Ardours and Endurances Part 18

O silver bird, fly down, fly down, Bring thy fair gifts to him and me: A purse contains a minted crown, A golden ring for me.

Ah! lovely bird, fly down, fly down.

But upon the highest bough See amid the leaves he swings, Pipes three notes of laughter low, Flirts, and folds his flashy wings.

Ah! lovely bird, fly down, fly down.

What is't, bird, thy soul demands?

Come, I'll rock thee in my breast; I will stroke thee with my hands; Where none rested thou shalt rest....

Ah! lovely bird, fly down, fly down.

Jewels wouldst thou, then, O bird?

See, among the sunny gra.s.s A tear has fallen unseen, unheard, Brighter than ever diamond was.

Hark! Hark! His joy my voice doth drown: See, see, he leaps, floats, dives him down!

1916.

LAST SONG IN AN OPERA

From the apple bough many petals fly tossed of the wind, Yet goldenly heavy it hangs on blue autumn eves (_All things come unto him whose heart believes_).

The dove, though the tempest-swept sun her bright eyes blind, Beats onward fast.

Till with clapped, sailing wings down at the last To the loved cote she come.

_Ah, the long way of Love, but Love comes home!_

The silver river wanders and circles time out of mind, Yet turns at length where the sea tosses her smoking sheaves (_All things come unto him whose heart believes_).

So golden-feathered Love beats his high course, though blind, Until that hour When, downward stooping through the flaming shower, Into the heart he come.

_Ah, the long way of Love, but Love comes home!_

1916.

DANAe

MYSTERY IN EIGHT POEMS

DANAe: MYSTERY IN EIGHT POEMS

I

"What with clangour, clangour of iron din, Do they beat till daylight ring?

What heat, that I see the night air spin, And sparks dance over the scaffolding?

"The birds have flown because of their strife Hammering difficult metal; Their reek has taken my roses' life, Dripping white petal on petal.

"What glows gold taller than earthly tree In that maze of mast on mast Of the scaffolding? What can it be They build so secret and fast?"

II

"What art mooning at, fool?

Some wanton boy and his limbs?

Such dreams should be put to school: I'll chasten these fleshly whims!"

He has shot the bolts on her room In the brazen tower.

"Remain there, ninny: your doom Till the sand sifts your last hour!"

With eyes grieving on s.p.a.ce, Has she sight among all these blind?

Because of her dreaming face....

How harshly the great keys grind!

They have gone. She clenches her hands, She struggles and makes soft moan....

Then smiles, for she understands: The soul is never alone.

III

"Last night as I was sitting, My faint heart ceased to beat, Listening in the silence To the tread of nearing feet.

"Through the tower dumb in midnight They pa.s.sed from floor to floor, Till at length they halted Hard without my door.

"I knew 'twas Thou who stood'st there, With but a door's divide!

With a wild and longing motion I strode and flung it wide.

"Out into velvet darkness My whirring eyeb.a.l.l.s stare.

I whisper. Nothing answers.

And there is no one there."

IV

CANTICLE

"O Day so bright, Bring thou my Love to me, In blinding, deep delight And ecstasy.

"O Night so wide, So black, keep close till He, The light within my side Seen, comes to me.

"O wandering Wind, Sing in His ears the sum Of longing, mad His mind, Compel He come.

"Earth I adore, From whom to whom I go, Bring Him to me before I return so.