A RIDDLE
THE mild noon air of Spring againLapped shimmering in that sea-lulled lane.Hazel was budding; wan as snowThe leafless blackthorn was a-blow.A chaffinch clankt, a robin wokeAn eerie stave in the leafless oak.Green mocked at green; lichen and mossThe rain-worn slate did softly emboss.From out her winter lair, at sighOf the warm South wind, a butterflyStepped, quaffed her honey; on painted fanHer labyrinthine flight began.Wondrously solemn, golden and fair,The high sun's rays beat everywhere;Yea, touched my cheek and mouth, as if,Equal with stone, to me 'twould giveIts light and life.O restless thoughtContented not. With 'Why' distraught.Whom asked you then your riddle small?—'If hither came no man at all'Through this grey-green, sea-haunted lane,Would it mere blackened nought remain?Strives it this beauty and life to expressOnly in human consciousness?'Oh, rather, idly breaks he inTo an Eden innocent of sin;And, prouder than to be afraid,Forgets his Maker in the made.
THE mild noon air of Spring againLapped shimmering in that sea-lulled lane.Hazel was budding; wan as snowThe leafless blackthorn was a-blow.A chaffinch clankt, a robin wokeAn eerie stave in the leafless oak.Green mocked at green; lichen and mossThe rain-worn slate did softly emboss.From out her winter lair, at sighOf the warm South wind, a butterflyStepped, quaffed her honey; on painted fanHer labyrinthine flight began.Wondrously solemn, golden and fair,The high sun's rays beat everywhere;Yea, touched my cheek and mouth, as if,Equal with stone, to me 'twould giveIts light and life.O restless thoughtContented not. With 'Why' distraught.Whom asked you then your riddle small?—'If hither came no man at all'Through this grey-green, sea-haunted lane,Would it mere blackened nought remain?Strives it this beauty and life to expressOnly in human consciousness?'Oh, rather, idly breaks he inTo an Eden innocent of sin;And, prouder than to be afraid,Forgets his Maker in the made.
THE mild noon air of Spring againLapped shimmering in that sea-lulled lane.Hazel was budding; wan as snowThe leafless blackthorn was a-blow.
THE mild noon air of Spring again
Lapped shimmering in that sea-lulled lane.
Hazel was budding; wan as snow
The leafless blackthorn was a-blow.
A chaffinch clankt, a robin wokeAn eerie stave in the leafless oak.Green mocked at green; lichen and mossThe rain-worn slate did softly emboss.
A chaffinch clankt, a robin woke
An eerie stave in the leafless oak.
Green mocked at green; lichen and moss
The rain-worn slate did softly emboss.
From out her winter lair, at sighOf the warm South wind, a butterflyStepped, quaffed her honey; on painted fanHer labyrinthine flight began.
From out her winter lair, at sigh
Of the warm South wind, a butterfly
Stepped, quaffed her honey; on painted fan
Her labyrinthine flight began.
Wondrously solemn, golden and fair,The high sun's rays beat everywhere;Yea, touched my cheek and mouth, as if,Equal with stone, to me 'twould giveIts light and life.
Wondrously solemn, golden and fair,
The high sun's rays beat everywhere;
Yea, touched my cheek and mouth, as if,
Equal with stone, to me 'twould give
Its light and life.
O restless thoughtContented not. With 'Why' distraught.Whom asked you then your riddle small?—'If hither came no man at all
O restless thought
Contented not. With 'Why' distraught.
Whom asked you then your riddle small?—
'If hither came no man at all
'Through this grey-green, sea-haunted lane,Would it mere blackened nought remain?Strives it this beauty and life to expressOnly in human consciousness?'
'Through this grey-green, sea-haunted lane,
Would it mere blackened nought remain?
Strives it this beauty and life to express
Only in human consciousness?'
Oh, rather, idly breaks he inTo an Eden innocent of sin;And, prouder than to be afraid,Forgets his Maker in the made.
Oh, rather, idly breaks he in
To an Eden innocent of sin;
And, prouder than to be afraid,
Forgets his Maker in the made.