Embers Part 2

EYES LIKE THE SEA

Eyes like the sea, look up, the beacons brighten, Home comes the sailor, home across the tide!

Back drifts the cloud, behold the heavens whiten, The port of Love is open, he anchors at thy side.

UNDER THE CLIFF The sands and the sea, and the white gulls fleeting, The mist on the island, the cloud on the hill; The song in my heart, and the old hope beating Its life 'gainst the bars of thy will.

OPEN THY GATE

Here in the highway without thy garden wall, Here in the babel and the glare, Sick for thy haven, O Sweet, to thee I call: Open thy gate unto my prayer-- Open thy gate.

Cool is thy garden-plot, pleasant thy shade, All things commend thee in thy place; Dwelling on thy perfectness, O Sweet, I am afraid, But, fearing, long to look upon thy face-- Open thy gate.

Over the ample globe, searching for thee, Thee and thy garden have I come; Ended my questing: no more, no more for me, O Sweet, the pilgrim's sandals, call me home-- Open thy gate.

SUMMER IS COME

Summer is come; the corn is in the ear, The haze is swimming where the beeches stand; Summer is come, though winter months be here-- My love is summer pa.s.sing through the land.

Summer is come; I hear the skylarks sing, The honeysuckle flaunts it to the bees; Summer is come, and 'tis not yet the spring-- My love is summer blessing all she sees.

Summer is come; I see an open door, A sweet hand beckons, and I know That, winter or summer, I shall go forth no more-- My heart is homing where her summer-roses grow.

O FLOWER OF ALL THE WORLD

O flower of all the world, O flower of all, The garden where thou dwellest is so fair, Thou art so goodly, and so queenly tall, Thy sweetness scatters sweetness everywhere, O flower of all!

O flower of all the years, O flower of all, A day beside thee is a day of days; Thy voice is softer than the throstle's call, There is not song enough to sing thy praise, O flower of all!

O flower of all the years, O flower of all, I seek thee in thy garden, and I dare To love thee; and though my deserts be small, Thou art the only flower I would wear, O flower of all!

WAS IT SOME GOLDEN STAR?

Once in another land, Ages ago, You were a queen, and I, I loved you so: Where was it that we loved-- Ah, do you know?

Was it some golden star Hot with romance?

Was it in Malabar, Italy, France?

Did we know Charlemagne, Dido, perchance?

But you were a queen, and I Fought for you then: How did you honour me-- More than all men!

Kissed me upon the lips; Kiss me again.

Have you forgotten it, All that we said?

I still remember though Ages have fled.

Whisper the word of life,-- "Love is not dead."

I HEARD THE DESERT CALLING

I heard the desert calling, and my heart stood still-- There was winter in my world and in my heart; A breath came from the mesa, and a message stirred my will, And my soul and I arose up to depart.

I heard the desert calling, and I knew that over there In an olive-sheltered garden where the mesquite grows, Was a woman of the sunrise with the star-s.h.i.+ne in her hair And a beauty that the almond-blossom blows.

In the night-time when the ghost-trees glimmered in the moon, Where the mesa by the water-course was spanned, Her loveliness enwrapped me like the blessedness of June, And all my life was thrilling in her hand.

I hear the desert calling, and my heart stands still-- There is summer in my world, and in my heart; A breath comes from the mesa, and a will beyond my will Binds my footsteps as I rise up to depart.