Weeds by the Wall Part 8

MIGNON.

Oh, Mignon's mouth is like a rose, A red, red rose, that half uncurls Sweet petals o'er a crimson bee: Or like a sh.e.l.l, that, opening, shows Within its rosy curve white pearls, White rows of pearls, Is Mignon's mouth that smiles at me.

Oh, Mignon's eyes are like blue gems, Two azure gems, that gleam and glow, Soft sapphires set in ivory: Or like twin violets, whose stems Bloom blue beneath the covering snow, The lidded snow, Are Mignon's eyes that laugh at me.

O mouth of Mignon, Mignon's eyes!

O eyes of violet, mouth of fire!-- Within which lies all ecstasy Of tears and kisses and of sighs:-- O mouth, O eyes, and O desire, O love's desire, Have mercy on the soul of me!

QUI DOCET, DISCIT.

I.

When all the world was white with flowers, And Summer, in her sun-built towers, Stood smiling 'mid her handmaid Hours, Who robed her limbs for bridal; Somewhere between the golden sands And purple hills of Folly's lands, Love, with a laugh, let go our hands, And left our sides to idle.

II.

Now all the world is red with doom, And Autumn, in her frost-carved room, Bends darkly o'er the gipsy loom Of memories she weaves there; Who knocks at night upon the door, All travel-worn and pale and poor?-- Open! and let him in once more, The Love that stands and grieves there.

TRANSUBSTANTIATION.

I.

A sunbeam and a drop of dew Lay on a red rose in the South: G.o.d took the three and made her mouth, Her sweet, sweet mouth, So red of hue,-- The burning baptism of His kiss Still fills my heart with heavenly bliss.

II.

A dream of truth and love come true Slept on a star in daybreak skies: G.o.d mingled these and made her eyes, Her dear, dear eyes, So gray of hue,-- The high communion of His gaze Still fills my soul with deep amaze.

HELEN.

Heaped in raven loops and ma.s.ses Over temples smooth and fair, Have you marked it, as she pa.s.ses, Gleam and shadow mingled there,-- Braided strands of midnight air,-- Helen's hair?

Deep with dreams and starry mazes Of the thought that in them lies, Have you seen them, as she raises Them in gladness or surprise,-- Two gray gleams of daybreak skies,-- Helen's eyes?

Moist with dew and honied wafters Of a music sweet that slips, Have you marked them, brimmed with laughter's Song and suns.h.i.+ne to their tips, Rose-buds whence the fragrance drips,-- Helen's lips?

He who sees her needs must love her: But, beware! avoid love's dart!

He who loves her must discover Nature overlooked one part, In this masterpiece of art-- Helen's heart.

A CAMEO.

Why speak of Giamschid rubies Whence rosy starlight drips?

I know a richer crimson,-- The ruby of her lips.

Why speak of pearls of Oman That sh.e.l.ls of ocean sheathe?

I know a purer nacre,-- The white pearls of her teeth.

Why tell me of the sapphires That Kings and Khalifs prize?

I know a lovelier azure,-- The sapphires of her eyes.

Go search the far Earth over, Go search the farthest sea, You will not find a cameo Like her G.o.d carved for me.

LA JEUNESSE ET LA MORT.

I.

Unto her fragrant face and hair,-- As some wild bee unto a rose, That blooms in splendid beauty there Within the South,--my longing goes: My longing, that is over fain To call her mine, but all in vain; Since jealous Death, as each one knows, Is guardian of La belle Helene; Of her whose face is very fair-- To my despair, Sweet belle Helene.

II.

The sweetness of her face suggests The sensuous scented Jacqueminots; Magnolia blooms her throat and b.r.e.a.s.t.s; Her hands long lilies in repose: Fair flowers all without a stain, That grow for Death to pluck again, Within that garden's radiant close, The body of La belle Helene; The garden glad that she suggests,-- That Death invests.

Sweet belle Helene.

III.

G.o.d had been kinder to me,--when He dipped His hands in fires and snows And made you like a flow'r to ken, A flow'r that in Earth's garden grows,-- Had He, for pleasure or for pain, Instead of Death in that demesne, Made Love the gardener to that rose, Your loveliness, O belle Helene; G.o.d had been kinder to me then-- And to all men, Sweet belle Helene.

LOVE AND LOSS.