Sappho: One Hundred Lyrics Part 9

Nay, but how far Too brief will the night be, When I returning To the dear portal Hear my own heart beat! 20

LII

Lo, on the distance a dark blue ravine, A fold in the mountainous forests of fir, Cleft from the sky-line sheer down to the sh.o.r.e!

Above are the clouds and the white, pealing gulls, At its foot is the rough broken foam of the sea, 5 With ever anon the long deep m.u.f.fled roar,-- A sigh from the fitful great heart of the world.

Then inland just where the small meadow begins, Well bulwarked with boulders that jut in the tide, Lies safe beyond storm-beat the harbour in sun. 10

See where the black fis.h.i.+ng-boats, each at its buoy, Ride up on the swell with their dare-danger prows, To sight o'er the sea-rim what venture may come!

And look, where the narrow white streets of the town Leap up from the blue water's edge to the wood, 15 Scant room for man's range between mountain and sea, And the market where woodsmen from over the hill May traffic, and sailors from far foreign ports With treasure brought in from the ends of the earth.

And see the third house on the left, with that gleam 20 Of red burnished copper--the hinge of the door Whereat I shall enter, expected so oft (Let love be your sea-star!), to voyage no more.

LIII

Art thou the top-most apple The gatherers could not reach, Reddening on the bough?

Shall not I take thee?

Art thou a hyacinth blossom 5 The shepherds upon the hills Have trodden into the ground?

Shall not I lift thee?

Free is the young G.o.d Eros, Paying no tribute to power, 10 Seeing no evil in beauty, Full of compa.s.sion.

Once having found the beloved, However sorry or woeful, However scornful of loving, 15 Little it matters.

LIV

How soon will all my lovely days be over, And I no more be found beneath the sun,-- Neither beside the many-murmuring sea, Nor where the plain-winds whisper to the reeds, Nor in the tall beech-woods among the hills 5 Where roam the bright-lipped Oreads, nor along The pasture-sides where berry-pickers stray And harmless shepherds pipe their sheep to fold!

For I am eager, and the flame of life Burns quickly in the fragile lamp of clay. 10 Pa.s.sion and love and longing and hot tears Consume this mortal Sappho, and too soon A great wind from the dark will blow upon me, And I be no more found in the fair world, For all the search of the revolving moon 15 And patient s.h.i.+ne of everlasting stars.

LV

Soul of sorrow, why this weeping?

What immortal grief hath touched thee With the poignancy of sadness,-- Testament of tears?

Have the high G.o.ds deigned to show thee 5 Destiny, and disillusion Fills thy heart at all things human, Fleeting and desired?

Nay, the G.o.ds themselves are fettered By one law which links together 10 Truth and n.o.bleness and beauty, Man and stars and sea.

And they only shall find freedom Who with courage rise and follow Where love leads beyond all peril, 15 Wise beyond all words.

LVI

It never can be mine To sit in the door in the sun And watch the world go by, A pageant and a dream;

For I was born for love, 5 And fas.h.i.+oned for desire, Beauty, pa.s.sion, and joy, And sorrow and unrest;

And with all things of earth Eternally must go, 10 Daring the perilous bourn Of joyance and of death,

A strain of song by night, A shadow on the hill, A hint of odorous gra.s.s, 15 A murmur of the sea.

LVII

Others shall behold the sun Through the long uncounted years,-- Not a maid in after time Wise as thou!

For the G.o.ds have given thee Their best gift, an equal mind 5 That can only love, be glad, And fear not.

LVIII

Let thy strong spirit never fear, Nor in thy virgin soul be thou afraid.

The G.o.ds themselves and the almightier fates Cannot avail to harm

With outward and misfortunate chance 5 The radiant unshaken mind of him Who at his being's centre will abide, Secure from doubt and fear.

His wise and patient heart shall share The strong sweet loveliness of all things made, 10 And the serenity of inward joy Beyond the storm of tears.