Commemoration

I sat by the granite pillar, and sunlight fell 2Where the sunlight fell of old, And the hour was the hour my heart remembered well, 2And the sermon rolled and rolled As it used to roll when the place was still unhaunted, 2And the strangest tale in the world was still untold. And I knew that of all this rushing of urgent sound 2That I so clearly heard, The green young forest of saplings clustered round 2Was heeding not one word: Their heads were bowed in a still serried patience 2Such as an angel's breath could never have stirred. For some were already away to the hazardous pitch, 2Or lining the parapet wall, And some were in glorious battle, or great and rich, 2Or throned in a college hall: And among the rest was one like my own young phantom, 2Dreaming for ever beyond my utmost call. "O Youth," the preacher was crying, "deem not thou 2Thy life is thine alone; Thou bearest the will of the ages, seeing how 2They built thee bone by bone, And within thy blood the Great Age sleeps sepulchred 2Till thou and thine shall roll away the stone. "Therefore the days are coming when thou shalt burn 2With passion whitely hot; Rest shall be rest no more; thy feet shall spurn 2All that thy hand hath got; And One that is stronger shall gird thee, and lead thee swiftly 2Whither, O heart of Youth, thou wouldest not." And the School passed; and I saw the living and dead 2Set in their seats again, And I longed to hear them speak of the word that was said, 2But I knew that I longed in vain. And they stretched forth their hands, and the wind of the spirit took them 2Lightly as drifted leaves on an endless plain.