Sonnets and Songs Part 8

Then I, your scorn, shall still be man and chief; Turning to free your hands so carelessly, carelessly, You will be dead to love past all belief.

Still round the slender columns of the palm The moon shall lie in shivering, silver pools, Still shall the trades lash through the summer calm While twilight with her smile the island cools And Time forgets your presence, carelessly, carelessly.

XXVII

_In May_

Blithe Nature leaned to kiss her favorite child, Her sunshine hair about her bosom swirled; Gay Baby Spring held out his hands, he smiled, And Apple-Blossoms dimpled on the world.

XXVIII

_For Your Sake_

Bid me for your sake, Not for self or right-- You alone can wake Power to gain the fight.

In your name I'd dare Aught in earth's great bounds; Forth my sins should fare, Leashed like cringing hounds.

When you touch my hand, Through your holy eyes I can see the land Where is Paradise.

Yet I may not go, Leaving cold and night, Till your soul of snow Sees that mine is white.

Let my heart not break Till I kill my sin; Bid me for your sake Fight the world--and win!

XXIX

_Lyric Love_

The world deserves its wisdom. You and I, Serene within the shadow, crowned with hours, Cinctured with solitude, the bended sky Folds us in hues of tulip twilight flowers.

Knowledge is chill; your hair is warm with gold, A lock lies heavily across your cheek.

I somewhere heard of darkness, pain, and cold-- Keep your own, world. Ah, Love, stir not nor speak.

x.x.x

_Be Still_

Be still, be still, vex not the night with sound, The moon has laid her finger on the lake, And in the shadows of the wood profound There lies a peace we would profane to break.

Upon the lonely avenue of trees, As pearls upon an airy silver string, Are caught the threaded echoes of the breeze That sets the ruffled leaves a-murmuring.

Be still, dear heart, as though 'twere death to speak.

Love waits you, lily-like, with leaves unfurled, While on the breast of day night lays her cheek, The silence speaks the secret of the world.

x.x.xI

_b.u.t.terfly Words_

b.u.t.terfly words from the sun in my brain, Flitting and darting and flitting again, Gleaming of golden and violet and rose, What is the rainbow you spring from, and where?

b.u.t.terflies daintily poise and disclose, Whence is this secret of color you bear?

Sun that is ruddy and fragrant with flowers, Garnered and hid from these desolate hours, Misty with beauty, the silver of spring-- Ah, for the ways that are lost to my feet!

Only the dip of the b.u.t.terfly wing, Poised for a moment, revives me the sweet.

x.x.xII

_Music_

Music has opened her hands, Through fingers her jewels are falling, Fingers so delicate slender, Pale as the ghost of a flower.

Jewels of crimson, the life Ebbing from hearts that are broken, Roses and wine and red sunsets, Flames of undying desire.

Jewels of azure, the sea Dreaming of stars, and the morning Dancing with life, then the silence Blue of mysterious caves.

Jewels of green, and the gra.s.s Lifts up its hands to the summer, Hiding insidious serpents, Fair as the sweets that are sin.

Jewels more bright than the sun Music lets fall from her fingers.

We who have stood in the shadow-- How may we die for her sake?

x.x.xIII

_The Ghost_