Part 6 (1/2)

A floating, a floating Across the sleeping sea, All night I heard a singing bird Upon the topmost tree.

'Oh came you off the isles of Greece, Or off the banks of Seine; Or off some tree in forests free, Which fringe the western main?'

'I came not off the old world Nor yet from off the new-- But I am one of the birds of G.o.d Which sing the whole night through.'

'Oh sing, and wake the dawning-- Oh whistle for the wind; The night is long, the current strong, My boat it lags behind.'

'The current sweeps the old world, The current sweeps the new; The wind will blow, the dawn will glow Ere thou hast sailed them through.'

Eversley, 1848.

THE DEAD CHURCH

Wild wild wind, wilt thou never cease thy sighing?

Dark dark night, wilt thou never wear away?

Cold cold church, in thy death sleep lying, The Lent is past, thy Pa.s.sion here, but not thine Easter-day.

Peace, faint heart, though the night be dark and sighing; Rest, fair corpse, where thy Lord himself hath lain.

Weep, dear Lord, above thy bride low lying; Thy tears shall wake her frozen limbs to life and health again.

Eversley, 1848.

A PARABLE FROM LIEBIG

The church bells were ringing, the devil sat singing On the stump of a rotting old tree; 'Oh faith it grows cold, and the creeds they grow old, And the world is nigh ready for me.'

The bells went on ringing, a spirit came singing, And smiled as he crumbled the tree; 'Yon wood does but perish new seedlings to cherish, And the world is too live yet for thee.'

Eversley, 1848.

THE STARLINGS

Early in spring time, on raw and windy mornings, Beneath the freezing house-eaves I heard the starlings sing-- 'Ah dreary March month, is this then a time for building wearily?

Sad, sad, to think that the year is but begun.'

Late in the autumn, on still and cloudless evenings, Among the golden reed-beds I heard the starlings sing-- 'Ah that sweet March month, when we and our mates were courting merrily; Sad, sad, to think that the year is all but done.'

Eversley, 1848.

OLD AND NEW: A PARABLE