The Poems of Henry Van Dyke Part 26

Not dark and angry like the winter storm Of selfish grief,--but full of starry gleams, And soft and still that others may not weep,-- Dews of remembered happiness descend To bless us with the gift of Christmas tears.

Ah, lose them not, dear heart,--life has no pearls More pure than memories of joy love-shared.

See, while we count them one by one with prayer, The Heavenly hope that lights the Christmas tree Has made a rainbow in our Christmas tears!

1912.

DOROTHEA

1888-1912

A deeper crimson in the rose, A deeper blue in sky and sea, And ever, as the summer goes, A deeper loss in losing thee!

A deeper music in the strain Of hermit-thrush from lonely tree; And deeper grows the sense of gain My life has found in having thee.

A deeper love, a deeper rest, A deeper joy in all I see; And ever deeper in my breast A silver song that comes from thee!

Seal Harbour, August 1, 1912.

EPIGRAMS, GREETINGS, AND INSCRIPTIONS

FOR KATRINA'S SUN-DIAL

IN HER GARDEN OF YADDO

Hours fly, Flowers die New days, New ways, Pa.s.s by.

Love stays.

Time is Too Slow for those who Wait, Too Swift for those who Fear, Too Long for those who Grieve, Too Short for those who Rejoice; But for those who Love, Time is not.

FOR KATRINA'S WINDOW

IN HER TOWER OF YADDO

This is the window's message, In silence, to the Queen: "Thou hast a double kingdom And I am set between: Look out and see the glory, On hill and plain and sky: Look in and see the light of love That nevermore shall die!"

_L'ENVOI_

_Window in the Queen's high tower, This shall be thy magic power!

Shut the darkness and the doubt, Shut the storm and conflict, out; Wind and hail and snow and rain Dash against thee all in vain.

Let in nothing from the night,-- Let in every ray of light!_

FOR THE FRIENDS AT HURSTMONT

THE HOUSE

The cornerstone in Truth is laid, The guardian walls of Honour made, The roof of Faith is built above, The fire upon the hearth is Love: Though rains descend and loud winds call, This happy house shall never fall.

THE HEARTH

When the logs are burning free, Then the fire is full of glee: When each heart gives out its best, Then the talk is full of zest: Light your fire and never fear, Life was made for love and cheer.

THE DOOR

The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride: The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside: The fastening strong enough from robbers to defend: This door will open at a touch to welcome every friend.

THE DIAL

Time can never take What Time did not give; When my shadows have all pa.s.sed, You shall live.

THE SUN-DIAL AT MORVEN

FOR BAYARD AND HELEN STOCKTON

Two hundred years of blessing I record For Morven's house, protected by the Lord: And still I stand among old-fas.h.i.+oned flowers To mark for Morven many sunlit hours.

THE SUN-DIAL AT WELLS COLLEGE

FOR THE CLa.s.s OF 1904

The shadow by my finger cast Divides the future from the past: Before it, sleeps the unborn hour, In darkness, and beyond thy power: Behind its unreturning line, The vanished hour, no longer thine: One hour alone is in thy hands,-- The NOW on which the shadow stands.

March, 1904.