Poems: New and Old Part 18

{159}.

'Bened.i.c.k's Song'

Though I see within thine eyes Sudden frown of cloudy skies, Yet I bid them "merry morn"

For they tell me Love is born.

So ha-ha! with ha-ha-ha!

For they tell me Love is born.

Storms of mocking from thy lips Lash me still like airy whips; But to-day thy scorn I scorn For I know that Love is born.

So ha-ha! with ha-ha-ha!

For I know that Love is born.

O the hail that rattles fierce Through my hodden cloak to pierce!

What care I if rags be torn?

Love and I are beggars born!

So ha-ha! with ha-ha-ha!

Love and I are beggars born.

{160}.

'Love and Grief.'

One day, when Love and Summer both were young, Love in a garden found my lady weeping; Whereat, when he to kiss her would have sprung, I stayed his childish leaping.

"Forbear," said I, "she is not thine to-day; Subdue thyself in silence to await her; If thou dare call her from Death's side away Thou art no Love, but traitor.

Yet did he run, and she his kiss received, "She is twice mine," he cried, "since she is troubled; I knew but half, and now I see her grieved My part in her is doubled."

{161}.

'Egeria's Silence'

Her thought that, like a brook beside the way, Sang to my steps through all the wandering year, Has ceased from melody--O Love, allay My sudden fear!

She cannot fail--the beauty of that brow Could never flower above a desert heart-- Somewhere beneath, the well-spring even now Lives, though apart.

Some day, when winter has renewed her fount With cold, white-folded snows and quiet rain, O Love, O Love, her stream again will mount And sing again!

{162}.

'Against Oblivion'

Cities drowned in olden time Keep, they say, a magic chime Rolling up from far below When the moon-led waters flow.

So within me, ocean deep, Lies a sunken world asleep.

Lest its bells forget to ring, Memory! set the tide a-swing!

{163}.

'Fond Counsel'

O youth, beside thy silver-springing fountain, In sight and hearing of thy father's cot, These and the morning woods, the lonely mountain, These are thy peace, although thou know'st it not.

Wander not yet where noon's unpitying glare Beats down the toilers in the city bare; Forsake not yet, not yet, the homely plot, O Youth, beside thy silver-springing fountain.

{164}.

'Youth'

His song of dawn outsoars the joyful bird, Swift on the weary road his footfall comes; The dusty air that by his stride is stirred Beats with a buoyant march of fairy drums.

"Awake, O Earth! thine ancient slumber break; To the new day, O slumbrous Earth, awake!"

Yet long ago that merry march began, His feet are older than the path they tread; His music is the morning-song of man, His stride the stride of all the valiant dead; His youngest hopes are memories, and his eyes Deep with the old, old dream that never dies.

{165}.

'The Wanderer'

To Youth there comes a whisper out of the west: "O loiterer, hasten where there waits for thee A life to build, a love therein to nest, And a man's work, serving the age to be."

Peace, peace awhile! Before his tireless feet Hill beyond hill the road in sunlight goes; He breathes the breath of morning, clear and sweet, And his eyes love the high eternal snows.

{166}.

'The Adventurers'

Over the downs in sunlight clear Forth we went in the spring of the year: Plunder of April's gold we sought, Little of April's anger thought.

Caught in a copse without defence Low we crouched to the rain-squall dense: Sure, if misery man can vex, There it beat on our bended necks.

Yet when again we wander on Suddenly all that gloom is gone: Under and over through the wood, Life is astir, and life is good.

Violets purple, violets white, Delicate windflowers dancing light, Primrose, mercury, moscatel, Shimmer in diamonds round the dell.

Squirrel is climbing swift and lithe, Chiff-chaff whetting his airy scythe, Woodp.e.c.k.e.r whirrs his rattling rap, Ringdove flies with a sudden clap.

{167}.

Rook is summoning rook to build, Dunnock his beak with moss has filled, Robin is bowing in coat-tails brown, Tomt.i.t chattering upside down.

Well is it seen that every one Laughs at the rain and loves the sun; We too laughed with the wildwood crew, Laughed till the sky once more was blue.