Part 9 (1/2)

The walls are high, and she is very far.

How shall the woman's message reach unto her Above the tumult of the packed bazaar?

Free wind of March, against the lattice blowing, Bear thou our thanks, lest she depart unknowing.

Go forth across the fields we may not roam in, Go forth beyond the trees that rim the city, To whatsoe'er fair place she hath her home in, Who dowered us with wealth of love and pity.

Out of our shadow pa.s.s, and seek her singing-- ”I have no gifts but Love alone for bringing.”

Say that we be a feeble folk who greet her, But old in grief, and very wise in tears; Say that we, being desolate, entreat her That she forget us not in after years; For we have seen the light, and it were grievous To dim that dawning if our lady leave us.

By life that ebbed with none to stanch the failing By Love's sad harvest garnered in the spring, When Love in ignorance wept unavailing O'er young buds dead before their blossoming; By all the grey owl watched, the pale moon viewed, In past grim years, declare our grat.i.tude!

By hands uplifted to the G.o.ds that heard not, By fits that found no favor in their sight, By faces bent above the babe that stirred not, By nameless horrors of the stifling night; By ills foredone, by peace her toils discover, Bid Earth be good beneath and Heaven above her!

If she have sent her servants in our pain If she have fought with Death and dulled his sword; If she have given back our sick again.

And to the breast the waking lips restored, Is it a little thing that she has wrought?

Then Life and Death and Motherhood be nought.

Go forth, O wind, our message on thy wings, And they shall hear thee pa.s.s and bid thee speed, In reed-roofed hut, or white-walled home of kings, Who have been helpen by her in their need.

All spring shall give thee fragrance, and the wheat Shall be a ta.s.selled floorcloth to thy feet.

Haste, for our hearts are with thee, take no rest!

Loud-voiced amba.s.sador, from sea to sea Proclaim the blessing, manifold, confessed.

Of those in darkness by her hand set free.

Then very softly to her presence move, And whisper: ”Lady, lo, they know and love!”

A BALLAD OF JAKKO HILL

One moment bid the horses wait, Since tiffin is not laid till three, Below the upward path and straight You climbed a year ago with me.

Love came upon us suddenly And loosed--an idle hour to kill-- A headless, armless armory That smote us both on Jakko Hill.

Ah Heaven! we would wait and wait Through Time and to Eternity!

Ah Heaven! we could conquer Fate With more than G.o.dlike constancy I cut the date upon a tree-- Here stand the clumsy figures still: ”10-7-85, A.D.”

Damp with the mist of Jakko Hill.

What came of high resolve and great, And until Death fidelity!

Whose horse is waiting at your gate?

Whose 'rickshaw-wheels ride over me?

No Saint's, I swear; and--let me see Tonight what names your programme fill-- We drift asunder merrily, As drifts the mist on Jakko Hill.

L'ENVOI.

Princess, behold our ancient state Has clean departed; and we see 'Twas Idleness we took for Fate That bound light bonds on you and me.