rivers to the sea-第7节
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Toward the bright verge； the boundary of the world。
* * * * * *
I am so weak a thing； praise me for this；
That in some strange way I was strong enough
To keep my love unuttered and to stand
Altho' I longed to kneel to you that night
You looked at me with ever…calling eyes。
Was I not calm？ And if you guessed my love
You thought it something delicate and free；
Soft as the sound of fir…trees in the wind；
Fleeting as phosphorescent stars in foam。
Yet in my heart there was a beating storm
Bending my thoughts before it； and I strove
To say too little lest I say too much；
And from my eyes to drive love's happy shame。
Yet when I heard your name the first far time
It seemed like other names to me； and I
Was all unconscious； as a dreaming river
That nears at last its long predestined sea；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
And when you spoke to me； I did not know
That to my life's high altar came its priest。
But now I know between my God and me
You stand forever； nearer God than I；
And in your hands with faith and utter joy
I would that I could lay my woman's soul。
* * * * * *
Oh； my love
To whom I cannot come with any gift
Of body or of soul； I pass and go。
But sometimes when you hear blown back to you
My wistful； far…off singing touched with tears；
Know that I sang for you alone to hear；
And that I wondered if the wind would bring
To him who tuned my heart its distant song。
So might a woman who in loneliness
Had borne a child； dreaming of days to come；
Wonder if it would please its father's eyes。
But long before I ever heard your name；
Always the undertone's unchanging note
RIVERS TO THE SEA
In all my singing had prefigured you；
Foretold you as a spark foretells a flame。
Yet I was free as an untethered cloud
In the great space between the sky and sea；
And might have blown before the wind of joy
Like a bright banner woven by the sun。
I did not know the longing in the night
You who have waked me cannot give me sleep。
All things in all the world can rest； but I；
Even the smooth brief respite of a wave
When it gives up its broken crown of foam；
Even that little rest I may not have。
And yet all quiet loves of friends； all joy
In all the piercing beauty of the world
I would give upgo blind forevermore；
Rather than have God blot from out my soul
Remembrance of your voice that said my name。
* * * * * *
For us no starlight stilled the April fields；
No birds awoke in darkling trees for us；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Yet where we walked the city's street that night
Felt in our feet the singing fire of spring；
And in our path we left a trail of light
Soft as the phosphorescence of the sea
When night submerges in the vessel's wake
A heaven of unborn evanescent stars。
VIGNETTES OVERSEAS
I
Off Gibraltar
BEYOND the sleepy hills of Spain；
The sun goes down in yellow mist；
The sky is fresh with dewy stars
Above a sea of amethyst。
Yet in the city of my love
High noon burns all the heavens bare
For him the happiness of light；
For me a delicate despair。
II
Off Algiers
Oh give me neither love nor tears；
Nor dreams that sear the night with fire；
Go lightly on your pilgrimage
Unburdened by desire。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Forget me for a month； a year；
But； oh； beloved； think of me
When unexpected beauty burns
Like sudden sunlight on the sea。
III
Naples
Nisida and Prosida are laughing in the light；
Capri is a dewy flower lifting into sight；
Posilipo kneels and looks in the burnished sea；
Naples crowds her million roofs close as close can be；
Round about the mountain's crest a flag of smoke is hung
Oh when God made Italy he was gay and young！
IV
Capri
When beauty grows too great to bear
How shall I ease me of its ache；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
For beauty more than bitterness
Makes the heart break。
Now while I watch the dreaming sea
With isles like flowers against her breast；
Only one voice in all the world
Could give me rest。
V
Night Song at Amalfi
I asked the heaven of stars
What I should give my love
It answered me with silence；
Silence above。
I asked the darkened sea
Down where the fishers go
It answered me with silence；
Silence below。
Oh； I could give him weeping；
Or I could give him song
RIVERS TO THE SEA
But how can I give silence
My whole life long？
VI
Ruins of Paestum
On lowlands where the temples lie
The marsh…grass mingles with the flowers；
Only the little songs of birds
Link the unbroken hours。
So in the end； above my heart
Once like the city wild and gay；
The slow white stars will pass by night；
The swift brown birds by day。
VII
Rome
Oh for the rising moon
Over the roofs of Rome；
And swallows in the dusk
Circling a darkened dome！
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Oh for the measured dawns
That pass with folded wings
How can I let them go
With unremembered things？
VIII
Florence
The bells ring over the Anno；
Midnight； the long； long chime；
Here in the quivering darkness
I am afraid of time。
Oh； gray bells cease your tolling；
Time takes too much from me；
And yet to rock and river
He gives eternity。
IX
Villa Serbelloni； Bellaggio
The fountain shivers lightly in the rain；
The laurels drip； the fading roses fall；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
The marble satyr plays a mournful strain
That leaves the rainy fragrance musical。
Oh dripping laurel； Phoebus sacred tree；
Would that swift Daphne's lot might come to me；
Then would I still my soul and for an hour
Change to a laurel in the glancing shower。
X
Stresa
The moon grows out of the hills
A yellow flower；
The lake is a dreamy bride
Who waits her hour。
Beauty has filled my heart；
It can hold no more；
It is full； as the lake is full；
From shore to shore。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
XI
Hamburg
The day that I come home；
What will you find to say；
Words as light as foam
With laughter light as spray？
Yet say what words you will
The day that I come home；
I shall hear the whole deep ocean
Beating under the foam。
V
SAPPHO
SAPPHO
I
MIDNIGHT； and in the darkness not a sound；
So； with hushed breathing； sleeps the autumn night；
Only the white immortal stars shall know；
Here in the house with the low…lintelled door；
How； for the last time； I have lit the lamp。
I think you are not wholly careless now；
Walls that have sheltered me so many an hour；
Bed that has brought me ecstasy and sleep；
Floors that have borne me when a gale of joy
Lifted my soul and made me half a god。
Farewell！ Across the threshold many feet
Shall pass； but never Sappho's feet again。
Girls shall come in whom love has made aware
Of all their swaying beautythey shall sing；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
But never Sappho's voice； like golden fire；
Shall seek for heaven thru your echoing rafters。
There shall be swallows bringing back the spring
Over the long blue meadows of the sea；
And south…wind playing on the reeds of rain；
But never Sappho's whisper in the night；
Never her love…cry when the lover comes。
Farewell！ I close the door and make it fast。
* * * * * *
The little street lies meek beneath the moon；
Running； as rivers run； to meet the sea。
I too go seaward and shall not return。
Oh garlands on the doorposts that I pass；
Woven of asters and of autumn leaves；
I make a prayer for you： Cypris be kind；
That every lover may be given love。
I shall not hasten lest the paving stones
Should echo with my sandals and awake
Those who are warm beneath the cloak of sleep；
Lest they should rise and see me and should say；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
〃Whither goes Sappho lonely in the night？〃
Whither goes Sappho？ Whither all men go；
But they go driven； straining back with fear；
And Sappho goes as lightly as a leaf
Blown from brown autumn forests to the sea。
* * * * * *
Here on the rock Zeus lifted from the waves；
I shall await the waking of the dawn；
Lying beneath the weight of dark as one
Lies breathless； till the lover shall awake。
And with the sun the sea shall cover me
I shall be less than the dissolving foam
Murmuring and melting on the ebbing tide；
I shall be less than spindrift； less than shells；
And yet I shall be greater than the gods；
For destiny no more can bow my soul
As rain bows down the
