Eyes of Youth Part 4

E'en as at nightfall, when the lights come in, The moth attracted woos and meets her death, So do I seek Thy light to wander in, Though fearfully and with half-bated breath.

So do I seek all knowledge of Thy stars, Which move in and without my vision's reach; Maybe yet burning with internal wars, Or shaking as this world with human speech.

Stars which perhaps ten thousand years ago Waned and grew cold at Thy almighty word Waft their light hitherward. I do not know-- Thy recreating voice I have not heard.

Maybe, e'en at this hour Thine accents shake Some chaos into order, into life; Perchance some great creation now doth break Into new form beneath Thy wisdom's knife.

Ah, Lord! The night appals me. Give me strength Within myself to search this planet's dome: O Supreme Architect, give me at length Some clearer knowledge of Thy s.p.a.celess home!

My spirit seethes within me; in the sky Thy constellations s.h.i.+ne; for me begin My labours until night-time pa.s.ses by-- And before dawn I must or fail or win.

_THE MOON_

Cirqued with dim stars and delicate moonflowers, Silent she moves among the silent hours-- Watching the spheres that glow with golden heat Under her feet.

Then, when the sunrise tints the east with light, She fades to westward, with the dreamy night And all her starry train--in faint disguise Of twilight skies.

_TO YVONNE_

Such things have been, Yvonne; but you and I, Can we touch lips again across the years?

Re-order what is past? Forget--or try Not to remember what through mists of tears Is still too memorable? Dare we two Start both our lives again, as we were young And happy, in such love as falls to few?

Nay, for our violins are all unstrung.

Yet it is well that memory should hold Some few pale rose-leaves plucked in bygone days, That still are sweet, despite those pains untold Which throng the marges of life's winding ways.

Yea, these will stay when nearer things are gone; I shall keep mine. Will you keep yours, Yvonne?

_THE BURIAL OF SCALD_

A long, low wail of harps across the snow, Falling and rising with the whistling wind; A s.h.i.+fting glare of lights that come and go, As if men searched for what they could not find.

And then the music thrilled out loud and well Over the waste and barren dunes of sand-- Solemn and stately as a pa.s.sing bell Heard dimly in some weary twilight land.

Then slipped the moon behind a dusky cloud, And each bright star its silver visage hid; Mystery 'gan the darkness to enshroud; Across the sky a blood-red message slid.

Sudden the s.h.i.+p blazed up, the dark was light; Lo! Scald is dead! his pyre was lit to-night.

JUDITH LYTTON

_A DAY REMEMBERED_

Oh, Love, what fate is ours? No summer morning Shall give us joy, no sunrise bring relief; No end--no end is there unto our sorrow, No measure to our grief.

You looked at me, and all your living beauty Swept to my heart in flame a moment's s.p.a.ce, A sudden mist of tears in darkness veiling The glory of your face.

You spoke: I seemed to hear the wild doves cooing-- The rain upon the hills, sweet falling rain; And all my soul was filled with joy and anguish, In ecstasy of pain.

I saw as in a mist celestial visions Beyond the bitter seas whence hope has fled, Heard the wind blow among the trees in summer, But knew not what you said.

It matters not what words the lips have spoken When heart shall speak to heart, for love can hear Unspoken words, and see as in reflection His own thoughts mirrored there.

You came to me, the sun arose in splendour; I saw the roses spread their petals sweet, And thought that all the world must see in wonder The wings upon our feet.

You touched me, and a wave of pa.s.sionate longing Flooded my soul until it swooned away, And knew no more the sunlight from the shadow-- If it were night or day.

We wandered in the shadow of the woodland, Mute while we looked into each other's eyes, And saw as in still pools of darkened water The wonder of the skies.

No word we spoke. We knew that love had silenced All that we wished to speak yet left unsaid; The bees were humming in the wild-rose blossoms Which cl.u.s.tered overhead.

And all that summer day we were together, Alone with love, yet with a sword between-- The flaming sword that stands between us ever, And all that might have been.

Mist gathered white at evening in the valleys, And slowly grew the dusk from gold to grey, While rain-clouds gathered on the low horizon Dark at the close of day.

And softly rose a wind from out the darkness, With scent of flower and fern and herb and tree, And in its breath there came a sound of thunder, Storm-laden from the sea.

And thus we reached the wicket of the garden; The wood was full of sound, the sound of wings; The scent of lavender brought back remembrance Of long-forgotten things.

Though heaven and earth and sky should be forgotten, Yet of that hour my soul should bear the trace: For night fell fast, and in the deepening shadow You turned and kissed my face.

_CHILDHOOD_

A stranger come I to the festival Thou holdest in the regions of romance, Where dragons lurk and elfin spirits dance, And pearls lie hid within each rose petal.

What magic changes in life's crystal ball Shall thus transform earth's dullness at thy glance!

Ride then the wind, a feather for thy lance, A pool thy sea, thy heaven a waterfall.

So shall thy soul to fairy worlds belong, Where dust is gold and dew-drops turn to wine; Remember still the visions that are thine When sorrow shall disperse that phantom throng; And dream once more that thou hast found divine Love in a flower, and kingdoms in a song.

_LOVE IN IDLENESS_

To look at thee, and see the sunlight move The shadow of the leaves upon thy face, Lighting the glory of thy youth and grace With golden rays wind-stirred from trees above; To listen to the rustling of the grove, The warblers in the reeds which interlace The waters of the pool, and dream a s.p.a.ce, Forgetful of the hours ... this then is love!

Thy pa.s.sion and thy strength, thy gentleness, All these are mine. Who then shall dispossess My soul of paradise? In truth I learn More than the world can teach. Oblivion waits, And distance parts, and Death annihilates: But now thy love is all my love's concern.

_LOVE'S COUNTERFEIT_

By what false spell of what enchanter's wand Should thy gross fibre be with love allied?

Unhappy youth, thou callest to thy side An unknown shade from some far spirit land; Thou canst not guess, nor shalt thou understand, The waters that thy soul from his divide.

In place of Love, what alien spirits glide About thy sleep to answer thy command?

What blasphemy is this? Thou hast no spell To call that heaven-born spirit from the deep, Or move the stars. What cometh in his place?

This monstrous fraud which thou hast raised from h.e.l.l, Whose arms about thee in the darkness creep?

Light not thy torch, lest thou shouldst see his face.