VI

I listened to the wind who speaks of finding Among the litter of his blown leaves of days All rainbow gold of tears that are so blinding; And then again he says

Something of glittering jewels in the haze, Incense of praise, myrtles and bays for binding The wounds that blossom blood upon his ways. I listened to the sun who can recover

Miraculous instants of an earlier time Surprise Her eyes alinger on her lover And run like rhyme On leaf and stream. He spoke of dream and clime

Sacred with everlasting Spring, ahover With light more cadenced than bright bells in chime. I listened to the earth and sea. Their voices, Too mixed with men, came sombrer and more sad.

They droned awhile of all the tangled choices That every man has had, And moaned like ancients with mere age gone mad And left me nothing that reasons or rejoices —

That seemed so reasonless in being glad. I listened starward where the ghostly weaving Of wandering lights is all of Heaven we know And worlds are lamps and darkness comes bereaving

The world of ebb and flow, And‘ tis as if a bosom were heaving slow With firmamental care,— ah, heaving, heaving With an unfathomable earlier woe.

“Listener at many doors,— for what disaster?—” Her spirit murmur crept into my ears. “Brooder on pictures breathed on by the Master, Listen at the heart that hears,—

Ah, listen softly, breathing low!” The years Were not — for there She was — and, gazing past her, I saw the Vision raised by blood and tears.