One Day & Another: A Lyrical Eclogue

The poem herewith presented was first published some ten years ago in a volume entitled Days and Dreams . The original verses have been re-written throughout and extensively added to, making it comparatively a new poem.

What though I dreamed of mountain heights, Of peaks, the barriers of the world, Around whose tops the Northern Lights And tempests are unfurled.
Mine are the footpaths leading through Life's lowly fields and woods,—with rifts, Above, of heaven's Eden blue,— By which the violet lifts
Its shy appeal; and holding up Its chaliced gold, like some wild wine, Along the hillside, cup on cup, Blooms bright the celandine.
Where soft upon each flowering stock The butterfly spreads damask wings; And under grassy loam and rock The cottage cricket sings.
Where overhead eve blooms with fire, In which the new moon bends her bow, And, arrow-like, one white star by her Burns through the afterglow.
I care not, so the sesame I find; the magic flower there, Whose touch unseals each mystery In water, earth and air.
That in the oak tree lets me hear Its heart's deep speech, its soul's wise words; And to my mind makes crystal clear The melodies of birds.
Why should I care, who live aloof Beyond the din of life and dust, While dreams still share my humble roof, And love makes sweet my crust?

The mottled moth at eventide Beats glimmering wings against the pane; The slow, sweet lily opens wide, White in the dusk like some dim stain; The garden dreams on every side And breathes faint scents of rain. Among the flowering stocks they stand: A crimson rose is in his hand.