HOPE SHINES—AS IN A STABLE A WISP OF STRAW
Hope shines—as in a stable a wisp of straw.
Fear not the wasp drunk with his crazy flight!
Through some chink always, see, the moted light!
Propped on your hand, you dozed—But let me draw
Cool water from the well for you, at least,
Poor soul! There, drink! Then sleep. See, I remain,
And I will sing a slumberous refrain,
And you shall murmur like a child appeased.
Noon strikes. Approach not, Madam, pray, or call....
He sleeps. Strange how a woman's light footfall
Re-echoes through the brains of grief-worn men!
Noon strikes. I bade them sprinkle in the room.
Sleep on! Hope shines—a pebble in the gloom.
—When shall the Autumn rose re-blossom,—when?
SLEEP, DARKSOME, DEEP
Sleep, darksome, deep,
Doth on me fall:
Vain hopes all, sleep,
Sleep, yearnings all!
Lo, I grow blind!
Lo, right and wrong
Fade to my mind....
O sorry song!
A cradle, I,
Rocked in a grave:
Speak low, pass by,
Silence I crave!
THE SKY-BLUE SMILES ABOVE THE ROOF
The sky-blue smiles above the roof
Its tenderest;
A green tree rears above the roof
Its waving crest.
The church-bell in the windless sky
Peaceably rings,
A skylark soaring in the sky
Endlessly sings.
My God, my God, all life is there,
Simple and sweet;
The soothing bee-hive murmur there
Comes from the street!
What have you done, O you that weep
In the glad sun,—
Say, with your youth, you man that weep,
What have you done?