ABNEGATION
Christ, dear Christ, were the wood-ways sweet
By the long, white highway bare,
Where the hot road dust made grey Thy feet?
Ay,—but the woman's hair!
Brother, my Christ, when thou camest down
The cup of water to give,
Did a poet die on the mount's cool crown?
Ay,—and for that dost thou live!
THE LITTLE TREE
It pushed a guided way between
The pebbles of her grave;
A poplar hastening to be green
And silver signals wave.
And we who sought her with the moon,
Were met by branches stirred,
And whiter grew as grew the croon
That seemed her hidden word.
"O, she would speak!" my heart-beat said;
My eyes were on the mound;
And lowlier hung my waiting head
Above the prisoning ground.
Then smiled the lad and whispered me,—
The lad who most did love;
"She stoops to us; the little tree
Is wakened from above!"