poems and songs-第4节
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By the heart that yearns to help thee； we shall live and reach the goal！
Rise and lean thy weight upon me。 Life is fair； and God is just；
And He yet will show us fountains； if we only look and trust！
Oh； I know it； and He leads us to the glens of stream and shade；
Where the low； sweet waters gurgle round the banks which cannot fade！''
Thus he spake； my friend and brother！ and he took me by the hand；
And I think we walked the desert till the night was on the land；
Then we came to flowery hollows； where we heard a far…off stream
Singing in the moony twilight； like the rivers of my dream。
And the balmy winds came tripping softly through the pleasant trees；
And I thought they bore a murmur like a voice from sleeping seas。
So we travelled； so we reached it； and I never more will part
With the peace； as calm as sunset； folded round my weary heart。
SONG OF THE CATTLE HUNTERS
WHILE the morning light beams on the fern…matted streams；
And the water…pools flash in its glow；
Down the ridges we fly； with a loud ringing cry …
Down the ridges and gullies we go！
And the cattle we hunt … they are racing in front；
With a roar like the thunder of waves；
As the beat and the beat of our swift horses' feet
Start the echoes away from their caves！
As the beat and the beat
Of our swift horses' feet
Start the echoes away from their caves！
Page： 15
Like a wintry shore that the waters ride o'er；
All the lowlands are filling with sound；
For swiftly we gain where the herds on the plain；
Like a tempest； are tearing the ground！
And we'll follow them hard to the rails of the yard；
O'er the gulches and mountain…tops grey；
Where the beat and the beat of our swift horses' feet
Will die with the echoes away！
Where the beat and the beat
Of our swift horses' feet
Will die with the echoes away！
FOOTFALLS
THE embers were blinking and clinking away；
The casement half open was thrown；
There was nothing but cloud on the skirts of the Day；
And I sat on the threshold alone！
And said to the river which flowed by my door
With its beautiful face to the hill；
‘‘I have waited and waited； all wearied and sore；
But my love is a wanderer still！''
And said to the wind； as it paused in its flight
To look through the shivering pane；
‘‘There are memories moaning and homeless to…night
That can never be tranquil again！''
And said to the woods； as their burdens were borne
With a flutter and sigh to the eaves；
‘‘They are wrinkled and wasted； and tattered and torn；
And we too have our withering leaves。''
Did I hear a low echo of footfalls about；
Whilst watching those forest trees stark？
Or was it a dream that I hurried without
To clutch at and grapple the dark？
In the shadow I stood for a moment and spake …
‘‘Bright thing that was loved in the past；
Oh！ am I asleep … or abroad and awake？
And are you so near me at last？
Page： 16
‘‘Oh； roamer from lands where the vanished years go；
Oh； waif from those mystical zones；
Come here where I long for you； broken and low；
On the mosses and watery stones！
‘‘Come out of your silence and tell me if Life
Is so fair in that world as they say；
Was it worth all this yearning； and weeping； and strife
When you left it behind you to…day？
‘‘Will it end all this watching； and doubting； and dread？
Do these sorrows die out with our breath？
Will they pass from our souls like a nightmare；'' I said；
‘‘While we glide through the mazes of Death？
‘‘Come out of that darkness and teach me the lore
You have learned since I looked on your face；
By the summers that blossomed and faded of yore …
By the lights which have fled to that place！
‘‘You answer me not when I know that you could …
When I know that you could and you should；
Though the storms be abroad on the wave；
Though the rain droppeth down with a wail to the wood；
And my heart is as cold as your grave！''
GOD HELP OUR MEN AT SEA
The wild night comes like an owl to its lair；
The black clouds follow fast；
And the sun…gleams die； and the lightnings glare；
And the ships go heaving past； past； past …
The ships go heaving past！
Bar the doors； and higher； higher
Pile the faggots on the fire：
Now abroad； by many a light；
Empty seats there are to…night …
Empty seats that none may fill；
For the storm grows louder still：
How it surges and swells through the gorges and dells；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
Where a watery sound goeth moaning around …
God help our men at sea！
Page： 17
Oh！ never a tempest blew on the shore
But that some heart did moan
For a darling voice it would hear no more
And a face that had left it lone； lone； lone …
A face that had left it lone！
I am watching by a pane
Darkened with the gusty rain；
Watching； through a mist of tears；
Sad with thoughts of other years；
For a brother I did miss
In a stormy time like this。
Ah！ the torrent howls past； like a fiend on the blast；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
And the pent waters gleam； and the wild surges scream …
God help our men at sea！
Ah； Lord！ they may grope through the dark to find
Thy hand within the gale；
And cries may rise on the wings of the wind
From mariners weary and pale； pale； pale …
From mariners weary and pale！
'Tis a fearful thing to know；
While the storm…winds loudly blow；
That a man can sometimes come
Too near to his father's home；
So that he shall kneel and say；
‘‘Lord； I would be far away！''
Ho！ the hurricanes roar round a dangerous shore；
Under the ledges and over the lea；
And there twinkles a light on the billows so white …
God help our men at sea！
SITTING BY THE FIRE
Barren Age and withered World！
Oh！ the dying leaves；
Like a drizzling rain；
Falling round the roof …
Pattering on the pane！
Frosty Age and cold； cold World！
Ghosts of other days；
Trooping past the faded fire；
Flit before the gaze。
Page： 18
Now the wind goes soughing wild
O'er the whistling Earth；
And we front a feeble flame；
Sitting round the hearth！
Sitting by the fire；
Watching in its glow；
Ghosts of other days
Trooping to and fro。
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Oh； the nights … the nights we've spent；
Sitting by the fire；
Cheerful in its glow；
Twenty summers back …
Twenty years ago！
If the days were days of toil
Wherefore should we mourn；
There were shadows near the shine；
Flowers with the thorn？
And we still can recollect
Evenings spent in mirth …
Fragments of a broken life；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Cheerful in its glow；
Twenty summers back …
Twenty years ago。
Beauty stooped to bless us once；
Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Words of love were interchanged；
Maiden hearts we stole；
And the light affection throws
Slept on every soul。
Oh； the hours went flying past …
Hours of priceless worth；
But we took no note of Time；
Sitting round the hearth：
Page： 19
Sitting by the fire；
Happy in its glow；
Forty summers back …
Forty years ago。
Gleesome children were we not？
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
Laughing voices filled the room；
Oh； the songs we sung；
When the evenings hurried by …
When our hearts were young！
Pleasant faces watched the flame …
Eyes illumed with mirth …
And we told some merry tales；
Sitting round the hearth：
Sitting by the fire；
Ruddy in its glow；
Sixty summers back …
Sixty years ago。
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