Look! We Have Come Through! Part 10

At last to calm incandescence, Burned clean by remorseless hate, Now, at the day's renascence We approach the gate.

Now, from the darkened s.p.a.ces Of fear, and of frightened faces, Death, in our awful embraces Approached and pa.s.sed by;

We near the flame-burnt porches Where the brands of the angels, like torches Whirl,--in these perilous marches Pausing to sigh;

We look back on the withering roses, The stars, in their sun-dimmed closes, Where 'twas given us to repose us Sure on our sanct.i.ty;

Beautiful, candid lovers, Burnt out of our earthy covers, We might have nestled like plovers In the fields of eternity.

There, sure in sinless being, All-seen, and then all-seeing, In us life unto death agreeing, We might have lain.

But we storm the angel-guarded Gates of the long-discarded, Garden, which G.o.d has h.o.a.rded Against our pain.

The Lord of Hosts, and the Devil Are left on Eternity's level Field, and as victors we travel To Eden home.

Back beyond good and evil Return we. Eve dishevel Your hair for the bliss-drenched revel On our primal loam.

_SPRING MORNING_

AH, through the open door Is there an almond tree Aflame with blossom!

--Let us fight no more.

Among the pink and blue Of the sky and the almond flowers A sparrow flutters.

--We have come through,

It is really spring!--See, When he thinks himself alone How he bullies the flowers.

--Ah, you and me

How happy we'll be!--See him He clouts the tufts of flowers In his impudence.

--But, did you dream

It would be so bitter? Never mind It is finished, the spring is here.

And we're going to be summer-happy And summer-kind.

We have died, we have slain and been slain, We are not our old selves any more.

I feel new and eager To start again.

It is gorgeous to live and forget.

And to feel quite new.

See the bird in the flowers?--he's making A rare to-do!

He thinks the whole blue sky Is much less than the bit of blue egg He's got in his nest--we'll be happy You and I, I and you.

With nothing to fight any more-- In each other, at least.

See, how gorgeous the world is Outside the door!

SAN GAUDENZIO

_WEDLOCK_

I

COME, my little one, closer up against me, Creep right up, with your round head pushed in my breast.

How I love all of you! Do you feel me wrap you Up with myself and my warmth, like a flame round the wick?

And how I am not at all, except a flame that mounts off you.

Where I touch you, I flame into being;--but is it me, or you?

That round head pushed in my chest, like a nut in its socket, And I the swift bracts that sheathe it: those b.r.e.a.s.t.s, those thighs and knees,

Those shoulders so warm and smooth: I feel that I Am a sunlight upon them, that s.h.i.+nes them into being.

But how lovely to be you! Creep closer in, that I am more.

I spread over you! How lovely, your round head, your arms,

Your b.r.e.a.s.t.s, your knees and feet! I feel that we Are a bonfire of oneness, me flame flung leaping round you, You the core of the fire, crept into me.

II

AND oh, my little one, you whom I enfold, How quaveringly I depend on you, to keep me alive, Like a flame on a wick!

I, the man who enfolds you and holds you close, How my soul cleaves to your bosom as I clasp you, The very quick of my being!

Suppose you didn't want me! I should sink down Like a light that has no sustenance And sinks low.

Cherish me, my tiny one, cherish me who enfold you.

Nourish me, and endue me, I am only of you, I am your issue.

How full and big like a robust, happy flame When I enfold you, and you creep into me, And my life is fierce at its quick Where it comes off you!

III

MY little one, my big one, My bird, my brown sparrow in my breast.

My squirrel clutching in to me; My pigeon, my little one, so warm So close, breathing so still.

My little one, my big one, I, who am so fierce and strong, enfolding you, If you start away from my breast, and leave me, How suddenly I shall go down into nothing Like a flame that falls of a sudden.

And you will be before me, tall and towering, And I shall be wavering uncertain Like a sunken flame that grasps for support.

IV

BUT now I am full and strong and certain With you there firm at the core of me Keeping me.

How sure I feel, how warm and strong and happy For the future! How sure the future is within me; I am like a seed with a perfect flower enclosed.

I wonder what it will be, What will come forth of us.