rivers to the sea-第3章
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On all I could not say。
I heard； and down the street
The lonely trees in the square
Stood in the winter wind
Patient and bare。
I heard 。 。 。 oh voiceless trees
Under the wind； I knew
The eager terrible spring
Hidden in you。
MORNING
I WENT out on an April morning
All alone； for my heart was high；
I was a child of the shining meadow；
I was a sister of the sky。
There in the windy flood of morning
Longing lifted its weight from me；
Lost as a sob in the midst of cheering；
Swept as a sea…bird out to sea。
MAY NIGHT
THE spring is fresh and fearless
And every leaf is new；
The world is brimmed with moonlight；
The lilac brimmed with dew。
Here in the moving shadows
I catch my breath and sing
My heart is fresh and fearless
And over…brimmed with spring。
DUSK IN JUNE
EVENING； and all the birds
In a chorus of shimmering sound
Are easing their hearts of joy
For miles around。
The air is blue and sweet；
The few first stars are white；
Oh let me like the birds
Sing before night。
LOVE…FREE
I AM free of love as a bird flying south in the autumn；
Swift and intent； asking no joy from another；
Glad to forget all of the passion of April
Ere it was love…free。
I am free of love； and I listen to music lightly；
But if he returned； if he should look at me deeply；
I should awake； I should awake and remember
I am my lover's。
SUMMER NIGHT； RIVERSIDE
IN the wild soft summer darkness
How many and many a night we two together
Sat in the park and watched the Hudson
Wearing her lights like golden spangles
Glinting on black satin。
The rail along the curving pathway
Was low in a happy place to let us cross；
And down the hill a tree that dripped with bloom
Sheltered us
While your kisses and the flowers；
Falling； falling；
Tangled my hair。 。 。 。
The frail white stars moved slowly over the sky。
And now； far off
In the fragrant darkness
The tree is tremulous again with bloom
For June comes back。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
To…night what girl
When she goes home；
Dreamily before her mirror shakes from her hair
This year's blossoms； clinging in its coils ？
IN A SUBWAY STATION
AFTER a year I came again to the place；
The tireless lights and the reverberation；
The angry thunder of trains that burrow the ground；
The hunted； hurrying people were still the same
But oh； another man beside me and not you！
Another voice and other eyes in mine！
And suddenly I turned and saw again
The gleaming curve of tracks； the bridge above
They were burned deep into my heart before；
The night I watched them to avoid your eyes；
When you were saying； 〃Oh； look up at me！〃
When you were saying； 〃Will you never love me？〃
And when I answered with a lie。 Oh then
You dropped your eyes。 I felt your utter pain。
I would have died to say the truth to you。
* * * * * *
After a year I came again to the place
The hunted hurrying people were still the same。。。。
AFTER LOVE
THERE is no magic when we meet；
We speak as other people do；
You work no miracle for me
Nor I for you。
You were the wind and I the sea
There is no splendor any more；
I have grown listless as the pool
Beside the shore。
But tho' the pool is safe from storm
And from the tide has found surcease；
It grows more bitter than the sea；
For all its peace。
DOORYARD ROSES
I HAVE come the selfsame path
To the selfsame door；
Years have left the roses there
Burning as before。
While I watch them in the wind
Quick the hot tears start
Strange so frail a flame outlasts
Fire in the heart。
A PRAYER
UNTIL I lose my soul and lie
Blind to the beauty of the earth；
Deaf tho' a lyric wind goes by；
Dumb in a storm of mirth；
Until my heart is quenched at length
And I have left the land of men；
Oh let me love with all my strength
Careless if I am loved again。
II
INDIAN SUMMER
LYRIC night of the lingering Indian Summer；
Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing；
Never a bird； but the passionless chant of insects；
Ceaseless； insistent。
The grasshopper's horn； and far off； high in the maples
The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence；
Under a moon waning and worn and broken；
Tired with summer。
Let me remember you； voices of little insects；
Weeds in the moonlight； fields that are tangled with asters；
Let me remember you； soon will the winter be on us；
Snow…hushed and heartless。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Over my soul murmur your mute benediction
While I gaze； oh fields that rest after harvest；
As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to；
Lest they forget them。
THE SEA WIND
I AM a pool in a peaceful place；
I greet the great sky face to face；
I know the stars and the stately moon
And the wind that runs with rippling shoon
But why does it always bring to me
The far…off； beautiful sound of the sea？
The marsh…grass weaves me a wall of green；
But the wind comes whispering in between；
In the dead of night when the sky is deep
The wind comes waking me out of sleep
Why does it always bring to me
The far…off； terrible call of the sea？
THE CLOUD
I AM a cloud in the heaven's height；
The stars are lit for my delight；
Tireless and changeful； swift and free；
I cast my shadow on hill and sea
But why do the pines on the mountain's crest
Call to me always； 〃Rest； rest〃？
I throw my mantle over the moon
And I blind the sun on his throne at noon；
Nothing can tame me； nothing can bind；
I am a child of the heartless wind
But oh the pines on the mountain's crest
Whispering always； 〃Rest； rest。〃
THE POOR HOUSE
HOPE went by and Peace went by
And would not enter in；
Youth went by and Health went by
And Love that is their kin。
Those within the house shed tears
On their bitter bread；
Some were old and some were mad；
And some were sick a…bed。
Gray Death saw the wretched house
And even he passed by
〃They have never lived；〃 he said；
〃They can wait to die。〃
NEW YEAR'S DAWNBROADWAY
WHEN the horns wear thin
And the noise； like a garment outworn；
Falls from the night；
The tattered and shivering night；
That thinks she is gay；
When the patient silence comes back；
And retires；
And returns；
Rebuffed by a ribald song；
Wounded by vehement cries；
Fleeing again to the stars
Ashamed of her sister the night；
Oh； then they steal home；
The blinded； the pitiful ones
With their gew…gaws still in their hands；
Reeling with odorous breath
And thick； coarse words on their tongues。
They get them to bed； somehow；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
And sleep the forgiving；
Comes thru the scattering tumult
And closes their eyes。
The stars sink down ashamed
And the dawn awakes；
Like a youth who steals from a brothel；
Dizzy and sick。
THE STAR
A WHITE star born in the evening glow
Looked to the round green world below；
And saw a pool in a wooded place
That held like a jewel her mirrored face。
She said to the pool： 〃Oh； wondrous deep；
I love you； I give you my light to keep。
Oh； more profound than the moving sea
That never has shown myself to me！
Oh； fathomless as the sky is far；
Hold forever your tremulous star！〃
But out of the woods as night grew cool
A brown pig came to the little pool；
It grunted and splashed and waded in
And the deepest place but reached its chin。
The water gurgled with tender glee
And the mud churned up in it turbidly。
The star grew pale and hid her face
In a bit of floating cloud like lace。
DOCTORS
EVERY night I lie awake
And every day I lie abed
And hear the doctors； Pain and Death；
Conferring at my head。
They speak in scientific tones；
Professional and low
One argues for a speedy cure；
The other； sure and slow。
To one so humble as myself
It should be matter for some pride
To have such noted fellows here；
Conferring at my side。
。
THE INN OF EARTH
I CAME to the crowded Inn of Earth；
And called for a cup of wine；
But the Host went by with averted eye
From a thirst as keen as mine。
Then I sat down with weariness
And asked a bit of bread；
But the Host went by with averted eye
And never a word he said。
While always from the outer night
The waiting souls came in
With stifled cries of sharp surprise
At all the light and din。
〃Then give me a bed to sleep；〃 I said；
〃For midnight comes apace〃
But the Host went by with averted eye
And I never saw his face。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
〃Since there is neither food nor rest；
I go where I fared before〃
But the Host went by with averted eye
And barred the outer door。
IN THE CARPENTER'S SHOP
MARY sat in the corner dreaming；
Dim was the room and low；
While in the dusk； the saw went screaming
To and fro。
Jesus and Joseph toiled together；
Mary was watching them；
Thinking of kings in the wintry weather
At Bethlehem。
Mary sat in the corner thinking；
Jesus had grown a man；
One by one her hopes were sinking
As the years ran。
Jesus and Joseph toiled together；
Mary's thoughts were far
Angels sang in the wintry weather
Under a star。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Mary sat in the corner weeping；
Bitter and hot her tears
Little faith were the angels keeping
All the years。
THE CARPENTER'S SON
THE summer dawn came over…soon；
The earth was like hot iron at noon
In Nazareth；
There fell no rain to ease the heat；
And dusk drew on with tired feet
And stifled breath。
The shop was low and hot and square；
And fresh…cut wood made sharp the air；
While all day long
The saw went tearing thru the oak
That moaned as tho' the tree's heart broke
Beneath its wrong。
The narrow street was full of cries；
Of bickering and snarling lies
In many keys
RIVERS TO THE SEA
The tongues of Egypt and of Rome
And lands beyond the shifting foam
Of windy seas。
Sometimes a ruler riding fast
Scattered the dark crowds as he passed；
And drove them close
In doorways； drawing broken breath
Lest they be trampled to their death
Where the dus
