| George William (“A. E.”) Russell (1867–1935). Collected Poems by A.E. 1913. |
| |
| 125. The Tide of Sorrow |
| |
| |
| ON the twilight-burnished hills I lie and long and gaze | |
| Where below the grey-lipped sands drink in the flowing tides, | |
| Drink, and fade and disappear: interpreting their ways | |
| A seer in my heart abides. | |
| |
| Once the diamond dancing day-waves laved thy thirsty lips: | 5 |
| Now they drink the dusky night-tide running cold and fleet, | |
| Drink, and as the chilly brilliance o’er their pallor slips | |
| They fade in the touch they meet. | |
| |
| Wave on wave of pain where leaped of old the billowy joys: | |
| Hush and still thee now unmoved to drink the bitter sea, | 10 |
| Drink with equal heart: be brave; and life with laughing voice | |
| And death will be one for thee. | |
| |
| Ere my mortal days pass by and life in the world be done, | |
| Oh, to know what world shall rise within the spirit’s ken | |
| When it grows into the peace where light and dark are one! | 15 |
| What voice for the world of men? | |
| |
|
|
|
