Poems & Ballads Volume I Part 35

They are past as a slumber that pa.s.ses, As the dew of a dawn of old time; More frail than the shadows on gla.s.ses, More fleet than a wave or a rhyme.

As the waves after ebb drawing seaward, When their hollows are full of the night, So the birds that flew singing to me-ward Recede out of sight.

The songs of dead seasons, that wander On wings of articulate words; Lost leaves that the sh.o.r.e-wind may squander, Light flocks of untameable birds; Some sang to me dreaming in cla.s.s-time And truant in hand as in tongue; For the youngest were born of boy's pastime, The eldest are young.

Is there shelter while life in them lingers, Is there hearing for songs that recede, Tunes touched from a harp with man's fingers Or blown with boy's mouth in a reed?

Is there place in the land of your labour, Is there room in your world of delight, Where change has not sorrow for neighbour And day has not night?

In their wings though the sea-wind yet quivers, Will you spare not a s.p.a.ce for them there Made green with the running of rivers And gracious with temperate air; In the fields and the turreted cities, That cover from suns.h.i.+ne and rain Fair pa.s.sions and bountiful pities And loves without stain?

In a land of clear colours and stories, In a region of shadowless hours, Where earth has a garment of glories And a murmur of musical flowers; In woods where the spring half uncovers The flush of her amorous face, By the waters that listen for lovers, For these is there place?

For the song-birds of sorrow, that m.u.f.fle Their music as clouds do their fire: For the storm-birds of pa.s.sion, that ruffle Wild wings in a wind of desire; In the stream of the storm as it settles Blown seaward, borne far from the sun, Shaken loose on the darkness like petals Dropt one after one?

Though the world of your hands be more gracious And lovelier in lords.h.i.+p of things Clothed round by sweet art with the s.p.a.cious Warm heaven of her imminent wings, Let them enter, unfledged and nigh fainting, For the love of old loves and lost times; And receive in your palace of painting This revel of rhymes.

Though the seasons of man full of losses Make empty the years full of youth, If but one thing be constant in crosses, Change lays not her hand upon truth; Hopes die, and their tombs are for token That the grief as the joy of them ends Ere time that breaks all men has broken The faith between friends.

Though the many lights dwindle to one light, There is help if the heaven has one; Though the skies be discrowned of the sunlight And the earth dispossessed of the sun, They have moonlight and sleep for repayment, When, refreshed as a bride and set free, With stars and sea-winds in her raiment, Night sinks on the sea.