the flower of the mind(脑之花)-第10节
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
CRADLE…SONG AT TWILIGHT
The child not yet is lulled to rest。 Too young a nurse； the slender Night
So laxly holds him to her breast That throbs with flight。
He plays with her and will not sleep。 For other playfellows she sighs；
An unmaternal fondness keep Her alien eyes。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
THE ROARING FROST
A flock of winds came winging from the North； Strong birds with
fighting pinions driving forth With a resounding call！
Where will they close their wings and cease their cries … Between what
warming seas and conquering skies … And fold； and fall？
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
PARENTAGE
〃When Augustus Caesar legislated against the unmarried citizens of
Rome； he declared them to be； in some sort； slayers of the people。〃
Ah no； not these！ These； who were childless； are not they who gave So
many dead unto the journeying wave； The helpless nurslings of the
cradling seas； Not they who doomed by infallible decrees Unnumbered
man to the innumerable grave。 But those who slay Are fathers。 Theirs are
armies。 Death is theirs； The death of innocences and despairs； The dying
of the golden and the grey。 The sentence； when these speak it； has no Nay。
And she who slays is she who bears； who bears。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
THE MODERN MOTHER
Oh what a kiss With filial passion overcharged is this！ To this
misgiving breast The child runs； as a child ne'er ran to rest Upon the light
heart and the unoppressed。
Unhoped； unsought！ A little tenderness； this mother thought The
utmost of her meed She looked for gratitude； content indeed With thus
much that her nine years' love had bought。
Nay； even with less。 This mother； giver of life； death； peace； distress；
Desired ah！ not so much Thanks as forgiveness； and the passing touch
Expected； and the slight； the brief caress。
Oh filial light Strong in these childish eyes； these new； these bright
Intelligible stars！ Their rays Are near the constant earth； guides in the
maze； Natural； true； keen in this dusk of days。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
WEST WIND IN WINTER
Another day awakes。 And who … Changing the worldis this？ He
comes at whiles； the Winter through； West Wind！ I would not miss His
sudden tryst： the long； the new Surprises of his kiss。
Vigilant； I make haste to close With him who comes my way。 I go to
meet him as he goes； I know his note； his lay； His colour and his morning
rose； And I confess his day。
My window waits； at dawn I hark His call； at morn I meet His haste
around the tossing park And down the softened street； The gentler light is
his； the dark； The greyhe turns it sweet。
So too； so too； do I confess My poet when he sings。 He rushes on my
mortal guess With his immortal things。 I feel； I know him。 On I press … He
finds me 'twixt his wings。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
NOVEMBER BLUE
The colour of the electric lights has a strange effect in giving a
complementary tint to the air in the early evening。ESSAY ON
LONDON。
O； Heavenly colour！ London town Has blurred it from her skies； And
hooded in an earthly brown； Unheaven'd the city lies。 No longer standard…
like this hue Above the broad road flies； Nor does the narrow street the
blue Wear； slender pennon…wise。
But when the gold and silver lamps Colour the London dew； And；
misted by the winter damps； The shops shine bright anew … Blue comes to
earth； it walks the street； It dyes the wide air through； A mimic sky about
their feet； The throng go crowned with blue。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
CHIMES
Brief； on a flying night； From the shaken tower； A flock of bells take
flight； And go with the hour。
Like birds from the cote to the gales； AbruptO hark！ A fleet of bells
set sails； And go to the dark。
Sudden the cold airs swing。 Alone； aloud； A verse of bells takes wing
And flies with the cloud。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
UNTO US A SON IS GIVEN
Given； not lent； And not withdrawnonce sent … This Infant of
mankind； this One； Is still the little welcome Son。
New every year； New…born and newly dear； He comes with tidings and
a song； The ages long； the ages long。
Even as the cold Keen winter grows not old； As childhood is so fresh；
foreseen； And spring in the familiar green；
Sudden as sweet Come the expected feet。 All joy is young； and new all
art； And He； too； Whom we have by heart。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
A DEAD HARVEST ＇IN
KENSINGTON GARDENS＇
Along the graceless grass of town They rake the rows of red and
brown； Dead leaves； unlike the rows of hay； Delicate； neither gold nor
grey； Raked long ago and far away。
A narrow silence in the park； Between the lights a narrow dark。 One
street rolls on the north； and one； Muffled； upon the south doth run。 Amid
the mist the work is done。
A futile crop； for it the fire Smoulders； and； for a stack； a pyre。 So go
the town's lives on the breeze； Even as the sheddings of the trees； Bosom
nor barn is filled with these。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
THE TWO POETS
Whose is the speech That moves the voices of this lonely beech？ Out
of the long West did this wild wind come … Oh strong and silent！ And the
tree was dumb； Ready and dumb； until The dumb gale struck it on the
darkened hill。
Two memories； Two powers； two promises； two silences Closed in this
cry； closed in these thousand leaves Articulate。 This sudden hour retrieves
The purpose of the past； Separate； apartembraced； embraced at last。
〃Whose is the word？ Is it I that spake？ Is it thou？ Is it I that heard？〃
〃Thine earth was solitary； yet I found thee！〃 〃Thy sky was pathless； but I
caught； I bound thee； Thou visitant divine。〃 〃O thou my Voice； the word
was thine。〃 〃Was thine。〃
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
A POET'S WIFE
I saw a tract of ocean locked in…land Within a field's embrace … The
very sea！ Afar it fled the strand And gave the seasons chase； And met the
night alone； the tempest spanned； Saw sunrise face to face。
O Poet； more than ocean； lonelier！ In inaccessible rest And storm
remote； thou； sea of thoughts； dost stir； Scattered through east to west； …
Now； while thou closest with the kiss of her Who locks thee to her breast。
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
VENERATION OF IMAGES
Thou man； first…comer； whose wide arms entreat； Gather； clasp；
welcome； bind； Lack； or remember！ whose warm pulses beat With love of
thine own kind；
Unlifted for a blessing on yon sea； Unshrined on this high…way； O
flesh； O grief； thou too shalt have our knee； Thou rood of every day！
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THE FLOWER OF THE MIND
AT NIGHT
Home； home from the horizon far and clear； Hither the soft wings
sweep； Flocks of the memories of the day draw near The dovecote doors
of sleep。
O which are they that come through sweetest light Of all these homing
birds？ Which with
