Men that have grown forgetful of Joy’s power,
And old before their time, take courtesy
So sweet of girl or woman, as if some flower
Most strangely fair of Spring were suddenly
Thick in the woods at Winter’s blackest hour—
The gift unlocked for—lovely Charity.
Their anguish they forget, and, worse, the slow
Corruption of Joy’s springs; now breathe again
The free breath was theirs so long ago.
Courage renewed makes mock at the old pain.
Life’s loveliness brings tears, and a new glow.
Somehow their sacrifice seems not in vain.
2. DUST
Lying awake in the ward
Long hours as any must,
I wonder where the dust
Comes from, the Dust, the Dust!
That makes their life so hard,—
The nurses, who must rub
The soon appearing crust
Of green on the bright knob.
And little bits of fluff,
Dull white upon the floor,
Most soft, most curious stuff
That sidles to the door
When no one sees, and makes
Deep wrinkles and heart-breaks;
Light sighs and curses rough.
Oh! if a scientist
Of warm and kindly heart
Should live a while apart,
(Old Satan’s tail to twist,)
Poring on crucibles,
Vessels uncanny, till
He won at last to Hell’s
Grand secret of ill-will—
How Fluff comes and how Dust,
Then nurses all would paint
Cheeks pretty for his sake;
Or stay in prayer awake
All night for that great Saint
Of Cleanliness, that bright
Devoted anchorite;
Brave champion and true knight.
3. “ABERDONIAN”
A soldier looked at me with blue hawk-eyes,
With kindly glances sorrow had made wise,
And talked till all I’d ever read in books
Melted to ashes in his burning looks;
And poets I’d despise and craft of pen,
If, while he told his coloured wonder-tales
Of Glasgow, Ypres, sea mist, spouting whales
(Alive past words or power of writing men),
My heart had not exulted in his brave
Air of the wild woodland and sea wave;
Or if, with each new sentence from his tongue,
My high-triumphing spirit had not sung
As in some April when the world was young.
4. COMPANION—NORTH-EAST DUGOUT
He talked of Africa,
That fat and easy man.
I’d but to say a word,
And straight the tales began.