THE EARTH SPIRIT. A laughter in the diamond air, a music in the trembling grass, And one by one the words of light as joy-drops through my being pass. "I am the sunlight in the heart, the silver moon-glow in the mind; My laughter runs and ripples through the wavy tresses of the wind. I am the fire upon the hills, the dancing flame that leads afar Each burning hearted wanderer, and I the dear and homeward star. A myriad lovers died for me, and in their latest yielded breath I woke in glory giving them immortal life though touched by death. They knew me from the dawn of time: if Hermes beats his rainbow wings, If Angus shakes his locks of light, or golden-haired Apollo sings, It matters not, the name, the land: my joy in all the gods abides: Even in the cricket in the grass some dimness of me smiles and hides. For joy of me the day-star glows, and in delight and wild desire The peacock twilight rays aloft its plumes and blooms of shadowy fire, Where in the vastness too I burn through summer nights and ages long, And with the fiery-footed planets wave in myriad dance and song." A CALL OF THE SIDHE. Tarry thou yet, late lingerer in the twilight's glory: Gay are the hills with song: earth's faery children leave More dim abodes to roam the primrose-hearted eve, Opening their glimmering lips to breathe some wondrous story. Hush, not a whisper! Let your heart alone go dreaming. Dream unto dream may pass: deep in the heart alone Murmurs the Mighty One his solemn undertone. Canst thou not see adown the silver cloudland streaming Come thou away with them, for Heaven to Earth is calling. THE PLACE OF REST. "The soul is its own witness and its own refuge." Unto the deep the deep heart goes, It lays its sadness nigh the breast: The wounds that quiver unconfessed. It seeks a deeper silence still; It folds itself around with peace, It feels in the unwounding vast For comfort for its hopes and fears: She listens to her children's tears. Where the last anguish deepens-there A glory moves amid despair, The Mother takes her child again. THE GATES OF DREAMLAND. It's a lonely road through bogland to the lake at Carrowmore, And a sleeper there lies dreaming where the water laps the shore. Though the moth-wings of the twilight in their purples are unfurled Yet his sleep is filled with gold light by the masters of the world. There's a hand is white as silver that is fondling with his hair: There are glimmering feet of sunshine that are dancing by him there: And half-open lips of faery that were dyed to richest red "Come away," the red lips whisper, "all the world is weary now; "T is the twilight of the ages, and it 's time to quit the plow. Oh, the very sunlight's weary ere it lightens up the dew, And its gold is changed to graylight before it falls to you. "Though your colleen's heart be tender, a tenderer heart is near; What's the starlight in her glance when the stars are shining clear? Who would kiss the fading shadow when the flower face glows above? "T is the Beauty of all Beauty that is calling for your love.". Oh, the mountain gates of dreamland have opened once again, And the sound of song and dancing falls upon the ears of men; And the Land of Youth lies gleaming flushed with opal light and mirth, And the old enchantment lingers in the honey heart of earth. SACRIFICE. Those delicate wanderers The wind, the star, the cloud- As to an Altar bowed, Light and dew-laden airs Offer in sacrifice. The offerings arise: Hazes of rainbow light, Pure crystal, blue, and gold, Through dreamland take their flight; And 'mid the sacrifice God moveth as of old. In miracles of fire He symbols forth His days; DANA. I am the tender voice calling "Away," I dwell, and all unkissed on lovely lips, But yet SYMBOLISM. Now when the giant in us wakes and broods, Reaching his right hand forth to greet the starry race. Wondrously near and clear the great warm fires The old folk by the nook, the welcome bright Nearer to Thee, not by delusion led, Though there no house-fires burn nor bright eyes gaze; We rise, but by the symbol charioted, Through loved things rising up to Love's own ways; By these the soul unto the vast has wings, And sets the seal celestial on all mortal things. JANUS. Image of beauty, when I gaze on thee, How through one door we go to life or death, By spirit kindled or the sensual breath. Image of beauty, when my way I go, No single joy or sorrow do I know; Elate for freedom leaps the starry power, The life which passes mourns its wasted hour. And, ah! to think how thin the veil that lies |