Yesterdays Part 9

REVERIE

The day has been wild and stormy, And full of the wind's unrest, And I sat down alone by the window, While the sunset dyed the West; And the holy rush of twilight, As the day went over the hill, Like the voice of a spirit seemed speaking And saying, 'Peace be still.'

Then I thought with sudden longing, That it might be so with my woes; That the life so wild and restless, When it reached the eve's repose, Might glow with a sudden glory, And be crowned with peace and rest; And the holy calm of twilight Might come to my troubled breast.

All of the pain and pa.s.sion That trouble my life's long day As the winds go down at sunset, May suddenly pa.s.s away.

And the wild and turbulent billows, That surge in my heart at will, Shall be hushed into calm and silence By the whisper, 'Peace be still.'

And my soul grew full of patience, And I said, 'I can bear it all, Though the day be long and stormy, The twilight at last must fall.'

THE LAW

The tide of love swells in me with such force, It sweeps away all hate and all distrust.

As eddying straws and particles of dust Are lost by some swift river in its course.

So much I love my friends, my life, my art, Each shadow flies; the light dispels the gloom.

Love is so fair, I find I have no room For anything less worthy in my heart.

Love is a germ which we can cultivate-- To grace and perfume sweeter than the rose, Or leave neglected while our heart soil grows Rank with that vile and poison thistle, hate.

Love is a joyous thrush, that one can teach To sing sweet lute-like songs which all may hear.

Or we can silence him and tune the ear To caw of crows, or to the vulture's screech.

Love is a feast; and if the guests divide With all who pa.s.s, though thousands swell the van, There shall be food and drink for every man; The loaves and fishes will be multiplied.

Love is the guide. I look to heights above So beautiful, so very far away; Yet I shall tread their sunlit peaks some day, Since close in mine I hold the hand of love.

Love is the law. But yield to its control And thou shalt find all things work for the best, And in the calm, still heaven of thy breast, That G.o.d, Himself, sits talking with thy soul.

SPIRIT OF A GREAT CONTROL

Spirit of a Great Control, Gird me with thy strength and might, Essence of the Over-Soul-- Fill me, thrill me with thy light; Though the waves of sorrow beat Madly at my very feet, Though the night and storm are near, Teach me that I need not fear.

Though the clouds obscure the sky, When the tempest sweeps the lands, Still about, below, on high, G.o.d's great solar system stands.

Never yet a star went out.

What have I to fear or doubt?-- I, a part of this great whole, Governed by the Over-Soul.

Like the great eternal hills, Like the rock that fronts the wave, Let me meet all earthly ills With a fearless heart and brave; Like the earth that drinks the rain, Let me welcome floods of pain, Till I grow in strength to be Worthy of my source in Thee.

NOON

As some contented bird doth coo She trilled a song of fond delight, The while she spread the cloth of white, And set the cups and plates for two.

She leaned beyond the window sill, And looked along the busy street, And listened for his coming feet.

The skies were calm, the winds were still.

'O love, my love, why art thou late?

The kettle boils, the cloth is spread, The clock points close to noon,' she said.

O clock of time! O clock of fate!

She heard the moon's glad sound of cheer; (The hiss, the whirl, the crash, the creak, Of maddened wheels, the awful shriek Of awestruck men--she did not hear.)

She lightly tripped about the room, And near the window, where his eyes Might greet it with a pleased surprise, She placed a pot of fragrant bloom.

Strange nervous steps were at the gate.

Why grew her heart so cold, so numb?

The clock struck twelve, the noon had come.

Ah! noon of time! O noon of fate!

A shattered vase beside the wall; A young face grey with awful fear, A rigid shape, a covered bier, A shadowed life, and that is all.

THE SEARCH

The rain falls long, and the rain falls light, With a desolate drip--drop, sad to hear.

But never a star shines through the night As I sit afar, from the world anear.

Down in the parlour some one sings; The children laugh in the nursery hall; But my heart like a bird has spread its wings, And leaves the music, and mirth, and all.

Out in the rain and the eerie night, Into the darkness it speeds away.

Ah me! ah me! 'tis a gruesome flight, Seeking for you till the dawn of day.

If it only knew which way to go; Where you wander, or where you lie.

To valleys of sunshine, or hills of snow, Thither at once my heart would fly.

Fly and follow wherever you led, Over the desert and over the wave; Or if it found you lying dead, It would sit in the rain by your lonely grave.

Sit in the rain, and cover the gra.s.s With pa.s.sionate kisses above your face.

Sit there waiting till death should pa.s.s, And bear it to you in his strong embrace.