Some Verses Part 4

The strong brave Night is dead. Its endless deeps Of patient tenderness, the moon-bright still When every silver lake and purple hill Hold wise unfathomed converse with the steeps Of starry heaven, are past. All nature weeps And draws the veiling grey of morning mist Upon the lips that Night's last clouds have kist-- The Night that watched so well the world who sleeps.

The Night is dead--Alas--and pallid Day is but the corpse laid out in cold array, The white sad emblem of the heart we knew.

Through half-closed lids the eyes shine palely blue; The gleaming grave clothes cover all the rest.

So cruel still lies now the air's sweet breast And trees and hills fold down calm hands and eyes, That none may guess their secret mysteries.

SONG

Softly sighs the gracious wind-- Dash of rose, in deeps of sky, Love is fair and love is kind,-- Singing free--I pa.s.sed him by.

Shredded clouds are whirled in air, Winter stalks adown the gale Tossing wide Love's golden hair-- Cease the singing--Love grows pale.

Howls the grey sky to the sea-- Loose the storm-dogs from their bed.

Turned I back--and woe is me-- I must die--for Love is dead.

SIGH NOT FOR LOVE

Sigh not for love, the ways of love are dark!

Sweet Child--hold up the hollow of your hand And catch the sparks that flutter from the stars!

See how the late sky spreads in flushing bars!

They are dead roses from your own dear land Tossed high by kindly breezes: lean, and hark, And you shall know how morning glads her lark!

The timid Dawn, herself a little child Casts up shy eyes in loving worship--dear, Is it not yet enough? the Spring is here And would you weep for Winter's tempest wild Sigh not for love, the ways of love are dark!

AMBITION AND LOVE

Sweet, in the golden morning of my days, With young tempestuous joy I reared my head To gaze adown the splendid sunlit ways Where all the fires of fame burned glory red, I recked not where the sounding arches led, Save at the end I gain my august bays.

But as of old, when through the patient night, Fair losing or fair gaining, till the morn, Great Israel strove to break the angel's might, Till spent and failing, in his heavenly scorn, Th' immortal wrestler touched the earthly born, Striking him powerless, winning thus the fight.

So did false Fortune, when I strove and fought, Smiling 'neath half-closed eyelids, when seemed won, For a brief hour, the beckoning goal I sought-- Then with frustrating touch dimmed all my sun Blotted the work and faith so brave begun; But what I gained was none too dearly bought.

I have no wreath to lay before your feet; There shines no future, and the past is dead; But you have heard me, and I love you--Sweet.

The low sun crowns with gold your gracious head, The heavy lilies nod upon their bed-- I look at you, and find my life complete.

TO B. D.

Broad browed beneath a cloud of dusky hair Her eyes are midnight seas that never sleep But see beyond the dull world's heavy air The mystery of ages buried deep.

The faint sweet shadows trembling round her mouth Lighten with youth and love the Sphinx's face.

And as she moves, a soft wind from the South Floating, flower-laden seems--so sweet her grace.

Aloof she stands, from idle mirth and tears And keeps the white sails of her spirit furled, Altho' a girl, pure from the stain of years, An ancient Egypt, smiling at the world.

LITTLE SAD FACE

Little sad face, come close, so close to mine, See through these eyes the sweetness of the day, Feel how the sunbeams dance in Summer's wine, Hold fast my hands and let our pulse combine And with my steps dance down the happy way; For youth is love and love is light and gay, Little sad face.

Little sad heart, come close, so close to mine, And know the utmost limits of the will Of all the worlds, till soft thy heart divine A joy which can encompa.s.s grief like thine; Hide in my breast, and let faint pulses thrill, For youth is love, and love is great and still, Little sad heart.

Little sad soul, which ne'er can come to mine, So great in loneliness of grey despair, There is not one whose spirit may entwine With thee--the world looks on without a sign; Go--hide thy face within thy tossing hair, Thyself veil close with smiles, for none will care, Little sad soul.

EARTH'S TEARS-- AND MAN'S

These slanting lines of h.o.a.ry rain Are as my grizzled hair; The face of earth is old with pain As mine--with dull despair.

And yet, one sun will gild the air, Earth's tears were not in vain: No smile can ease mine eyes of care Or make me young again!

I HAVE SEEN WHAT THE SERAPHS HAVE SEEN

I have seen what the seraphs have seen As they gaze thro' the limitless air-- Thro' the wind and the clouds to the lean Pale face of the moon, and the bare Bright flame of the sun, unaware, I have seen what the seraphs have seen!

Thro' the limitless s.p.a.ces of air The brave mists that waver and wane Are patient and pallid and fair.

I have fathomed the pride and the pain Of the snows and compa.s.sionate rain Thro' the limitless s.p.a.ces of air.

I have known them, the brave mists that wane And the glory and peace of the skies.

Where all strife and impatience are vain And ahush are all pa.s.sionate sighs, For I gazed in the deeps of Love's eyes, And I know what no seraphs shall gain!

A La.s.s FROM THE WOODS