HARP OF MY HEART AND OTHER POEMS HUGH .ROBERT ORR HARP OF MY HEART AND OTHER POEMS BY HUGH ROBERT ORR DESIGNS BY EARL L. ORR THE COLLEGE PRESS PUBLISHERS TOPEKA - KANSAS t ^ --■ \-\_a^->. -:_ CopijriaKt, 1922 bvj HUGH ROBERT ORR Chicago SEP 28 1S22 )CI.A6S3434 To One Wko Lives ill Memorij And One Wlio Remains to Read Gratelul acknowledgment is due tlie puLlisliers of TKe Boston Transcript, Tke Ckicago TriLvme, Tke American Poetn.j Magazine, A Roi^croit Antliologij, Tlie Ckristian Register and Tke Ckristian Advocate for permission to use certain poems in tkis collection. CONTENTS Harp Of M13 Heart, Waken - - - Q On Pinnacles Of Wonder - - - - 10 Ok, To Set Jotj Loose Over Tke Eartk - - 11 Jvilij Niglit - 12 Until Todaij 13 Lon^ Ere Tke Dawn - - - - - 14 Autvunn Fantasij - - - - - 13 Tkere Came A Son^ - - - - - 16 Hour Tkat Never Failed - - - - 17 Tkeij Soltlij Walk - - - - - - 18 Anastasia - - - - - - - 19 Bring Unto Me A Little Ckild - - - 20 Bakijlon - - - - - - - 21 Song Of Wonders 22 Tke Propket 23 Tke Isles Of Skoals 24 Tke Victortj ____-- 2D Litainj Of Nigkt 26 Skaggvj Old Cotton woods - - - - 27 Wken Memori) Turns Back Tke Page - - 28 A Voice For Tke Dumb - - - - 29 Dear Heart, Skotild You Forget - - - 30 I Sing Tke Liberation - - - - 31 Daxjkreak - - - - - - -32 Lincoki -___--- 33 To Pratj ..--..- 34 Tkere Is A Commerce _ _ - _ 3D Apart From You ------ 56 M I Forget ------ 57 As God Is To Me 58 Apocalijpse of Paiii ----- 39 O Destined Heart 40 Ni^k To Tke Evening Star - - - - 41 WorsLip 42 Free At Last 45 Go Not Alone 44 Tke UnfuMed 45 Anticipation - - - - - - -46 HARP OF MY HEART Harp Ol Mlj Heart, Waken Harp of mv) lieart, waken to tke winds tliat come tempting v)ou to song; Tlie tliirsting winds tliat come witli eager fingers tipping vip tlie w^ine c^ips of tlie flow^ers; Tkat liasten out to gatker up tke incense of tke fields and rvm in revelrxj over tke kills spilling it as tkev) go. Will tketj not patise at tke door of mij keart? Mtist tketj be fleeing forever aw^aij in tkeir discontent? Perkaps tketj are like a poet and all tkeir life is but a crvj and a tkirst, as of one wko w^anders alone tkrougk tke kigk star-candled ckamkers of tke nigkt seeking tke brim- ming ckalice of tke infinite. Harp of mvj keart, w^aken to tke voices in tke w^ind tkat come tempting ijou to song; Tliat come w^itk tke delicate uncertain tij of fingers feeling for tke ketjs of some kalf-remembered melodtj . [Q] On Pinnacles Of Wonder I ask no certain passport, Altliovi^li I journev| far, Onkj tlie ^old of morning, Onlvj tlie evening star. Tliovigli tliere are tLose wlio answer Mij questions tlius and so. And tremble in believing, Fearing Avliat tlieij know — I Lave no fears and dovibtings, Nor anv) creeds to Loast, For I bide most in w^onder, In all I question most. And w^nen men w^eep and falter Because tlieir dreams are dust, On pinnacles of wonder I build nnj tow^er of trtist. [101 Oil, To Set Joij Loose Over Tlie Eartli! Ola, to set jov) loose over tlae eartli, To ^ive wkat tlae wLole world is seeking! Joij ol dreams and of freedoms and self-masteries, Of being equal witk tlie liigliest and tlie lowest in tlie eartli, Jov) w^itli a pang deeper tnan pain. Oil, to squeeze tlie fu.ll red drops out of tlie grapes of life and to give tlie w^liole w^orld to quaff it! Going out to sing of jovj, and to find it falling from tlie lips of laugking ckildren; To see jotj in tke faces of uncursed men, to kear it in tlie slioutings of liberated races; Returning to find mv] ow^n keart joij-lit as bij a tkousand candles pouring tkeir w^kole w^kite radiance into one small Ok, still to sing of joij! Jov) made free for all and set w^itkin tke reacli of all, Jov] like tke molten gold of morning pouring over tke kills and down across tke vallevjs — Ok, to set joij loose over tke eartli! [Ill Jukj Niglit A gentle peace Hatk liusked tlie tired world; Tlie lields wliere men liave toiled Lie ill a silver silence, And tlie rutted road Is paved ■vsritk nioonliglit. In tkeir stalls TLie cattle Lreatlie content; A loon cries Iroin tlie river lens. Orion, golden- girdled. Guards tLe Pleiades; Tlie uiglit Nviiids sleep. No one is near tvit God — And a muttering owl in a tree. [121 Until Todai^ Until todaij I tliotiglit Yovur v)ears were never frftvi^lit Witk cloud or rain; Tlio vigil notking ijou liave said, Todav) vipon vjour lips I've read Long silenced pain. Until todaij I guessed Your vmdulating breast Sang fearlesslvj; Bvit now witliin vjour song I Lear vjour laeart beat ovit its long, Long agonv). I tliouglit some radiant dream Fell on vjour evjes, some gleam Of sunlit vjears; Btit now todaij I know It is tbe wistful afterglow Of tears. [151 Long Ere Tlie Dawn Long ere tke dawn A man arose and walked alone Upon tlie kills. Tke stars knew kim -^ In Sijria tke stars speak unto men. Tke breatk of aloes w^asked in dew Came vip tke slope; He drank it in and paused As tke first w^aking bird Skattered tke silence witk a song. Tken w^aited ke and w^atcked, Erect, full-powered, His face ttirned tow^ard tke east, Expectant, eager, keld, As at a world's nativitv). [141 Autumn Fantasi] Deep-av|ea ivvj flaiiiiu^ over an old fence wall; Sunli^kt stepping on cLrij leaves and running awavj leaving golden loot-prints on tke liills; Cloud fragments floating like dream-skips silent and un- deterred unto some far port of fantastj — And tnis is autumn, tliis golden coronation of tke ijear, tLis forest carnival of color witk crimson streamers fltjing down tke leaftj colonades. Over tke fields a limpid kaze lies softkj undulating in tke breeze. Evenjw^kere a deep kvisk of jovj is turned into dreaming. Tke vervj air kangs trembling on tke brink of melodv). Wliat is autumn? Wkat is tkis configuration wroiigkt in sunligkt? Matj be it is a mvjstic spell cast upon tke fields btj tke magic of tke golden-rod. Or perkaps it is wkere some vjoutkful deitvj fell and spilled kis cornucopia, kasting konie from tke karvest of tke gods. 1 guess it is jotj come into tke keart of tke eartk Viritk tke long embrace and tke kisses of tke summer sun. [15] Tliere Came A Song Tnere came a son^ soit lalliii^ on tlie ni^lit, As from an upper air above the din Of niidniglat traffic in tke citi-j streets. Far from some mantj storried Jieiglit a voice Came floating down as wafted autvimn leaves Tliat fall upon a w^orn and weanj soil And Cfuicken it to life. So fell tkat song From some sweet unknow^n lips upon mij lieart And I forgot for one deep moment all Tke w^kir of motors, and tlie tliundering trains, A moment onkj^-Lvit a part, it seemed, Of some sublime antipkonvj tkat sw^elled Tkrougk tke catkedral of tke starlit nigkt. [161 Hour Tliat Never Failed Swift ijears tnat niarcn upon us, New vjears like unspent armies tliunaerin^ at our doors, Do ijou see Low fragile are our walls, liow rusted are tlie lon^-kept bars? Have Ljou come, O ijears, to take us oij storm if we w^ill not ijield? Do tjoti speak long witk our vmwilling minds? Do v)ovi plead w^itn our stuboornness? Do vjou offer compromises tliat vjovi niavj not need to destrovj us utterlij? O marslialling ijears, solemnkj approacking, giving us time to open tke gates to vjour peaceful eutrvj, Ilow^ ^oii^ will i^our patience kold tjou from devastation? Omnipotent ijears, amassing against tis blinded bvj ovir frag- ile barricades. Is tke kour come near, tke kovir tkat never failed? Do we kear strange sovmds less distant? Do w^e kear new^ voices? Do w^e see resistance swept aside? Do w^e see rising upon tke rviins new states and new^ capitols, Amlagamations and fraternities? A new world and a new flag rising over kumanitv)? O vjears tkat marck upon iis! O our blind etjes! O fragile barricades! O kour tkat never failed! [171 Tlievj Softl>3 Walk Tlietj are uot ^one wlio pass Bevjond tlie clasp of kaud, Out from tlie strong embrace. Tliei] are but come so close We need not grope witk liands, Nor look to see, nor trtj To catck tke soimd of feet. Tkevj kave put off tkeir skoes Softkj to walk h\^ datj Witkin our tkougkts, to tread At nigkt our dream-led patks Of sleep. Tkevj are not lost v/lio find Tke svmset gate, tke goal Of all tkeir faitkfiil vjears. Not lost are tkevj wko reack Tke svinimit of tkeir climo, Tke peak above tke clouds And storms. Tkev) are not lost Wko find tke ligkt of sun And stars and God. Tkev) are not dead wko live In kearts tkev) leave bekind. In tkose v/kom tkeij kave blessed Tkeij live a life again, And skall live tkrougk tke ijears Eternal life, and grow^ Eack dav) more beavitifvil. As time declares tkeir good, Forgets tke rest and proves Tkeir immortalittj. [181 Anastasia vVnat areaiii lias Lrouglit \jovi ironi ijour east, Dau^kter of Plato, cliild ol Greece, In Sniv)rna Loru wkere Plato lived? WTiat vision roused vjou at vjour plavj, Wkere blue Aegean waters lave Tkeir sunlit sands? Vv kat wkispered word Came unto v)ou Ironi ovit tke sea. Telling into v)our ckildkood ears Tke secret tkat tjour ancient king, Not know^ing, sat and w^ept to know^? Wkat niigktv] voice w^itkout, w^itkin. Spake to vjour maiden keart tkat vjou Skould rise and leave ijour Homer's kaunts Your Atkens and Acropolis, Your glorified Tkermopolae? I ask VJOU, ckild of gracefvil Greece, Wkat message spake tke gods to tjou, Tkat tjou were bold to leave Ljour plaij, Tkat T-jou sailed fearless on tke sea, Tkat VJOU came kitker unafraid. Unto mtj land of restless toil. Unto niv] citvj w^rapped in smoke? Is it tkat ijour long cultured sense Sees beautvj wkere I see it not? [191 Bring Unto Me A Little Cliild Bring unto me a little ckila, Tliat I maij look on liie Honest and undefiled btj trotkless guile, Unskrouded Ltj tke forgeries of time. Tlie trivial clamor oi tne street rlas deadened all mv) song; Ok, let me kear some little voice tkat laugks And ckatters sacrilegiouslvj Among our graven images! Bring unto me a little ckiid Tkat neitker worskips, lears nor kates, Bvit onlv) laugks, Tkat I mat) set mij keart attune To keaven s voice. [201 0(^tRp= w — (S%(g^>^^ Bamjlon O dust of Mardvik, dead, -wiud-driven dust, Time swept tkee as tlie tide an kouse of sand. Time took tliij pride and left tkee to tke moles; In vain for tkee tke writing and tke kand. For Babtjlon is fallen like a star, Tkat leaves its place unmarked against tke skij; Bel-Merodack is gone, kis priests are dust Wkereon tke sleeping sun-w^anned serpents lie. Men tramp tlivj grave to Bagdad know^ing not Tke glorij of tkij dav), O Bakvjlon; Tkeij kear no song of Sargon s victories. Nor ecko from tke train of Xerxes tkrong. No voice is keard wkere once tkij captives wept. And ktmg tkeir karps beside tlivj willowed stream; O Babijlon, tkovi art more dumb tkan tkevj. And notking lives bvit tkeir immortal dream! [2i: Song Of Wonders Wonaer of suns aud seasons, Oi sowing and reaping; Wonaer oi splieres iia perfect accord, And of deep and liniitless spaces; Wonder of Lirtli and of deatli, And of life proceeding; Wonder of love and lavigkter, Of music aud of song; Wonder of dreams and fulfillment; Wonder of pain and tears; Wonder of daij-Lreak and of noon, Wonder of evening star; Wonder of all tliat is— Wonder tliat ani-jtliing is. Oil, wonder tliat I maij beliold it all In w^onder! [221 Tke Propliet Tliei-j will not Lear a propliet s voice; "Awai-j", tliev) crtj, ' To Golgotlia! And crown liini tliere witli niarttjrdoni. His living voice now stilled, Lis w^ord Is cauglit up Ltj tlie eclioin^ kills And llun^ alar to everij a^e, Wliile cliildren strew w^ild-llowers for nim Tlieir latliers liavjed and cursed and killed. No sw^eeter sadness than is kis Wliose ear liatla cauglit tke sounds afar, Wkose evje katk seen tke distant daij, Wkose soul katk sensed tke w^ider law. He know^s no countrvj, tvit tw^o w^orlds, Tke old one passing lor tke new^; He goes, a solitarvj soul y\long kis waij unto tke end, A liberator, to kis ckains. Ere good katk ever concfuered ill. Ere ever nigkt katk turned to dav), Or waters sweet w^ere ever struck From rigid stones, or barren sands Have borne tke blossom of tke rose, A propket's tears kave tkere been sked. [25] Tlie Isles Ol Skoals Wkat gods laave keld liigli carnival Upon tkese cliffs? Wkat revelries Have riven tliese miglatv) rocks ana cleft Tkis Siren s Grotto wnere tlie sea Hatli sung a tkousand centuries? Wliat monumented arrogance Or valors of some primal world Have liere teen marked? Yet run tlie winds, I et fling tne waves tneir silver svirf To grace tliese treaclierous skoals. Tke gods Have long departed, vjet remain Tkeir kigk and koarr| altars kept Forever ti.j tke great wkite gvills Tkat skim tke emerald sea. [241 Tlie Victonj All Clirist, and wko are tliese tliat liave come up Out oi tlie fields of blood, tliese maimed and blind, Tkese dumb tbat come so slowlij back a^ain, Witn siglitless sockets turned up to tbe sun? Are tliese tlieij wko but ijesterdatj marclied off To music sweet as lieaven; wko went ovit To beautifvj a w^orld w^itk arts of kell? And w^ko are tkese tkat come not back again, Sow^n to tke w^inds of w^ar tkeij did not make, Paijiug tke price of katreds not tkeir ow^n? Cotild Abrakam spare Isaac for a ram, And ijet ovir sons must die for rick men's skeep? Come, priests of Nabob, come ijou patrioteers, And saij, bij God, if tliis be victorij! O sunken eijes, O faces smote bv) fire, O w^eeping liearts tkat wait eternitij, O dead, sleep and forget, for at tke dawn Tke w^ratli of God and tjour avenger come! [25] LitaiiLj Of Niglit Come, great calm beautiftil iiiglit, Smootli out tlie wrinkles of tlie care-worn daLj. All dav) tke liorizon Laifles me; Tliere is no room to wander In tke patnw^av) oi a aream. A mere creature of a ulace Am I in tlie dav), Hurrtjing to ana fro, to and fro, Even as tlie Leetles do^ — I as Dusij w^itli living as tke beetles, I in mv) little tnraldom Lvisij Rattling tlie tinw^are of living. But tlie niglit, tlie calm far-spreading niglit! Tlien tlie ctirtain canoptj of tlie davj falls back And reveals tke star-spangled universe. And I— I am detacked, free, ageless; I am become a denizen of tke infinite; I wander w^kere tke eternities are. [26] Sliaggvj Old Cottonwoods Sliag^T-j old cottonwoods, Witn tjovir naked wliite anns Tlirust up at tke prairie skij, And ijour sleeping sliadows stretclied Upon tne solt gravj dvist ol tlie road, I never could understand vjou, 1 ovi are so old and grizzled and proiound. Once a man witli a sun-bronzed lace Came out into tlie west; Came witn a ijoke oi oxen and a plow^, Came w^itli a faitli tliat w^ould stagger fate — That is liow^ vjou happened to he here, Shaggv) old cottonw^oods. And now^ the bleaching vjears Ol hall a centunj Have lelt the bones ol the oxen Whitening in the grass. The plow^ lies old and rusted * In a lence corner vjonder, And the man with the bronzed lace — Well, onlv) the old-timers remember him. Shaggij old cotton w^oods, Yovi stand there so serene, vmmoved, I never covild understand vjovi, Yovi are so old and grizzled and prolotind. [271 When MemorLj Turns Back Tlie Page How glad our kearts v/lien we w^ere vjoung, Before the storms of nianij vjears I laa tent us low^ or ever flung Us on a ragged reef of fears. All, nappij v)outliful daijs of dreams, Wnen w^e were not so grave or w^ise; No lieaven can svirpass, it seems, Tke heaven that Lehind us lies. Perhaps this is our heaven that trings To us our childlike heart again; That w^e maij love anew the things Ovir toilsome vjears had covmted vain. For somehow at the touch of age. We walk again our childhood waus, While memorvj turns tack the page, And reads to us of other datjs. [28] A Voice For Tlie Dumb "Come, poet, read iis gentle rlivjmes," Tlaei-j savj, "Sing not of toil ana pain, Sing not tliG weeping nor tne rain. Nor tke oppressions of our times — Speak unto vis of gloriovis tilings. How ancient serfdoms fell, tlie fame Of old-time valors, not tlie blame Of present woes and sufferings. Tlie poet silences liis song, His onltj song, a broken crij For tkose wko dream and drvidge and die, Subdvied to tijrannies of wrong. Bvit on tlie night sad voices come, A sound of w^eeping in tlie w^ind — "Toucli tkou our eijes for we are blind. Be tliou our voice for we are dvimb." [29] '^(^tRP^ ^ P $^(g^)^^ Dear Heart, Sliould You Forget Dear keart, if vjovi sKould ever once forget Mvj love for ijou, Tlie stars ^voulcl tell tjou in tlie niglit As tliei] pass tlirovtgli. I tLink tlie winds woxild crvj across tlie fields To ijovi for nie, Wken tkev) return from minstrelsies On land and sea. In everv) flower vjovi w^ovild find a hint, And tjou wotild weep, Wken ijou bekeld tlie bleeding-keart Close at tjour feet. [301 I Sing Tne Liberation In tne lon^ nignt oi tlie a^es I nave sun6 one son6. And lor answer tliere nave come back to nie tne sleepless niurniurin^s ol unfed cliildren, and tlie si^li of tne keavij- laden like tne sob oi the v/anderin^ winds. In tlieir darkness niij song w^as of tlie morning. Wnen tlieij nave noped I kave promised tlieni tlie daw^n. Yet I w^ell know^ it is not for tliem but for tneir children s children. Well I know that their tired bodies shall faint and fall, and that ijet other millions shall struggle and fall after them. But liberation shall come and the slaves of the night shall become the freemen of the daij. Now^ the gloom and the sadness, the v/ide-evjed hunger of children, and the laden bodies of slaves. Btit tomorrow^ the florid daw^n, child laughter, and the faces of unscourged men. Now the night and mvj artless chantings falling vipon the the heavLj -hearted \vorld as tears of rain from a softlvj w^eeping skvj. But tomorrow a radiant earth, and a singer with a harp of gold! [5i: Daijbreak Davjtreak^ — Tke uioniing JDells, And tke sunligkt Pouring its floral offering upon me. Tke world is born again, And men, imawed, Attend its ne'sv nativity. Yet alwaijs for me tke daij-da-wn, Tke perfumed treatk of tke morning. And comnivmings of life universal. Wko are tjou of wan face At ijour morning devotions? Disrobe ijour soul of its cloister vestments; Tken come and join me in mtj song, Wkere tke dew crvjstals drip From tke kiss of tke morning ligkt. [321 Lincoln Born to tlie simple lile, son of tke soil, He knew tlie travail of men's kearts, tke toil Tkat tiirns tlie wilderness a frxiitfvil field, Tke pioneer's fervid faitk, tke kopes tkat tjield Tke far fulfillment of tke propket's dream. He trod tke dvist, tjet saw tke stars tkat ^leam. Bv) all tkat made men weep ke was made sad, Li all tkeir love and lau^kter ke was ^lad. He was ordained to set tke captive free, Proclaim tke daij of God and libertv), To save a world and on kis cross apart, ForAivinA all, to bear a broken keart. Fallen and dead, ke is come fortk to stand A living Ckrist in our wide western land. [351 To Praij To pravj — not ask an alms oi late, Nor t>e^, nor placate, but to learn Mij niasterv), to ^ain nivjseli, For tliis is pravjer. To prav)-- not to>varcl tlie eartli or skij, Bvit to lilt vip uiivjielaing kands To tkat strong life unmeasured v]et, The Goa in me. To prav] — not lor the ^ain oi it, Btit lor the joij ol it. To lavish. To weep with God, in sharing i°^P Ana ^riels ol men. To pravj — to hope, to strive, end lail; And then when all is lost but pravjer, O heart ol mine, to praij again. And so be strong! 34] Tliere Is A Commerce Tkere is a commerce witli tlie laiia oi dreams, Wliere wealtla uncovinted is, and Croesvis seems A te^^ar; whence a sliapeKj ar^osvj Sails far upon enclianted seas and Lrin^s A car^o vast ol vmcreated tnings-- Inventions, poems and new w^orlds to be. Out from tlie land of dreams a nujstic spell Has fallen on man's soul. He cannot tell Wkij lie skovild kope, or pravj or v)et believe In truer creeds and deeds, a better land, Utopia tkat ever near at kand Has given kim vast visions to ackieve. Ckange stretckes ker impartial kand afar, Removes tke kills into tke sea; tke star Of long millennituns kas lost its beams; Yet tkis remainetk — faitk in w^kat skall be Wken tke creative soul of man is free To kold kigk commerce witk tke land of dreams. [551 Apart From You Apart Iroin vjovi, I liear tlie winds Go tunelessKj all dav); And all the tarrying ni^Lt tke stars Gaze wonder in^Kj. Apart from ijou, tlie minstrel kills Lean nivite against tlie sktj; Tne golden crocus looks not up As I pass tv). [56] Till I Forget Not tliat I liavG no tears to ^ive for tliem, Wliose loot-ialls break no more nitj silences; Not tliat nnj peace katli less ol secret pain Than tlie great crvj tliat went up vjesterdav) Out of nivj lieart. Not tliat tlie arguments One spoke wlio ca)ne and left a little tract Can solace me. It is mijself at last Who liave passed on into anotner world Of sweet rememberings. Tke liappij ijears Come Lack, tlie dear dead davjs return, Bringing tlieir old-time loves again to me. I liave come nigli to tliose w^no calmlij w^ait Wliere patlis of memorv) Lave rendezvous. Tlie ijears liave made tlieni not less mine todaij; I know tliose tkat I knew; tliose I liave loved, Dear God, I love tliem still. Till I forget- So nigli tlievj seem in memortj's trtjsting liour — Till I forget liow^ tlieij were once so dear, Mtj dead and loved are living unto me. [571 As God Is To Me God to me is as tke sea To tke spraxj, sparkling, free, Fkmg an instant in tke air, Catcking rainkow colors tkere From tke golJen svin. As tke organ to tke kev), So, it seems, is God to me; As tke wind-karp to eack string, Wken tke breeze goes loitering, Or tke strong w^inds run. God to me is as tke rose To tke petals tkat tinclose In a keautv) not tlieir own, Into keautvj not alone But togetker — one. [58] Apocakjpse Of Pain You ask me wntj 1 weep? Not for tke paiu I bear but tliat I see, Tlie au^uisn of a iriena, a lone one s ^iiei, For tears of little cbildren vmcaressed And bruised like dust-ckoked flowers, Wkere beats tke traffic of a tkou^ktless world. Wkv) do I w^eep? For tkose sad ones tkat go as skadows On tke eartk, drij etjed, too tired to weep, Wkose pain is measured not in sobs Biit in tke silent and relentless vjears. Yovi ask me w^kv) I weep? All me, for tkose w^ko kave not wept, Wkose evanescent lamp denies tke stars, Wko kave not fatkomed love tkrougk loss. I give tkese tears for tkose wko never knew Tke apocakjpse of pain. Or wkom tke fateful waves kave never flung Upon a cri-jing niglit-bound skore, Wkere only are tke wind and rain and God. [391 O Destined Heart Hvisli, lieart of mine, Tke wmcls go not at will; Tlie ctjcles of tke Ljears repeat TKeir vain un^nieaning niascjuetaae. Wkat sLall avail tkij song? Tke atoms kave tkeir single course, Tke winds and waves and ijears are kept^ — Peace keart, Le dvmiL. Yet flings tkvj song Its answer to tke stars; Yet keaven calls to tkee and w^ill not pass. Praijers rise unbidden; Deautv) moves tkvj deptks As tke fviU moon tke sea. Tides, Ljears and dreams, And over all one kigk decree^ — So comes tkvj song, O destined keart oi mine. [401 Nigli To Tlie Evening Star Oil beautiful beneath tlie open skies To sleep aud tlie returning birds to sing Beside nie tlieir perennial lullabtjs Witb. eacb returning spring. To sleep — nnj lamp, tbe evening star, bung low — Nigli to some clover field a-bloom in Maij, And over me a roving breeze to blow Its incense nigbt and datj. Peace of tbe bills is mine, and shattering storm; I bave found beautvj, tbe divine desire; Attended tbe nativitvj of morn; Out- lived a sunset's fire. Enough to live but for a davj, a xjear — It matters not, if onlij there be light Upon the gold-rimmed hills and some band near To touch mij etjes with sight. To walk the path w^ith those w^ho laugh, w^lio weep; To dream a dream and follow^ it afar; At nightfall near some fragrant field to sleep, Nigh to the evening star. 1411 Worsliip I worsliip all tlie brave — Not onlvj keroes named on printed page, Not onlvj tliose paid well and lauded most. I w^orsliip tliose brave liearts w^lio never knew The glamor and tke glare of fortune s fame, And ijet toil on in tbeir vmlionored place, Witk steadfast pvirpose and witli kvinime faitk Tkat konest toil and justice save tke race. I worsliip all tke fair-- All-glorious Mazda, ruler of tke davj, Tke w^kite moon and tke dancing stars of nigkt. All Leautv) kotk in man and in tke eartk, Tke crimson killow^s of tke sunset skij, Tke kills, tke fields tke song of forest trees, Tke vrinter s snow, tke rain, tke fragrant breeze Tkat brings tke scent of soft green sod in spring. Tke flow^ers tkat fringe mv) patk, tketj keni God's robe; I reack mvj kand to toiick and am made w^kole. [421 Free At Last O sovereign self, And free at last! Broken tke Lars Tliat bruised tkij beating wings. Cleaving tlie skij, oli bigb, Ok biglier lift tbee Over tbe fawning serfdoms of tlie w^orld To wbere aw^aits for tkee tliLj diadem Of stars all rubicund. None skall command tkee now^, Save tkat decree of keaven Wkick lifts tke tide and swings tbe distant spkere. Let kim, w^ko mitst, Lai] dow^n kis neck For kings or states to step vipon; Let kim lick dust until tke dav) His soul skall wake in kim And set kim free, To run as rvm tke unkept w^inds, Listing as God lists. [451 Go Not Alone Go not as one alone, dear keart, Uncomforted wlien I depart. You still skall find me loitering Wkere woodland eclioes faintlij rin^, Wkere softlij slumbering forest leaves Are wakened bvj tke wliisperin^ breeze. I sliall be tarrijing for v)ou wliere Tbe w^ild wbite rose embalms tlie air, Or gatberin^ tbe ^olden^-rod Upon tlie sun-sw^ept bills of God. [44] The Unfulfilled It is tile deed tbat lacks, Nor cpite killills The ^lorvj of tlie dream. Dawn writes in ^o^d Some promise on tke kills Tkat ni^ktfall finds kalf done. Beautv) draw^s ui^k and leaves Her burning kiss upon our eijes Until w^e leap to faskioning Some ^ift for ^ods. Yet aw^kw^ard kands Skape crudelvj tke reluctant claij, Or blot tke canvas, Or discord tke ketjs. So fair tke ^leam tkat leads Wkere feet can scarceltj tread; So small tke deed— Yet still I kave tke dream, I kave tke dream! [451 Anticipation I can uot call tlie old aaijs test, Nor covet ijoutklul dreams. All tilings Once mute to me now liave a voice, And evervj silence sings. Tke patks so often trod Lecome More beatitilul as tlietj grow old; Tke autumn leaves are deeper red, Tke sunsets kave more gold. I tkink tomorrow^ I skall kear A Viet vinkeard diviner strain; Or lind some naked kali-blow^n flower, Born of an April rain. [461 Done ill the Print SLiop of THE COLLEGE PRESS Topeka, Kansas "Where Craitsmanship is First" LIBRARY OF CONGRFCSQ mmmmi u 015 973 994 5 ^