第5章

EDWARDJ。O’BRIEN

SONG

FROM\"FLESH:AGEOGORIANODE\"

EBBonwithmeacrossthesunsettideAndfloatbeyondthewatersoftheworld,Thelightofeveningslippingfrommyside,Thysoftenedvoiceinwavesofsilencefurled。

Flowonintotheflamingmorningwine,Drowningthelandincolor。ThenonhighRiseinthycandidinnocenceandshineLiketoapoplarstraightagainstthesky。

EDWARDJ。O’BRIEN

INMEMORIAM:FRANCISLEDWIDGE

(Killedinaction,July31,1917)

SOLDIERandsingerofErin,WhatmayIfashionforthee?

Whatgarlandofwordsorofflowers?

Singerofsunlightandshowers,Thewindonthelea;

Ofclouds,andthehousesofErin,Weecabins,whiteontheplain,Andbrightwiththecoloursofeven,BeautyofearthandofheavenfallsOutspreadbeyondSlane!

nightthroughletmymindbestill,Slane,wheretheEasterofPatrickFlamedonthenightoftheGael,GuardboththehonorandstoryOfhimwhohasdiedforthegloryThatcrownsInnisfail。

Soldierofrightandoffreedom,Ioffertheesongandhottears。

WithBrian,andRedHughO’Donnell,ThechiefsofTyroneandTryconnell,Liveonthroughtheyears!

NORREYSJEPHSONO’CONOR

EVENSONG

ASHEPHERDpiping,heraldoftheNightWhocomeswithSilenceupthecolouredvale,Treadinglowgently,cladingreyishwhite,Poignantlypiping,soundyourreedywail!

ForDaydepartedmovesinfuneraltrainTendedbyTwilightand,indeepestrose,ThesplendidSunsetmeltsbeneaththemainWhilesweettheSea—windwithcoolsoftnessblows。

AswhenamothergatherstoherbreastThechildwhofretsforDad’srememberedsmart,NowLightfadesquicklyintheashenwest,AndNight—Peacefallsacrossmytroubledheart。

Flutes,forthenightthroughletmymindbestill,AndGodkeepsafewithHimmystubbornwill!

NORREYSJEPHSONO’CONOR

THEPROPHET

ALLdaylonghekeptthesheep:——

Farandearly,fromthecrowd,Onthehillsfromsteeptosteep,Wherethesilencecriedaloud;

AndtheshadowofthecloudWrapthiminanoondaysleep。

Wherehedippedthewater’scool,Fillingboyishhandsfromthence,SomethingbreathedacrossthepoolStirofsweetenlightenments;

Andhedrank,withthirstysense,Tillhisheartwasbrimmedandfull。

Still,thehoveringVoiceunshed,AndtheVisionunbeheld,Andthemuteskyoverhead,Andhislonging,stillwithheld!

——Evenwhenthetwotearswelled,Salt,uponthatlonelybread。

Vaguelyblessedintheleaves,Dim—companionedinthesun,Eagermornings,wistfuleyes,Veryhungerdrewhimon;

AndTo—morrowevershoneWiththeglowthesunsetweaves。

Evenso,tothatyoungheart,WordsandhandsandMenweredear;

AndthestiroflaneandmartAfterdaylongvigilhere。

Sunsetcalled,andhedrewnear,Stilltofindhispathapart。

WhentheBell,withgentletongue,Calledtheherd—bellshomeagain,Throughthepurpleshadesheswung,Downthemountain,throughtheglen;

Towardsthesoundoffellow—men,—

Evenfromthelightthatclung。

Dimlytoo,ascloudoncloud,Camethatsilentflockofhis:

Throngingwhiteness,inacrowd,Afterhomingtwosandthrees;

WiththelongingmemoriesOfallwhitethingsdreamedandvowed。

Throughthefragrances,alone,Bythesudden—silentbrook,>Fromtheopenworldunknown,Tothecloseofspeechandbook;

TheretofindtheforeignlookInthefacesofhisown。

Sharingwasbeyondhisskill;

Shylyyet,hemadeessay:

Soughttodip,andshare,andfillHeart’s—desire,fromdaytoday。

Buttheireyes,someforeignway,Lookedathim;andhewasstill。

Last,hereachedhisarmstosleep,WheretheVisionwaited,dim,Stillbeyondsomedeep—on—deep。

Andthedarknessfoldedhim,Eagerheartandwearylimb。——

Alldaylong,hekeptthesheep。

JOSEPHINEPRESTONPEABODY

HARVEST—MOON:1914

OVERthetwilightfield,Theoverflowingfield,——

Overtheglimmeringfield,AndbleedingfurrowswiththeirsoddenyieldOfsheavesthatstilldidwrithe,Afterthescythe;

TheteemingfieldanddarklyoverstrewnWithallthegarneredfulnessofthatnoon——

Twolookeduponeachother。

OnewasaWomanmencalledtheirmother;

Andone,theHarvest—Moon。

Andone,theHarvest—Moon,Whostood,whogazedOnthoseunquietgleaningswheretheybled;

TilltheloneWomansaid:

\"Butwewerecrazed……

Weshouldlaughnowtogether,Iandyou,Wetwo。

You,foryourdreamingitwasworthAstar’swhiletolookonandlighttheEarth;

AndI,forevertellingtomymind,Gloryitwas,andgladness,togivebirthTohumankind!

Yes,I,thateverthoughtitnotamissTogivethebreathtomen,Formentoslayagain:

LordingitoveranguishbuttogiveMylifethatmenmightliveForthis。

Youwillbelaughingnow,rememberingIcalledyouonceDeadWorld,andbarrenthing,Yes,sowenamedyouthen,You,farmorewiseThantogivelifetomen。\"

Overthefield,thatthereGavebacktheskiesAshatteredupwardstare>Fromblankwhiteeyes,——

Strivingawhile,throughmanyableedingduneOfthrobbingclay,butdumbandquietsoon,Shelooked;andwentherway——

TheHarvest—Moon。

JOSEPHINEPRESTONPEAODY

HORSEMANSPRINGING

FROMTHEDARK:ADREAM

\"HORSEMAN,springingfromthedark,Horseman,flyingwildandfree,TellmewhatshallbethyroadWhitherspeedestfarfromme?\"

\"Fromthedarkintothelight,>Fromthesmalluntothegreat,>FromthevalleysdarkIrideO’erthehillstoconquerfate!\"

\"Takemewiththee,horsemanmine!

Letmemadlyrodewiththee!\"

AsheturnedImethiseyes,Myownsoullookedbackatme!

LILLACABOTPERRY

THREEQUATRAINS

THECUP

SHEsaid,\"Lifthighthecup!\"

Ofherarm’swearinessshegavenosign,But,smiling,raiseditupThatnonemightseeorguessitheldnowine。

FORGIVEMENOT!

FORGIVEmenot!HatemeandIshallknowSomeofLove’sfirestillburnswithinyourbreast!

Forgivenessfindsitshomeinheartsatrest,Ondeadvolcanoesonlyliesthesnow。

THEROSE

ONEdeepredroseIdroppedintohisgrave,Sosmallathingtogivesogreatafriend!

YetwellheknewitwasmyheartIgaveAndmustfareonwithoutittotheend,LILLACABOTPERRY

AVALENTINE,UNSENT

STAY,flamingrose,’twouldgrieveherheartToseeyoufadeaway,Unloved,unwelcomeandapart>Fromeveryjoyto—day。

Oncelongagoyourtalewasnew,Daysdistantyetsodear;

Whysayherloverstillistrue,Whenthatisallherfear?

Whythusrecallanother’spain,Hertenderhearttofret?

Bestletherthinkhelovesagain,Whonevercanforget!

MARGARETPERRY

SHIPBUILDERS

THEGermanpeoplerearedthemAnidolmadeofwood;

AndHindenburgbeforethemLifelikeandstupidstood。

ToclothehimallinironAndthushissoulexpress,WithnailsandspikestheycoveredHiswoodennakedness。

Andwhenthey,thushadclothedhimAllinasuitofmail,Stillcamethey,wild—eyed,lookingForspacetodriveanail。

WheneverTeutonairmenSlayboysandgirlsatplay,OrU—boats,drowningbabies,Createaholiday。

Then,gatheringroundtheirstatue,AhappyGermanthrongDrivenailsintotheidolTomakehimstillmorestrong。

Avengethebabes,shipbuilders,Thatontheseashavedied;

AvengethelittlechildrenMurderedforWilhelm’spride。

Come,gatherattheshipyards,Andletyourhammersring,FormorethanshipsandcargoesWaitsonyourfashioning。

Come,gatherattheshipyards;

WitheveryboltyoudriveBethinkyou`tistheKaiserWhosebrutishheadyourive。

Come,gatherattheshipyards,Andswingwithmightandmain;

`TisTirpitzandtheCrownPrinceThatyouto—dayhaveslain。

Come,gatherattheshipyards,Andheatthemetalhot,ForitisBethmannHollwegYou’reboilinginthepot。

Come,gatherattheshipyards,——

Andwhenthedayisdone,You’vespentitindrivingspikes,InHindernburgtheHun。

Come,gatherattheshipyards,Andtoilwithhealthyhate,Foronlyyoucansavetheworld,TheHunisatthegate。

ARTHURSTANWOODPIE

UNFADINGPICTURES

(\"Theairfromtheseacameblowinginagain,mixedwiththeperfumeoftheflowers……

Theold—fashionedfurniturebrightlyrubbedandpol—

ished,myaunt’sinviolablechairandtablebytheroundgreenfaninthebow—window,thedrugget—

coveredcarpet,thecat,thekettle—holder,thetwocanaries,theoldchina……and,wonderfullyoutofkeepingwiththerest,mydustyselfuponthesofa,takingnoteofeverything。\"

—\"DavidCopperfield,\"ChapterXIII。)

HOWmanyarethesceneshelimned,Withartiststrokes,clear—cutandfree—

OurDickens;timeshallnoteffaceTheircharm,andtheywillevergraceThehallsofmemory。

Oftandagainweturntothem,Tocontemplateinpleasedreview;

AndlikesomepictureonthescreenComesnowtomindafavoritesceneHismaster—pencildrew:—

Uponasofa,stretchedinsleep,Iseeasmalllad,spentandworn,Andbythewindow,sternandgrim,Asilentfigurewatchinghim,Sodusty,ragged,torn。

Ah,nowsherisesfrombehindTheroundgreenfanbesideherchair;

\"Poorfellow!\"croons—andpitylendsHervoicenewsoftness—andshebendsAndbrushesbackhishair。

Theninhissleephesoftlystirs。

Wasthatadream,thesemurmuredwords?

Hewakes!TherebythecasementsatMissTrotwoodstill;closeby,hercatAndhercanarybirds。

Thepeacefulcalmofthatquaintroom,Itsmarksofcomforteverywhere——

OldchinaandmahoganyAndblowingin,freshfromthesea,Theperfume—ladenair。

Poorlittlepilgrimsobereft,Sowearyathisjourney’send!

WhatjoymustthenhavefilledhissoulToreachatlastsuchhappygoal—

Tofind——oh,suchafriend!……

Andthennightcame,andfromhisbedHesawthesea,moonlitandbright,Anddreamedtherecame,toblessherson,Hismother,withherlittleone,Adownthatpathoflight。

Ah,greaterblessingI’dnotcrave,Whenmylife’spilgrimageiso’er,Thansuchrepose,content,andlove;

SomeshiningpaththatleadsaboveTodearonesgonebefore!

LOUELLAC。POOLE

WITHWAVESANDWINGS

WAVESandWingsandGrowingThings!

AsthroughthegladdensightyeflowAndflitandglow,YewinmesoInsoultogo,Itooamwaves,Itooamwings,Andkindredmotioninmesprings。

WiththeeIpass,gladgrowinggrass!—

Iclimbtheairwithlissomemien;

UnsheathingkeenThevividsheenOfspringinggreen,Ithrillthecrude,exaltthecrassFine—flex’dandfluentfromEarth’smass。

Andimpulsecraveswiththee,SeaWaves!—

TomakeallmutablethefloorOfEarth’sfirmshore,WithflashingpourWhosebrimmingo’erImpassion’dmotionlovesandlavesAndlivenssombreslumberingcaves。

Thensoaringwherethewildbirdsfare,MysongwouldsweepthewindylyreOfHeaven’schoir,PulsingdesireForstarryfire,AbashingchillingvaguesofairWiththrobbingofwarmbreaststhatdare!

CHARLOTTEPORTER

BLUEBERRIES

UPONthehillsofGarlingtownBeneaththesummersky,InmanypleasantpasturesOnsunnyslopesandhigh,Theirskinsabloomwithdustyblue,Asleep,theberrieslie。

AndalltheladsofGarlingtown,Andallthelassestoo,Stillclimbthetranquilhillsides,Amerry,barefootcrew;

StillhomewardplodwithunfilledpailsAndmouthsofberryblue。

AndallthebirdsofGarlingtown,Whenflockingbacktonest,RememberwellthepatchesWhereberriesarethebest;

TheypicktheripestonesatdawnAndleavetheladstherest。

UponthehillsofGarlingtownWhenberry—timewaso’er,Ilookedintothesunset,Andsawanopendoor,AndfromthehillsofGarlingtownIwent,andcamenomore。

FRANKPRENTICERAND

NOCTURNE

NIGHTofinfinitepowerandinfinitesilenceandspace,>Fromyoumaymortalsinfer,ifever,thescopedivine!

Thejealoussunconcealsallbuthisarrogantface,YoubidtheMilkyWayandamillionsunstoshine。

Eachstartonumberlessplanetsgiveslightandmotionandheat,Butyouenmantlethemall,thenearestandmostremote;

Andthelustresofallthesunsarebutspanglesunderyourfeet,—

Merebubblesandbeadsofnoon,theycircleandshineandfloat。

WILLIAMROSCOETHAYER

ENVOI

IWALKEDwithpoetsinmyyouth,BecausetheworldtheydrewWasbeautifulandgloriousBeyondtheworldIknew。

Thepoetsaremycomradesstill,Butdearerthaninyouth,FornowIknowthattheyalonePicturetheworldoftruth。

WILLIAMROSCOETHAYER

THEREWHERETHESEA

THEREwheretheseaenwraptAstripoflandandwind—sweptdune,WherenaturewasquiescentintheglimmeringNoondaysunofearlyJune,——

ThePlacidsealayshimmeringInamistofblue,>FromwhichtheskynowdrewItswealthofhueandcolour;

Oneheardbutthedeepbreathingoftheocean,Asitbreathedalongtheshoreinevenmotion。

Amongthepinesandlistlessofthescene,AtthisandAlcaeuslay,WithintheheartofeachahungerFortheunknowngiftoflife。

HerefromdaytodayTheymetanddreamedawayThesoftunflodingdaysofspring,——

Nowturningtothesummer。

Aleaeus:

IamfaintwithallthefireInmyblood,AndIwouldplungeintothequietblueAndloseallsenseoftimeandyou。

Atthis:

I,too,wouldplungeAndswimwithyou!

Doffingherrobe,themaidstoodinherbeauty,Calmandsureandunafraid,Thesinuoussplendourofherlimbs,Asilentsymphonyofcurvingline,WhichreacheditsfinalnoteInbreastandroundedthroat。

Hehadnotknownthatfleshcouldbesofair;

EachmovementwhichshemadeWoveo’erhissenseadeeperspell,HerbeautyswepthimlikeaflameAndcaughthimunaware。

Shelookedintohiseyes,thendroppinghersBeforethatburninggaze,SoftlyturnedandcreptwithsunlitshouldersDownamongtheboulders,Tothesea。

SecurewithinitscoveringdepthShecalledtohimtofollow。

Sheledhimoutalongthetide,Withswiftunerringstroke,Norpausedtillhewasatherside。

WithconqueringarmHeseizedherandfromherbrowTossedbackthedrippinglocks,andsoughtherlips—

Hereyesclosed,——

Asallherbodyyieldedtohiskiss。

Thenhomeheborehertotheshore,Withinhisheartasongoftriumph;

Inhers,anew—bornjoyofwomanhood。

Sospringforthempassedontosummer。

MARIETUDOR

MARRIAGE

YOU,whohavegivenmeyourname,Andwithyourlawshavemademewife,Toshareyourfailuresandyourfame,Whosewordhasmademeyoursforlife。

Whatproofhaveyouthatyouholdme?

ThatinrealityI’moneWithyou,throughalleternity?

Whatproofwhenallissaidanddone?

Inspiteofallthelawsyou’vemade,I’mfree。Iamnopartofyou。

Butwait—thelastwordisnotsaid;

You’remine,forI’mmyselfandyou。

Allthroughmyveinsthereflowsyourblood,Inyouthereisnopartofme。

ByvirtueofmymotherhoodThroughmeyouliveeternally。

MARIETUDOR

PITY

OhdonotPitymebecauseIgaveMyheartwhenlovelyAprilwithagust,Sweptdownthesinginglaneswithacoolwave;

AnddonotpitymebecauseIthrustAsideyourlovethatonceburnedasaflame。

IwasasthirstyasawindyflowerThatbaresitsbosomtothesummershowerAndtotheunrememberedwindsthatcame。

Pitymemostformomentsyettobe,Inthefaryears,whensomedayIshallturnTowardthisstrongpathuptoourlittledoorAndfinditbarredtoallmyecstasy。

Nosoundofyourwarmvoicethewindshaveborne—

Onlythecryingseaupontheshore。

HAROLDVINAL

AROSETOTHELIVING

AROSEtothelivingismoreThansumptuouswreathstothedead;

Infillinglove’sinfinitestore,Arosetothelivingismore,IfgraciouslygivenbeforeThehungeringspiritisfled,—

ArosetothelivingismoreThansumptuouswreathstothedead。

NIXONWATERMAN

THESTORM

SHEreachedforsunsetfires,Andlivedwithstarsandthesea,Themountainsforhertemple,Thestormforpriesthadshe。

TogetheralibationTheypouredtotheGodsheknew,SuchwineasagelessheavensAndlonelywisdombrew。

Nowshehasdonewithworship,Forherallritesarethesame;

YetthestormkeepsgreenforeverThemossuponhername。

G。O。WARREN

WHERETHEYSLEEP

THEfoginrolling,darkandstillLiesdeepuponthecrowdeddeadAsfloodingseauponthesands,Andquenchesstarlightoverhead。

Longhavetheyslept。TheirseparatedustHasmingledwithanamelessmould。

Onlytheslower—crumblingstonesStilltellsomuchasmaybetold。

AndnowinshorelessfogadriftLikesomelonemarinerglidingby,IleanabovethedrowninggravesAndwonderwhenItooshalllieWhereevermorethetidesofnightAndearthwillhidemylonelyrest;

AndTimewillbidmyloveforgetToreadthestoneuponmybreast。

G。O。WARREN

BEAUTY

NOTfleshaloneamI,whenIcanbeSoswiftlycaughtinBeauty’sshimmeringthreadWhoseslenderfibres,woven,heldbyme,Withtheirfrailstrengthmyfollowinghearthaveled。

Yea,notallmortal,notalldeathmymind,When,watchingbylonetwilightwaters’brimItremblinglydecipher,astheywind,Herdeathlesshieroglyphs,thoughstrangeanddim。

Soforthisfaith,whenThoumydustshaltbringTodust,rememberwell,GreatAlchemist,Yearlytochangemywintryearthtospring,ThatIwithBeautystillmaykeepmytryst。

G。O。WARREN

COMRADES

WHEREarethefriendsthatIknewinmyMaying,Inthedaysofmyyouth,inthefirstofmyroaming?

Weweredear;wewereleal;O,farwewentstraying;

Nowneverahearttomyheartcomeshoming!——

Whereishenow,thedarkboyslenderWhotaughtmebare—back,stirrupandreins?

Ilovehim;helovedme;mybeautiful,tenderTamerofhorsesongrass—grownplains。

Whereishenowwhoseeyesswambrighter,Softerthanlove,inhisturbulentcharms;

Whotaughtmetostrike,andtofall,dearfighter,Andgathermeupinhisboyhoodarms;

Taughtmetherifle,andwithmewentriding,Suppledmylimbstothehorseman’swar;

Whereishenow,forwhommyheart’sbiding,Biding,biding——butheridesfar!

Olovethatpassestheloveofwoman!

WhothathathfeltitshalleverforgetWhenthebreathoflifewithathrobturnshuman,Andalad’sheartistoalad’sheartset?

Ever,forever,loverandrover——

Theyshallcling,noreachfromothershallpartTillthereignofthestarsintheheavensbe’over,Andlifeisdustineachfaithfulheart。

Theyaredead,theAmericangrassesunder;

Thereisnoonenowwhopressesmyside;

BytheAfricanchottsIamridingasunder,AndwithgreatjoyrideIthelastgreatride。

Iamfey;Iamfeinofsuddendying;

Thousandsofmilesthereisnoonenear;

Andmyheart——allthenightitiscrying,cryingInthebosomsofdeadladsdarling—dear。

Heartsofmymusic——themdarkearthcovers;

Comradestodie,andtodiefor,werethey;

Inthewidthoftheworldtherewerenosuchrovers——

Backtoback,breasttobreast,itwasourstostay;

Andthehighestonearthwasthevowthatwecherished,Tospurforthfromthecrowdandcomebacknevermore,AndtorideinthetrackofgreatsoulsperishedTillthenestsofthelarkshallroofuso’er。

YetlingersahorsemanonAltaihighlands,Whohathjoyofme,ridingtheTartarglissade,Andone,farfaringo’erorientislandsWhosebloodyetglintswithmyblade’saccolade;

North,west,east,Iflingyoumylasthallooing,Lastlovetothebreastswheremyownhasbled;

ThroughthereachofthedesertmysoulleapspursuingMystarwhereitrisesaStaroftheDead。

GEORGEEDWARDWOODBERRY

THEFLIGHT

I

OWILDHEART,tracktheland’sperfume,Beach—rosesandmoor—heather!

AllfragrancesofherbandbloomFail,outatsea,together。

OfollowwherealoftfindroomLark—songandeagle—feather!

AllecstasiesofthroatandplumeMelt,highonyonblueweather。

OleaveonskyandoceanlostTheflightcreationdareth;

Takewingsoflove,thatmountsthemost:

Findfame,thatfurthestfareth!

Thyflight,albeitamidherhostThee,too,nightstar—likebeareth,Flying,thybreastonheaven’scoast,Theinfiniteoutweareth。

II

\"Deado’erusrollcelestialfires;

MutestandEarth’sancientbeaches;

Oldthoughts,oldinstincts,olddesires,Thepassinghouroutreaches;

Thesoulcreativenevertires——

Evokes,adcres,beseeches;

AndthatheartmostthegodinspiresWhommostitswildnessteaches。

\"ForIwillcoursethroughfallingyearsAndstarsandcitiesburning;

AndIwillmarchthroughdyingcheersPastempiresunreturning;

EvertheworldflamereappearsWheremankindpowerisearning,Thenations’hopes,thepeople’stears,Onewiththewildheartyearning。

GEORGEEDWARDWOODBERRY