r. f. murray-his poems with a memoir-第10章
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Within this island of repose；
Oh； let us rest from cares and woes；
Oh； let us fold our hands to sleep！
Is it ignoble； then； to keep
Awhile from where the rough wind blows；
And all is strife； and no man knows
What end awaits him on the deep？
The voyager may rest awhile；
When rest invites； and yet may be
Neither a sluggard nor a craven。
With strength renewed he quits the isle；
And putting out again to sea；
Makes sail for his desired haven。
LOST LIBERTY
Of our own will we are not free；
When freedom lies within our power。
We wait for some decisive hour；
To rise and take our liberty。
Still we delay； content to be
Imprisoned in our own high tower。
What is it but a strong…built bower？
Ours are the warders； ours the key。
But we through indolence grow weak。
Our warders； fed with power so long；
Become at last our lords indeed。
We vainly threaten； vainly seek
To move their ruth。 The bars are strong。
We dash against them till we bleed。
AN AFTERTHOUGHT
You found my life； a poor lame bird
That had no heart to sing；
You would not speak the magic word
To give it voice and wing。
Yet sometimes； dreaming of that hour；
I think； if you had known
How much my life was in your power；
It might have sung and flown。
TO J。 R。
Last Sunday night I read the saddening story
Of the unanswered love of fair Elaine；
The ‘faith unfaithful' and the joyless glory
Of Lancelot； ‘groaning in remorseful pain。'
I thought of all those nights in wintry weather；
Those Sunday nights that seem not long ago；
When we two read our Poet's words together；
Till summer warmth within our hearts did glow。
Ah； when shall we renew that bygone pleasure；
Sit down together at our Merlin's feet；
Drink from one cup the overflowing measure；
And find； in sharing it； the draught more sweet？
That time perchance is far； beyond divining。
Till then we drain the ‘magic cup' apart；
Yet not apart； for hope and memory twining
Smile upon each； uniting heart to heart。
THE TEMPTED SOUL
Weak soul； by sense still led astray；
Why wilt thou parley with the foe？
He seeks to work thine overthrow；
And thou； poor fool！ dost point the way。
Hast thou forgotten many a day；
When thou exulting forth didst go；
And ere the noon wert lying low；
A broken and defenceless prey？
If thou wouldst live； avoid his face；
Dwell in the wilderness apart；
And gather force for vanquishing；
Ere thou returnest to his place。
Then arm； and with undaunted heart
Give battle； till he own thee king。
YOUTH RENEWED
When one who has wandered out of the way
Which leads to the hills of joy；
Whose heart has grown both cold and grey；
Though it be but the heart of a boy …
When such a one turns back his feet
From the valley of shadow and pain；
Is not the sunshine passing sweet；
When a man grows young again？
How gladly he mounts up the steep hillside；
With strength that is born anew；
And in his veins； like a full springtide；
The blood streams through and through。
And far above is the summit clear；
And his heart to be there is fain；
And all too slowly it comes more near
When a man grows young again。
He breathes the pure sweet mountain breath；
And it widens all his heart；
And life seems no more kin to death；
Nor death the better part。
And in tones that are strong and rich and deep
He sings a grand refrain；
For the soul has awakened from mortal sleep；
When a man grows young again。
VANITY OF VANITIES
Be ye happy； if ye may；
In the years that pass away。
Ye shall pass and be forgot；
And your place shall know you not。
Other generations rise；
With the same hope in their eyes
That in yours is kindled now；
And the same light on their brow。
They shall see the selfsame sun
That your eyes now gaze upon；
They shall breathe the same sweet air；
And shall reck not who ye were。
Yet they too shall fade at last
In the twilight of the past；
They and you alike shall be
Lost from the world's memory。
Then； while yet ye breathe and live；
Drink the cup that life can give。
Be ye happy； if ye may；
In the years that pass away；
Ere the golden bowl be broken；
Ere ye pass and leave no token；
Ere the silver cord be loosed；
Ere ye turn again to dust。
‘And shall this be all；' ye cry；
‘But to eat and drink and die？
If no more than this there be；
Vanity of vanity！'
Yea； all things are vanity；
And what else but vain are ye？
Ye who boast yourselves the kings
Over all created things。
Kings！ whence came your right to reign？
Ye shall be dethroned again。
Yet for this； your one brief hour；
Wield your mockery of power。
Dupes of Fate； that treads you down
Wear awhile your tinsel crown
Be ye happy； if ye may；
In the years that pass away。
LOVE'S WORSHIP RESTORED
O Love； thine empire is not dead；
Nor will we let thy worship go；
Although thine early flush be fled；
Thine ardent eyes more faintly glow；
And thy light wings be fallen slow
Since when as novices we came
Into the temple of thy name。
Not now with garlands in our hair；
And singing lips； we come to thee。
There is a coldness in the air；
A dulness on the encircling sea；
Which doth not well with songs agree。
And we forget the words we sang
When first to thee our voices rang。
When we recall that magic prime；
We needs must weep its early death。
How pleasant from thy towers the chime
Of bells； and sweet the incense breath
That rose while we； who kept thy faith；
Chanting our creed； and chanting bore
Our offerings to thine altar store！
Now are our voices out of tune；
Our gifts unworthy of thy name。
December frowns； in place of June。
Who smiled when to thy house we came；
We who came leaping； now are lame。
Dull ears and failing eyes are ours；
And who shall lead us to thy towers？
O hark！ A sound across the air；
Which tells not of December's cold；
A sound most musical and rare。
Thy bells are ringing as of old；
With silver throats and tongues of gold。
Alas！ it is too sweet for truth；
An empty echo of our youth。
Nay； never echo spake so loud！
It is indeed thy bells that ring。
And lo； against the leaden cloud；
Thy towers！ Once more we leap and spring；
Once more melodiously we sing；
We sing； and in our song forget
That winter lies around us yet。
Oh； what is winter； now we know；
Full surely； thou canst never fail？
Forgive our weak untrustful woe；
Which deemed thy glowing face grown pale。
We know thee； mighty to prevail。
Doubt and decrepitude depart；
And youth comes back into the heart。
O Love； who turnest frost to flame
With ardent and immortal eyes；
Whose spirit sorrow cannot tame；
Nor time subdue in any wise …
While sun and moon for us shall rise；
Oh； may we in thy service keep
Till in thy faith we fall asleep！
BELOW HER WINDOW
Where she sleeps； no moonlight shines
No pale beam unbidden creeps。
Darkest shade the place enshrines
Where she sleeps。
Like a diamond in the deeps
Of the rich unopened mines
There her lovely rest she keeps。
Though the jealous dark confines
All her beauty； Love's heart leaps。
His unerring thought divines
Where she sleeps。
REQUIEM
For thee the birds shall never sing again；
Nor fresh green leaves come out upon the tree；
The brook shall no more murmur the refrain
For thee。
Thou liest underneath the windswept lea；
Thou dreamest not of pleasure or of pain；
Thou dreadest no to…morrow that shall be。
Deep rest is thine； unbroken by the rain；
Ay； or the thunder。 Brother； canst thou see
The tears that night and morning fall in vain
For thee？
THOU ART QUEEN
Thou art queen to every eye；
When the fairest maids convene。
Envy's self can not deny
Thou art queen。
In thy step thy right is seen；
In thy beauty pure and high；
In thy grace of air and mien。
Thine unworthy vassal I；
Lay my hands thy hands between；
Kneeling at thy feet I cry
Thou art queen！
IN TIME OF DOUBT
‘In the shadow of Thy wings； O Lord of Hosts； whom I extol；
I will put my trust for ever；' so the kingly David sings。
‘Thou shalt help me； Thou shalt save me； only
Thou shalt keep me whole；
In the shadow of Thy wings。'
In our ears this voice triumphant； like a blowing trumpet； rings；
But our hearts have heard another； as of funeral bells that toll；
‘God of David where to find Thee？' No reply the question brings。
Shadows are there overhead； but they are of the clouds that roll；
Blotting out the sun from sight； and overwhelming earthly things。
Oh； that we might feel Thy presence！ Surely we could rest our soul
In the shadow of Thy wings。
THE GARDEN OF SIN
I know the garden…close of sin；
The cloying fruits； the noxious flowers；
I long have roamed the walks and bowers；
Desiring what no man shall win：
A secret place to shelter in；
When soon or late the angry powers
Come down to seek the wretch who cowers；
Expecting judgment to begin。
The pleasure long has passed away
From flowers and fruit； each hour I dread
My doom will find me where I lie。
I dare not go； I dare not stay。
Without the walks； my hope is dead；
Within them； I myself must die。
URSULA
There is a village in a southern land；
By rounded hills closed in on every hand。
The streets slope steeply to the market…square；
Long lines of white…washed houses； clean and fair；
With roofs irregular； and steps of stone
Ascending to the front of every one。
The people swarthy； idle； full of mirth；
Live mostly by the tillage of the earth。
Upon the northern hill…top； looking down；
Like some sequestered saint upon the town；
Stands the great convent。
On a summer night；
Ten years ago； the moon with rising light
Made all the convent towers as clear as day；
While still in deepest shade the village lay。
Both light and shadow with repose were filled；
The village sounds； the convent bells were stilled。
No foot in all the streets was now astir；
And in the convent none kept watch but her
Whom they called Ursula。 The moonlight fell
Brightly around her in the lonely cell。
Her eyes were dark； and full of unshed woe；
Like mountain tarns which cannot overflow；
Surcharged with rain； and round about the eyes
Deep rings recorded sleepless nights； and cries
Stifled before their birth。 Her brow was pale；
And like a marble temple in a vale
Of cypress trees； shone shadowed by her hair。
So still she was； that had you seen her there；
You might have thought you were beholding death。
