By copse and hedgerow, waste and wall, He thrusts his cushions red; O'er burdock rank, o'er thistles tall, He rears his hardy head: Within, without, the strong leaves press, He numbers no observant friends, He drinks the blessed dew of heaven, To guard his growth the planets seven The spirits of the fields and woods He drinks the secret, stealing floods, And swills the volleying rains: And when the birds' note showers and breaks The wood's green heart within, He stirs his plumy brow and wakes Mute sheep that pull the grasses soft In surly majesty. No fly so keen, no bee so bold, He frowns as though he guarded gold, And so when autumn winds blow late, And whirl the chilly wave, He bows before the common fate, And drops beside his grave. Smile on, brave weed! let none inquire Let others toil for others' good, Thou hast brave health, and fortitude To live and die alone! REALISM AND truth, you say, is all divine; The gracious instincts from their throne, And sound the sickliest depths of crime, And creep through roaring drains of woe, To soar at last, unstained, sublime, Knowing the worst that man can know ; And having won the firmer ground, When loathing quickens pity's eyes, Still lean and beckon underground, And tempt a struggling foot to rise. Well, well, it is the stronger way! Admires your boldness, half-afraid. He deems that knowledge, bitter-sweet, Can rust and rot the bars of right, Till weakness sets her trembling feet Across the threshold of the night. She peers, she ventures; growing bold, She wonders, aching to be free, Too soft to burst the uncertain band, Till chains of drear fatality Arrest the feeble willing hand. Nay, let the stainless eye of youth AN ENGLISH SHELL I WAS an English shell, With a heart of fire in an iron frame, Ready to break in fury and flame, Out from the heart of the battle-ship, Into a land of foes: How was I baffled? I soared and sank Slowly the thunder died away; Sunk in the slothful sward! She breathed divinity into his heart, dart The puny poison of its little throes. Her miracles of motion, butterflies, Seen in the mirror of a drop of dew, He loved as friends and as a friend he knew. The dust of gold and scarlet underwings More precious was to him than nuggets torn From all invaded treasure-crypts of time, And every floating, painted, silver beam Drew him to roses where it stayed to dream, Or down sweet avenues of scented lime. |