose.
50
THE PASCH
Not yet, not yet has He arisen,
The mourning world awaits Him still,
Awhile He keeps His rock-bound prison,
Hard as the iceberg and as chill.
Love's willing prisoner He waits
While men and angels watch the gates.
The mourning world awaits Him still,
Awhile He keeps His rock-bound prison,
Hard as the iceberg and as chill.
Love's willing prisoner He waits
While men and angels watch the gates.
For all the stone is rolled away,
For all the garden waits the sun;
His Mother for her Star of Day
Still watching while the minutes run,
Cries: Son, wilt Thou not rise? O rise,
My Sun, my Moon of Paradise!
For all the garden waits the sun;
His Mother for her Star of Day
Still watching while the minutes run,
Cries: Son, wilt Thou not rise? O rise,
My Sun, my Moon of Paradise!
The Friend of sinners, once again
Awhile with sinners He delays;
Not such as loving Magdalen,
Whose lovely eyes are water-ways
To bathe His feet and, having done,
Dry them in cobwebs of the sun.
Awhile with sinners He delays;
Not such as loving Magdalen,
Whose lovely eyes are water-ways
To bathe His feet and, having done,
Dry them in cobwebs of the sun.
51
Cold as the grave the stony heart
Where He comes in and sits at feast.
There's a white table spread apart:
While Heaven awaits the Star in the East,
And the poor garden sleeps in shade,
He lifts the graceless heart He made.
Where He comes in and sits at feast.
There's a white table spread apart:
While Heaven awaits the Star in the East,
And the poor garden sleeps in shade,
He lifts the graceless heart He made.
52
THE GREY COUNTRY
I dreamt a dream on November Night
Of the dear souls that wait in pain
For the full Vision, the Delight,
Beauty that shall not change nor wane.
Of the dear souls that wait in pain
For the full Vision, the Delight,
Beauty that shall not change nor wane.
The grey country's to Heaven close,
Not Heaven but almost Heaven's twin;
As a grey rose to a gold rose,
As a grey image faint and thin.
Not Heaven but almost Heaven's twin;
As a grey rose to a gold rose,
As a grey image faint and thin.
In the grey land were bliss enough
Did not the Vision shine and gleam,
Turning the softest ways to rough
Until they might attain to Him?
Did not the Vision shine and gleam,
Turning the softest ways to rough
Until they might attain to Him?
Mary walking in Heaven's bower
Heard the sighing after her Son:
Give me Thy Mercy for an hour,
Thou who wert once my little one!
Heard the sighing after her Son:
Give me Thy Mercy for an hour,
Thou who wert once my little one!
53
Mary came with stars in her hair,
The new moon was under her feet;
In the grey world so still and fair
The heart of the world began to beat.
The new moon was under her feet;
In the grey world so still and fair
The heart of the world began to beat.
Some were clinging beside her skirt,
Soul on soul like a flock of birds;
Others nested, oh past desert!
On the heart that had seven swords.
Soul on soul like a flock of birds;
Others nested, oh past desert!
On the heart that had seven swords.
Mary gathers them one and all,
Many a one late home from war,
As they were children tender and small—
Sweetly gathers them all to her.
Many a one late home from war,
As they were children tender and small—
Sweetly gathers them all to her.
As a green tree in a bird's flight
I saw Mary amid her flock,
Carrying souls in her veil white,
Hiding them warm in her blue cloak.
I saw Mary amid her flock,
Carrying souls in her veil white,
Hiding them warm in her blue cloak.
54
THE LITTLE BROTHERS
God the Son in Paradise,
Being young, looked down to see
Sons of God in earth's disguise:
Are not these my brothers? said He.
Being young, looked down to see
Sons of God in earth's disguise:
Are not these my brothers? said He.
Though they stray so far, He said,
From My Father's purpose kind,
His bright image overlaid
Mirrors now no more His mind.
From My Father's purpose kind,
His bright image overlaid
Mirrors now no more His mind.
All these children, brothers all,
Heirs to Heaven as it was meant;
Shall their Brother see them thrall
While His Heaven holds Him content?
Heirs to Heaven as it was meant;
Shall their Brother see them thrall
While His Heaven holds Him content?
Take My orb and diadem!
I am weary of My throne:
Let Me be as one of them,
Their own brother, yea, their own.
I am weary of My throne:
Let Me be as one of them,
Their own brother, yea, their own.
55
Let Me be of woman born,
Just as weak, as frail as these;
Subject to their shame and scorn,
Solaces and agonies.
Just as weak, as frail as these;
Subject to their shame and scorn,
Solaces and agonies.
Take Humanity for wear,
Put on Sorrow for a dress;
Know the piteous things they bear—
Poverty and loneliness.
Put on Sorrow for a dress;
Know the piteous things they bear—
Poverty and loneliness.
God the Father, Whom His Son
Pleases well, in fatherhood
Smiled upon His only One:
Go, dear Son: the thought is good.
Pleases well, in fatherhood
Smiled upon His only One:
Go, dear Son: the thought is good.
Those who have lost Paradise,
My poor stained and wounded flock,
Now My own Son pays the price
And the Key turns in the lock.
My poor stained and wounded flock,
Now My own Son pays the price
And the Key turns in the lock.
Son, there is a day to come
And Thy cry shakes Heaven that day,
While Thy Father's bowed in gloom;
Yet—I would not bid Thee stay.
And Thy cry shakes Heaven that day,
While Thy Father's bowed in gloom;
Yet—I would not bid Thee stay.
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