Part 58

NUMEN LUMEN.

I live with him, I see his face; I go no more away For visitor, or sundown; Death's single privacy,

The only one forestalling mine, And that by right that he Presents a claim invisible, No wedlock granted me.

I live with him, I hear his voice, I stand alive to-day To witness to the certainty Of immortality

Taught me by Time, -- the lower way, Conviction every day, -- That life like this is endless, Be judgment what it may.

XXI.

LONGING.

I envy seas whereon he rides, I envy spokes of wheels Of chariots that him convey, I envy speechless hills

That gaze upon his journey; How easy all can see What is forbidden utterly As heaven, unto me!

I envy nests of sparrows That dot his distant eaves, The wealthy fly upon his pane, The happy, happy leaves

That just abroad his window Have summer's leave to be, The earrings of Pizarro Could not obtain for me.

I envy light that wakes him, And bells that boldly ring To tell him it is noon abroad, -- Myself his noon could bring,

Yet interdict my blossom And abrogate my bee, Lest noon in everlasting night Drop Gabriel and me.

XXII.

WEDDED.

A solemn thing it was, I said, A woman white to be, And wear, if God should count me fit, Her hallowed mystery.

A timid thing to drop a life Into the purple well, Too plummetless that it come back Eternity until.

III. NATURE.

NATURE'S CHANGES.

The springtime's pallid landscape Will glow like bright bouquet, Though drifted deep in parian The village lies to-day.

The lilacs, bending many a year, With purple load will hang; The bees will not forget the tune Their old forefathers sang.

The rose will redden in the bog, The aster on the hill Her everlasting fashion set, And covenant gentians frill,

Till summer folds her miracle As women do their gown, Or priests adjust the symbols When sacrament is done.

II.

THE TULIP.

She slept beneath a tree Remembered but by me. I touched her cradle mute; She recognized the foot, Put on her carmine suit, -- And see!

III.

A light exists in spring Not present on the year At any other period. When March is scarcely here