II.
THE GARMENT OF TIME
The giant Image of Eternal Time Sits throned amidst the Infinite of Space; And through the æons, passing chime by chime, Heeds not our Race.
Meanwhile we weave upon his robes' array Embroideries of doubts and hopes and fears, The golden threads of laughter by the way, Grey threads of tears.
Careless sits Time of garment grey or gold, Although our passionate labours never cease Till weaving hands are weary and we grow old. And pass to peace.
And who that gazes on that garb of Time Shall in the far light of a distant day Catch aught of colour of song or rune of rhyme? Shall all be grey?
Yet till the end fall—and the day close, Let me weave in the web of pain and the woof of tears The colour of sun-bright seas and the red of the rose, In my Loom of Years.
IN A GARDEN
A twilight peace droops tenderly, The discords of the day depart, And through the hush there comes to be A harmony within the heart; And waking to the quivering strings Spirits are touched to finer things.
Sweet hand-fast silences of eve, When love's supremest note is heard In symphonies the spirits weave Beyond the need of mortal word, O! may we keep your music when We pace the noisy haunts of men.
Give us the strength for daily stress Of toil about the busy world; Give us a balm to bitterness From wounds when cruel shafts are hurled; And give us courage in a sense Of Love's divine omnipotence.
For Life can never lonely be Since Love has broken all the bars That stayed the soul from unity With Heaven and its ten thousand stars, Whose music falls sublimely grand Through silences of hand in hand.
SORROW'S COURAGE
I have loved Beauty. I have seen the sun Flash snowy mountain tops to shimmer of gold; I have heard songs where little waters run Chiming with music that the stars have rolled.
I have loved Beauty. I have seen the sea Fringe with its silver all the golden shore; Have heard it crooning music ceaselessly To ancient tunes frayed from the tempest's roar.
I have loved Beauty. I have seen a smile Shine from sweet eyes, fair as the sea's own blue, Whose magic lashes seemed to lift awhile To send a kindly comrade spirit through.
I have loved Beauty. But nor sun nor sea Nor stars have charactered God's chiefest grace; Beyond all other things there beacons me The star-led pilgrim courage of your face.
A CHOOSING
Under the turf the blind mole creeps, And moulds the mounds of molehill kind. Above, the skylark soars and sweeps, The song is swept upon the wind.
To-morrow's eyes the mounds may see; To-morrow they will mark the plain. But none shall hear the ecstasy Of song, that cannot be again.
Well built, old mole! A little heap To linger to a later day! Something to show you once did creep In darkness through your earthy way.
Yet with the lark's glad song of Love May mine on wandering winds be hurled, In happy regions far above The dull mad molehills of the world.
Still let my song be all in all, Though Earth-born discords soon destroy, And on no mortal ear may fall The music of immortal joy.
Break, Spirit, break to boundless things Beyond the molehill and the clod, And catch the glory of the strings That tune the harmonies of God.
STAR SIGNS
Primal swirl of the Chaos, out of your nebulous Night Eddied the primal tides, as the Mind of God decreed, And the Word of the ultimate Source spake forth "Let there be Light," And all the Firmament blazed with the dust of the star-sown seed.
Strong and stately and splendid, thronging the limitless spaces. Ye are the silver signs to a House not made with hands; Ye are the Mystic Scroll, where the Mighty Maker traces Thoughts that the passionate poet dimly understands.
Day, with its drouth and drosses, shrivels our fragile souls, And, witched with its transient gauds, to the perilous earth we cling, But ever the tender night its infinite page unrolls, And the star-led mind aspires to the Throne of the star-robed King.
THE OLD KNIGHT'S SONG
My lady lives afar in the fair white tower Hid, like a nest, high among branches swaying. "Peaceful thoughts be her portion, dreams her dower," Here am I on my knees, praying.
To the Winds of the World from the hills and the sea far blowing, That they carry their strength to her heart for sorrow's staying, That they bring clear hopes and the gladness of freedom flowing, Here am I on my knees, praying.
To the Lamp of Day, that the aureate beauty breaking Find answering smiles in her eyes for the fair displaying Of colour of gold on the way my Lady is taking, Here am I on my knees, praying.
To the sentinel Stars through the infinite spaces sweeping, Guarding the night, and terrors of darkness slaying, That they bring sweet Peace to the dreams of my Lady sleeping, Here am I, on my knees praying.
But my casque is rusted with Time, and my breastplate battered, My hauberk worn with ancient fighting and fraying; Dull is my shield, my banner faded and tattered. Here am I on my knees, praying.
Here at an outpost, here is my patrol duty: My Lady's train is for Knights of a fair arraying; Only from far may I guard her, loving her beauty: Here am I on my knees, praying.
Wandering lights have I followed, the one Light questing, I have wearied through difficult paths and long delaying; Perilous peaks have I scaled with feet unresting; Here I am on my knees, praying.
Star-like my Lady shines in her fair white tower. "Let nothing come nigh her to lead to her joy's betraying, No cloud dull aught of the golden dreams, her dower." Here am I on my knees, praying.
FEALTY
When my Lady hath Pleasure and friends to spare, And riot of roses strewed in her path of days, And laughter ringing carillons into the air, She needs not me; I travel the lonely ways.
When my Lady hath Youth uplifting a song Like the twitter of birds in a springtime hawthorn bough, And round her the notes of a merry-mad music throng, She needs not me; my music is sad and low.
But when my Lady hath Sorrow to stress her heart, And Pain brings up to her eyes the ghosts of fear, And the music of Youth, and Laughter and Joy depart, Then she will need me: and lo! am I not here?
Here I stand at the gateway and vigil keep, Waiting the summoning sob or the calling sigh; Swift to assuage her tears should my Lady weep; Happy if sorrow for ever may pass her by.
TREASURE TROVE
You did not know that, gazing on your face, I took its Beauty to my heart for ever, Where it illumines every day with grace, Though Time and tides may sever.
You did not know that, looking in your eyes, I found their Truth, beyond all need for speaking, And knew their gentleness a paradise Worth all a wide world's seeking.
You did not know that every word you spoke Told me the Courage in your heart abiding, And bade me watch, where through the cloud-rifts broke One steady star for guiding.
You did not know. But in my heart I know, The Beauty, Truth, and Courage that enfold you: And when we part I do not let you go: Thus in my heart I hold you.
ROSES AND RUE
You gave me roses, you have given me Rue. Yet to the Roses memoried fragrance clings, And in their faded petals I renew The first fresh grace of unforgotten things.
God give you Roses all along the way. So will I wear contentedly the Rue; And when I greet you with a smile, I pray Shade of my sorrow never fall on you.
DOGMA
Reason's unreasoned castle of defence With turrets towering into far-off skies, Whose superstructure, solid and immense, Is built on shadows and on mysteries.