A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass Part 4

What does it matter, we have had to-night!

To-night will make us strong, for we believe Each in the other, this is a sacrament.

Beloved, is it true?

Roads

I know a country laced with roads, They join the hills and they span the brooks, They weave like a shuttle between broad fields, And slide discreetly through hidden nooks.

They are canopied like a Persian dome And carpeted with orient dyes.

They are myriad-voiced, and musical, And scented with happiest memories.

O Winding roads that I know so well, Every twist and turn, every hollow and hill!

They are set in my heart to a pulsing tune Gay as a honey-bee humming in June.

'T is the rhythmic beat of a horse's feet And the pattering paws of a sheep-dog b.i.t.c.h; 'T is the creaking trees, and the singing breeze, And the rustle of leaves in the road-side ditch.

A cow in a meadow shakes her bell And the notes cut sharp through the autumn air, Each chattering brook bears a fleet of leaves Their cargo the rainbow, and just now where The sun splashed bright on the road ahead A startled rabbit quivered and fled.

O Uphill roads and roads that dip down!

You curl your sun-spattered length along, And your march is beaten into a song By the softly ringing hoofs of a horse And the panting breath of the dogs I love.

The pageant of Autumn follows its course And the blue sky of Autumn laughs above.

And the song and the country become as one, I see it as music, I hear it as light; Prismatic and s.h.i.+mmering, trembling to tone, The land of desire, my soul's delight.

And always it beats in my listening ears With the gentle thud of a horse's stride, With the swift-falling steps of many dogs, Following, following at my side.

O Roads that journey to fairyland!

Radiant highways whose vistas gleam, Leading me on, under crimson leaves, To the opaline gates of the Castles of Dream.

Teatro Bambino. Dublin, N. H.

How still it is! Suns.h.i.+ne itself here falls In quiet shafts of light through the high trees Which, arching, make a roof above the walls Changing from sun to shadow as each breeze Lingers a moment, charmed by the strange sight Of an Italian theatre, storied, seer Of vague romance, and time's long history; Where tiers of gra.s.s-grown seats sprinkled with white, Sweet-scented clover, form a broken sphere Grouped round the stage in hushed expectancy.

What sound is that which echoes through the wood?

Is it the reedy note of an oaten pipe?

Perchance a minute more will see the brood Of the s.h.a.ggy forest G.o.d, and on his lip Will rest the rushes he is wont to play.

His train in woven baskets bear ripe fruit And weave a dance with ropes of gray acorns, So light their touch the gra.s.ses scarcely sway As they the measure tread to the lilting flute.

Alas! 't is only Fancy thus adorns.

A cloud drifts idly over the s.h.i.+ning sun.

How damp it seems, how silent, still, and strange!

Surely 't was here some tragedy was done, And here the chorus sang each coming change?

Sure this is deep in some sweet, southern wood, These are not pines, but cypress tall and dark; That is no thrush which sings so rapturously, But the nightingale in his most pa.s.sionate mood Bursting his little heart with anguish. Hark!

The tread of sandalled feet comes noiselessly.

The silence almost is a sound, and dreams Take on the semblances of finite things; So potent is the spell that what but seems Elsewhere, is lifted here on Fancy's wings.

The little woodland theatre seems to wait, All tremulous with hope and wistful joy, For something that is sure to come at last, Some deep emotion, satisfying, great.

It grows a living presence, bold and shy, Cradling the future in a glorious past.

The Road to Avignon

A Minstrel stands on a marble stair, Blown by the bright wind, debonair; Below lies the sea, a sapphire floor, Above on the terrace a turret door Frames a lady, listless and wan, But fair for the eye to rest upon.

The minstrel plucks at his silver strings, And looking up to the lady, sings: -- Down the road to Avignon, The long, long road to Avignon, Across the bridge to Avignon, One morning in the spring.

The octagon tower casts a shade Cool and gray like a cutla.s.s blade; In sun-baked vines the cicalas spin, The little green lizards run out and in.

A sail dips over the ocean's rim, And bubbles rise to the fountain's brim.

The minstrel touches his silver strings, And gazing up to the lady, sings: -- Down the road to Avignon, The long, long road to Avignon, Across the bridge to Avignon, One morning in the spring.

Slowly she walks to the bal.u.s.trade, Idly notes how the blossoms fade In the sun's caress; then crosses where The shadow shelters a carven chair.

Within its curve, supine she lies, And wearily closes her tired eyes.

The minstrel beseeches his silver strings, And holding the lady spellbound, sings: -- Down the road to Avignon, The long, long road to Avignon, Across the bridge to Avignon, One morning in the spring.

Clouds sail over the distant trees, Petals are shaken down by the breeze, They fall on the terrace tiles like snow; The sighing of waves sounds, far below.

A humming-bird kisses the lips of a rose Then laden with honey and love he goes.

The minstrel woos with his silver strings, And climbing up to the lady, sings: -- Down the road to Avignon, The long, long road to Avignon, Across the bridge to Avignon, One morning in the spring.

Step by step, and he comes to her, Fearful lest she suddenly stir.

Suns.h.i.+ne and silence, and each to each, The lute and his singing their only speech; He leans above her, her eyes unclose, The humming-bird enters another rose.

The minstrel hushes his silver strings.

Hark! The beating of humming-birds' wings!

Down the road to Avignon, The long, long road to Avignon, Across the bridge to Avignon, One morning in the spring.

New York at Night

A near horizon whose sharp jags Cut brutally into a sky Of leaden heaviness, and crags Of houses lift their masonry Ugly and foul, and chimneys lie And snort, outlined against the gray Of lowhung cloud. I hear the sigh The goaded city gives, not day Nor night can ease her heart, her anguished labours stay.

Below, straight streets, monotonous, From north and south, from east and west, Stretch glittering; and luminous Above, one tower tops the rest And holds aloft man's constant quest: Time! Joyless emblem of the greed Of millions, robber of the best Which earth can give, the vulgar creed Has seared upon the night its flaming ruthless screed.

O Night! Whose soothing presence brings The quiet s.h.i.+ning of the stars.

O Night! Whose cloak of darkness clings So intimately close that scars Are hid from our own eyes. Beggars By day, our wealth is having night To burn our souls before altars Dim and tree-shadowed, where the light Is shed from a young moon, mysteriously bright.

Where art thou hiding, where thy peace?

This is the hour, but thou art not.

Will waking tumult never cease?

Hast thou thy votary forgot?

Nature forsakes this man-begot And festering wilderness, and now The long still hours are here, no jot Of dear communing do I know; Instead the glaring, man-filled city groans below!