Collected Works (Vol. I)

96 MYSTERIES: LYRICAL AND DRAMATIC To those young groves of olive by the shore, The spring-clad shore we seek That slopes to yonder peak Snow-clad, bright-gleaming, as the silver ore Plucked? by pale fingers slow In balmy Mexico, A king on thunder throned, his diadem The ruby rocks that flash The sunlight like a lash When sunlight touches, and sweeps over them A crown of light! Behold! The white seas touch the gold, And flame like flowers of fire about the prow. It is the hour for sleep :— Lulled by the moveless deep To sleep, sweet wife, to sleep! Yes, kiss me now ! Vv. THE ULTIMATE VOYAGE? THE wandering waters move about the world, And lap the sand, with quietest complaint Borne on the wings of dying breezes up, To where we make toward the wooded top Of yonder menacing hill. The night is fallen Starless and moonless, black beyond belief, Tremendous, only just the ripple keeps Our souls from perishing in the inane, With music borrowed from the soul of God. We twain go thither, knowing no desire To lead us 3 but some strong necessity Urges, as lightning thunder, our slow steps Upward. For on the pleasant meadow-land That slopes to sunny bays, and limpid seas (That breathe like maidens-sleeping, for their breast Is silver with the sand that lies below,) Where our storm-strengthened dragon rests at last, 1 Referring to the story of the accidental discovery of the mine of Potosi by a man who, plucking a plant, found its roots shining with silver. 2 "Yhe Spiritual Journey towards the Supreme IWnowledge which is life and bliss. And by whose borders we have made a home, More like a squirrel’s bower than a house. For in this blue Sicilian summertime The trees arch tenderly for lovers’ sleep, And all the interwoven leaves are fine To freshen us with dewdrops at the dawn, Or let the summer shower sing through to us, And welcome kisses of the silver rain That raps and rustles in the solitude. But in the night there came to us a cry: ‘‘The mountains are your portion, and the hills Your temple, and you are chosen.” woke Pondering, and my lover woke and said : ‘*T heard a voice of one majestical With waving beard, most ancient, beautiful, Concealed and not concealed ;! and I awoke, Feeling a strong compulsion on my soul To go some whither.”” And the dreams were one (We somehow knew), and, looking such a kiss «As lovers’ eyes can interchange, our lips Met in the mute agreement to obey. So, girding on our raiment, as to pass Some whither of long doubtful journeying, We went forth blindly to the horrible Damp darkness of the pines above. there Strange beasts crossed path of ours, such beasts as earth Bears not, distorted, tortured, loathable, Mouthing with hateful lips some recent blood, Or snarling at our feet. But these attacked No courage of our hearts, we faltered not, And they fell back, snake’s mouth and leopard’s throat, Afraid. But others fawning came behind With clumsy leapings as in friendliness, Dogs with men’s faces, and we beat them off With scabbard, and the hideous path wound on. And these perplexed our goings, for no light Gleamed through the bare pine-ruins lava- struck, Then I And 1 Macroprosopus.