| |
| HER mist of primroses within her breast | |
| Twilight hath folded up, and o’er the west, | |
| Seeking remoter valleys long hath gone, | |
| Not yet hath come her sister of the dawn. | |
| Silence and coolness now the earth enfold, | 5 |
| Jewels of glittering green, long mists of gold, | |
| Hazes of nebulous silver veil the height, | |
| And shake in tremors through the shadowy night. | |
| Heard through the stillness, as in whispered words, | |
| The wandering God-guided wings of birds | 10 |
| Ruffle the dark. The little lives that lie | |
| Deep hid in grass join in a long-drawn sigh | |
| More softly still; and unheard through the blue | |
| The falling of innumerable dew, | |
| Lifts with grey fingers all the leaves that lay | 15 |
| Burned in the heat of the consuming day. | |
| The lawns and lakes lie in this night of love, | |
| Admitted to the majesty above. | |
| Earth with the starry company hath part; | |
| The waters hold all heaven within their heart, | 20 |
| And glimmer o’er with wave-lips everywhere | |
| Lifted to meet the angel lips of air. | |
| The many homes of men shine near and far, | |
| Peace-laden as the tender evening star, | |
| The late home-coming folk anticipate | 25 |
| Their rest beyond the passing of the gate, | |
| And tread with sleep-filled hearts and drowsy feet. | |
| Oh, far away and wonderful and sweet | |
| All this, all this. But far too many things | |
| Obscuring, as a cloud of seraph wings | 30 |
| Blinding the seeker for the Lord behind, | |
| I fall away in weariness of mind. | |
| And think how far apart are I and you, | |
| Beloved, from those spirit children who | |
| Felt but one single Being long ago, | 35 |
| Whispering in gentleness and leaning low | |
| Out of its majesty, as child to child. | |
| I think upon it all with heart grown wild. | |
| Hearing no voice, howe’er my spirit broods, | |
| No whisper from the dense infinitudes, | 40 |
| This world of myriad things whose distance awes. | |
| Ah me; how innocent our childhood was! | |
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