PROSE POEMSDAWN
Arise!—Arise!Dew, like a thousand gems, is in the hair of the dear earth eager to dance.THE VISIBLE WORLDRubyour eyes! If a man believe not in earth, how should he believe in heaven? If he love not the visible, how should he its high symbol?FUELYouare burning me in a flame whereat starved men and women may warm themselves. But you are angry that the winds blow my ashes into your eyes.BLOW, INVISIBLE MOUTHS!DidGod blow upon a reed (having cut it to His mind), what melodies might not be piped!—what news of glorious birth! To you, beloved Dead, I give my life that is but a reed. Blow, blow, invisible mouths of God!ANGRY LOVERBeforeGod’s throne came the angry lover. “I am betrayed!” he cried, and the courts of Heaven rang again with the sound of the word. “Thy daughter Life have I wooed. For her have I given all—yea, all—since that is the price of love, and now, behold, Thou hast given me her dark sister, Death!”“Yet have I but one daughter,” answered God.“Is it possible that even yet thou dost not know me?” whispered the veiled one.HOMEHome!—Home!All night the orchards sighing and surging.... All night the branches tossing and gesturing against the moon.... All night the scent of the blossom.... But why do they say that I am dead?LOVE SONGHesang of the strong labouring of stars that wheel in their courses, and of passionate Suns.... Songs of courage against destiny, of scorn against mean riches; songs of sorrow, and of dancingjoy; of childhood, old age, and life again after. But never a song sang he of his beloved. Therefore she laughed, and knew that he was still her slave.THE WINDOWBlinkingat the sun, what things of horror come peering out of me!—what ages of beasts! O that God would look out of me upon His world—that I might be a window for the eyes of Christ!BROTHERSAremen only our brothers? Were not the animals and the stars at Bethlehem?HOLY BROTHERHOODO youwho have found mankind for a brother, be not content! You are brothers and sisters of angels and archangels: and your feet are on the glimmering roadways of unimaginable stars.
Arise!—Arise!
Dew, like a thousand gems, is in the hair of the dear earth eager to dance.
Rubyour eyes! If a man believe not in earth, how should he believe in heaven? If he love not the visible, how should he its high symbol?
Youare burning me in a flame whereat starved men and women may warm themselves. But you are angry that the winds blow my ashes into your eyes.
DidGod blow upon a reed (having cut it to His mind), what melodies might not be piped!—what news of glorious birth! To you, beloved Dead, I give my life that is but a reed. Blow, blow, invisible mouths of God!
BeforeGod’s throne came the angry lover. “I am betrayed!” he cried, and the courts of Heaven rang again with the sound of the word. “Thy daughter Life have I wooed. For her have I given all—yea, all—since that is the price of love, and now, behold, Thou hast given me her dark sister, Death!”
“Yet have I but one daughter,” answered God.
“Is it possible that even yet thou dost not know me?” whispered the veiled one.
Home!—Home!
All night the orchards sighing and surging.... All night the branches tossing and gesturing against the moon.... All night the scent of the blossom.... But why do they say that I am dead?
Hesang of the strong labouring of stars that wheel in their courses, and of passionate Suns.... Songs of courage against destiny, of scorn against mean riches; songs of sorrow, and of dancingjoy; of childhood, old age, and life again after. But never a song sang he of his beloved. Therefore she laughed, and knew that he was still her slave.
Blinkingat the sun, what things of horror come peering out of me!—what ages of beasts! O that God would look out of me upon His world—that I might be a window for the eyes of Christ!
Aremen only our brothers? Were not the animals and the stars at Bethlehem?
O youwho have found mankind for a brother, be not content! You are brothers and sisters of angels and archangels: and your feet are on the glimmering roadways of unimaginable stars.
Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.