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Page 1 of 11903 · PDF PAGE 11
…hat it is stained ; you, I think, should be wiser. It is the story of how the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. They were not drowned, you know (he seemed to lapse into a day dream), and they came out on the Land of Promise side. But they had to descend therein.” “ They all died in the wilderness,” I said, feeling as if I understood this mystical talk, which, indeed, I did not. But I felt inspired. “ Ay me, they died—as I am dying now.” He turned to the wall and sought a bundle of old writing on a shelf. “ Take this,” he said. “ Edit it as if it …
1903 · PDF PAGE 56
…t turns ; My bright soul aches and burns, As a dry valley yearns For spring and showers. Splendid, remote, a fane Alone and unprofane, I know thy breast. These bitter tears of pain Flood me, and fall again Not into rest. Me, whose sole purpose is To gain one gainless kiss, And make a bird’s my bliss, Shrined in that nest. 36
1903 · PDF PAGE 82
UNDER THE PALMS The woodland hollows know us, bird-enchanted, Likewise the spaces of the ghostly sea, The lake’s abundant lilies, the pale slanted Moonlight on flowers, the wind’s low minstrelsy ; For all the tropic greenery is haunted By you and me. . . . . . . . The tall palms bend and catch love’s tender ditty To learn a sweeter song to lure their mate. The soft wind sighs in amorous self-pity, Having no love wherein to laugh elate, And turns to the cold harbour and the city, Wailing its fate. . . . . . . . 62
1903 · PDF PAGE 114
… Man, God-ward : my life as Christ to sacrifice, As Buddha to repress : to grow so wise, Space, time shall lie within my finger-span ? I know not which I wish : either I can ; Not both, unless all meditation lies. I am not sure : if love as great as ours May not be God to part of us at least, Leaving the Rest to find its heights and powers In other spheres ; that, night’s enamoured priest ; This, on the lake the dewy lotus-flowers That lift their jewelled hearts toward the East. 94
1903 · PDF PAGE 35
… A stain ; not one of these is delicate. Save only the clear green within the sea— Because that rolls all landless from Japan. I did not know until I missed it here How beautiful that beauty is to me, That life that bears Death’s sigil traced too clear, Blue lines within the beauty that is man. (I) Line 4 cannot with any certainty be deciphered. 13
1903 · PDF PAGE 113
…ng strength and youth For some strange guerdon (or its counterfoil) Gainless or not-to-be-gained, priestly or royal, Profane, canaille—I know not, in good sooth ! I might do this : or else I might repose Wrapped in the urned leaves of my love’s blown rose, Seek her in spirit, and commune, and wait Her freedom and the rapture to enclose In my own house her beauty intimate. I am a fool, tossing a coin with Fate. 93
1903 · PDF PAGE 96
…ried chastity.” Phœnix and Turtle. Yet ere the stars paled slowly in the east I could not sleep : and she—how else ? What rest May a man know until his quiet breast Beats to her tune ? I garbed me as a priest And moved towards my Host—on God I feast ! We lay in naked chastity, caressed Child-like or dreaming, till the dawn repressed Our sighs : that nuptial yet hath never ceased. That was the best : far sundered by the tide Dolorous, endless as Oceanus, A serpent-river girdling the large earth, Still in that pure embrace we bring to birth A tho…
1903 · PDF PAGE 115
AFTER Now, when the sun falls in the dismal sky And no light leaps beneath the plunging prow, I know the fullness of my sorrow now :— That all my talk and laughter was a lie ; That as each hour widens the gulfs that sigh Between us ; the truth scores upon my brow Sigils of silence, burns in me the vow “ I love you, and shall love you till it die.’ Whether next year, as fondly we made oath Shall see us meet at least, whether as wife I shall at last gather the whole vow’s breath— Not heaven nor hell shall break our solemn troth. love you, and sha…
1903 · PDF PAGE 107
THE FORTY-FIFTH DAY “ Peace, fool ! I have not done.” Troilus and Cressida. Thou knowest, O love, how tired our bodies grow Forgotten in quick converse, love to love ; How the flame flickers of the ghost above, The spirit’s kiss ; the sleepless to-and-fro Movement of love’s desire too strong to know Or care for that it takes its substance of— As if life’s burden were not drear enough Or death’s deliverance not so far and slow. Our bodies almost perish, with one thought Crowned and completed, consecrate and shrined : A perfect temple of fine amb…
1903 · PDF PAGE 99
…im, murmuring pious orisons, Taking my refuge in that House of Peace, And after, sees my love, and doth not please. She was too young to know that shrine the Son’s, Or see the Virgin’s House in Kwan-se-on’s ; And when I told her, flushed, and bade me cease. I ceased indeed ! All hope of mental flower She shattered in five minutes : following lust, All intellectual communing did pass, And all respect of mind : but love’s high tower, Stricken of lightning, stood : not fallen in dust, Beautiful fragments as of a Greek vase. 79
1903 · PDF PAGE 83
… peace of love, mighty and holy, Fearing to fuse, and longing—be it so ! And the world’s pulse stops, as God bends him lowly To hear and know. . . . . . . . For not the heights of heaven shall exalt her Whose heart is full of love’s dumb deity, Nor harp-strings lift me, nor the sound of psalter, Whose love is merged and molten into thee, Nor incense sweeter be by shrine or altar For you and me. . . . . . . . But like dove’s eyes where glamour lies a-dwelling, Like sweet well-water rising in the well, Strong steep black currents thrust up, flood…
1903 · PDF PAGE 12
… drunken harlotry snarled back. “ Not a drop more,” shouted my friend, adding many things*. It was time for my return. “ I will let them know,” I whispered. “ Good- bye.” “ ‘ There is not one thing with another ; But Evil saith to Good : ‘ My brother—’ ” he went on unheeding. I left him to his peace. My re-appearance restored harmony. The * The substance of his remarks, and subsequent adven- tures are detailed in my “ Three Screams at Mid- night.”—ED.
1903 · PDF PAGE 105
…mpossible that we shall ever part ! The heart shrinks back from thinking it, the mind Hates it, and prays as love is to be blind. Yet we know well that no magician’s art Can keep our two selves near their single heart. Self-mocked I urger her “ Come and leave behind All fear and friends and children : we shall find Love risen sole without a counterpart.” Even while I begged her, I well knew she must. We could not, loving to see her children laugh, Let cowards twit them with their mother’s lust. Even our own purity confirmed the trust. How long,…
1903 · PDF PAGE 108
THE FORTY-SIXTH DAY “ Because I love you, I will let you know : . . . . . . . my wife . . . . . . . . . . like a fountain with a hundred spouts Did run pure blood.” Julius Caesar. Was it a sense of uttermost relief We gladdened with, and bade our fears forget ? Was there no subtle fragrance of regret ? For me, at least, a pang of perfect grief ? Had it been otherwise, I would be chief And drive her to abandon all things yet In mere despair, that bye and bye shall get Young comfort in a babe beyond belief. God would not curse and bless us to suc…
1903 · PDF PAGE 79
…ruth of honour in her, hath made him that gracious denial which he is most glad to receive.” Measure for Measure. Of course I might have know it was a lie. Nathless, I wept all morning and despaired. Nothing for any life of earth I cared, Neither for heaven : I railed against the sky, Hating the earth, the sea, the witchery Of all the universe : my breast I bared And cursed God, hoping lightning ; and I dared Not ask my love “ In very truth—you die ?” I could not bear it longer ; then she spake : “ I lied indeed, love, for mine honour’s sake,” …
1903 · PDF PAGE 14
…e or rhythm. I attempt neither eulogy nor criticism here. Indeed, it seems to me entirely uncalled for. His words were : “ Let the world know how wonderful it was,” that is, his love xi