Volume Ii Part 155 (1/2)
Oh! lose the winter from thine heart, the darkness from thine eyes, And from the low hearth-chair of dreams, my Love-o'-May, arise; And let the maidens robe thee like a white white-lilac tree, Oh! hear the call of Spring, fair Soul,--and wilt thou come with me?
Even so, and even so!
Whither thou goest, I will go.
I will follow thee.
Then wilt thou see the orange trees star-flowering over Spain, Or arched and mounded Kaiser-towns that molder mid Almain, Or through the cypress-gardens go of magic Italy?
Oh East or West or South or North, say, wilt thou come with me?
Even so, or even so!
Whither thou goest, I will go.
I will follow thee.
But wilt thou farther come with me through hawthorn red and white Until we find the wall that hides the Land of Heart's Delight?
The gates all carved with olden things are strange and dread to see: But I will lift thee through, fair Soul. Arise and come with me!
Even so, Love, even so!
Whither thou goest, I will go!
Lo, I follow thee.
Rachel Annand Taylor [18--
SONG
Flame at the core of the world, And flame in the red rose-tree; The one is the fire of the ancient spheres, The other is Junes to be; And, oh, there's a flame that is both their flames Here at the heart of me!
As strong as the fires of stars, As the prophet rose-tree true, The fire of my life is tender and wild, Its beauty is old and new; For out of the infinite past it came With the love in the eyes of you!
Arthur Upson [1877-1908]
A MEMORY
The night walked down the sky With the moon in her hand; By the light of that yellow lantern I saw you stand.
The hair that swept your shoulders Was yellow, too, Your feet as they touched the gra.s.ses Shamed the dew.
The Night wore all her jewels, And you wore none, But your gown had the odor of lilies Drenched with sun.
And never was Eve of the Garden Or Mary the Maid More pure than you as you stood there Bold, yet afraid.
And the sleeping birds woke, trembling, And the folded flowers were aware, And my senses were faint with the fragrant Gold of your hair.