the complete poetical works-第4节
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Footprints； that perhaps another；
Sailing o'er life's solemn main；
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother；
Seeing； shall take heart again。
Let us； then； be up and doing；
With a heart for any fate；
Still achieving； still pursuing；
Learn to labor and to wait。
THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS。
There is a Reaper； whose name is Death；
And； with his sickle keen；
He reaps the bearded grain at a breath；
And the flowers that grow between。
〃Shall I have naught that is fair？〃 saith he；
〃Have naught but the bearded grain？
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me；
I will give them all back again。〃
He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes；
He kissed their drooping leaves；
It was for the Lord of Paradise
He bound them in his sheaves。
〃My Lord has need of these flowerets gay；〃
The Reaper said； and smiled；
〃Dear tokens of the earth are they；
Where he was once a child。
〃They shall all bloom in fields of light；
Transplanted by my care；
And saints； upon their garments white；
These sacred blossoms wear。〃
And the mother gave； in tears and pain；
The flowers she most did love；
She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above。
O； not in cruelty； not in wrath；
The Reaper came that day；
'T was an angel visited the green earth；
And took the flowers away。
THE LIGHT OF STARS。
The night is come； but not too soon；
And sinking silently；
All silently； the little moon
Drops down behind the sky。
There is no light in earth or heaven
But the cold light of stars；
And the first watch of night is given
To the red planet Mars。
Is it the tender star of love？
The star of love and dreams？
O no！ from that blue tent above；
A hero's armor gleams。
And earnest thoughts within me rise；
When I behold afar；
Suspended in the evening skies；
The shield of that red star。
O star of strength！ I see thee stand
And smile upon my pain；
Thou beckonest with thy mailed hand；
And I am strong again。
Within my breast there is no light
But the cold light of stars；
I give the first watch of the night
To the red planet Mars。
The star of the unconquered will；
He rises in my breast；
Serene； and resolute； and still；
And calm； and self…possessed。
And thou； too； whosoe'er thou art；
That readest this brief psalm；
As one by one thy hopes depart；
Be resolute and calm。
O fear not in a world like this；
And thou shalt know erelong；
Know how sublime a thing it is
To suffer and be strong。
FOOTSTEPS OF ANGELS。
When the hours of Day are numbered；
And the voices of the Night
Wake the better soul； that slumbered；
To a holy； calm delight；
Ere the evening lamps are lighted；
And； like phantoms grim and tall；
Shadows from the fitful firelight
Dance upon the parlor wall；
Then the forms of the departed
Enter at the open door；
The beloved； the true…hearted；
Come to visit me once more；
He； the young and strong； who cherished
Noble longings for the strife；
By the roadside fell and perished；
Weary with the march of life！
They； the holy ones and weakly；
Who the cross of suffering bore；
Folded their pale hands so meekly；
Spake with us on earth no more！
And with them the Being Beauteous；
Who unto my youth was given；
More than all things else to love me；
And is now a saint in heaven。
With a slow and noiseless footstep
Comes that messenger divine；
Takes the vacant chair beside me；
Lays her gentle hand in mine。
And she sits and gazes at me
With those deep and tender eyes；
Like the stars； so still and saint…like；
Looking downward from the skies。
Uttered not； yet comprehended；
Is the spirit's voiceless prayer；
Soft rebukes； in blessings ended；
Breathing from her lips of air。
Oh； though oft depressed and lonely；
All my fears are laid aside；
If I but remember only
Such as these have lived and died！
FLOWERS。
Spake full well； in language quaint and olden；
One who dwelleth by the castled Rhine；
When he called the flowers； so blue and golden；
Stars； that in earth's firmament do shine。
Stars they are； wherein we read our history；
As astrologers and seers of eld；
Yet not wrapped about with awful mystery；
Like the burning stars； which they beheld。
Wondrous truths； and manifold as wondrous；
God hath written in those stars above；
But not less in the bright flowerets under us
Stands the revelation of his love。
Bright and glorious is that revelation；
Written all over this great world of ours；
Making evident our own creation；
In these stars of earth； these golden flowers。
And the Poet； faithful and far…seeing；
Sees； alike in stars and flowers； a part
Of the self…same； universal being；
Which is throbbing in his brain and heart。
Gorgeous flowerets in the sunlight shining；
Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day；
Tremulous leaves； with soft and silver lining；
Buds that open only to decay；
Brilliant hopes； all woven in gorgeous tissues；
Flaunting gayly in the golden light；
Large desires； with most uncertain issues；
Tender wishes； blossoming at night！
These in flowers and men are more than seeming；
Workings are they of the self…same powers；
Which the Poet； in no idle dreaming；
Seeth in himself and in the flowers。
Everywhere about us are they glowing；
Some like stars； to tell us Spring is born；
Others； their blue eyes with tears o'er…flowing；
Stand like Ruth amid the golden corn；
Not alone in Spring's armorial bearing；
And in Summer's green…emblazoned field；
But in arms of brave old Autumn's wearing；
In the centre of his brazen shield；
Not alone in meadows and green alleys；
On the mountain…top； and by the brink
Of sequestered pools in woodland valleys；
Where the slaves of nature stoop to drink；
Not alone in her vast dome of glory；
Not on graves of bird and beast alone；
But in old cathedrals； high and hoary；
On the tombs of heroes； carved in stone；
In the cottage of the rudest peasant；
In ancestral homes； whose crumbling towers；
Speaking of the Past unto the Present；
Tell us of the ancient Games of Flowers；
In all places； then； and in all seasons；
Flowers expand their light and soul…like wings；
Teaching us； by most persuasive reasons；
How akin they are to human things。
And with childlike； credulous affection
We behold their tender buds expand；
Emblems of our own great resurrection；
Emblems of the bright and better land。
THE BELEAGUERED CITY。
I have read； in some old； marvellous tale；
Some legend strange and vague；
That a midnight host of spectres pale
Beleaguered the walls of Prague。
Beside the Moldau's rushing stream；
With the wan moon overhead；
There stood； as in an awful dream；
The army of the dead。
White as a sea…fog； landward bound；
The spectral camp was seen；
And； with a sorrowful； deep sound；
The river flowed between。
No other voice nor sound was there；
No drum； nor sentry's pace；
The mist…like banners clasped the air；
As clouds with clouds embrace。
But when the old cathedral bell
Proclaimed the morning prayer；
The white pavilions rose and fell
On the alarmed air。
Down the broad valley fast and far
The troubled army fled；
Up rose the glorious morning star；
The ghastly host was dead。
I have read； in the marvellous heart of man；
That strange and mystic scroll；
That an army of phantoms vast and wan
Beleaguer the human soul。
Encamped beside Life's rushing stream；
In Fancy's misty light；
Gigantic shapes and shadows gleam
Portentous through the night。
Upon its midnight battle…ground
The spectral camp is seen；
And； with a sorrowful； deep sound；
Flows the River of Life between。
No other voice nor sound is there；
In the army of the grave；
No other challenge breaks the air；
But the rushing of Life's wave。
And when the solemn and deep churchbell
Entreats the soul to pray；
The midnight phantoms feel the spell；
The shadows sweep away。
Down the broad Vale of Tears afar
The spectral camp is fled；
Faith shineth as a morning star；
Our ghastly fears are dead。
MIDNIGHT MASS FOR THE DYING YEAR
Yes； the Year is growing old；
And his eye is pale and bleared！
Death； with frosty hand and cold；
Plucks the old man by the beard；
Sorely； sorely！
The leaves are falling； falling；
Solemnly and slow；
Caw！ caw！ the rooks are calling；
It is a sound of woe；
A sound of woe！
Through woods and mountain passes
The winds； like anthems； roll；
