Song-Surf Part 12

Burdens of day they seem--in crowds Hurled from earth's sight.

Tilting gulls whip whitely far Over the lake, Tirelessly on o'er buoy and spar Till they o'ertake

Shadow and mingled mist--and then Vanish to wing Still the bewildering night-fen, Where the waves ring.

Dusking amber dimly dies Out of the vale.

Dead from the dunes the winds arise-- Ghosts of the gale.

LINGERING

I lingered still when you were gone, When tryst and trust were o'er, While memory like a wounded swan In sorrow sung love's lore.

I lingered till the whippoorwill Had cried delicious pain Over the wild-wood--in its thrill I heard your voice again.

I lingered and the mellow breeze Blew to me sweetly dewed-- Its touch awoke the sorceries Your last caresses brewed.

But when the night with silent start Had sown her starry seed, The harvest which sprang in my heart Was loneliness and need.

FAUN-CALL

Oh, who is he will follow me With a singing, Down sunny roads where windy odes Of the woods are ringing?

Where leaves are tossed from branches lost In a tangle Of vines that vie to clamber high-- But to vault and dangle!

Oh, who is he?--His eye must be As a lover's To leap and woo the chicory's hue In the hazel-hovers!

His hope must dance like radiance That hurries To scatter shades from the silent glades Where the quick hare scurries.

And he must see that Autumn's glee And her laughter From his lips and heart will quell all smart-- Of before and after!

THE LIGHTHOUSEMAN

When at evening smothered lightnings Burn the clouds with fretted fires; When the stars forget to glisten, And the winds refuse to listen To the song of my desires, Oh, my love, unto thee!

When the livid breakers angered Churn against my stormy tower; When the petrel flying faster Brings an omen to the master Of his vessel's fated hour-- Oh, the reefs! ah, the sea!

Then I climb the climbing stairway, Turn the light across the storm; You are watching, fisher-maiden For the token-flashes laden With a love death could not harm-- Lo, they come, swift and free!

_One_--that means, "I think of thee!"

_Two_--"I swear me thine!"

_Three_--Ah, hear me tho' you sleep!-- Is, that I know thee mine!

Thro' the darkness, One, Two, Three, All the night they sweep: Thro' raging darkness o'er the deep, One--and Two--and Three.

SERENITY

And could I love it more--this simple scene Of cot-strewn hills and fields long-harvested, That lie as if forgotten were all green, So bare, so dead!

Or could my gaze more tenderly entwine Each pallid beech and silvery sycamore Outreaching arms in patience to divine If winter's o'er?

Ah no, the wind has blown into my veins The blue infinity of sky, the sense Of meadows free to-day from icy pains-- From wintry vents.

And sunny peace more virgin than the glow Falling from eve's first star into the night, Brings hope believing what it ne'er can know With mortal sight.

WANTON JUNE

I knew she would come!

Sarcastic November Laughed cold and glum On the last red ember Of forest leaves.

He was laughing, the scorner, At me forlorner Than any that grieves-- Because I asked him if June would come!

But I knew she would come When snow-hearted winter Gripped river and loam, And the wind sped flinter On icy heel, I was chafing my sorrow And yearning to borrow A hope that would steal Across the hours--till June should come.

And now she is here-- The wanton!--I follow Her steps, ever near, To the shade of the hollow Where violets blow: And chide her for leaving, Tho' half believing She taunted me so, To make her abided return more dear.

SPIRIT OF RAIN

(MIYANOs.h.i.+TA, j.a.pAN, 1905)

Spirit of rain-- With all thy mountain mists that wander lonely As a gray train Of souls newly discarnate seeking new life only!

Spirit of rain!

Leading them thro' dim torii, up fane-ways onward Till not in vain They tremble upon the peaks and plunge rejoicing dawnward.

Spirit of rain!

So would I lead my dead thoughts high and higher, Till they regain Birth and the beauty of a new life's fire.