Whitechapel High Road Lusty life her river pours Along a road of shining shores. The moon of August beams Mild as upon her harvest slopes; but here From man’s full–breath’d abounding earth Exiled she walks, as one of alien birth, The pale, neglected foster–mother of dreams. F... »
To Elsie Fogerty On living lips to mould and modulate The shapes of sound, that each may mirror true The mystery of the word and breathe it new Into the entranced ear, warm and intimate; For heart and mind such beauty to create As on our English stage may fitly nurse Its heritage, the glory of voice... »
The Storm Stooping over London, skies convulsed With thunder moved: a rumour of storm remote Hushed them, and birds flew troubled. The gradual clouds Up from the West climbing, above the East Glowed sullen as copper embossed; against their gloom, Like ghosts astonished, thronged the steeples white. ... »
The Lamp Of Greece Truth incorruptible lives on, though sight Cloud, and the heart flinch, and the mind askance Reject. Because she sought that radiance, Unweariable lover of the light! History’s marvel, Hellas in despite Of time and interposing circumstance Still stands above the siege of ign... »
The Crusader Effigy mailed and mighty beneath thy mail That liest asleep with hand upon carved sword–hilt As ready to waken and strong to stand and hail Death, where hosts are shaken and hot life spilt; Here in the pillared peace thy fathers built On English ground, amid guardian trees, though... »
Sudden Joy O what magic shall compare Of the fresh earth or bright air To the joy that love around My full heart so swift has wound, Far beyond hope’s trembling flight Back recoiling in delight. Swifter than the lime that weaves Out of radiant sudden leaves ‘Twixt enchanting night and ni... »
Psyche She is not fair, as some are fair, Cold as the snow, as sunshine gay: On her clear brow, come grief what may, She suffers not too stern an air; But, grave in silence, sweet in speech, Loves neither mockery nor disdain; Gentle to all, to all doth teach The charm of deeming nothing vain. She jo... »
Nightfall Sweet after labour, soft and whispering night Blows on dark fields and fragrant country here: Here there is sleep, to weary limbs delight; The world is far away, the stars are near. The world is far away: but there, I know, Night comes to few unanxious, happy eyes; And cities, with their r... »
Louvain 19 ii But from that blood, those ashes there arose Not hoped-for terror cowering as it ran, But divine anger flaming upon those Defamers of the very name of man, Abortions of their blind hyena-creed, Who for ‘ protection ‘ of their battle-host Against the unarmed of them they had... »
High Over The Battling Street High over the battling street I watch the wind blow In frenzy tearing the plane trees That are tossing below. The high balcony’s railing Casts a shadow unstirred: Of this mad torment of air The sun has not heard. Hits: 0 »
England Shall we but turn from braggart pride Our race to cheapen and defame? Before the world to wail, to chide, And weakness as with vaunting claim? Ere the hour strikes, to abdicate The steadfast spirit that made us great, And rail with scolding tongues at fate? If England’s heritage indeed... »
August In drooping leaves of the plane Hangs blue the early heat; Stirless, a delicate shade Sleeps on the parching street. I wander this listless morning By the banks of the dazzling river; On the hot stones lean, where toward me Lights from the water quiver. And clasping hands upon eyes, I plunge ... »
A Prayer Of Time Move onward, Time, and bring us sooner free From this self–clouding turmoil where we ply On others’ errands driven continually: O lead us to our own souls, ere we die! We toil for that we love not; thou concealest Our true loves from us; all we thirst to attain Thou dark... »
Violets Violets, in what pleasant earth you grew I know not, nor what heavenly moisture stole To tincture in your petals such dim blue As seems a pure June midnight’s scented soul: But on her bosom when you breathed so sweet, You were as lovely words to thoughts that rose So deep in us, no lan... »
The Wharf On Thames—side; Winter Dawn Day begins cold and misty on soiled snow That frost has ridged and crusted. Sound of steps Comes, then a shape emerges from the mist Without haste, trudging tracks the feet know well, With his breath white upon the air before him, To old work. Over the river han... »
The Reformer Hyde Park August from a vault of hollow brass Steep upon the sullen city glares. Yellower burns the sick and parching grass, Shivering in the breath of furnace airs. Prone upon their pale, outwearied brows Miserable forms lie heavily, Cumbering the earth; untimely boughs Fallen from thi... »
The Forest Pine A hundred autumns fallen in fire To dust and mould Have faded from their perished gold To throne thee higher, O Titan pine, that soarest straight From ground to sky without a mate, Like one desire. Dark is the hollow as a cup Of shadow immense, Of daylight–daunting dimness, whe... »
The Burning Of The Leaves I Now is the time for the burning of the leaves. They go to the fire; the nostril pricks with smoke Wandering slowly into a weeping mist. Brittle and blotched, ragged and rotten sheaves! A flame seizes the smouldering ruin and bites On stubborn stalks that crackle as they r... »
Songs Of The World Unborn Songs of the world unborn Swelling within me, a shoot from the heart of Spring, As I walk the ample teeming street This tranquil and misty morn, What is it to me you sing? My body warm, my brain clear, Unreasoning joy possesses my soul complete; The keen air mettles my bloo... »
Oxford In War—time What alters you, familiar lawn and tower, Arched alley, and garden green to the gray wall With crumbling crevice and the old wine–red flower, Solitary in summer sun? for all Is like a dream: I tread on dreams! No stir Of footsteps, voices, laughter! Even the chime Of many... »
Milton An Ode Soul of England, dost thou sleep, Lulled or dulled, thy mighty youth forgotten? Of the world’s wine hast thou drunk too deep? Hast thou sown more than thy hands can reap? Turn again thine ear To that song severe In thine hour of storm and war begotten! Here in towered London̵... »
Inheritance I To a bare blue hill Wings an old thought roaming, At a random touch Of memory homing. The first of England These eyes to fill Was the lifted head Of that proud hill As lion–fronted Alone it warded The vale, and the far Bright West regarded. Who knows what wells Are a child’... »
From The Chinese A flower, or the ghost of a flower! Mist, or the soul of it, felt In the secret night’s mid hour, Lost on the morning air! Who shall recover it,–beauty born to melt As the apparition of blossom brief and shy, As the cloud in the sky that vanishes, who knows where? Hits: ... »
Day’s End When I am weary, thronged with the cares of the vain day That tease as harsh winds tease the unresting autumn boughs, I still my mind at evening and put all else away But the image of my Love, where all my hopes I house. The thoughts of her fall gently as the gentleness of snow. That after... »
An Old Answer Ask me not, Dear, what thing it is That makes me love you so; What graces, what sweet qualities, That from your spirit flow: For I have but this old reply, That you are you, that I am I. My heart leaps when you look on me, And thrills to hear your voice. Lies, then, in these the myster... »
A Day That Is Boundless As Youth A day that is boundless as youth And gay with delight to be born, Where the waves flash and glide over sands In their pure image rippled and worn; Where laughter is young on the air As the race of young feet patters light! Linked shadows run dancing before In the mid... »
To Women 27 Amid the thunder of the guns, The lightnings of the lance and sword Your hope, your dread, your throbbing pride, Your infinite passion is outpoured From hearts that are as one high heart Withholding naught from doom and bale Burningly offered up, to bleed, To bear, to break, but not to f... »
The Trembling Tree On greenest grass the lace of lights Beneath the shadowing tree Trembles, as when eyes more than lips Are smiling silently. Its motion all but motionless Is like a dancer’s feet Half–stirred, half–stilled, ere music throb To float them on its beat. Is it a music ... »
The Oak Splendours of sunset burned upon the ground, As from the lane’s deep shade Emerging, a warm grassy plat we found Skirting the forest glade, And in the midst a solitary oak. No sound the bright and haunting stillness broke As we beheld the wonder of this tree, His shadowy core invaded t... »
The Dream—house Often we talk of the house that we will build For airier and less jostled days than these We chafe in, and send Fancy roaming wide Down western valleys with a choosing eye To hover upon this nook or on that, And let the mind, like fingers pressing clay, Shape and reshape the mould of... »
The Bacchanal Of Alexander I A wondrous rumour fills and stirs The wide Carmanian Vale; On leafy hills the sunburnt vintagers Stand listening; silent is the echoing flail Upon the threshing–floors: Girls in the orchards one another hail Over their golden stores. “Leave the dewy apples ha... »
Shabby House wall Shabby house–wall Of bricks once yellow, Dingied with city grime, Dusty and sallow, The high sun, glorying In clear gold, edges Your crumbled mortar’s Luminous ledges. You glow with a touch From the pure sky. And suddenly all Is new to the eye. I see you as labour’... »
O Sorrowful Thought! But One More Flying Year O sorrowful thought! But one more flying year, And our ways part, perhaps no more to meet: And must we, then, less dear Grow to each other, as the swift days fleet? Look, as two boughs from one stem branching grow Apart, until their high leaves touch no ... »
Malham Cove There is threat in the wind, and a murmur of water that swells Swift in the hollow: about me a shadow is thrown; For above is no valley sequestered in shy, green dells, But abrupt, sky–closing, a wall and a vastness of stone. Did the rock split asunder with ages? or suddenly smote ... »
In Carissimam Memoriam A.S.P. To whom but thee, my youth to dedicate, My youth, which these few leaves have sought to save, Should I now come, although I come too late, Alas! and can but lay them on thy grave? To whom but thee? From thee, I know, they stole Their happier music, all their finer part:... »
Fetching The Wounded At the road’s end glimmer the station lights; How small beneath the immense hollow of Night’s Lonely and living silence! Air that raced And tingled on the eyelids as we faced The long road stretched between the poplars flying To the dark behind us, shuddering and sig... »
Before The Dawn Blacker the night grows ere the dawn be risen, Keener the cost, and fiercer yet the fight. But hark! above the thunder and the terror A trumpet blowing splendid through the night. It is the challenge of our dead undying, Calling, Remember! We have died for you. It is the cry of peril... »
A Woman O you that facing the mirror darkly bright In the shadowed corner, loiter shyly fond, To ask of your own sad eyes a comfort slight, Before you brave the pathless world beyond; Not first to–night invades your spirit this wild Despair, when loneliness stabs you! Turned, your face Tremble... »
Winter Sunrise It is early morning within this room; without, Dark and damp; without and within, stillness Waiting for day: not a sound but a listening air. Yellow jasmine, delicate on stiff branches Stands in a Tuscan pot to delight the eye In spare December’s patient nakedness. Suddenly, sof... »
Thunder On The Downs Wide earth, wide heaven, and in the summer air Silence! The summit of the Down is bare Between the climbing crests of wood; but those Great sea–winds, wont, when the wet South–West blows, To rock tall beeches and strong oaks aloud And strew torn leaves upon the strea... »
The Statues Tarry a moment, happy feet, That to the sound of laughter glide! O glad ones of the evening street, Behold what forms are at your side! You conquerors of the toilsome day Pass by with laughter, labour done; But these within their durance stay; Their travail sleeps not with the sun. They,... »
The Junipers Gray the slow sky darkens Over the downland track Where the long valley closes Under a smooth hill’s back. The slope is darkly sprinkled With ancient junipers, Each a small, secret tree: There not a breath stirs. I fear those waiting shapes Of wry, blue–berried wood. They ma... »
The Crucible Because thou camest, Love, to break The strong mould of this world in two, And of the senseless fragments take And in thy mighty music make A world more wondrous and more true, Now my soul hath taken wings, Newly bathed in light intense, And purging off the film of sense, Of its native ... »
Strike Stone On Steel Strike stone on steel, Fire replies. Strike men that feel, The answer is in their eyes. Powers that are willed to break The spirit in limbs of pain, See what spirit you wake! Strike, and strike again! You hammer sparks to a flame, And the flame scorches your hand. You have give... »
Pricking Thorns My spirit to–day that sprang To meet the laughing morn Is clouded and forlorn And chafes with hidden pang. For teasing care and fret Stifle her sweet desire And with small dust beset Her eager fire. Not so my darkened breast Deep in its depth was stirred When Sorrow, the dusky ... »
Nature Because out of corruption burns the rose, And to corruption lovely cheeks descend; Because with her right hand she heals the woes Her left hand wrought, loth nor to wound nor mend; I praise indifferent Nature, affable To all philosophies, of each unknown; Though in my listening ear she leans ... »
Little Hands Soft little hands that stray and clutch, Like fern fronds curl and uncurl bold, While baby faces lie in such Close sleep as flowers at night that fold, What is it you would, clasp and hold, Wandering outstretched with wilful touch? O fingers small of shell-tipped rose, How should you kn... »
Hide Me In Your Heart Hide me in your heart, Love, None but we can know How with every heart–beat Love could grow and grow Till the seed that branched abroad, How, we could not guess, Holds us in the shadow Of its boughs that bless; And the stars and mountains, Earth and chanting sea Seem a mi... »
Eleonora Duse As Magda The theatre is still, and Duse speaks. What charm possesses all, And what a bloom let fall On parted lips, and eyes, and flushing cheeks! The flattering whisper and the trivial word No longer heard, The hearts of women listen, deeply stirred. For now to each those quivering ac... »
August Afternoon Thump of a horse’s hoof behind the hedge; Long stripes of shadow, and green flame in the grass Between them; discrowned, glaucous poppy–pods On their tall stalks; a rose With its great thorns blood–red in the slant light; Round apples swelling on the apple–bo... »
A Picture Seen In A Dream I saw the Goddess of the Evening pause Between two mountain pillars. Tall as they Appeared her stature, and her outstretched hands Laid on those luminous cold summits, hung Touching, and lingered. Earth was at her feet. Her head inclined: then the slow weight of hair, In di... »
Vigil In the hollow of pale night upon the moor The silence blows a perfume: O but hark! A sound is in the bosom of the dark, Breathed like a secret from the glimmering shore; A vigil of unearthly sound, the sea That never slumbers and begins anew, And melts into our hearts amid the dew, Murmuring o... »
The Way Home Many dreams I have dreamed That are all now gone. The world, mirrored in a dark pool, How unearthly it shone! But now I have comfort From the things that are, Nor shrink too ashamed from the self That to self is bare. More than soft clouds of leaf I like the stark form Of the tree stand... »
The Rain Was Ending, And Light The rain was ending, and light Lifting the leaden skies. It shone upon ceiling and floor And dazzled a child’s eyes. Pale after fever, a captive Apart from his schoolfellows, He stood at the high room’s window With face to the pane pressed close, And beheld... »
The Eyes Of Youth Time buys no wisdom like the eyes of youth, Though youth itself be blinded with delight, As a buoyant swimmer by the bursting spray Of the resplendent surge, and know not yet The marvel of its own heart’s vision, blurred By lovely follies dancing in the sun. I heard a skylark... »
The Builders Staggering slowly, and swaying Heavily at each slow foot’s lift and drag, With tense eyes careless of the roar and throng That under jut and jag Of half–built wall and scaffold stream along, Six bowed men straining strong Bear, hardly lifted, a huge lintel stone. This ignora... »
Song; Love, Like Cordial Wine Love, like cordial wine, Pouring his soul in mine, Bids me to sing; Youth’s bright glory snatch, And Time’s paces match With fearless wing. Now, while breath is bliss, And dawn wakes me with a kiss, Ere this rapture flee, Ere my heart thou claim, Sorrow, I w... »
Over The Sea There came an evening when the storm had died After long rain, miraculously clear: And lo, across the burning waters wide Rose up that coast, to thee and me how dear. I knew the very houses by the bay. And as I gazed, the time that clouded thick On those old hours, fell suddenly away, A... »
Midsummer Noon At her window gazes over the elms A girl; she looks on the branching green; But her eyes possess unfathomed realms, Her young hand holds her dreaming chin. Drifted, the dazzling clouds ascend In indolent order, vast and slow, The great blue; softly their shadows send A clearness up fr... »
In The High Leaves Of A Walnut In the high leaves of a walnut, On the very topmost boughs, A boy that climbed the branching bole His cradled limbs would house. On the airy bed that rocked him Long, idle hours he’d lie Alone with white clouds sailing The warm blue of the sky. I remember not wha... »