If now I fall away
From faith, may never day
Shine as it shone
With inmost sanctities
Of those sun-glittering trees—
We two alone.
The darkness toils and heaves.
The Wood of Glittering Leaves
You gave—you gave,
Dearest in life and death,
Dearest with every breath,
Lamp of the brave!
You came in sunlight, still
As God, with Whom your will
Was always one.
You knew me, and you knew
I read your presence through
That sacred sun.
League upon league of light,
As the train raced the night,
With night on me,
With pain that gripped and wrung
As the cars clashed and swung,—
I yet could see
The slim trees of that wood
Brighter than tears or blood,
Fairy with day;
That dark marsh land made bright,
Veiled in miraculous light,—
Your way!
I hold it fast. I hold
All that mysterious gold,
All that it weaves
Of Heaven to understand—
Our radiant bridal land
Of glittering leaves.
III
Honest hands to help, honest eyes to see,
Light that lives in God:
Such our dearest was, such will ever be
Under Heaven.
Nothing in this life gives to you and me
Such a sunlight-shod,
Sunlight-crowned delight in our memory
As was given.
There was not a harm in these roaring hours
That could touch Her head
Perfect was Her charm borne against the powers
Gnashing still.
In her heart a field laughed with golden flowers
Where Her soul could tread.
Swift, serene, she passed all that snarls and cowers,
White of will.
Song can give her nothing. We who brave the night
Say Her name again
Raise it like a cup full of sacred light
Up to Heaven.
Now we know our pain blinding, burning bright
In the world of men.
Yet we know our joy, knowing now aright
What was given.