Nirvana Days Part 6

Let me lie here-- I care not for the distant hills today, And the blue sphere Of far infinity that draws away All to its deep, Would only sweep Soothing the farther from me with its sway.

Let me lie here-- Gazing with vacant sadness on this weed.

The cricket near Will utter all my heart can bear to heed.

Another voice Would swell the noise And surge, that ever sound in human need.

Let me lie here: For now, so long my wasted soul has tossed On the wide Mere Of Mystery Hope's wing alone has crossed, I ask no more Than to restore To simple things the wonder they have lost.

BIRTHRIGHT

(_To A. H. R._)

My own, among the unnumbered years G.o.d casts from that full Garner which Is His Eternity one shall Be ours, beyond all fate or fears.

For, ranging lone amid its thorns.

Seeking the buds that grew between, We met and made its morning seem New in a world grown old to morns.

And so tho He may scatter still Many a fadeless other round, In none, for us shall there be found That first awakening and thrill.

But as in peace we tread Love's Land, To which it gave us right of birth, We shall remember that New Earth Came when we first walked hand in hand.

ROMANCE

(_To A. H. R. on North Cliff, Lynton, Devon_)

White-caps hurry to meet the sh.o.r.e An hundred fathoms down.

Gray sails are s.h.i.+mmering on the wind Far out from Lynmouth town.

High crags above us are whispering keen, The heather and the ling Laugh to the sky as driven by The wild gulls cry or cling.

And, where the far sun like a G.o.d Scatters the mist, lies Sh.o.r.e.

Is it Romance's magic realm Spring reigns forever o'er?

Romance that our morning hearts could see Across the darkest foam?

Then do we know it well, my love, Because it is our Home.

ON THE ATLANTIC

(_To A. H. R._)

Who stood upon that schooner's driven deck Last night as reefed and shuddering she hove Into the twilight and all desperate drove From wave to angrier wave that sought her wreck?

Who labored at her helm and watched the wind Stagger the sea with all his stunning might, Until in dimness dwindling from our sight She vanished in the wrack that rode behind?

We know not, you and I, but our two souls That followed as storm-petrels o'er the waves Felt all the might of Him who sinks or saves, And all the pity of earth's unreached goals.

Felt all--then swift returning to our love Dwelt in its peace, uplifted safe above.

BY A SILENT STREAM

To sit by a silent stream, Watching water-lilies dream: While breezes winnow The floating seeds, And the aery minnow Weaves his wavy web among the reeds.

Where a fallen sycamore Whitely arches a pathway o'er, And shadows darkle The lambent cool, As, softly a-sparkle.

Sunbeams arrow lightnings thro the pool.

Where the everlasting's breath Odors mysteries of death.

Where iron-weeds, rusted Leaf and pod, By insects dusted, Rustle--then in autumn sadness nod.

To sit ... till every sense Lose thought of whither and whence; Till earth and heaven And faith and fate No longer leaven Life, with hope or fear, or love or hate.

THE GREAT BUDDHA OF KAMAKURA TO THE SPHINX

Grave brother of the burning sands, Whose eyes enshrine forever The desert's soul, are you not worn Of gazing outward to dim strands Of stars that weary never?

Infinity no answer has For Time's untold distresses.

Its deepest maze of mystery Is but Illusion built up as The blind build skies--with guesses.

Nor has Eternity a place On any starry summit.

The winds of Death are wide as Life, And leave no world untouched--but race, And soon with Night benumb it.

And Karma is the law of soul And star--yea, of all Being.

And from it but one way there is.

Retreat into that tranced Whole-- Which is not Sight nor Seeing;

Which is not Mind nor Mindlessness, Nor Deed nor driven Doer, Nor Want nor Wasting of Desire; But only that which won can bless; And of all else is pure.

Turn then your eyes from the far track Of worlds, and gazing inward, O brother, fare where Life has come, Yea, into its far Whence fare back.

All other ways are sinward.