My lady hath her houseBetween two bowers;In either of the twainRed roses full of rain;She hath for bondwomenAll kind of flowers.She hath no handmaid fairTo draw her curled gold hairThrough rings of gold that bearHer whole hair’s weight;She hath no maids to standGold-clothed on either hand;In all the great green landNone is so great.She hath…
The hall of heaven was clear for night’s high feast,Yet was not yet day’s fiery heart at restLove leapt up from his mother’s burning breastTo see those warm twin lights, as day decreased,Wax wider, till when all the sun had ceasedAs suns they shone from evening’s kindled crestAcross them and between, a quickening fire,Flamed Venus,…
Though thou be stone and sleep, yet shalt thou hearWhen the word falls from heaven–Let there be light.Thou knowest we would not do thee the despiteTo wake thee while the old sorrow and shame were near;We spake not loud for thy sake, and for fearLest thou shouldst lose the rest that was thy right,The blessing…
With hope of gifts withholdenBut now.From time’s full-flowering boughEach bud spake bloom to emboldenLove’s heart, and seal his vow.Joy’s eyes grew deep with oldenDreams, born he wist not how;Thought’s meanest garb was golden;But now!
To rule in India, forth a soldier wentOn whose bright-fronted youth fierce war had spentIts iron stress of storm, till glory grewFull as the red sun waned on Waterloo.Landing, he met the word from England sentWhich bade him yield up rule: and he, content,Resigned it, as a mightier warrior’s due;And wrote as one rejoicing to…
In fields that knew our feet last year,In sight of quiet sands and seas,This year, Félise?Who knows what word were best to say?For last year’s leaves lie dead and redOn this sweet day, in this green May,And barren corn makes bitter bread.What shall be said?Here as last year the fields begin,A fire of flowers and…
Because there is but one light;Because we have with us our youthOnce, and one chance and one mannerOf service, and then the night;Because we have found not yetAny way for the world to followSave only that ancient way;Whosoever forsake or forget,Whose faith soever be hollow,Whose hope soever grow grey;Because of the watchwords of kingsThat are…
In a song can be good if the turn of the verse isFar-fetched and dear-bought.As the turn of a wave should it sound, and the thoughtRing smooth, and as light as the spray that dispersesBe the gleam of the words for the garb thereof wrought.Let the soul in it shine through the sound as it…
I will make dark over thee;One night shall be as sevenThat its skirts may cover thee;I will send on thy strong men a sword,On thy remnant a rod;Ye shall know that I am the Lord,Saith the Lord God.SECOND ANTIPHONE.All the bright lights of heavenThou hast made dark over us;One night has been as sevenThat its…
Heart of their singer, to be for usMore than our singing can be;Ours, in the tempest at error,With no light but the twilight of terror;Send us a song oversea!Sweet-smelling of pine-leaves and grasses,And blown as a tree through and throughWith the winds of the keen mountain-passes,And tender as sun-smitten dew;Sharp-tongued as the winter that shakesThe…
