THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES

THE

LIBRARY

OF

THE

UNIVERSITY

OF

CALIFORNIA

6

ft

POEMS

GEORGE

W.

CRONYN

NEW

YORK

ALBERT

AND

CHARLES

BONI

96 FIFTH

AVENUE

Copyright, 1914

By

PS

350S-C$1

/

3

f>

To

touch the sleeping lids of

_Beauty

Drawing

thru _finger-tips her

dream

a birth

Of

hell

and heaven

fora nobler earth;

This is the _poets _duty.

To

_sleep with stars, to

dream

a flower,

From

_passing

shadows

_pluck

_profound

relation,

With

a divine

wonder

at its emanation;

This is the _poets _power.

DIONYSUS ELEUTHERIOS

THE

PRAYER

Like a cat _{beside a pool}

More

than half afraid of it,

Fishinggingerly I sit

Here

beside this _{pool of} wit

Dumb

as

_any

fool!

Chirrups

humor

in _{the grass};

Winds

of _{tickling laughter pass,}

And

the

_{world grows}

wise forsooth,

Lets

_gleam

amused

tooth

Seeingin this water-glass

Jests that

swim

the depths oftruth,

And

like fins of fishes shiver

It to fretful _quirk

and

_quiver.

Ripples break

and

bubbles rise

Catching smiles

from

out the skies

In their_{globed eyes.}

Surely, surely there

was

never

One

in mirth

and

one in _song

Dartling their

minds among.

Loosener

of lips

and

heart,

Draw

_my

sullen

mouth

_apart.

Give

a

_gleam

to_guide

me

_by

As

a phare in _{a night-sky}

Grace

of tongue

and

warmth

of eye;

Give

me

of thy fire

and

dew

;

Give

me

flash of

mimic

art

Spice of

Godhead

in this

brew

To

pierce

my

fellows thru

and

thru.

Oh,

thou vintal Deity,

Loose

_my

limbs that _they

_may

_fly

With

this _{reckless revelry}!

Sick of sober

_ways

am

I;

In this tumult I alone

Am

a satyr turnedto stone;

Satyr satyr not a

man

!

Gifts I _{ask not of Apollo}

Wine

is

_{good and}

_grief is hollow;

I

would

follow after

Pan

;

I

would

follow, follow, follow

After

Pan!

Or

if he

_{wander ways}

tooquiet,

Shepherd

ways

of

warmth

and

ease,

Let

me

taste a wilder riot

In thy mysteries

Let

me

quaff it, laugh it, cry it!

Fleet foot after those that flee,

Hot

veins

amorous

to seize

Maenads

maddened

_by

the wine,

Wound

with hair

and wreathed

withvine,

Maenads

stained _{with purple} lees

Give

me, giveme, give

me

these.

Only

this I ask of thee

Dionysus, Dionysus, son of Semele!

THE ANSWER

Lo!

the

God

of _{purple pleasure}

Heard

and

hearkened to his _prayer,

Reft the

swathed bands

that

bound

_him,

From

his cloak of Self

unwound

him,

Filled

him

_{with supernal} seizure

That

his

humor

s _{jewelled treasure}

Leaped and

sparkled in the air

Till _{the night}

was

_bright

around

him.

Never

such a _jestful fit

Dreamt

he in his wildest wishes!

Surely the Great

God

possessed

him

!

And

the _mystic sisters too,

Oeno, Spermo, and

Elais,

(Who

knoweth what

their

_way

_is?)

Surely they caressed

him

!

He

whose

_{tongue of} old

was

frozen

As

he _quaffs, with this _potation

Deep

and

_deeper inspiration

Seems

to

_grow

a

Prophet

chosen,

For

_{he speaks}

_by

divination!

Never

were

such fancies

woven

From

the _{carded thoughts} of mortal.

Some

are

_{mazed, and some}

deride _him,

"Lo, his wits

have gone

astray,

What

a fool he is!" _they

say.

Others whisper (those beside

him)

"He hath crossed another

portal

He

is one

whose

foot is cloven.

Do

_{ye hear wild} creatures beat

Lifted

hoof

and naked

feet

On

the quiet

woodland

sod?

Do

_ye

mark

what

mood

thatstrain is ?

Hints it not the

_Shepherd

God

With

his pipings shrill

and

sweet

Snubnose, Sweetwine, old Silenus,

All his creatures _shy

and

fleet?"

Deeper, deeper, Fire

and

Dew

Drains he of the

Wine-God

s

brew

Craving furthest essence thus

Terrible

and

new,

Luring

appalling,

"lachus! lachus! lachus!

Wine!

Wine!

Wine!

_{Rejoice!"}

Thru

the forest _calling.

And

the _sky is red

and

_golden

And

the _red, red stars are _falling,

Falling to the earth in showers.

And

the fresh blood-scents

embolden

Gold

and

sable leopards, sleeping,

To

come

_{crawling, writhing, leaping,}

Over

_gold

and

_purple flowers.

And

the

autumn

sun is swollen

With

the sweetness he has stolen

From

_{the wine,}

and

he is _{wine, wine-red.}

Come

_ye

now

with

wreathed

head,

Come

_ye

now

With

_ivy

_{bound on your}

white brow,

And

forgotten, forgotten be thehours!

Forgotten

and

forgotten!

Ah

the night has fled _away,

Never, never, never

A

more

sombre

river

From

such _springs of _laughter ran!

And

the lucid _pool of wit

What

a

scum

has clouded it!

Past each _stately Parian

column

Day

comes, gaunt

and

pale

and shrunken

And

her _step is _{very solemn.}

On

the veined _{marble sunken,} Reft of breath _{of Deity,}

Prone

there, lies the Priest the _Chosen,

Huddled,

bestial, bleared

and drunken

Like a

_body

that is frozen

(That

such things should be!)

Shape

of _shapeless

_mockery

He

had

tasted all

one

can;

He

had

heard _{the pipes of}

Pan

;

He

had

followed in _thy

van

Dionysus, Dionysus, son of

Semele

Satyr? not _{a satyr} he a

man

!

THE

TRAIL

BY NIGHT

No

human

foot-print here before

my

own

!

And

it is _{strange to}

come

so far alone

So

far into this frozen forest world

Of

_moonlight

and

of

shadow

and

_{deep snow,}

And

things I

do

not

_know,

That

strike the civil vestments

from

_my

soul

As

if all law-born _years

were

backward

hurled

Toward

some dim and

other pole

Some

_{brute primordial reign}

Whose

voice

was

terror

and whose

life

was

_pain.

On

_up

thetrail I _go;

Beneath

_my

feet cold _{streams of moonlight glow,}

And

in the silver-sifted dark _strange,

naked

fancies

grow,

While

the _{vast pines in vista,}

_{round by}

_round,

Move

_{with an unearthly sound,}

And

_everytree with its white hair is crowned.

And

see the forest

dreams

thru forest _moonlight

blown.

On

_up

I _plunge until

Bending, discern before rne, with a thrill

The

_signs

where

some

wild beast has _gone.

Who

knows

but thatwithin the silence here

The

cedar

_{shadows gloom}

about a _deer,

That

stands with

_body

lithe

and

slim

Struck to a statue

_by

_surprise?

Who

knows

but that,

upon

some snowy

limb

A

lynx, lean-bellied, pricks his tufted ear

And

watches

me

with evil,

amber

eyes?

Surely

beyond

thestars

_my

man-world

lies

For

close to

me

unhallowed mountains

rise

SONG

IN

WINTER

Burning

stars in a frosty sky,

Thread-bare

winds from

the hollow west,

"Give us a

_garment

of beauty!" _they

cry,

"For the waters of truth our throats are dry,

And

_phantoms

of chaos uncover the bones of our

breast,

Leaving

us little rest."

Bitter stars in a frozen _sky,

Tattered

winds from

the lonely west,

Haggard

beggars of hours that die

(Begging

the gift of a golden lie!)

Is it with

_you

as with us,

no

rest,

no

rest

The

_{lacy chequer} of aerial

_boughs

That

winter

weaves

with delicate _wizardry.

Far

_away

who

knows

how

far?

Against theflaming

calm

of wintertwilight,

I hear the voice _{of speed} muffled

and

hoarse,

Sounding

across the hills.

Locomotive, locomotive,

Over

the hills _{at night,}

Running

on your

far-away groove

With

the

_husky

_{pant of things that}

move

And

cannot turn toleftor right,

Of

things that toil

and

_{things thatpass}

In the

murk

of

smoke

and

the stench of _gas,

Serf of the

monstrous

city,

What

pity

oh

what

pity

For

the dearth of

_your

_delight,

Locomotive, locomotive,

CLOUDS

Whence

_{do you}

come, oh silken shapes,

Across the silver sky?

We

come

from where

the

wind

blows

And

the

_young

stars die.

Why

do you

move

so _fast, so fast

Across the white

moon

s breast?

The

cruel

wind

is at our heels

And we may

not rest.

Are

_you

_{not weary, fleeing shapes,}

That

never cease to flee?

The

forked trees chained

shadows

are

Less

_weary

than we.

Whither do you

go,

O

shadow-shapes Across _{the ghastly sky?}

We

_go

to

where

the

wind

blows

My

head

is circld with fire

And

I think of the _failing of ones desire

And

I hear outside the _{pitiful dropping of} rain;

Which

is _{the greater pain}?

I _yearn for the birth of the brain

Be

it child of blood

and

_pain,

(I pray to endure _{the pain)}

My

heart lo!

_my

heart is afire

With

hue

as _{of purple} or

_Tyre

With

_hope

of

Promethean

fire

And

oh

God

!

God

!

God

! the desire

For what

_only the

Gods

attain!

In the _{white moonlight stand}

With

every finger

on

a star,

and

feel

JOY

The

canons are _{covered with snow,}

But

the _{sky doth over}

them

lean

With

eyes that are

warm

and

keen

As

if he could never

know

The

gray despair of the

_snow;

And

snow

and

sky join

hands

together

A

VOICE

A

woman

spoke to

me

in the street

I

do

not

remember

how

or

_why

But

a breath

blew

over the _{winter sky}

And

spring

came

in with silver feet!

ANOTHER

A

creature _plucked at

me

in the street

But

well I

knew

the reason

_why

The

red stars sickenedin the _sky

IMPRESSIONS

This is the Gate of the

_Gray

_City

_wrought

With

_{piled roofs}

and

steeples dimly seen

Thru

the _gray

dusk

pale, wistful flakes of fire

Kindled about its lower _fringe vast

murk

A

snuffling

monster

with an evil _eye

That

_{surly pants to}

work

some

will

_unknown,

Blowing

white breaths a

_semaphore

With

lifted

arm

a

form

that _swings a light

In arcs, against infinitude _{of gray,}

Uneasy

sounds, the clink

and

clank

and

_groan

Of

_things inanimate the curves of rails

In rhythmical convergence gathered

up

(And

gathering

up what

burdens

from

afar!)

Monotony

monotony

despair!

Whatever

our immitigable end,

The

earths

our

home

and

prison thru

whose

windows

Our

_{wistful scrutinizing}

minds

traverse

The

skys _dissolving continents, exult

In melancholy

mountains

or, shackled,

Envy

the inconstant sea that

seems

An

uncontaminated _{god, alone, complete}

In

_mighty

_passion

and

thescorn of time.

I love the _{skyward-spiring} tree

For

its

_supreme

unconsciousness of me.

So

let us seek the lands that the

Gods

love,

The

soil

_unsown,

the isles of

_sumptuous

_store;

Where

fallow fields _{yield yearly fee} of _grain,

And

vines

_unpruned

_{produce perennial bloom,}

And

olive slips engender faithfully,

And

dark _figs deck their trees; the cavernous oaks

Bleed

_honey

d _drops,

and from

_high hills descend

PRELUDE TO

A

PHANTASY

I will tell thee of

_Far-Away,

of

_Far-Away,

of

Far-Away,

I will tell thee of

_Far-Away

The home

of

_{wandering dreams}

;

For

_they

come

out of

_Far-Away

To

show

us

how

to love

and

_play,

And

when

_{they ve}

wandered

for a

_day

Must

return, it seems.

There

s

more

_{than gold} in

_Far-Away,

in

_Far-Away,

in

_Far-Away,

There

s

more

_{than gold} in

_Far-Away,

There

s

more

than _{jewelled gleams.}

There

s

more

than smiles in

_Far-Away,

And

coronals of _{laughter gay;}

There

s _{crystal tears that}

_{bloom alway}

Beside _{forgotten streams.}

We

ll _{gather gold}

from Far-Away, from Far-Away,

from Far-Away,

We

ll _{gather gold}

from Far-Away,

We

ll steal _{the jewelled gleams.}

We

ll

hunt

for smiles

from

_Far-Away;

Following laughter

by

the

way,

But

we

must

for another

_day

Leave

the tears it seems.

We

ll find the road to

_Far-Away,

to

_Far-Away,

to

Far-Away,

We

ll

know

the road to

_Far-Away

By

the feet of

dreams

;

For

_they

come

out of

_Far-Away

To

love a little

and

_{to play,}

And

when

_{they ve}

wandered

for a

_day

RUNNING

WATER

Oh

_you

who

stand

_by

the river in a

_gown

of

willow-green,

I will

make

_{you an}

_{eager song} of

_my

_{heart to-night;}

I will find

me

_{a feather of a singing bird that} has seen

And

touched the_{blue targe of the sky} in its _flight.

I will

make

me

a _quill of it,

and

dip in

my

heart

and

write!

I

would

not

make

_you

a _{threnody of}

sorrow

that has

been,

For you

are

no

more

_{than an eager} child

who

demand

Magicaltales _{of me, of lacquered}

Arabian

sheen;

I will _{speak very softly} then with

_{your hand}

In mine, a rose _{petal, the things that}

_you

understand.

On

the

waxen

and

beautiful tablet that is

_your

heart

With

_{a singing} quill

and

the stain of

my

heart I will

write;

I will write with _{the simplest}

words and

_{the simplest}

art

All the splendors that

glow

so

_by

_night

Of

the Genie

and

the _Bottle,

and

carpets of orient

flight.

And

you

who

are

more

than a princess in

_your

_gown

of yellow-green

With

_your

bird-like

and

_trembling heart will

under

All the luxurious sorrows

and

loves that

have

been Written

_{on parchment}

at a _kings

demand

And

the _simple

words

of

them

will flutter like birds in

vour

hand.

EPITHALAMION

The

pale

dawn

went

down

unto the sea,

Past the _{gray ships} in the _offing.

The

salt

wind found

her blowing hair

And

closed his

wings and

nested there,

And

the salt sea

_hungered

for her rare

Sweet body and

forgot his scoffing.

The

pale

dawn

went

down

unto the sea

When

all the

world

was

_sleeping;

She

lifted veils

and

veils of air

Until her eager limbs

were

bare,

And

the salt sea shook his

maned

hair,

And

the curld

waves

came

to her, leaping.

MARSH-LANDS

Sure

in this

_{spongy and}

luxuriant retreat

This _{lovely lyric} little

marsh

Which

_{nothing hath of} fierce or harsh,

Unhappy

fancies to evoke,

Where

all life is

most

_delicately attuned to sweet

Melodious

_living, here

we

ll

meet

Naiads

_dainty

and

discreet

With

other watery folk

And

watch

the twinkle of their iridiscent feet.

Upon

a reeds _high silver _point

Which

early

dews

anoint,

The

_Red-wing

lights

and

poises, swaying,

With

_throaty

and

delicious _{whistle playing}

Pan-music

in the

_{mellow morning}

_light.

It islike _{running water}s flow

A

bit _unearthly,

and

celestial _quite

A

_{golden tremolo;}

We

ll be as _busy as the clouds, with

_naught

to do,

And

we

will

wonder

at the curious striping,

In _{saffron glimpses, of}

more

_{distant pools}

Which

the

wind

cools

With

_deep reflected blue.

And

we

will listen

now

to

_Hyla

s _piping

A

thin small _sprite

That

one

_may

never see

Calling to the sky his _{clear delight}

Filled with insatiate

and

unbounded

_ecstasy.

SPRING

FANCY

There

is an _{orchard, old}

and

rare, (I cannot tell

_you

_where!)

With

_{green doors opening} to the sun;

And

the sky-children gather there

To

watch

the blossoms, one

_by

_one,

Falling wistfully thru the air

From

the trees dishevelled hair.

The

sky-children shake their

wings

With

flutterings

and

gurglings

And

lovethe _light

and

kiss the sun,

Nor

heed the blossoms that have

blown

From

the fruit-wives ancient hair

Earthward

thru the _glowing air,

SONG

A

Flicker, a Robin, a

Song-sparrow

Have

come

from

_Arcady.

The

Flicker

was

an

_imp

that shouted in a tree;

The

Robin

was

a

_winged

_laugh that _Spring set free;

The

_Song-sparrow

was

a _liquid

arrow

PLAYING

Three

little_girls

and

one little

_boy

Out

in the first

warm

sunshine;

The

wind

blows in

and

the

wind

blows out

Voices cool as moonshine.

Six tin cans

and

a pile of dirt

And

the airsmiles like a

mother

The

wind

blows in

and

the

wind

blows out

As

_{they play} with each other.

Sparrows on

the fence

and

clothes on the line

And

somewhere someone

s _laughter

The

wind

blows in

and

the

wind

blows out.

And

it could not

blow

much

softer!

Three

little _girls

and

one little

_boy

Out

in the first

warm

weather

The

wind blows

in

and

the

wind

blows out

While

_{they play together.}

SONG

Hi!

hi! hi!

On

this _green

_morning

My

soul is as taut as a

_{greenwood-bow,}

Feeling the sap in it

_mounting

_so,

Needs

but a _jog to loose without

_warning

An

arrow

into the infinite _sky

Hi!

hi! hi!

On

this _green

_morning

!

A

BUST BY

RODIN,

KNOWN

AS

CERES

With

rhythmic feet

_{and garments}

_flowing free

Draw

near,

draw

near, bring largesse in full

hand

;

Move

as to

music

of the saraband

Stately, before this

Woman-deity.

Woman

s these billows of thick hair that roll

Down

the billowing breasts of her,

and

close

Shadows

of pain

and

mirth in firm _repose

This delicate

mask drawn

_tight across a soul!

A

Goddess

Ultima

Thule

in _{her eye}

;

For

thesad

wisdom

ofits _steadygaze,

Fixed on

far, wintry fields

and

_{frozen ways,}

Goes

out to _{larger things} than

_you

or I:

The

_Titan-sap

makes

_{gods of} the _{spring hours,}

THE

FLOWER

S

WAY

I

have

_{stood long} in _{the night}

Under

a star;

I

have

stood still with

_shadowy

head

And

_arrowy

leaves _outspread

Under

its _trembling light

Where

_{green things} are.

I

have

_{crept close to the grass}

Where

the beetles dart,

And

the

_{humming-bird and}

_{the dragon-fly}

Were

visions in the _sky,

And

the

mendicant

bees that _pass

Rifled

_my

heart.

I

have

lain _long in the

_day

Under

the sun,

With

_my

burning face in the

arms

of the _wind,

And

_my

petals

unconfm d

And my

virginal robes

a-sway

Thus

joy is

won!

THE

TREE

S

WAY

The

_high trees are honest folk;

They

do

not stand so

much

aloof

Up

under heaven

s roof,

Altho they are earths fairest cloak.

Their lives are _very

calm

and

slow;

They

wait for

_coming

_{things to} come,

They

wait, they rest, they

ponder

some

Purpose

forgotten long

ago

Like _{quiet folk;}

And

sometimes I

am

moved

to stroke

Hand-greeting as I _pass

them

_near,

And

often I

am

sure I hear

CHILDREN

What

a

_garden

of surprise

Out

_beyond

_my

window

lies!

Fancy,

when

the night is there

Gentletrees _{with drooping} hair

Rocking, rocking cradle-wise

Little stars _{with yellow eyes}!

VERSES

TO A

LITTLE CHILD

(From

Hofmannsthal)

Your

feet have been fashioned as roses

To

seek the lands of the rainbow

The

_{rainbow-kingdoms}

are open.

There, haunting the taciturn tree-tops

Millenial _{prophecies linger,}

The

inexhaustible waters

Abide

there forever

and

aye.

Besidethe

immeasurable

forest

From

wooden

_{bowl brimming}

will

_you

then

Apportion your

milk with a _hop-toad?

So

festive a _{banqueting almost}

Entices the stars to their fall!

By

borders of measureless waters

Soon

_you

will discover _{a playmate,}

A

_{dolphin engaging}

and

kind.

He

ll _leap to _dry-land at

_your

_bidding,

And

if he shall fail

_{you sometimes}

The

tender, innumerable zephyrs

NIGHT-FLOWERS

This _night hath

no

_disease;

It

knows

not

wrecks

nor

wars

Nor

deaths of

human

minds.

The

feet of the sweet

winds

Break

all the rivers _peace

Into

marmoreal

bars.

The

tops of moonlit trees

Have

blossomed with white stars,

And

_perfumes

that

one

finds

Inold

Arabian

_jars

Had

never

blooms

like these!

THE

NIGHT

Sorrows

confide their secrets; joys lead lives

Of

lonely splendor.

Mankind

tells all _things

To

me,

knowing

I will not ever _speak.

DISILLUSION

The

night

was

like a _jewelld

crown

(Could

jewels be so soft _{a thing!)}

For

stars

and

wind were

in the

town

And

_by

the

_highways

_entering,

Plucked there as

on

a _{viol string,}

Until

somewhere

a

woman

s

scream

Silence within

The

_upper

_{twilight of a temple} lies

Asleep, with pendant

plumes

a

_dreaming

_god

And

dreams

the _{pageantry of things} and

dreams

The

gifts that he has given with his

hands

The

_gifts that he has taken with his

hands

And

dreams

his

own

_eternity.

I

am

one that loves

The

stars of _{labyrinthine night}

whom

the shrill

dawn

Devours, the _{quietude of} ultimate _slopes

Thoughtful

of twilight, peering

moons

that shed

Unrisen glamours

thru the

_umbrageous

wood

With gnome

and

goblin rife,

and

the light spray

SONG

Would

I

were

a bird

To

nest in a cover

Of

leaves that hover

Twixt

earth

and heaven

Where

no sound

is heard

Only

the

uneven

Brush

of

winds

that slumber

With

no

_thought to

_cumber;

Would

I

were

a bird!

Would

I

were

a

wave

To

rise for a

moment

From

the oceans _foment,

To

puff

my

lips asunder

Blowing

bubbles brave,

To

dream

and

to

wonder

Of

the _depths

below

me

And

the

winds

that

blow

me

Would

I

were a

wave

!

RONDEAU

A

Sunday-calm, ornate, profound,

Enchanting

sense, subduing sound, Enjoins its ritual to _prepare;

The

_day

is bland with unctuous prayer

That

_leaps to

heaven

at a bound.

And

bells

_ope

throats in

mellow round

Of

sweet antiphonal resound,

And

virtue _glistens

_everywhere

A

Sunday-calm.

Draw

breath!

Away

to _virgin

ground

!

But

where

the fields are flower-crowned

The

cattle with self-conscious stare

Chide

_my

undeprecative air,

Good

heavens!

Can

_they too

have found

A

_Sunday-calm?

SUNSET BURIAL

The

trees

_upheaven

filigrane fingers of desire

To

touch a ruby-throated cloud-face fanned

By

a bronze breath

and

globous

mouth

of fire;

Beneath, the _{rigid gravestones} stand,

Each

one a cadaver that cannot close its hand.

FAIRY

SONG

I can live in a _golden fruit

Whose

core is

_hung

_{with honey;} I can

_{swing on}

_golden

_wing

In elfin

_ceremony

But oh

! for the

_power

To

_open

as a flower

A

YOUNG

GIRL

S

LOVE

The

season is less stubborn

now;

Over

the _youngling

world

we

see

A

white sky full _{of scudding blue,}

A

white

wind

that runneth as a child

Touching most

delicately the

new

Sweet

buds,

and

having touched

and

smiled,

Goes

to seek out

some

_pale

_anemone,

And

wreathe with

maiden

flowers her _fragile brow.

A

YOUNG

MAN

S

LOVE

If I

_{were your}

sister I

d

lie with

_you

_{the night-long}

To

feel

_your

bosom

s _beating;

If I

_{were your}

brother I

d

wake

_you

_{with a day-song}

And

give akiss as greeting;

If I

_{were your mother}

Id hold

_you

as a shut flower

When

the dark

comes

_creeping;

If I

_{were your}

father I

d

enter at the

dawn-hour

To

look

_upon

_{you, sleeping.}

What

is there left over

SONG

A

_cup

fullof star-shine

That glowed

as

an

ember,

(Oh,

star of

_my

_delight!)

With

smiles I

do

remember

And

words

_{forgotten quite,}

A

cup

fullof star-shine

I

drank

with

_you

_to-night.

A

_cup

fullof sea-sound

That

was

as

summer

thunder-(Oh

sea of

_my

_delight!)

With

_{love that lay}

under

Seven

heavens _bright,

A

cup

full of sea-sound

I

drank

with

_you

_to-night.

SONG

(After an old English tune)

I will _bring thee a silver crown.

I will _bring thee an ell of vair,

Cloth of_gold

and

ermine rare

To

make

thee a

_gown.

Thou

hast_brought

me

a marble frown.

Thou

hast _brought

me

a _cold, cold stare,

Heart

of lead

and

_wry

_despair,

And

a

mad-man

s

swown.

I will_bring thee a _{leaden crown,}

Cloth of Raines in _thirty-fold!

I will _bring thee abed

on

the

wold

To

_{lay thee}

down.

Thou

hast _brought

me

out of the

town

To

the earth _upturned

where

the bell is

TRISTAN

AND

ISOLDE

The

sea is _here, ithath not

_any

shore,

Nor

moves

with

_moving

of wind-driven

waves

Which,

undulant

and

_writhing

naked

slaves

To

the _uneasy

wanderer

of

heaven

s floor,

Bow

sullen backs beneath theirmasters store

He

_{brought with}viewless

hands from broken

graves-The

sea is _here,

and

in its silent caves

Moves

not, thothe

wind

clamors

more

and

more.

The

sea is _here, an infinite undertone;

But

lo!

upon

its surface I _descry

Two

floating bubbles, wonderfully

blown

Toward

each other, flame-like

from

the sky

Meet

melt with lyric splendor into one

Then,

wind-prickd, vanish o er the Sea, a cry!

PALINURUS

Starlight: with deep

and

_{quiet breathing slept}

The

southern sea.

The

_{white-wing d ship that} bore

The

_{good Aeneas from}

his

Dido

s shore

Ghostlike, with rippling furrows,

onward

crept,

And

_only faithful _{Palinarus kept}

The

midnight

watch

but ah, the

magic

bough,

The

opiate

dew

that dript

upon

his brow,

The

vacant _post, the friends

who

_waking

_wept.

The

gods

demand

their victims;

who

shall

know

What

failures

Time

and

Circumstance

_compel?

Yet, if such

doom

were

mine, I

would

twere so

That

_they

would

mark

_my

absence thus: "How well

Even

unto the last

he

struggled, lo!

THE

DERELICT

I cannot

remember

whither I

was

bound

I cannot

remember

_why

I

was

found

Moving

without a

sound

Moving

in

_mystery

Derelict, derelict,

Over

the sea!

I too _carry a _cargo in

_my

_hold,

Underneath

sea-water

and

green with

mold

I cannot

remember

how

old!

For

terrible it is tobe

Derelict, derelict,

Over

the sea!

Feebler _{ships weather bravely into port};

Running

a course that is safe

and

short

My

voyage

is another sort;

No

master guideth

me

Derelict, derelict,

Over

the sea!

Nights

have

shadow

d

me

with

phantom

stride-Stars

have

_peer

d

at me, eerie-eyed

Goblin lights

and magic

tide

Keep

me

company,

Derelict, derelict,

Setting suns have rowelld

me

with crimson d

heel-Winds

have _{flung laughter, peal after peal}

But

_they shall not

know

that I feel

Mute

in

_my

_agony

Derelict, derelict,

Over

the sea!

Rudderless,

by

ways

uncharted

blown

Some

_day

shall

waken

to find

me

gone

What

matter? I have drifted alone

Ever

alone yet free

Derelict, derelict,

THE

SQUIRE

OF

DAMES TO

HIS

LADY

Why

should _{our meeting}

borrow

A

sense of

shame

or

sorrow

That

each

_{must go}

his

_way

?

Love

liketh

no

fetter

Therefore our roads

were

better If

_you

_go

_{yours to-morrow,}

And

I

_{go mine}

_to-day.

I hold

_you

for a

minute

You

d catch the

hour and

pin it

But

if I held

_you

_longer

Would

_you

have

more

assurance In days of richer _durance,

Life with

more

_rapture in it,

Passion

more

wise

and

stronger?

The

_Daughter

of Illusion

Hath

made

our love

seem

fusion

Of

two

_{strange things} in one

But

loving hath not taught her

That

_{strange as} fire to water,

Love becomes

bleak intrusion

When

all the

_glamor

s _gone.

You

say I_{ve brought}

_{you sorrow}

And

_pay

not debts I

borrow

But

mirth is

what

s to

_pay

!

So

_{part our paths} in _laughter,

And,

since

_your

heartis _softer,

You

go your

way

to-morrow

And

Ill

_{go mine}

GAS-LIGHT

HEROICS

With

this _nights carousal

We

will close _{the portal}

On

_{our poor}

_espousal

Sacrament and

housel

For

a love too mortal!

With

this

_gay

_delaying

We

ll _{delay yet longer}

Care

not

what

the _saying

Of

the

World

that_braying

Evil tattle-monger!

Pleasure has as thunder

Scorched and

_{jangled thru}

me

;

Now

Illsit

and

wonder

At

the day-star

yonder

And

your

face,

grown

gloomy.

You

are

known

as "Lily"

And

_they

mock

your

gender;

Is it but a

silly

Fancy,

you seem

stilly

Lily-souled

and

tender?

Underneath

the bitter

Mockery

of _color,

Underneath

the titter

Is there _somethingfitter?

Something

finer, fuller?

Something

(can Ihear it

In

_your

secret _eyes?)

When

I

come

too near it

Like _{a frightened spirit}

Running

from

theskies?

Girl,

_you

know

that

_{glow meant}

Dawn

s thin _lips of scarlet

Bubble

of lifes

foment

MISTS

I

I

am

_{most weary}

of this fatuous

me

That

doth _{obtrude a niddering death}s

head

At

a blithe feast_{of Springtide jollity,}

Of

_revelling

buds and

flowers unsurfeited.

I

am

most weary

of this _{chained thought}

That

hath _forgotten

where

its

mansions

are

And

lost the

dew

its _{seven-spher d courses caught}

Wandering

in _{plunged dark}

from

star to star.

I

am

most weary

of

_my

_stagnant soul

That

neither thirsts, nor hungers, nor is stirred

By

the gigantic thunders that

have

rolled

From

the white, hurtling lightning of a word.

I

am

most

_weary, love; solet thy face

The

sponge that _sops

_my

_{gaze, myself} erase.

II

Oft

in the _{groping night} I

am

_afraid,

For

this,

mine opaque

organism,

seems

A

glass, a

mere

reflex of trooping

dreams

A

polished boss

where

images parade.

And

to see these doth

make

_my

senses cold

This _globe

become

a visionary face

This little _spinning soul of

me

in _space

I dare not think of

what

that space

may

hold!

Such

_thoughts are as the charnel mists that rise

From

feverish

_{and mortuary ground}

Thru

which

one sees the _country all

around

Yet

near, the

dead

and

far_away,the skies.

But

atthe _{thought of}

_you

_my

life

_expands

SCEPTIC

I

This

hour

has shut uslikea tent

From

all but _night;

we

two, alone,

So

close, so poignantly alert,

have grown,

That

trivial _speech,

from

silence rent,

Breaks

off a useless instrument.

For

all the _opening

world

is _ours,

And

_{you, tho} scarce a

woman

yet,

Your

_eyes with feastsof _lights

and

_vintage set,

Hold

all the

_dewy

wealth of _flowers,

And

_gold of _Babylonian towers.

Our

lives will alterif

we move

It

were

_{so easy}

now

to rise

And

tell

_my

_{unimpassioned} soul it lies

And

claim youths _heritage of love,

Let bald life

_{prove what}

it

_may

_prove!

It

were

so _easy toconceive

Your

lack

_my

lack

_{would compensate}

And

_by

one stroke

undo

the knot of fate;

It

were

so _easy to believe

The

lies that such _{a thing} could

weave

!

Or

shall I _{stumble through the night}

Biting

my

lips to hold the tears

Because

_{your incommunicable}

_years

Must

spend their

summer

_{of delight}

Without

_my

reach

_beyond

_my

_sight?

The

house is still; the midnight

seems

Inscrutable

no answer

there.

Oh

God

! to break this tension of

despair.

Between

us the calm _lamplight streams

"Good _night!"

and

"Pleasant

dreams

!"

II

I

would

I

had

lain with

_my

love to-night;

Her

eyes trembled for her

body

said,

"I

have

smoothed

a pillow

and

made

a

bed"-But

I smiled against it

And

turned

_away

_my

head

To

come

into the cold _starlight.

I

would

I

had

lain with

_my

love _to-night,

For

I

know

how

flowers are shed,

And

the cynical scintillant stars are

dead

Dead, dead

utterly!

Yet

I turned

_away

_my

head

To

come

into the cold_starlight.

I

would

I

had

lain with

_my

love to-night!

Oh,

indolent Gods,

we

too can tread

On

the silent _spirits, the

uncomf

orted!

She

did not _{reproach me,}

Tho

I turned

_away

_my

head

And

came

into the _starlight.

Ill

Love

(as a cloud

on

the sea

Hung

between

polesof blue)

Hangs

in the heart of

me

Between

_{the eyes} of you.

Love, as a cloud

on

the sea,

Claims the tears of two.

Love

(as a

wind

in a tree

Shaking

its tower of_green)

Shakes

all the heartof

me

And

leaves

no

_{peace between.}

Love,as the

wind

thetree

Tears

with

hands

unseen.

Love

_(as a storm

on

the sea

Shatters the sleep of the

wave)

Shatters the heart of

me

With

desires that _grope

and

crave.

Love, as the storm the sea,

IV

You,

flower-named,

and

as a flower _arrayed,

Open

toallthe

_wandering

airs that_pass,

Opened

to

me

_yet I

drew

back

_afraid,

Craven

to the blood that

would have

preyed

And

the _{sly viper coiling in} the _grass.

V

Love,

when

you

smiled

and beckoned

My

cold_thought stood aloof

and

reckoned

Some

_heights

above

_you.

But

now

_{you have}

turned

_{and gone}

Smiling, fugitive as

dawn,

VI

Love, with her queens face

and

child _lips

Walked

at

_my

side; herhair about her

head

Streamed, with riotous

and

_{exuberant spread} Like sails

and

_{cordage of sea-breasting ships,}

And

as the tides, her mirthful glints

and

dips

Tugged

at

_my

anchor

d

calmness then she said,

Chillingto _gravity, "You are lead."

It

was

as

when

_{the bright blade cruelly slips,}

For

in

_my

soul that hid its vain desires

Under

closed hatch, I

knew

the stifled fires

Devoured

in _{silence, as stealthy serpents} writhe Their folds abouttheir_prey;

and seemed

to hear

The

passing of

some

irrevocable year,

And

faint for whistle of a

monstrous

_scythe.

VII

Pain of _{widest range}

ARMA

_{VIRUMQUE CANO}

And

so the

_{good Aeneas went}

_away.

It

was

not

_{dawn, and}

yet the sleepless sea

Felt as _{a mother,} the still

unborn

_day.

The

stars

were

brighter than they ought to be.

A

_milky

foam

curled

from

the vessels breast

Whose

_long blades lifted to each lifting crest.

Happy

were

the sailors to be aboard once more,

And

the _laughing sea

answered

to their shouts afar

off shore.

Dido

the

_Queen

Knew

he

was

_gone.

No

ned

to

have

seen

From

the casement

_withdrawn;

No

need

to be told;

Her

heart

had

guessed

By

the _{aching unrest}

And

_empty

breast

Empty

and

cold.

Oh,

plain her

Maidens

at their spinning,

As

the course

was

traced

Aeneas

_paced,

His

_{thoughts uprising} like a flock of birds;

And

one _{flew west,} to the

new

the

unknown

nest,

And

one that

was

_{wing d}

_{with flaming}

words

Something

the

_Queen

had

uttered, tender sweet,

Fluttered back

and

died _just at her feet.

Ho

! chants a

Rower,

_straining at the _sweep,

Leave

the

landsman

to his _pillow, the sailor to the deep.

All night the

Queen

In fever burned;

A

dream

returned

Long

ago

seen:

A

dream

of _ships,

Of

one

who

came

Out

of a flame

And

cried her

name

And

kissed her _lips.

Somewhere

in the

dawn Someone

s _singing:

Jet-black, the

palms

like_{sculptured fountains}

loomed

Above

the lovers; one starblazed allnight.

Beyond

the river

was

the sea that

boomed.

Their barge

was

lit with lightnings of delight.

Of

this, the

good Aenaes

too

had dreamed

While

the

unshaken

_{towers of Ilium gleamed.}

Ah

! _cry the _sailors, "whom

we

loved

must

wait.

There

s

no

_{turning back}

from

the

_open

track to the

gates of fate."

The

cicadas _drone;

Desert

winds

blow

As

oarsmen

row

Their

_Queen

alone

Down

the river.

Alone, she cried

Alone

! to the tide.

And

the sea replied

Forever!

La, croon the

_Women,

_{nimbly weaving,}

Months

_bring all

_wanderings

to a close.

The

fleet _years flee;

Aeneas

wisely wed,

Often,

when

wind and

sea strike

_mighty

_blows,

Wakening

from dreams

half _ecstasy, half dread,

That

come

_upon

him

from

another life,

Touches

the calm breast of his _{sleeping wife.}

Hum,

the _Night

Watch

mutters, leaning on his _spear,

1

Tis a _strange

world

to be in

and

to have

no

fear."

The

sea at last

Brings pain to end.

The

desert vast

Becomes

her friend.

Her

_people fear it:

"The _{Queen," they say,}

"Grows

_day

_{by day}

Paler, but still

_gay

As

a spirit."

Oh,

they

murmur,

"Queen

Dido

goes

away

A

HYMN

TO

DIONYSUS

IN

SPRING

Yellow

the sands of the shores of Elis,

and

over the

creaming

Foam-flakes that flutter

and

curl

on

the _{edge of} the

dreaming

Mediterranean, Jupiter arches his azure

dome.

Here

to the somnolent sands the Aeolian

women

have

come,

The

dreamers, all _{languid with} silence of _spring-tide dreaming,

And

they stand with theirhair

unbound

and

their feet in the foam.

The

heart of the

_morning

beats with a _swooning,

amorous

_beating,

And

the

_nymph-cool

waters

and

brazen sunshine

meet

ing,

Mingle

where

indolent _{spring-tide ripples}

shimmer

and

burn;

Out

to the

dim

horizon the _eyes of the

dreamers

yearn,

And

like flutes _{are the low,} soft voices thatchant thus,

entreating

The

_God,

_Dionysus, to rise

from

the sea

and

return.

"Bitter _{thy roving hath} been,

O

Hunter,

and

stricken

with madness,

And

thy winter frenzy hath torn us with torment of

sadness

Horror

of blood in the

mouth

and

of

murderous

lusts that _bring

Shadows

a-couch in the forest

from under

us

shud

dering.

We

are sick of the feverish _{nights that} have stolen

our

_gladness

Ah!

we

are

_weary

of winter

and

fain of the

Spring!"

"Thy foes,

O

Hunter,

have goaded

thy soul, but their

goading is _over,

For

_{every unfolding} leaf is _{a shield for thy} cover

And

_every grass-blade upraises a spear that is scimi tar-keen,

Gladlythe flowers will

weave

thee amantle to

wander

unseen.

Slimas _{a willow-wand,}

Ariadne

awaits thee,her lover,

And

her heart is full of the

dreams

that are cool

and

"Hye, the

Dew,

thy mother, sorrows because of thy

going,

And

the_film-pale, rain-sweet

_Hyades

_fleeing

and

flow

ing,

Dissolved

from

the

rainbow

and

river to rise in the

sap of thetree,

Leave

never their dolorous _{grieving, lamenting} in

quest of thee.

And

the succulent vine

and

the spirit of all _things

growing

Cry

Dionysus, return!

Oh,

return

from

the sea!

"

"Wilt thou forsake us _forever,

_{unheeding our}

sedulous

plaining?

Seest not the clusters of pale green globes, crescent

and

straining

Sunwards,

that _long for _thy

hand

to _engarb

them

with royal attire?

Hear

us,

O

Wine-God;

return to us! Kindle once

more

Desire!"

So

chant the Aeolian

women

till the _light be

_waning

While

the

foam

breaks over their feet in soft folds

The

robes of the sun are _red,

and

close to the earth

he dozes;

The

_long

_day

lingers, then slowly

and

silently closes

The shadowy

orient _{gates, climbing}

upward

stair

_by

stair,

Raising her evening face to the stars in the spring

tide air.

Lo!

the sea is

_aglow

and

aflame with the odor of

roses!

Lo!

a _{glimpse of} the

God

with the sun in his _yellow hair!

UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

Los_Angeles

...li9.?.9.U.];SNREGIONALLIBRARY FACILITY