EROS GLITTERING
Love is born as the day over the floods, rising in tides of light, Quenching glitter of stars, gloom of the woods, flowing into the night. Out of delicate dreams, out of a sleep, Love awakens, his eyes Filled with marvellous light as from the deep wells in the wakened skies. Glad is he of the earth, glad of the gems morning strews on the lawn, Trembling on every flower bright diadems: Love, Love too is a dawn!
Ah! but not with a peace, not with a light, cometh he always down Like a swallow in swift beautiful flight! Nay, as swimmers who drown Those who strive with his strength: even as fire fallen out of the skies, Even as lightning hurled, so his desire, bright, and blending the eyes. Glittering through the storm cometh he then, rending all in his path, Thus the implacable lord, master of men, smites his foes in his wrath.
KORE
TO MRS. W. N. MACMILLAN
Yea, she hath passed hereby, and blessed the sheaves, And the great garths, and stacks, and quiet farms, And all the tawny and the crimson leaves. Yea, she hath passed, with poppies in her arms, Under the star of dusk, through stealing mist, And blessed the earth, and gone, while no man wist.
With slow, reluctant feet, and weary eyes, And eyelids heavy with the coming sleep, With small breasts lifted up in stress of sighs, She passed, as shadows pass, among the sheep; While the earth dreamed, and only I was ware Of that faint fragrance blown from her soft hair.
The land lay steeped in peace of silent dreams; There was no sound amid the sacred boughs, Nor any mournful music in her streams: Only I saw the shadow on her brows, Only I knew her for the yearly slain, And wept; and weep until she come again.