The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III. |
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THE DEAD POET
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| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
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THE DEAD POET
I
“Leave him to me, ye roses which he sought,And all ye hills and vales,—
And all ye green-robed dales
Made lovelier now for ever by his thought.
II
“Leave this dead poet unto me,” God said:“And all ye women fair
Whose sweet breath and whose hair
Round him for passion's aureole was shed.
82
III
“Ye understood him not: the waves he sangWere deaf and mute and blind
And soulless, and mankind
Was soulless too,—while yet his harp-string rang.
IV
“Though women loved him, yet they held him notAs I, his God, can hold
And round about him fold
Arms sweeter than rose-sprays in sunniest spot.
V
“He has become a very part of me;And ye who pierced and slew
And ran your keen swords through
His bleeding yearning spirit,—where are ye?
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VI
“Ye pass away like morning from the deep:—But I with great glad hands
Wind soft pure white grave-bands
Around the man and rock the soul to sleep;
VII
“That when the resurrection great stars riseHe may arise and meet
With conquering smile and sweet
The woman's soul in mine, his true God's, eyes.
VIII
“I am his love,—I, God; I bear awayThe heart that not one heart
Loved and brought not a dart
As well as love,—yours is the form ye slay!
84
IX
“But mine is the strong soul that, loving each,Would not forsake, but held
Till all his power was quelled
By death,—the soul that strove my love to teach.
X
“And now ye have him not: he finds in meMore than ye gave of rest;
More than most tender breast
Of woman gave of closest sympathy.
XI
“I the great God-bride hold him, and I closeAbove his toil-worn head
The eternal arms that shed
Fragrance about him holier than the rose;
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XII
“And with mine awful spirit-thrilling kissI make mine own what ye
Had, and ye would not see,—
And mix my deathless woman-soul with his.”
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |