A SUMMER NIGHT

    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: 
    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
    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
    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,
    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
    Their rest beyond the passing of the gate,
    And tread with sleep-filled hearts on 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
    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,
    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,
    This world of myriad things whose distance awes. 
    Ah me; how innocent our childhood was!

CREATION

    As one by one the veils took flight,
    The day withdrew, the stars came up: 
    The spirit issued dark and bright,
    Filling thy beauty like a cup.

    Sacred thy laughter on the air,
    Holy thy lightest word that fell,
    Proud the innumerable hair
    That waved at the enchanter’s spell.

    Oh Master of the Beautiful,
    Creating us from hour to hour,
    Give me this vision to the full
    To see in lightest things thy power!

    This vision give, no heaven afar,
    No throne, and yet I will rejoice,
    Knowing beneath my feet a star,
    Thy word in every wandering voice.

DUSK

    Dusk wraps the village in its dim caress;
    Each chimney’s vapour, like a thin grey rod,
    Mounting aloft through miles of quietness,
        Pillars the skies of God.