Fannie Stearns Davis
Yes, stars were with me formerly.(I also knew the wind and sea;And hill-tops had my feet by heart.Their shagged heights would sting and startWhen I came leaping on their backs.I knew the earth’s queer crooked cracks,Where hidden waters weave a lowAnd druid chant of joy and woe.)But stars were with me most of all.I heard them flame and break and fall.Their excellent array, their freeEncounter with Eternity,I learned. And it was good to knowThat where God walked, I too might go.Now, all these things are passed. For IGrow very old and glad to die.What did they profit me, say you,These distant bloodless things I knew?Profit? What profit hath the seaOf her deep-throated threnody?What profit hath the sun, who standsStaring on space with idle hands?And what should God Himself acquireFrom all the aeons’ blood and fire?My profit is as theirs: to beMade proof against mortality:To know that I have companiedWith all that shines and lives, amidSo much the years sift through their hands,Most mortal, windy, worthless sands.This day I have great peace. With meShall stars abide eternally!
Yes, stars were with me formerly.(I also knew the wind and sea;And hill-tops had my feet by heart.Their shagged heights would sting and startWhen I came leaping on their backs.I knew the earth’s queer crooked cracks,Where hidden waters weave a lowAnd druid chant of joy and woe.)But stars were with me most of all.I heard them flame and break and fall.Their excellent array, their freeEncounter with Eternity,I learned. And it was good to knowThat where God walked, I too might go.Now, all these things are passed. For IGrow very old and glad to die.What did they profit me, say you,These distant bloodless things I knew?Profit? What profit hath the seaOf her deep-throated threnody?What profit hath the sun, who standsStaring on space with idle hands?And what should God Himself acquireFrom all the aeons’ blood and fire?My profit is as theirs: to beMade proof against mortality:To know that I have companiedWith all that shines and lives, amidSo much the years sift through their hands,Most mortal, windy, worthless sands.This day I have great peace. With meShall stars abide eternally!
Yes, stars were with me formerly.(I also knew the wind and sea;And hill-tops had my feet by heart.Their shagged heights would sting and startWhen I came leaping on their backs.I knew the earth’s queer crooked cracks,Where hidden waters weave a lowAnd druid chant of joy and woe.)
Yes, stars were with me formerly.
(I also knew the wind and sea;
And hill-tops had my feet by heart.
Their shagged heights would sting and start
When I came leaping on their backs.
I knew the earth’s queer crooked cracks,
Where hidden waters weave a low
And druid chant of joy and woe.)
But stars were with me most of all.I heard them flame and break and fall.Their excellent array, their freeEncounter with Eternity,I learned. And it was good to knowThat where God walked, I too might go.
But stars were with me most of all.
I heard them flame and break and fall.
Their excellent array, their free
Encounter with Eternity,
I learned. And it was good to know
That where God walked, I too might go.
Now, all these things are passed. For IGrow very old and glad to die.What did they profit me, say you,These distant bloodless things I knew?
Now, all these things are passed. For I
Grow very old and glad to die.
What did they profit me, say you,
These distant bloodless things I knew?
Profit? What profit hath the seaOf her deep-throated threnody?What profit hath the sun, who standsStaring on space with idle hands?And what should God Himself acquireFrom all the aeons’ blood and fire?
Profit? What profit hath the sea
Of her deep-throated threnody?
What profit hath the sun, who stands
Staring on space with idle hands?
And what should God Himself acquire
From all the aeons’ blood and fire?
My profit is as theirs: to beMade proof against mortality:To know that I have companiedWith all that shines and lives, amidSo much the years sift through their hands,Most mortal, windy, worthless sands.
My profit is as theirs: to be
Made proof against mortality:
To know that I have companied
With all that shines and lives, amid
So much the years sift through their hands,
Most mortal, windy, worthless sands.
This day I have great peace. With meShall stars abide eternally!
This day I have great peace. With me
Shall stars abide eternally!
My soul goes clad in gorgeous things,Scarlet and gold and blue.And at her shoulder sudden wingsLike long flames flicker through.And she is swallow-fleet, and freeFrom mortal bonds and bars.She laughs, because eternityBlossoms for her with stars!O folk who scorn my stiff gray gown,My dull and foolish face,Can ye not see my soul flash down,A singing flame through space?And folk, whose earth-stained looks I hate,Why may I not divineYour souls, that must be passionate,Shining and swift, as mine?
My soul goes clad in gorgeous things,Scarlet and gold and blue.And at her shoulder sudden wingsLike long flames flicker through.And she is swallow-fleet, and freeFrom mortal bonds and bars.She laughs, because eternityBlossoms for her with stars!O folk who scorn my stiff gray gown,My dull and foolish face,Can ye not see my soul flash down,A singing flame through space?And folk, whose earth-stained looks I hate,Why may I not divineYour souls, that must be passionate,Shining and swift, as mine?
My soul goes clad in gorgeous things,Scarlet and gold and blue.And at her shoulder sudden wingsLike long flames flicker through.
My soul goes clad in gorgeous things,
Scarlet and gold and blue.
And at her shoulder sudden wings
Like long flames flicker through.
And she is swallow-fleet, and freeFrom mortal bonds and bars.She laughs, because eternityBlossoms for her with stars!
And she is swallow-fleet, and free
From mortal bonds and bars.
She laughs, because eternity
Blossoms for her with stars!
O folk who scorn my stiff gray gown,My dull and foolish face,Can ye not see my soul flash down,A singing flame through space?
O folk who scorn my stiff gray gown,
My dull and foolish face,
Can ye not see my soul flash down,
A singing flame through space?
And folk, whose earth-stained looks I hate,Why may I not divineYour souls, that must be passionate,Shining and swift, as mine?
And folk, whose earth-stained looks I hate,
Why may I not divine
Your souls, that must be passionate,
Shining and swift, as mine?