Collected Works (Vol. III)

148 ORPHEUS His ray, strange deeps unknown and feared to uncover. But now the ancient root Of some wise oak betrays her to her lover: She stumbles and falls prone: the forest noon Guesses life’s law; all nature’s tune Tells that the hour is come when May musf grow to June. Then in the broad glare of the careless sun Apollo’s light is on her and within ; His shafts of glory pierce her one by one; His kisses darken, shivering and keen, Swift glories cold and clean Of that chaste bridal, and the earth gets gladness, Till the last winter’s traces Fall from the spring’s last cold wind—shining sadness !— And from the frail new faces Blushing through moss; and all the world is light With the unsufferably bright Full joy and guerdon of that sunny season By Love’s sweet trap of treason. So the bright girl is now a woman brighter; And childhood sees a reason Beneath the strong stroke of the goodly smiter For all the past: and love at last is hers. No more the bosom’s pride demurs, While in her womb the first faint pulse of motherhood soft stirs. AUTUMN. Full amber-bréasted light of harvest-moon, And sheaves of corn remembering the sun Laughing again for love of that caress When night is fallen, and the sleepy swoon Of warm waves lap the shoreland, one by one ; Forgetful kisses like a dream’s possess All the low-lying land, And, statelier than the swaying form Of some loud God, lifting the storm In his disastrous hand, Steps the sweet-voiced, the mellow motherhood Glad of the sun’s kiss, full of life, well wooed And won and brought to his bed, Proud of her rhythm in the lusty kiss, Triumphant and exulting in the mood Wherein her being is Crowned with a husband’s head, And left in solitude which is not soli- tude. She strides with mighty steps across the glade Laughing, her bosom swelling with the milk Born of a million kisses: leaps her womb Pregnant with fruits, and latter flowers, and shade Of the great cedar-groves: soft, soft, as silk, Her skin glows amber, silvered with the bloom Mist-like of the moon’s light, A slumberous haze of quietude Shed o’er the hardy limbs, and lustihood, Andboldness, and great might. Earth knows her daring daughter, and the sea Breaks into million-folded mystery Of flower-like flashes in the pale moon- rise, Exulting also, now the sun is faded, With joy of her supreme fertility And glowing masteries Of autumn summer-shaded, The golden fruit of all the blossoming sky. And now the watcher to the bright breasts blind Loses the seemly shape, the loud swift song; Now the moon falls, and all the gold is gone,