English poem
Iv
Believe, some power higher Breathes in us this desire With purpose strange as fire, And soft though seeming hard; Who to such starved endeavor And wasted love, that never Seems recompensed, forever Gives in His way reward.
BEYOND.
1
Hangs stormed with stars the night, Deep over deep, A majesty, a might, To feel and keep.
2
Ah! what is such and such, Love, canst thou tell? That shrinks--though 'tis not much-- To weep farewell.
3
That hates the dawn and lark; Would have the wail,-- Sobbed through the ceaseless dark,-- O' the nightingale.
4
Yes, earth, thy life were worth Not much to me, Were there not after earth Eternity.
5
God gave thee life to keep-- And what hath life?-- Love, faith, and care, and sleep Where dreams are rife.
6
Death's sleep, whose shadows start The tears in eyes Of love, that fill the heart That breaks and dies.
7
And faith is never given Without some care, That leadeth us to heaven By ways of prayer.
8
The nightingale and dark Are thine then here; Beyond, the light and lark Eternal there.
SHADOWS.
1
Ha! help!--'twas palpable! A ghost that thronged Up from the mind or hell Of one I wronged!
2
'Tis past and--silence!--naught!-- A vision born Of the scared mind o'erwrought With dreams forlorn:
3
The bastard brood of Death And Sleep that wakes Grim fancies with its breath, And reason shakes.
4
Would that the grave could rot Like flesh the soul, Gnaw through with worms and not Leave it thus whole,
5
More than it was in earth Beyond the grave, Much more in death than birth To conscience slave!
CHECK AND COUNTER-CHECK.
1
Vent all your coward's wrath Upon me so!-- Yes, I have crossed your path And will not go!
2
Storm at me hate, and name Me all that's vile, "Lust," "filth," "disease," and "shame," I only smile.
3
Me brute rage can not hurt, It only flings In your own eyes blind dirt That bites and stings.
4
Rave at your like such whine, Your fellow-men, This wrath!--great God! and mine!-- What is it then?
5
No words! no oaths! such hate As devils smile When raw success cries "wait!" And "afterwhile!"
6
A woman I and ill, A courtesan You wearied of, would kill, And you--a man!
7
You, you--unnamable! A thing there's not, Too base to burn in Hell, Too vile to rot.
SEMPER IDEM.
1
Hold up thy head and crush Thy heart's despair; From thy wan temples brush The tear-wet hair.
2
Look on me thus as I Gaze upon thee; Nor question how nor why Such things can be.
3
Thou thought'st it love!--poor fool! That which was lust! Which made thee, beautiful, Vile as the dust!
4
Thy flesh I craved, thy face!-- Love shrinks at this-- Now on thy lips to place One farewell kiss!--
5
Weep not, but die!--'tis given-- And so--farewell!-- Die!--that which makes death heaven, Makes life a hell.
TWO LIVES.
1
"There is no God," one said, And love is lust; When I am dead I'm dead, And all is dust.
"Be merry while you can Before you're gray; With some wild courtesan Drink care away."
2
One said, "A God there is, And God is love; Death is not death, but bliss, And life above.
"Above all flesh is mind; And faith and truth God's gifts to poor mankind That make life youth."
3
One from a harlot's side Arose at morn; One cursing God had died That night forlorn.
FOREVERMORE.