GOLD AND IVORY
They lie beside me all the night,
They crowd up close to me;
And when I turn, they turn;
And when I sigh, they cry.
Says one: “I am the love you sought
Now wrinkled to an afterthought.”
The other whispers in my ear:
“You coveted:
Behold, I lie here dead!”
These are the gifts sleep brings to me,—
My dreams of gold and ivory!
STEPS
I
There is a stair to climb
That—Christ you keep!—
Men stumble there
It is so steep.
II
Its steps give scarce foothold,
Yet, pilgrim-shod,
Hungry, athirst,
Men climb to God.