Part 7

Hold me on your heart as the brave sea holds the foam, Take me far away to the hills that hide your home; Peace shall thatch the roof and love shall latch the door-- But what if I heard my first love calling me once more?

Dew

As dew leaves the cobweb lightly Threaded with stars, Scattering jewels on the fence And the pasture bars; As dawn leaves the dry grass bright And the tangled weeds Bearing a rainbow gem On each of their seeds; So has your love, my lover, Fresh as the dawn, Made me a shining road To travel on, Set every common sight Of tree or stone Delicately alight For me alone.

To-night

The moon is a curving flower of gold, The sky is still and blue; The moon was made for the sky to hold, And I for you.

The moon is a flower without a stem, The sky is luminous; Eternity was made for them, To-night for us.

Ebb Tide

When the long day goes by And I do not see your face, The old wild, restless sorrow Steals from its hiding place.

My day is barren and broken, Bereft of light and song, A sea beach bleak and windy That moans the whole day long.

To the empty beach at ebb tide, Bare with its rocks and scars, Come back like the sea with singing, And light of a million stars.

I Would Live in Your Love

I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea, Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that recedes; I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me, I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.

Because

Oh, because you never tried To bow my will or break my pride, And nothing of the cave-man made You want to keep me half afraid, Nor ever with a conquering air You thought to draw me unaware-- Take me, for I love you more Than I ever loved before.

And since the body's maidenhood Alone were neither rare nor good Unless with it I gave to you A spirit still untrammeled, too, Take my dreams and take my mind That were masterless as wind; And "Master!" I shall say to you Since you never asked me to.

The Tree of Song

I sang my songs for the rest, For you I am still; The tree of my song is bare On its shining hill.

For you came like a lordly wind, And the leaves were whirled Far as forgotten things Past the rim of the world.

The tree of my song stands bare Against the blue-- I gave my songs to the rest, Myself to you.

The Giver

You bound strong sandals on my feet, You gave me bread and wine, And sent me under sun and stars, For all the world was mine.

Oh, take the sandals off my feet, You know not what you do; For all my world is in your arms, My sun and stars are you.

April Song

Willow, in your April gown Delicate and gleaming, Do you mind in years gone by All my dreaming?

Spring was like a call to me That I could not answer, I was chained to loneliness, I, the dancer.

Willow, twinkling in the sun, Still your leaves and hear me, I can answer spring at last, Love is near me!

The Wanderer

I saw the sunset-colored sands, The Nile like flowing fire between, Where Rameses stares forth serene, And Ammon's heavy temple stands.