Songs of a Sourdough Part 8

Yes, if you're a tramp in tatters, While the blue sky bends above, You've got nearly all that matters, You've got G.o.d, and G.o.d is love.

PREMONITION

'Twas a year ago and the moon was bright (Oh, I remember so well, so well), I walked with my love in a sea of light, And the voice of my sweet was a silver bell.

And sudden the moon grew strangely dull, And sudden my love had taken wing; I looked on the face of a grinning skull, I strained to my heart a ghastly thing.

'Twas but fantasy, for my love lay still In my arms with her tender eyes aglow, And she wondered why my lips were chill, Why I was silent and kissed her so.

A year has gone and the moon is bright, A gibbous moon like a ghost of woe; I sit by a new-made grave to-night, And my heart is broken--it's strange, you know.

THE TRAMPS

Can you recall, dear comrade, when we tramped G.o.d's land together, And we sang the old, old Earth-song, for our youth was very sweet; When we drank and fought and l.u.s.ted, as we mocked at tie and tether, Along the road to Anywhere, the wide world at our feet.

Along the road to Anywhere, when each day had its story; When time was yet our va.s.sal, and life's jest was still unstale; When peace unfathomed filled our hearts as, bathed in amber glory, Along the road to Anywhere we watched the sunsets pale.

Alas! the road to Anywhere is pitfalled with disaster; There's hunger, want, and weariness, yet O we loved it so!

As on we tramped exultantly, and no man was our master, And no man guessed what dreams were ours, as swinging heel and toe, We tramped the road to Anywhere, the magic road to Anywhere, The tragic road to Anywhere, such dear, dim years ago.

_L'ENVOI_

_You who have lived in the Land, You who have trusted the trail; You who are strong to withstand, You who are swift to a.s.sail; Songs have I sung to beguile, Vintage of desperate years Hard as a harlot's smile, Bitter as unshed tears._

_Little of joy or mirth, Little of ease I sing; Sagas of men of earth, Humanly suffering, Such as you all have done; Savagely faring forth, Sons of the midnight sun, Argonauts of the North._

_Far in the land G.o.d forgot Glimmers the lure of your trail; Still in your l.u.s.t are you taught Even to win is to fail.

Still must you follow and fight Under the vampire wing; There in the long, long night Hoping and vanquis.h.i.+ng._

_Husbandmen of the Wild, Reaping a barren gain; Scourged by desire, reconciled Unto disaster and pain; These my songs are for you, You who are seared with the brand: G.o.d knows I have tried to be true; Please G.o.d you will understand._