Part 16 (1/2)

XLVI--To R. A. M. S.

The Spirit of Wine Sang in my gla.s.s, and I listened With love to his odorous music, His flushed and magnificent song.

- 'I am health, I am heart, I am life!

For I give for the asking The fire of my father, the Sun, And the strength of my mother, the Earth.

Inspiration in essence, I am wisdom and wit to the wise, His visible muse to the poet, The soul of desire to the lover, The genius of laughter to all.

'Come, lean on me, ye that are weary!

Rise, ye faint-hearted and doubting!

Haste, ye that lag by the way!

I am Pride, the consoler; Valour and Hope are my henchmen; I am the Angel of Rest.

'I am life, I am wealth, I am fame: For I captain an army Of s.h.i.+ning and generous dreams; And mine, too, all mine, are the keys Of that secret spiritual shrine, Where, his work-a-day soul put by, Shut in with his saint of saints - With his radiant and conquering self - Man wors.h.i.+ps, and talks, and is glad.

'Come, sit with me, ye that are lovely, Ye that are paid with disdain, Ye that are chained and would soar!

I am beauty and love; I am friends.h.i.+p, the comforter; I am that which forgives and forgets.' -

The Spirit of Wine Sang in my heart, and I triumphed In the savour and scent of his music, His magnetic and mastering song.

XLII

A wink from Hesper, falling Fast in the wintry sky, Comes through the even blue, Dear, like a word from you . . .

Is it good-bye?

Across the miles between us I send you sigh for sigh.

Good-night, sweet friend, good-night: Till life and all take flight, Never good-bye.

XLII

Friends . . . old friends . . .

One sees how it ends.

A woman looks Or a man tells lies, And the pleasant brooks And the quiet skies, Ruined with brawling And caterwauling, Enchant no more As they did before.

And so it ends With friends.

Friends . . . old friends . . .

And what if it ends?

Shall we dare to s.h.i.+rk What we live to learn?