Poems of Paul Verlaine Part 5

Give ear unto the gentle lay That's only sad that it may please; It is discreet, and light it is: A whiff of wind o'er buds in May.

The voice was known to you (and dear?), But it is m.u.f.fled latterly As is a widow,--still, as she It doth its sorrow proudly bear,

And through the sweeping mourning veil That in the gusts of Autumn blows, Unto the heart that wonders, shows Truth like a star now flash, now fail.

It says,--the voice you knew again!-- That kindness, goodness is our life, And that of envy, hatred, strife, When death is come, shall naught remain.

It says how glorious to be Like children, without more delay, The tender gladness it doth say Of peace not bought with victory.

Accept the voice,--ah, hear the whole Of its persistent, artless strain: Naught so can soothe a soul's own pain, As making glad another soul!

It pines in bonds but for a day, The soul that without murmur bears....

How unperplexed, how free it fares!

Oh, listen to the gentle lay!

I'VE SEEN AGAIN THE ONE CHILD: VERILY

I've seen again the One child: verily, I felt the last wound open in my breast, The last, whose perfect torture doth attest That on some happy day I too shall die!

Good icy arrow, piercing thoroughly!

Most timely came it from their dreams to wrest The sluggish scruples laid too long to rest,-- And all my Christian blood hymned fervently.

I still hear, still I see! O wors.h.i.+pped rule Of G.o.d! I know at last how comfortful To hear and see! I see, I hear alway!

O innocence, O hope! Lowly and mild, How I shall love you, sweet hands of my child, Whose task shall be to close our eyes one day!

"SON, THOU MUST LOVE ME! SEE--" MY SAVIOUR SAID

"Son, thou must love me! See--" my Saviour said, "My heart that glows and bleeds, my wounded side, My hurt feet that the Magdalene, wet-eyed, Clasps kneeling, and my tortured arms outspread

"To bear thy sins. Look on the cross, stained red!

The nails, the sponge, that, all, thy soul shall guide To love on earth where flesh thrones in its pride, My Body and Blood alone, thy Wine and Bread.

"Have I not loved thee even unto death, O brother mine, son in the Holy Ghost?

Have I not suffered, as was writ I must,

"And with thine agony sobbed out my breath?

Hath not thy nightly sweat bedewed my brow, O lamentable friend that seek'st me now?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "Mon Dieu M'a Dit."]

HOPE s.h.i.+NES--AS IN A STABLE A WISP OF STRAW

Hope s.h.i.+nes--as in a stable a wisp of straw.

Fear not the wasp drunk with his crazy flight!

Through some c.h.i.n.k always, see, the moted light!

Propped on your hand, you dozed--But let me draw

Cool water from the well for you, at least, Poor soul! There, drink! Then sleep. See, I remain, And I will sing a slumberous refrain, And you shall murmur like a child appeased.

Noon strikes. Approach not, Madam, pray, or call....

He sleeps. Strange how a woman's light footfall Re-echoes through the brains of grief-worn men!

Noon strikes. I bade them sprinkle in the room.

Sleep on! Hope s.h.i.+nes--a pebble in the gloom.

--When shall the Autumn rose re-blossom,--when?

SLEEP, DARKSOME, DEEP

Sleep, darksome, deep, Doth on me fall: Vain hopes all, sleep, Sleep, yearnings all!

Lo, I grow blind!

Lo, right and wrong Fade to my mind....

O sorry song!

A cradle, I, Rocked in a grave: Speak low, pa.s.s by, Silence I crave!

[Ill.u.s.tration: Le Ciel et Les Toits.]

THE SKY-BLUE SMILES ABOVE THE ROOF

The sky-blue smiles above the roof Its tenderest; A green tree rears above the roof Its waving crest.

The church-bell in the windless sky Peaceably rings, A skylark soaring in the sky Endlessly sings.

My G.o.d, my G.o.d, all life is there, Simple and sweet; The soothing bee-hive murmur there Comes from the street!

What have you done, O you that weep In the glad sun,-- Say, with your youth, you man that weep, What have you done?