HAUNTED EARTH

HAUNTED EARTH

Heavenat lastIs bared, and the whole world one radiantroom—Black are the shadows, in great pools of gloomBy copse and thicket cast.The cattle browseWith sound of gentle breathing, and their breathIs mild in glimmering meadows, or beneathDrooped branches, where they drowse;While ’mongst the chillShadows, and cold, clear moonlight all about,A single bat goes dipping in and outSoftly; and all is still.Silencearound—Save for a cricket! Lapped in slumb’rous peaceLie hill and meadowland, the shining seasLap on them without sound.It is earth’s cryLifted in adoration: the old dream,Beauty, is with her, and her hour supremeThat goes so swiftly by.Too well she knowsThe sweet Illusion, from no earthly shoreVisitant, the bright word that evermoreTroubles her dark repose.Her heart liesbare—Drunken, drunken, she lifts a dreamy breast;Hour by hour, in rapture and unrestFlows the unending prayer.The path of nightReaches, from rim to rim, a radiant roadWhereon the exalted Beauty walks abroadIn wonder and wild light.Upon what eyes,Lifted in homesickness, now falls againThe loveliness that haunts the world withpain—Light out of Paradise!

Heavenat lastIs bared, and the whole world one radiantroom—Black are the shadows, in great pools of gloomBy copse and thicket cast.The cattle browseWith sound of gentle breathing, and their breathIs mild in glimmering meadows, or beneathDrooped branches, where they drowse;While ’mongst the chillShadows, and cold, clear moonlight all about,A single bat goes dipping in and outSoftly; and all is still.Silencearound—Save for a cricket! Lapped in slumb’rous peaceLie hill and meadowland, the shining seasLap on them without sound.It is earth’s cryLifted in adoration: the old dream,Beauty, is with her, and her hour supremeThat goes so swiftly by.Too well she knowsThe sweet Illusion, from no earthly shoreVisitant, the bright word that evermoreTroubles her dark repose.Her heart liesbare—Drunken, drunken, she lifts a dreamy breast;Hour by hour, in rapture and unrestFlows the unending prayer.The path of nightReaches, from rim to rim, a radiant roadWhereon the exalted Beauty walks abroadIn wonder and wild light.Upon what eyes,Lifted in homesickness, now falls againThe loveliness that haunts the world withpain—Light out of Paradise!

Heavenat lastIs bared, and the whole world one radiantroom—Black are the shadows, in great pools of gloomBy copse and thicket cast.

Heavenat last

Is bared, and the whole world one radiantroom—

Black are the shadows, in great pools of gloom

By copse and thicket cast.

The cattle browseWith sound of gentle breathing, and their breathIs mild in glimmering meadows, or beneathDrooped branches, where they drowse;

The cattle browse

With sound of gentle breathing, and their breath

Is mild in glimmering meadows, or beneath

Drooped branches, where they drowse;

While ’mongst the chillShadows, and cold, clear moonlight all about,A single bat goes dipping in and outSoftly; and all is still.

While ’mongst the chill

Shadows, and cold, clear moonlight all about,

A single bat goes dipping in and out

Softly; and all is still.

Silencearound—Save for a cricket! Lapped in slumb’rous peaceLie hill and meadowland, the shining seasLap on them without sound.

Silencearound—

Save for a cricket! Lapped in slumb’rous peace

Lie hill and meadowland, the shining seas

Lap on them without sound.

It is earth’s cryLifted in adoration: the old dream,Beauty, is with her, and her hour supremeThat goes so swiftly by.

It is earth’s cry

Lifted in adoration: the old dream,

Beauty, is with her, and her hour supreme

That goes so swiftly by.

Too well she knowsThe sweet Illusion, from no earthly shoreVisitant, the bright word that evermoreTroubles her dark repose.

Too well she knows

The sweet Illusion, from no earthly shore

Visitant, the bright word that evermore

Troubles her dark repose.

Her heart liesbare—Drunken, drunken, she lifts a dreamy breast;Hour by hour, in rapture and unrestFlows the unending prayer.

Her heart liesbare—

Drunken, drunken, she lifts a dreamy breast;

Hour by hour, in rapture and unrest

Flows the unending prayer.

The path of nightReaches, from rim to rim, a radiant roadWhereon the exalted Beauty walks abroadIn wonder and wild light.

The path of night

Reaches, from rim to rim, a radiant road

Whereon the exalted Beauty walks abroad

In wonder and wild light.

Upon what eyes,Lifted in homesickness, now falls againThe loveliness that haunts the world withpain—Light out of Paradise!

Upon what eyes,

Lifted in homesickness, now falls again

The loveliness that haunts the world withpain—

Light out of Paradise!


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