A Lover's Diary Part 4

Ye give a value for all loss in age, When feebled eyes search for forgotten springs; Ye fan the breeze that turns the moulded page,

And carry back the soul to ardent things.

Poor payment can I give, but here engage I thee to be Love's airy equipage.

WAS IT THY FACE?

Was it thy face I saw when, as a child, Night after night I watched one quiet star s.h.i.+ne 'tween my curtain and the window-bar Until I slept, and made my sleep more mild?

Was it thy influence outreaching then To me, o'er untrod years, o'er varying days, To give me courage, as from phase to phase Of youth's desires I pa.s.sed to deeds of men?

Was it because the star was hid awhile, That I in blindness wandered from my path; That I wooed Folly with her mumming smile,

And sought for Lethe in a cup of wrath?

Another hand touched mine with sadness there, And saved me till I saw thy face appear.

A WOMAN'S HAND

A woman's hand. Lo, I am thankful now That with its touch I have walked all my days; Rising from fateful and forbidden ways, To find a woman's hand upon my brow;

Soft as a pad of rose-leaves, and as pure As upraised palms of angels, seen in dreams: And soothed by it, to stand as it beseems A man who strives to conquer and endure.

A woman's hand!--there is no better thing Of all things human; it is half divine; It hath been more to this lame life of mine,

When faith was weakness, and despair was king.

Man more than all men, Thou wast glad to bless A woman's sacrifice and tenderness.

ONE FACE I SEE

One face I see by thine whene'er I hold Converse with things that are or things that were; Whene'er I seek life's hidden folds to stir, And watch the inner to the outer rolled.

Dost thou not know her, O beloved one?

Hast thou not felt her suns.h.i.+ne on thy face?

In me hast thou not learned some signs to trace Of that dear soul who calleth me her son?

Such as I was that in thy countenance Found favour, from her it was gathered most.

To my mad youth her gentle surveillance

Was like a watch-fire on a rock-bound coast.

She drew about me motherhood, and thou Hast with Love's holy chrism touched my brow.

MOTHER

She gave me courage when I weakly said, "O see how drifting, derelict, am I!

The tide runs counter, and the wind is high; I see no channel through the rocks ahead.

My arm is impotent; what worth to trim The bending sails! Look, I shall quaff a cup To Fate, while the wild ocean swallows up The s.h.i.+pwrecked youth, the man who lives in him."

She said: "But thou hast valour, dear, too much For such as this; thou hast grave emba.s.sy, Given with thy birth; would'st thou thine honour s.m.u.tch

With coward failing? Dear son, breast the sea."

Firm-purposed from that hour, through wind and wave, I brought my message till thou shelter gave.

WHEN FIRST I SAW THEE

When first I saw thee, lady, straightway came The thought that somehow, somewhere, destiny, Through blinding paths of happiness or blame, Would bend my way of life, my soul to thee.

But then I put it from me: was not I A wanderer? To-morrow I should be In other lands-beside another sea; Nay, you were but a star-gleam in my sky.

And so I came not in your sight awhile, You gave no thought, and I pa.s.sed not away; But like some traveller in a deep defile

I walked in darkness even through the day: Until at last the hands of Circ.u.mstance Pointed the hour that waked me from my trance.