The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses Part 8

Sky so blue it makes you wonder If it's heaven s.h.i.+ning through; Earth so smiling 'way out yonder, Sun so bright it dazzles you; Birds a-singing, flowers a-flinging All their fragrance on the breeze; Dancing shadows, green, still meadows -- Don't you mope, you've still got these.

These, and none can take them from you; These, and none can weigh their worth.

What! you're tired and broke and beaten? -- Why, you're rich -- you've got the earth!

Yes, if you're a tramp in tatters, While the blue sky bends above You've got nearly all that matters -- You've got G.o.d, and G.o.d is love.

The Harpy

There was a woman, and she was wise; woefully wise was she; She was old, so old, yet her years all told were but a score and three; And she knew by heart, from finish to start, the Book of Iniquity.

There is no hope for such as I on earth, nor yet in Heaven; Unloved I live, unloved I die, unpitied, unforgiven; A loathed jade, I ply my trade, unhallowed and unshriven.

I paint my cheeks, for they are white, and cheeks of chalk men hate; Mine eyes with wine I make them s.h.i.+ne, that man may seek and sate; With overhead a lamp of red I sit me down and wait

Until they come, the nightly sc.u.m, with drunken eyes aflame; Your sweethearts, sons, ye scornful ones -- 'tis I who know their shame.

The G.o.ds, ye see, are brutes to me -- and so I play my game.

For life is not the thing we thought, and not the thing we plan; And Woman in a bitter world must do the best she can -- Must yield the stroke, and bear the yoke, and serve the will of man;

Must serve his need and ever feed the flame of his desire, Though be she loved for love alone, or be she loved for hire; For every man since life began is tainted with the mire.

And though you know he love you so and set you on love's throne; Yet let your eyes but mock his sighs, and let your heart be stone, Lest you be left (as I was left) attainted and alone.

From love's close kiss to h.e.l.l's abyss is one sheer flight, I trow, And wedding ring and bridal bell are will-o'-wisps of woe, And 'tis not wise to love too well, and this all women know.

Wherefore, the wolf-pack having gorged upon the lamb, their prey, With siren smile and serpent guile I make the wolf-pack pay -- With velvet paws and flensing claws, a tigress roused to slay.

One who in youth sought truest truth and found a devil's lies; A symbol of the sin of man, a human sacrifice.

Yet shall I blame on man the shame? Could it be otherwise?

Was I not born to walk in scorn where others walk in pride?

The Maker marred, and, evil-starred, I drift upon His tide; And He alone shall judge His own, so I His judgment bide.

Fate has written a tragedy; its name is "The Human Heart".

The Theatre is the House of Life, Woman the mummer's part; The Devil enters the prompter's box and the play is ready to start.

Premonition

'Twas a year ago and the moon was bright (Oh, I remember so well, so well); I walked with my love in a sea of light, And the voice of my sweet was a silver bell.

And sudden the moon grew strangely dull, And sudden my love had taken wing; I looked on the face of a grinning skull, I strained to my heart a ghastly thing.

'Twas but fantasy, for my love lay still In my arms, with her tender eyes aglow, And she wondered why my lips were chill, Why I was silent and kissed her so.

A year has gone and the moon is bright, A gibbous moon, like a ghost of woe; I sit by a new-made grave to-night, And my heart is broken -- it's strange, you know.

The Tramps

Can you recall, dear comrade, when we tramped G.o.d's land together, And we sang the old, old Earth-song, for our youth was very sweet; When we drank and fought and l.u.s.ted, as we mocked at tie and tether, Along the road to Anywhere, the wide world at our feet --

Along the road to Anywhere, when each day had its story; When time was yet our va.s.sal, and life's jest was still unstale; When peace unfathomed filled our hearts as, bathed in amber glory, Along the road to Anywhere we watched the sunsets pale?

Alas! the road to Anywhere is pitfalled with disaster; There's hunger, want, and weariness, yet O we loved it so!

As on we tramped exultantly, and no man was our master, And no man guessed what dreams were ours, as, swinging heel and toe, We tramped the road to Anywhere, the magic road to Anywhere, The tragic road to Anywhere, such dear, dim years ago.

L'Envoi

You who have lived in the land, You who have trusted the trail, You who are strong to withstand, You who are swift to a.s.sail: _Songs have I sung to beguile, Vintage of desperate years, Hard as a harlot's smile, Bitter as unshed tears._

Little of joy or mirth, Little of ease I sing; Sagas of men of earth Humanly suffering, _Such as you all have done; Savagely faring forth, Sons of the midnight sun, Argonauts of the North._

Far in the land G.o.d forgot Glimmers the lure of your trail; Still in your l.u.s.t are you taught Even to win is to fail.

_Still you must follow and fight Under the vampire wing; There in the long, long night Hoping and vanquis.h.i.+ng._

Husbandman of the Wild, Reaping a barren gain; Scourged by desire, reconciled Unto disaster and pain; _These, my songs, are for you, You who are seared with the brand.

G.o.d knows I have tried to be true; Please G.o.d you will understand._