This heart that broke so long -
These feet that never flagged -
This faith that watched for star in vain,
Give gently to the dead -
Hound cannot overtake the Hare
That fluttered panting, here -
Nor any schoolboy rob the nest
Tenderness builded there.
I would distil a cup -
and bear to all my friends,
drinking to her no more astir,
by beck, or burn, or moor!
The Guest is gold and crimson -
An Opal guest, and gray -
Of Ermine is his doublet -
His Capuchin gay -
He reaches town at nightfall -
He stops at every door -
Who looks for him at morning
I pray him too - explore
The Lark's pure territory -
Or the Lapwing's shore
One Sister have I in our house -
And one, a hedge away.
There's only one recorded,
But both belong to me.
One came the road that I came -
And wore my last year's gown -
The other, as a bird her nest,
Builded our hearts among.
She did not sing as we did -
It was a different tune -
Herself to her a music
As Bumble bee of June.
Today is far from Childhood -
But up and down the hills
I held her hand the tighter -
Which shortened all the miles -
And still her hum
The years among,
Deceives the Butterfly;
Still in her Eye
The Violets lie
Mouldered this many May.
I spilt the dew -
But took the morn;
I chose this single star
From out the wide night's numbers -
Sue - forevermore!
Sleep is supposed to be
By souls of sanity -
The shutting of the eye.
Sleep is the station grand
Down wh'on either hand -
The Hosts of Witness stand!
Morn is supposed to be
By people of degree -
The breaking of the Day!
Morning has not occurred!
That shall Aurora be
East of Eternity!
One with the banner gay,
One in the red array -
That is the break of Day!
The morns are meeker than they were -
The nuts are getting brown -
The berry's cheek is plumper -
The Rose is out of town.
The Maple wears a gayer scarf -
The field a scarlet gown -
Lest I should be old fashioned
I'll put a trinket on.
I never told the buried gold
Upon the hill - that lies -
I saw the sun - his plunder done
Crouch low to guard his prize.
He stood as near
As stood you here -
A pace had been between -
Did but a snake bisect the brake
My life had forfeit been.
That was a wondrous booty -
I hope 'twas honest gained.
Those were the fairest ingots
That ever kissed the spade!
Whether to keep the secret -
Whether to reveal -
Whether as I ponder
"Kidd" will sudden sail -
Could a shrewd advise me
We might e'en divide -
Should a shrewd betray me -
Atropos decide!
My Wheel is in the dark!
I cannot see a spoke
Yet know it's dripping feet
Go round and round.
My foot is on the Tide!
An unfrequented road -
Yet have all roads
A clearing at the end -
Some have resigned the Loom -
Some in the busy tomb
Find quaint employ -
Some with new - stately feet -
Pass royal thro' the gate -
Flinging the problem back
At you and I!
Through lane it lay - thro' bramble -
Through clearing and thro' wood -
Banditti often passed us
Upon the lonely road.
The wolf came peering curious -
The Owl looked puzzled down -
The serpent's satin figure
Glid stealthily along,
The tempests touched our garments -
The lightning's poinards gleamed -
Fierce from the Crag above us
The hungry Vulture screamed -
The Satyrs fingers beckoned -
The Valley murmured "Come" -
These were the mates -
This was the road
These Children fluttered home.
There is a word
Which bears a sword
Can pierce an armed man -
It hurls it's barbed syllables
And is mute again -
But where it fell
The saved will tell
On patriotic day,
Some epauletted Brother
Gave his breath away.
Wherever runs the breathless sun -
Wherever roams the day,
There is it's noiseless onset -
There is it's victory!
Behold the keenest marksman!
The most accomplished shot!
Time's sublimest target
Is a soul "forgot"!