Poems of To-Day: an Anthology Part 24

111. THE LADY POVERTY

The Lady Poverty was fair: But she has lost her looks of late, With change of times and change of air.

Ah slattern! she neglects her hair, Her gown, her shoes; she keeps no state As once when her pure feet were bare.

Or--almost worse, if worse can be-- She scolds in parlours, dusts and trims, Watches and counts. Oh, is this she Whom Francis met, whose step was free, Who with Obedience carolled hymns, In Umbria walked with Chast.i.ty?

Where is her ladyhood? Not here, Not among modern kinds of men; But in the stony fields, where clear Through the thin trees the skies appear, In delicate spare soil and fen, And slender landscape and austere.

_Alice Meynell._

112. COURTESY

Of Courtesy it is much less Than Courage of Heart or Holiness, Yet in my Walks it seems to me That the Grace of G.o.d is in Courtesy.

On Monks I did in Storrington fall, They took me straight into their Hall; I saw Three Pictures on a wall, And Courtesy was in them all.

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The first the Annunciation; The second the Visitation; The third the Consolation, Of G.o.d that was Our Lady's Son.

The first was of Saint Gabriel; On Wings a-flame from Heaven he fell; And as he went upon one knee He shone with Heavenly Courtesy.

Our Lady out of Nazareth rode-- It was her month of heavy load; Yet was Her face both great and kind, For Courtesy was in Her Mind.

The third, it was our Little Lord, Whom all the Kings in arms adored; He was so small you could not see His large intent of Courtesy.

Our Lord, that was Our Lady's Son, Go bless you, People, one by one; My Rhyme is written, my work is done.

_Hilaire Belloc._

113. MONTSERRAT

Peace waits among the hills; I have drunk peace, Here, where the blue air fills The great cup of the hills, And fills with peace.

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Between the earth and sky, I have seen the earth Like a dark cloud go by, And fade out of the sky; There was no more earth.

Here, where the Holy Graal Brought secret light Once, from beyond the veil, I, seeing no Holy Graal, See divine light.

Light fills the hills with G.o.d, Wind with his breath, And here, in his abode, Light, wind, and air praise G.o.d, And this poor breath.

_Arthur Symons._

114. PRAYERS

G.o.d who created me Nimble and light of limb, In three elements free, To run, to ride, to swim: Not when the sense is dim, But now from the heart of joy, I would remember Him: Take the thanks of a boy.

Jesu, King and Lord, Whose are my foes to fight,

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Gird me with Thy sword, Swift and sharp and bright.

Thee would I serve if I might; And conquer if I can, From day-dawn till night, Take the strength of a man.

Spirit of Love and Truth, Breathing in grosser clay, The light and flame of youth, Delight of men in the fray, Wisdom in strength's decay; From pain, strife, wrong to be free, This best gift I pray, Take my spirit to Thee.

_Henry Charles Beeching._

115. THE SHEPHERDESS

She walks--the lady of my delight-- A shepherdess of sheep.

Her flocks are thoughts. She keeps them white; She guards them from the steep; She feeds them on the fragrant height, And folds them in for sleep.

She roams maternal hills and bright, Dark valleys safe and deep.

Into that tender breast at night The chastest stars may peep.

She walks--the lady of my delight-- A shepherdess of sheep.

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She holds her little thoughts in sight, Though gay they run and leap.

She is so circ.u.mspect and right; She has her soul to keep.

She walks--the lady of my delight-- A shepherdess of sheep.

_Alice Meynell._

116. GIBBERISH

Many a flower have I seen blossom, Many a bird for me will sing.

Never heard I so sweet a singer, Never saw I so fair a thing.

She is a bird, a bird that blossoms, She is a flower, a flower that sings; And I a flower when I behold her, And when I hear her, I have wings.

_Mary E. Coleridge._