,,the ,,piper ,,and ,,the ,,reed ,know you a garden near the road8 ,its walls are very high2 ,a gift of dream on me bestowed1 ,and covered with the sky3 ,there one may walk and talk and talk1 ,forgetful of aught else but friends1 ,when twilight into evening blends4 ,frontispiece3 ,sincerely yours1 ,robert ,norwood ,,the ,,piper ,,and ,,the ,,reed ,,by ,,robert ,,norwood ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,witch ,,of ,,endor1 ,,his ,,lady ,,of ,,the ,,sonnets1 ,,etc4 ,,mcclelland1 ,,goodchild ,,stewart ,,publishers 33 33 33 ,,toronto ,,copyright1 #aiag1 ,,by ,,george ,h4 ,,doran ,,company ,,printed ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states ,,of ,,america ,,to ,l4 ,l4 ,h4 ,,contents ,the ,piper and the ,reed ,aldebaran ,comrades ,after the ,order of ,melchisedec ,o ,little ,pale ,pilgrim of ,dream ,a ,song of ,evolution ,a ,song of the ,trinity ,a ,song of the ,father ,a ,song of the ,mother ,a ,song of the ,son ,te ,deum ,o ,will ,you ,come ,with ,me ,the ,king of ,glory ,matins ,a ,cradle ,song of ,life ,a ,song of the ,all ,the ,slow ,emerger ,a ,song of the ,new ,gods ,the ,optimist ,revelation ,a ,song of ,workers ,a ,song of ,battles ,can ,you ,forget ,bartimaeus ,the ,cock ,the ,stream ,the ,one ,oblation ,a ,question ,combatants ,on the ,wide1 ,white ,road ,that ,one ,should ,love ,me ,rahab ,on ,guard ,the ,ploughman ,dear ,little ,maid of ,dream ,the ,violet to the ,aster ,magic ,the ,king and the ,maid ,a ,woman's ,prayer ,foeman ,geraint ,grief ,the ,empty ,room ,love ,eternal ,after the ,feast ,the ,lonely ,road ,,the ,,piper ,,and ,,the ,,reed ,,the ,,piper ,,and ,,the ,,reed ,i am a reed--a little reed ,down by the river1 ,a whim of ,god whose moment's need ,was that the ,giver ,might blow melodious and long ,one cadence of eternal song4 ,through me are blown ,wild whisperings of wind from hills ,no sun hath known4 ,the splendour that ,orion spills ,on purple space2 ,the golden loom of ,leo's mane2 ,the scintillance of ,vega's face2 ,dim unto dark3 ,and great ,arcturus' far refrain ,fades to a silence that is pain1 ,when1 like a lark1 ,riseth melodious and strong ,that cadence of eternal song4 ,god is the ,piper--,i1 the reed ,down by the river for ,his need4 ,one note in those vast melodies ,waited on me1 ,or else the choral companies ,went silently ,complaining to the muted stars3 ,what lack we yet that ,discord bars ,that infinite ,processional8 ,or else the seraphim would call3 ,minstrels1 your dulcimers let fall ,and break the silvern psalteries6 ,a little reed--a little reed6 ,and yet were silence of that song1 ,failed ,i the river's pebbled brim1 ,nor trembled never unto him-- ,the ,piper6 passing where we throng ,vibrant and ready for ,his need4 ,o ,miracle6 ,he who in beauty goeth by ,the marches of the meadowy sky1 ,a-piping on the many reeds ,his canticle1 ,paused in ,his playing2 ,for ,he found ,an under-sound ,failed of the music that ,he made4 ,wild winds went straying1 ,like sheep lost on the daisied meads-- ,scattered by ,discord and afraid1 ,lost from the fold ,they knew of old4 ,my ,god had need ,of one more reed-- ,had need of me ,to make the perfect harmony4 ,i am that under-sound1 ,that needed note4 ,eternally the ,piper tried ,reed after reed until ,he found ,me growing by the river-side1 ,and laughing at the leaves that float ,forever down its burnished tide4 ,how frail my body is--how frail ,and common of its kind2 ,a reed among a field of reeds ,a-tremble to the wind-- ,the wind that threshes like a flail ,until my body bleeds6 ,yet through me such wild music blows ,the ,piper laughs among the stars4 ,know you the ,piper8 ,little scars ,burn on ,his brow1 each shoulder shows ,wounds of a knotted scourge that fell ,to hurt ,him from the hands of ,hell6 ,welcome1 ,o ,wind6 ,all hail1 ,o ,pain6 ,one little reed--one little reed1 ,to fill the ,piper's far refrain1 ,is broken till its body bleed2 ,glad that the ,minstrel ,lord doth find ,a tone of ,his eternal need4 ,,aldebaran ,the minstrel tuned the triple strings-- ,his harp of many murmurings-- ,then on a mighty chord began ,a song of bright ,aldebaran3 ,i ,aldebaran1 ,aldebaran1 ,one night ,i saw thee rise ,above the peaks of ,ispahan1 ,red on those purple skies4 ,thou wast a royal ruby stone ,set in a diadem ,of some great god upon his throne1 ,whose garment's ample hem ,was margined with the clustered spheres ,beyond a myriad of years4 ,above thee soared the ,pleiades1 ,beneath1 ,auriga flared2 ,his vast melodic harmonies ,rigel with ,algol shared3 ,space trembled to the minstrelsy ,of ,deneb and ,alcyone4 ,,ii ,aldebaran1 ,aldebaran1 ,betelguese sheathed his sword1 ,and in that cosmic cry began ,the music of his word2 ,he spoke in syllables so strong1 ,each sentence was an aeon long3 ,thou art--he thundered1 the first star ,to lead earth out of mist1 ,when man looked up and felt afar ,urge of an ancient tryst ,made ere ,god lit the morning sun ,to mark the length of day begun4 ,thou threshold of the ,zodiac2 ,thou portal of the ,rooms2 ,thou first step of the starry ,track3 ,thou shuttle of the ,looms ,where ,fate weaves threads of purest gold ,to fashion ,god's wide garment-fold-- ,hail6--and3 ,all hail6 from every sphere ,that rolled across the void1 ,i heard1 ,aldebaran1 with fear3 ,each clustered asteroid ,flung back the tumult of that cry1 ,like trumpet-voices through the sky4 ,,iii ,then ,vega rose and on her lyre ,played tremulous vast chords1 ,singing the infinite desire ,of those celestial lords ,who shouted when earth's loom was laid1 ,and through the warp ,god's shuttle played2 ,when through the loom of misted flame ,the threads of ,god began ,to weave a world2 before there came ,adventuring of man ,upon the ,path of life to find ,monitions of eternal ,mind4 ,she sang of forest and of fell1 ,of mountain and of moor2 ,caves and the caveman's battle-yell2 ,the song beside the door ,where women ground the meal and sung ,rhymes in their rude primeval tongue4 ,i saw the mammoth and the bear1 ,like moving mountains1 run ,in terror from the flint-head spear1 ,proving that man had won ,lordship of earth2 and ,i made prayer1 ,aldebaran1 before thee there6 ,,iv ,arcturus lifted high his horn ,and blew a mighty blast4 ,the curtain of the night was torn ,to show the protoplast ,transfigured on the finer face ,of that far prehistoric race-- ,we1 clumsy1 call ,lemurian6 ,a city lifted high ,its towered domes of daring man ,beneath a tropic sky1 ,with gates of gold that gleamed and shone ,brighter than portaled ,babylon4 ,men were as gods upon the earth1 ,the women were most fair2 ,music was speech2 a holy birth ,of art was cradled there-- ,for dreams took shape in pure jacinth1 ,seraphic brows upon the plinth4 ,reed instruments for dance and song2 ,brave horns beneath the blue2 ,the sistrum and the thunder-gong2 ,the pipe and tabour1 too2 ,and all the craft of minstrelsy3 ,harp1 sackbut1 cymbal1 psaltery1 ,were fashioned4 ,then was genius stirred ,to pre-,homeric lines1 ,and drama grew4 ,on earth was heard ,praise of the fruitful vines1 ,oil of the olive1 barley-gold1 ,leaping of lambs within the fold4 ,told was the story of the stars1 ,and thine1 ,aldebaran1 ,when ,jupiter was not1 nor ,mars2 ,when every shepherd-clan ,pointed and named the olden spheres ,while ,rome was in the womb of years4 ,v ,altair in ,aquila stood forth ,with flaming evil brow1 ,looked from his tower to the north ,and made an awful vow3 ,i will destroy yon golden gates-- ,hither to me1 ,o shrouded ,fates6 ,hither to me and hide the sun1 ,darken the noisy noon1 ,snuff out the planets one by one1 ,unleash the hot simoon2 ,destroy the race ,lemurian6 ,and they obeyed1 ,aldebaran4 ,thunder6 ,a woman by the well ,looked up wide-eyed and fell2 ,a shepherd leading forth his sheep1 ,gasped1 clutched his throat and found eternal sleep2 ,ceased in the temple1 horn and holy drum1 ,and all the vested choristers were dumb6 ,rain as of fire6 ,the shivering of earth2 ,dead is the baby at its birth-- ,with horror in her great dark eyes1 ,the new-made mother lifeless lies2 ,two lovers in the spell of their first kiss ,and whispered word1 the dark abyss ,engulfs forever6 ,night6 ,endless night6 ,there are no towers1 temples1 domes-- ,no palaces1 no pillared homes2 ,and all that stately company ,are buried in a boiling sea6 ,alas1 for these1 ,aldebaran6 ,and woe to ,altair and his hate6 ,gone is the race ,lemurian2 ,i weep1 ,o ,star1 to sing their fate6 ,,vi ,and for a while the court was still1 ,tense1 waiting on the harpist's will1 ,from lord and lady to the ,king4 ,one spoke3 ,it was an evil thing6 ,one3 ,hush6 ,he is about to sing4 ,the jester shook his golden bells1 ,and laughed3 ,a pretty tale he tells ,of ,altair and ,aldebaran2 ,faith6 ,never since court-fools began ,was heard the like4--,lemurian6 ,a bishop raised his mitred head3 ,it was the ,flood1 ,i think--he said4 ,aye1 even so--replied a priest3 ,was not that city in the east8 ,altair8--,apocalyptic ,beast6 ,then spake the ,king upon his throne3 ,never such harping have ,i known2 ,it is a right majestic tale-- ,how poetry and song prevail ,on sword and shield and burnished mail6 ,again the minstrel tuned the strings-- ,his harp of many murmurings-- ,again on softer chord began ,the song of bright ,aldebaran3 ,,vii ,aldebaran1 ,aldebaran1 ,last night ,i saw thee glow ,in ,taurus--open like a fan-- ,above a world of snow4 ,the joyous bells were ringing wide ,their plangent silver chime1 ,proclaiming3 ,it is ,christmastide6 ,now is the time1 the time1 ,the ,holy ,babe was brought to birth1 ,and ,lord ,messias came to earth6 ,wast thou not then that eastern ,star ,the ,magi did behold1 ,who journeyed from a city far ,to offer gifts of gold-- ,the ,star of ,jesu1 leading them ,to little white-walled ,bethlehem8 ,aldebaran1 ,aldebaran1 ,across the crystal sky ,a shout of angel-song began3 ,glory to ,god on ,high1 ,on earth be peace6 ,now is the morn ,in which ,emmanuel is born6 ,they sang the end of every woe1 ,the tale of every tear4 ,i saw a host of singers go ,bravely against the fear ,that held men in the thongs of ,fate ,through aeons of the hell of ,hate4 ,before thy lance ,altair went down1 ,lemuria arose ,restored to temple1 palace1 crown1 ,with gates that never close2 ,and all her shining company ,renewed their art and minstrelsy4 ,the babe was in his mother's arms1 ,his face was like the ,christ2 ,and that lost lover knew the charms ,of her who kept the tryst2 ,the woman filled her water jar1 ,the shepherd led his sheep afar4 ,and then ,i knew1 ,aldebaran1 ,lemuria is one ,with all the domes of daring man ,that glitter to the sun2 ,that age by age one broad highway ,leads up the host to fuller day4 ,there shall no lost tall towers be1 ,no idle aim of art2 ,no useless joy of minstrelsy1 ,no ever-empty heart2 ,no utter silencing of song1 ,no comrade absent from the throng4 ,through pain and trial of the tears1 ,lead up the host1 ,o ,star6 ,lead up1 lead up1 until the years ,have glorified the scar ,that burns upon the brow of man1 ,aldebaran1 ,aldebaran6 ,,comrades ,come dear ,comrade1 let us sing-- ,not to any tightened string ,struck by harpers when they play-- ,let us1 like the morning wind1 ,shout with an unfettered mind ,anthems of the common day4 ,challenge1 as the waves the shore1 ,whoso limits what we pour1 ,protestant of any strain ,other than old minstrels know2 ,follow where the spume flakes blow ,down the world and back again4 ,we will run the glad earth round1 ,splinter with a lance of sound ,cliffs that front the swelling tide2 ,till the mute soul is set free ,unto love and liberty1 ,unafraid and satisfied4 ,we will let the fancy run1 ,climb into the setting sun-- ,leap from it upon the moon-- ,laugh at all the broken bars ,down betwixt us and the stars1 ,vainly builded by the noon4 ,play1 my ,comrade1 through the trees ,luting ancient litanies2 ,laugh with every fronded fern2 ,sit with daisies in the grass2 ,let the river hold a glass ,to your eyes1 and look and learn4 ,gaily go upon all roads1 ,not like cattle pricked with goads2 ,for the towered town ,to-,morrow-- ,walled with pearl and chrysolite-- ,lies beyond the tarn of ,night1 ,past the broken bridge of ,sorrow4 ,,after ,,the ,,order ,,of ,,melchisedec ,i am a priest upon whose head ,god long ago poured holy oil2 ,he gave to me a ,word and said3 ,with this thou shalt mankind assoil6 ,since ,i went forth ,god to obey1 ,life has revealed me many things-- ,i find it very hard to say ,what is most dear3 ,the task that brings ,bread to the eater1 or the rest ,that follows toil2 the love of friends1 ,of books1 of song1--each is most blessed ,and always with contentment blends4 ,a stone1 a faggot or a flower2 ,a bird in rapture of its flight2 ,december-snow or ,april-shower2 ,the velvet vastness of the night1 ,when ,mother ,moon has left the stars ,and with the winds gone gossiping-- ,or leans upon the gate that bars ,dawn from untimely entering4 ,these hold for me unending charm1 ,fill me with wonderment and awe ,that men should ever think of harm1 ,fencing their lives about with law4 ,the world is such a lovely place-- ,a jewelled pendant on ,love's chain6 ,i marvel that a human face ,should pale with anger or with pain4 ,i marvel at the cry for bread ,that thunders round the waking world2 ,the tumult of the legion's tread ,that shakes the earth1 as souls are hurled ,in battle to destroy the souls ,god grew in ,his great garden1 when ,he won past all ,his other goals-- ,triumphant at the birth of men6 ,who can behold the dance of ,dawn-- ,juggling with stars like tinselled balls1 ,vestured in mantle of a wan1 ,white glory whose dim splendour falls ,upon the mountains2 and not feel ,himself transcendant8 ,who can hear ,clangour of wild birds and the peal ,of matin-bells across the clear1 ,blue sky1 commingling with the shout ,of children on their way to school1 ,and fail at once to be about ,god's business8--,as within a pool ,you are reflected1 ,nature shows ,the miracle of what you are-- ,the highest that ,creation knows3 ,lord of the earth and every star6 ,i am a priest upon whose head ,god long ago poured holy oil2 ,he gave to me a ,word and said3 ,with this thou shalt mankind assoil6 ,i come from out the ,holy ,place ,with benediction for the earth1 ,to wipe the tears from every face ,and tell the fallen one his worth4 ,my business is to be a priest ,whose holy task is to forgive1 ,to bid the beggar to the feast1 ,to touch the dead and make them live4 ,i know not any fear of thrones1 ,no claim of ,scribe and ,pharisee2 ,my word is set to many tones ,of lute and harp and psaltery4 ,i have no temple and no creed1 ,i celebrate no mystic rite2 ,the human heart is all ,i need ,wherein ,i worship day and night3 ,the human heart is all ,i need1 ,for ,i have found ,god ever there-- ,love is the one sufficient creed1 ,and comradeship the purest prayer6 ,i bow not down to any book1 ,no written page holds me in awe2 ,for when on one friend's face ,i look ,i read the ,prophets and the ,law6 ,i need no fountain filled with blood ,to cleanse my soul from mortal sin2 ,for love is an unbounded flood-- ,freely ,i go to wash therein4 ,love laughs at boundaries of wrath ,and is as infinite as ,god2 ,breaks down each wall1 finds out each path ,where wilful1 straying feet have trod4 ,love is the ,word ,god gave and said3 ,with it thou shalt mankind assoil6 ,then forthwith poured upon my head ,anointing of ,his holy oil6 ,o ,,little ,,pale ,,pilgrim ,,of ,,dreams ,o little pale pilgrim of dreams6 ,do you know the names of the flowers1 ,the ferns by the pools and the streams1 ,the kisses of ,god in the showers2 ,do you hear ,his ,hello on the hills ,where a wind comes out of the cloud1 ,and fail of the magic that fills ,companions who meet in the crowd8 ,thou slow of the heart to believe-- ,thou blind of the eyes to behold6 ,let go of the things that deceive1 ,vain baubles of silver and gold2 ,come out and be one with the throng-- ,your brothers who wait by the way-- ,and sing the new ,liberty ,song ,at the wide-flung doors of the day4 ,companion of flower and fern1 ,a brother of ,christ and the clod1 ,and one with all spirits that yearn ,the realized image of ,god2 ,the centuries wait for thy wings1 ,and aeons have followed thee far3 ,lay hold of the sceptre of things1 ,thou lord of the atom and star6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,evolution ,i ,will sing of ,evolution3 ,a song of the atom-- ,a song of the star-- ,a song of the soul6 ,god is the name of two ,lovers ,each other eternally wooing3 ,love and ,life6 ,love is all light and is lonely ,until ,he finds ,life2 ,life too is lonely ,until in her seeking ,love has been found4 ,over the peaks and the plains ,of an infinite universe ,these ,lovers are ever ,each other finding and losing3 ,whenever they meet there is birth1 ,whenever they part there is death6 ,birth and ,death6 ,what does it mean we are born8 ,what does it mean that we die8 ,i make answer3 ,that which of ,love and of ,life is begotten ,fails as to form of itself only-- ,not ,self but its eidolon fails-- ,so ,love and ,life part to prepare for ,self new forms2 ,birth is a form of the ,self once more appearing-- ,self who is child of these ,lovers eternally wooing6 ,how many births1 deaths have we known6 ,eternally going out of the urge of ,love for ,life1 ,we are the ,sons of the ,highest6 ,atom and star and flesh1 ,these are but forms of the ,soul2 ,amoeba1 mastodon1 man1 ,but forms of the ,soul forever ascending6 ,the ,soul is more than the form1 ,abides there merely a moment2 ,the ,soul is a pilgrim ,housed for the night in a hostel3 ,new habitations meet for his needs are provided1 ,yea1 they are builded by ,love and by ,life-- ,builded by them for their ,only ,begotten4 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,trinity ,i believe in one ,god the ,almighty3 ,love is the ,father ,eternal3 ,life is the ,mother1 ,infinite ,spouse of the ,father2 ,soul is the ,son forever ascending6 ,love1 ,life and the ,soul-- ,these ,three forever existing-- ,love1 ,life and the ,soul6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,father ,i am ,love6 ,none is before ,me-- ,i am the ,all6 ,i am the ,lover of ,life ,by whom my ,son is begotten3 ,this is my ,son-- ,the ,soul in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,or ever the stars were hung in their purple places2 ,or ever the moon grew languid with love for the earth2 ,or ever the day flamed forth on the hills ,in eager pursuit of the reluctant arms of the night3 ,life cradled our ,son in the atom ,we fashioned and floated on waves of ether-- ,cradled our ,son and waited till aeons went by ,fulfilling the passive1 soft years of his childhood-- ,waited until he builded strange cities by rivers ,that flowed from the gold of the sands of the desert-- ,waited until his white body was nailed on a cross ,in pledge that ,love is the ,lover of ,life and ,father of the ,soul6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,mother ,i am ,life6 ,love only precedes ,me6 ,long ere the pollen grew gold on the bee ,flitting from flower to flower1 ,laden with honey2 ,long ere the song of the bird ,chorused back to the choirs of winds ,coming down from earth's altars1 the hills2 ,long ere the lamb bleated back to the dam ,through the void and the waste ,of the upland pastures3 ,love found ,me and ,i found ,love6 ,on my breast have ,i carried the ,soul1 ,have laid him to rest at the end of a day ,with a dream and a song through the dream6 ,how oft he has risen-- ,awaked at my word1 ,reclothed by my hand6 ,how oft have ,i let him go free ,to the toys and the tasks1 ,while he grew in stature and wisdom6 ,dear is my ,son in the strength of his great growing ,godhood6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,son ,my cradle was the atom1 ,on the breast of the sea ,i slumbered ,through a long aeonian night ,and wakened on the morning of the world6 ,the fern and the shrub and the tree ,were my playmates-- ,the wind was my nurse ,singing me wild songs4 ,i stretched out my hands to the rain4 ,and grew glad in the sun2 ,i dreamed of my sisters the stars ,of my brother the moon4 ,i was housed with the cattle2 ,for them ,i opened the doors of speech1 ,turned their dull dreams ,to the words of a song4 ,to him of the fang ,i was ,terror6 ,in the light of my face he was furtive1 ,shrank back to his den-- ,ceasing to tear with his teeth4 ,i had learned to stand on my feet4 ,to smite with my hands1 ,to hurl a huge stone ,at python and tiger4 ,i roared with wild laughter6 ,in the light of my brother the moon ,i danced with my mate ,to the dance of my sisters the stars4 ,at dawn ,i went forth ,to hurl with the hammer ,or thrust with the spear1 ,and grew heavy from hunting4 ,i returned to the cave ,and saw her white body ,naked against the sun ,red in the west on the mountains4 ,i drew near to my ,love ,who saw me and sang ,the song of the hunter ,home from the hunting4 ,the ,babe at her breast she held up ,and danced in her arms for his father-- ,danced till he croodled and crowed1 ,dimpled with joy of his father6 ,for them ,i builded a hut ,of saplings and wattles1 ,and she with her fingers ,fashioned bowls from the clay4 ,we dreamed as we toiled1 ,we sang as we dreamed2 ,and ever the task ,took the form of our song3 ,we dreamed that the wilderness ,blossomed2 that the meadows ,thickened with ripening corn ,yellow and green in the noontide4 ,we sang of the millet and wheat1 ,of the barley and rye ,and the purple grape-clusters ,hanging down from the vine4 ,we sang of the flax ,and the oil of the olive ,after the time of the sound ,of the flails on the floor4 ,we dreamed that a city ,rose out of the jungle-- ,a city of towers and walls1 ,of palaces1 statues and pictures4 ,so great was our love ,that1 though we died1 ,by birth we came back ,to keep tryst with each other6 ,she was proud ,semiramis2 ,helen of ,troy was she2 ,hers was the song of ,miriam1 ,and the red-wet hands of ,jael6 ,once was her dear name ,sappho1 ,singing the song of the cave-- ,of him who hurled with the stone1 ,the hunter home from the hunting6 ,where the ,nile is an amber bow ,she dreamed and waited for me ,coming down in my trireme of war1 ,enslaved at her smile6 ,so through the ages we met1 ,so through the ages we parted3 ,each time that we met ,after the silence that sundered1 ,fairer and fairer was she2 ,and ,i grew more like a god1 ,cleansed and made strong by the tears ,shed for the sorrow we suffered2 ,till one day we stood in a garden-- ,a little green garden of lilies ,hard by a ,tomb that was open ,wide to the joy of the morning2 ,there in the hush of the dayspring ,breathing of dew-sprinkled lilies ,white as the snow upon ,hermon1 ,we knew that our ,love was immortal6 ,out of the wildness ,we had grown us a rose-- ,out of its thorns ,we had fashioned a crown6 ,,te ,,deum ,praise ,god for all things3 ,praise ,him for birth1 ,praise ,him for death1 ,praise ,him for health1 ,praise ,him for sickness2 ,for sorrow and sin1 ,for gladness and gain1 ,for failure and loss1 ,for friend and for foe-- ,praise ,god for all things6 ,god is the ,all1 ,so all must be praised ,and welcomed and trusted ,as angels from ,him3 ,angels of light1 ,angels of darkness ,angels of joy1 ,angels of woe-- ,each as a messenger ,swift from ,his throne4 ,nothing can hurt you6 ,sings little ,brother2 ,for each in its place ,serves but one end1 ,namely1 to shape you-- ,fit you--complete you3 ,till from the terror ,and from the thunder ,grow through the gloom ,gleams of your ,godhood6 ,laugh at the voices1 ,wailing in valleys ,like to ,gehinnom-- ,lurid with fires ,fed by the bodies ,of dead men forgotten6 ,rise up and claim ,all things as yours1 ,you who are ,god-- ,god in ,becoming6 ,o ,,will ,,you ,,come ,,with ,,me ,o will you come with me away1 ,brother--my ,brother6 ,the night is spent1 and breaks the day1 ,brother--my ,brother6 ,have done with the dream and the pillowing stone6 ,awake6 ,over vast spaces the winds are blown ,to buffet and bear you from shadowing sleep4 ,up the high places ,seraphim faces ,brighten and burn as the disk of the sun ,stands on the brow of yon mountain1 to keep ,guard of your path till the journey is done6 ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,glory ,give us this day a man so strong ,he will not falter in his song1 ,muting his instrument to please ,the backward-glancing ,pharisees4 ,he must be one to whom a child ,comes with sweet laughter1 reconciled ,from tears because he passes by ,like a white cloud in yonder sky4 ,women shall claim him for a friend1 ,hail him as brother1 gladly spend ,the price of spikenard for his head1 ,weep at his tomb when he is dead4 ,from seat of customs or the nets1 ,workshop or plough or minarets1 ,men will respond to his clear call ,and in his battles proudly fall4 ,this ,lord must be no shrouded form ,of ,god ,incarnate1 but the norm ,of manhood for an eager age-- ,our prophet1 poet1 teacher1 sage4 ,if sin be missing of the mark1 ,sped was the arrow in the dark3 ,with light shed from that ,brother's face1 ,each well-aimed bolt shall find its place4 ,not to dead yesterdays1 but now ,belongs that wide and august brow ,from whose vast mind a word shall be ,spoken to set thought-forces free-- ,thought-forces fettered by the ban ,of some far-thundering ,vatican1 ,which from the age of stone to this ,cramped them by every artifice4 ,he will lift up a mighty hand ,against oppression2 will demand ,from kings and councils an account ,of stewardship--of the amount ,taken by them in turn for toil ,that starves the tiller of the soil2 ,will seek to know the reason why ,the millions in their hunger cry4 ,his clear1 calm eyes will pierce excuse ,of man defending his abuse ,of power2 like a two-edge sword ,will be dividing of his word4 ,he will not quote some ancient saw-- ,a text of scripture from the ,law1 ,nor will he seek by miracle ,to blind all reason2 he will tell ,the tyrant and the turbaned priest3 ,because ye did it to the least ,of these my brothers1 made their world ,hell--to that hell be also hurled6 ,forth from your lands into the street2 ,huckster and harlot1 beggar meet2 ,lift from each head its crown of thorn1 ,and kiss those feet the nails have torn6 ,into the hell of every hate1 ,vice and foul lust insatiate1 ,descend and learn what ye have done1 ,who from earth's children stole the sun2 ,stole field and forest1 mountain1 river-- ,pretending that some royal giver ,bestowed them on your sculptored sires ,sleeping beneath their ancient spires6 ,ye who have taught that ,god is wrath2 ,ye who have driven down the path ,of fear the frightened souls of men2 ,ye who have made ,his house a den ,for thieves to bargain gold for grace3 ,ye hypocrites with pious faces ,and downcast eyes1 your litanies-- ,your candle-lights and threnodies ,rise not to ,him who clothes the grass ,with glory and whose holy ,mass ,is in the olive and the vine-- ,not in your wafer and your wine6 ,send such a man again on earth1 ,as ,he whom ,mary brought to birth1 ,and whom the people in their pride ,rejected and then crucified6 ,only1 ,o ,god of stone and star6 ,we will not hale him to the bar ,of ,pilate and ,caiaphas2 ,we will lift up the gates of brass ,and open wide our golden doors1 ,proclaiming while his splendour pours ,over the world he comes to win3 ,the ,king of ,glory shall come in6 ,,matins ,good morning1 friend6 ,what of the night8 ,through yonder cloud one shaft of light1 ,shot from the bow of ,hunter ,day1 ,strikes on the world2 his hound-winds bay ,down valleys where the wheat and rye ,their gold with green of forest vie4 ,lift up your head6 ,behold how fair ,creation is3 ,the ocean-air ,beats billowing upon the strand ,of endless leagues of summer land1 ,and freighted ships of scented bales1 ,wild blossoms1 spread their tinctured sails4 ,see how ,god with an artist's grace ,gives soul to every flower-face6 ,beneath ,his touch a leaf is green1 ,a berry1 red6 ,mark how1 between ,the captive daisies1 come and pass ,phalanxes of the guarding grass6 ,the night was dark1 you say3 wild fears ,took shape on torrent-flood of tears2 ,dim phantoms of the host of hate ,pursued you down the gulfs of fate1 ,smiting you with their harpy-wings ,up steeps of weird imaginings6 ,my friend6 ,each in his turn has known ,night and her shapes of fear2 the stone ,of striving ,sisyphus has torn ,all who have dared the mount of ,morn3 ,the tree where ,buddha's vision fell ,was planted in a pit of hell6 ,no soul has seen its promised land1 ,who felt not first some ,pharaoh's hand-- ,behind achievement1 stir and stress ,of desert-days and wilderness2 ,learn by the way that ,jesu trod ,how from the brute man grows a god6 ,who stands against you in your path ,may reap with you your aftermath2 ,and less of bitterness than bliss ,is stored within a traitor's kiss3 ,the demon who holds back your soul ,will crown you victor at the goal6 ,the bugles blow1 the trumpets call1 ,and at their sound the towers fall2 ,beleaguered bastions are down ,within yon ancient fortressed town3 ,go up and let each cobbled street ,clang back to your triumphant feet6 ,a ,,cradle ,,song ,,of ,,life ,lullaby baby1 ,hushaby baby6 ,after the day ,comes night with a dream6 ,dear little hands1 ,dear little feet1 ,quiet at last2 ,closed are the eyes3 ,lullaby1 hushaby baby6 ,when you awake ,will you forget ,all the old toys1 ,the lessons you learned1 ,the bruises that hurt ,when you fell down8 ,uncouthly you sprawled ,and frequently fell1 ,learning to walk3 ,was falling a sin1 ,were bruises a shame1 ,baby1 my brave little baby8 ,what dreams do you dream1 ,what sounds do you hear ,out of the splendour-- ,out of the wonder-- ,out of the peace ,of ,rest-,a-,while ,land8 ,how little they know ,who call this a grave-- ',tis but a cradle1 ,and death is a sleep ,from which you will waken ,to try it again6 ,how little they know ,who prattle of sin1 ,and tell on their beads ,misereres for grace3 ,baby must fall ,that baby may rise6 ,renewed by the rest1 ,made strong by the dream1 ,more firmly your feet ,shall find out a way ,past the old blunders ,into the dawn6 ,lullaby baby1 ,hushaby baby6 ,after the day ,comes night with a kiss ,soft on the brow1 ,hands and the feet-- ,folding them1 ,holding them-- ,feet that are tired from falling2 ,hands that are weary from failing2 ,brow that is furrowed from weeping3 ,brow1 hands1 feet--resting for mastery6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,all ,brother1 my ,brother6 whoever you are1 ,rocked in the atom and nursed in the star1 ,swaddled in flesh by the great ,elohim-- ,lords of the ,flame--and whose day is a dream ,known in the night3 ,o my ,brother1 all hail6 ,hither a prophet1 a priest or a slave1 ,came you1 my ,brother--a king or a knave1 ,black man or red man or brown man or white1 ,out of the land of an infinite light8 ,here are my heart and my hand to you3 hail6 ,are you a liar1 a sycophant's self ,sold for a shekel and pandering pelf8 ,are you a snob or a murderer1 thief1 ,cringing to hell with the devil for chief8 ,here are my robe and my crown to you3 hail6 ,greet you1 my ,brother6 for ,i am all things-- ,dust of the stars and the music of wings-- ,eyes of the angels and ,lucifer's mouth-- ,wind of the ,north and a wind of the ,south-- ,here are my sandals and staff to you3 hail6 ,,the ,,slow ,,emerger ,i am the ,slow ,emerger3 ,patience and wait for me1 ,nor be afraid that ,i will fail you-- ,you holder of fair morning heights-- ,you dancing with the rosy dawn6 ,it has been long and hard for me1 ,this task of slow emergence from the clod4 ,brute-shapes still prowl about me in the shadows1 ,their fangs are sometimes fastened to my feet2 ,so that ,i cannot walk from pain of them1 ,so that ,i halt and cry out--lonely in the night6 ,sometimes ,i see you1 ,woman-- ,you the watchful1 waiting one of ages-- ,you with the dawn and godlike-- ,you past all torment that ,i know-- ,you the understanding4 ,sometimes ,i see you in a shaft of light ,smiting the mists of valleys where ,i call1 ,dividing them as with a two-edged sword ,swung by an angel6 ,in that vision ,rage of tusk and tooth and fang ,falls like the waves in their wind-drifted foam ,upon the scarlet laughter of wild poppies6 ,i have deceived you2 ,you in turn have punished me-- ,have punished me with a mere semblance of yourself3 ,a figure1 rose-lipped1 white fleshed1 ,with wild witcheries of ample breasts-- ,limbs smooth and dimpled as for kisses-- ,a dear and tender fiction of yourself2 ,a fiction of yourself that did escape me1 ,leaped up to claim those hills remote from me ,until ,i learned man must not chain a woman's soul6 ,o ,woman1 wait for me-- ,be patient2 for ,i strive ,out of the shadow ,where the brute ,still fastens with his fang ,my bleeding feet-- ,my weary1 stumbling feet3 ,nor be afraid that ,i will fail you-- ,you holder of far morning heights-- ,you dancing with the dawn6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,gods ,the gods of vast ,valhalla ,are silent in their hall2 ,zeus looks not from ,olympus2 ,jehovah's rod has fallen ,and ,buddha sleeps among his ,poppies3 ,the old gods1 the great gods1 ,thunder and nod no more6 ,yea1 though we fiction them1 ,pretending that their stone eyes stare-- ,that their ears of marble harken1 ,we know that all the gods of yesterday are dead6 ,weep not for ,apollo2 ,sigh not for ,cynthia2 ,call not for ,aphrodite ,coming from the foam2 ,beat not the breast for ,balder-- ,balder the ,beautiful1 ,slain by dark ,loki3 ,these were but dreams in the night ,of the day that is ours4 ,sing for the day that is ours-- ,for the gods who are here1 ,titans whose strength is greater ,than snake-strangling ,hercules6 ,sing for the gods of the oppressed1 ,the cleansers of slums1 ,the ,christs of great ,golgothas ,mounded of old wrongs ,hurting the people6 ,sing for the smiters of tenements-- ,lairs of disease1 of the white death6 ,sing for the slayers of sweat-shop owners-- ,the taskmasters of children6 ,sing for the guardians of girls1 ,the saviours of modern ,madonnas-- ,custodians of wells unpolluted ,for the renewal of men6 ,sing for the wielders of axe and the hammer2 ,the gods of the crowbar and shovel2 ,for those who go down to the sea in ships1 ,having their business in the great waters2 ,for those who find out a path ,which no fowl knoweth1 ,which the lion's whelps tread not-- ,the veins of the silver and gold1 ,of the carbonized sunlight and laughter6 ,sing for the prophets of labour1 ,rebukers of ,ahab greedy of gardens ,delved and possessed by another6 ,sing for the women who claim the lost title3 ,comrade and equal of ,man1 ,women who strike from their sisters ,a,eonian fetters of custom1 ,bidding them stand and be free from their masters6 ,sing for the priests of the ,lord's ,house1 ,who lift up the vessels thereof with clean hands1 ,knowing great ,christ when ,he cometh1 ,truthful interpreters of signs and of omens6 ,sing for the harpers on highways ,who make the world dance to their song1 ,turning the laughter of leaves into words6 ,brother1 this the world wonderful ,transcends ,valhalla4 ,everywhere falls the ambrosial ,smell of the garlands immortal2 ,everywhere tones of an infinite ,iris-bow1 bent for achievement1 ,pass the promise of ,noah-- ,ours not promise1 ours fulfilment6 ,this is the day of the ages1 ,heaven is here for the claiming-- ,now6 ,now6 ,rise up and take it4 ,i said ye are gods--8 ,i say you are gods-- ,yea1 you are more than ,god's ,image1 ,you are ,god's ,self6 worship none other4 ,have done with your idols1 ,the old gods1 the dead gods6 ,blow up the trumpets-- ,beat on the cymbals-- ,strike on the harpstrings-- ,let sound the psalteries-- ,thunder the tabour6 ,shout with the ,levites1 ,white-robed and ready1 ,round the old world-walls6 ,shatter with sound ,jericho6 ,jericho6 ,topple its bastions1 ,bloodstained and brutal1 ,down to the dust ,drifting to deserts ,remote and forgotten6 ,bring in the ,new ,year1 ,brothers1 my brothers-- ,proclaim this the ,sabbath6 ,,the ,,optimist ,there is no evil anywhere-- ,said ,i unto the priest ,who answered3 ,life is cursed with care1 ,sin makes of man a beast6 ,care is not any curse--,i cried1 ,to fail is not to sin4 ,wherefore upon the rood ,christ died1 ,if not our souls to win8 ,because a hero must face death1 ,if death be in the way4 ,and as ,i paused to take my breath1 ,the priest began to say3 ,son1 you forget how ,adam fell1 ,losing his high estate2 ,and so ,god doomed him unto hell1 ,save for the ,master's fate4 ,yes1 ,i forget--and gladly too-- ,that ancient ,hebrew tale3 ,how ,god began a thing to do-- ,can the ,eternal fail8 ,can ,he who rides upon the storm1 ,who breathes and1 lo1 the stars6 ,whose thought begets a flower-form1 ,with leaves for avatars2 ,can ,he who crowns the grass with dew1 ,and gems the wood with rain2 ,fail of ,his purpose8--,my priest drew ,his breath and spoke again3 ,alas1 my son6 ,your words are wild ,and far from holy faith2 ,your reason is of one beguiled ,by some infernal wraith-- ,do you not know the written ,word ,tells of our father's fall8 ,have you not seen1 have you not heard ,how death rules over all8 ,there is no death--,i quickly said2 ,and he3 ,but all must die6 ,now is ,christ risen from the dead6 ,forthwith ,i made reply4 ,now is ,christ risen and become ,firstfruits of them that slept6 ,and lo1 the fluent priest was dumb-- ,he was like one who wept6 ,ah1 you have suffered1 you have sinned1 ,have known the dark abyss1 ,have felt upon the roaring wind ,the phantom of a kiss2 ,you have looked in a woman's eyes ,lit with her love of you1 ,and such a moment made you wise6 ,he murmured3 ,it is true4 ,tell me1 ,o priest1 was it not worth ,eternity of hell1 ,when in your heart dear love had birth8-- ,tears from his closed eyes fell4 ,then your great moment gives the point ,to what ,i said before-- ,there is no evil4 ,you anoint ,the spirit's open door-- ,a dying body--set the seal ,of some old covenant1 ,as though the spirit did not feel ,the ,comrade-,visitant2 ,as though the soul were not ,god's son ,knowing as he is known1 ,who hath by cross and passion won ,his place beside the throne6 ,if all my life were in the dark ,and dread of endless doom1 ,think you that ,i should fail the spark ,that gleamed athwart the gloom-- ,my moment when ,i soared to bliss ,upon a woman's lips ,and that revealing word--her kiss-- ,thrilled to my finger tips8 ,nay2 by that instant ,i should know ,evil--so called--worth while1 ,accept the challenge1 forward go ,bravely against the mile2 ,till by degrees the lengthened space ,should give me stronger thews1 ,a firmer tread1 a purer face1 ,a never-empty cruse3 ,i then should reach a gentler hand ,to cripples by the way1 ,strike off the fetters1 loose the band1 ,turn night into the day4 ,my tongue would be a tuned reed1 ,my throat a silver horn1 ,my lips for fuller faith would plead ,from even unto morn4 ,i should not waste the miracle ,divine--the gift of speech-- ,with fancied images of hell-- ,this only would it teach3 ,if ,god with lilies keeps a tryst1 ,then ,he will also keep ,faith with that moment of the ,christ ,who walks upon the deep-- ,christ walks upon the deep with him ,who dares the rising wave1 ,and though his failing faith grow dim1 ,finds love is strong to save2 ,knows love is strong to save and lift ,the flagging feet that fail1 ,hearing across the cloudy drift3 ',courage1 ,o comrade1 hail6' ,who sees the ,presence1 finds the ,face1 ,and hears the mystic word2 ,who moves to his appointed place1 ,like any homing bird2 ,who never doubts the highest peak ,of his transcendent hour1 ,and boldly ventures forth to seek ,fulfilment of his power3 ,for him ,god waits beyond the sun1 ,his ,christ of many scars1 ,to give for that which he hath done ,a heritage of stars4 ,,revelation ,all is revealed--naught is concealed6 ,sudden and swift1 like the feet of the spring2 ,laughter of children in torrents of tears2 ,breathing of blossoms from orchards that fling ,perfumes in prodigal scorn of the years ,empty of fruitage2 like the touch of a hand ,soft and compassionate1 known in the deep ,valley of ,death2 like the flame from the brand ,flung from a watchfire to frighten and keep ,back from the fold the striped ,terror that stares3 ,all is revealed6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,workers ,hail to the hodmen1 ,the builders of houses6 ,hail to the navvies ,laying pipes for pure water6 ,hail to the miners ,prisoned in pits1 ,cleaving the coal1 ,dauntless of death from the gases6 ,here's to you1 sailors1 ,brave on the boisterous ,breast of the ocean1 ,tanned by the sun and the tempest6 ,here's to you1 trainmen-- ,couplers and stokers-- ,all you conductors-- ,you with your hand on the throttle6 ,gloria6 ,doctors1 ,nurses and mothers1 ,teachers of children1 ,patient with feet that are plodding2 ,gloria6 ,students1 ,lovers of nature1 ,and you scientists-- ,priests of the veiled1 vast ,shekinahs6 ,a ,,song ,,of ,,battles ,you will not do this thing again6 ,what thing8 ,mistake of owning overmuch3 ,great palaces and princely halls1 ,gardens of ,babylon that hang ,high on a many-terraced hill1 ,created at the cost of slaves ,dead by the thousands2 that some queen ,might gaze in rapture of her lord4 ,strange how the saddened centuries ,stood clothed in garments red with blood ,poured from the veins of innocents1 ,their mothers glad to give them birth1 ,their fathers driven forth to slay ,and to be slain on battle fields6 ,why8--,why8 ,because a few men sold their souls ,for little heaps of minted gold-- ,round pieces stamped with ,caesar's face ,or ,alexander's awful brow-- ,gold pieces whose possession gives ,command of battle ships and legions armed for enemies1 ,raised up because of gold6 gold6 gold6 ,for when man gathers overmuch ,god is exchanged for paltry dust2 ,and when ,god goes the devil comes ,in panoply of armies3 ,drums beating-- ,trumpets blowing-- ,flags fluttering--- ,men hating1 fighting1 bleeding1 dying2 ,women wailing and beating their breasts2 ,cities in conflagration2 ,tall towers tumbling to an accompaniment of thunder1 ,tumbling down among the statues and the pictures1 ,silencing the song of the singers1 ,making the beautiful ugly1 ,smothering in wide encompassing smoke ,the children--the glad1 the wonderful children-- ,god's lilies of laughter-- ,his immaculate ones6 ,i tell you gold is the cause of war1 ,that war is the price we pay for gold-- ,gold for which we give ,god6 ,you will not do this thing again6 ,what thing8 ,mistake of owning overmuch4 ,,can ,,you ,,forget ,can you forget the pyramids1 ,persepolis and ,tyre8 ,can you forget the barges on the ,nile1 ,the sculptor with his chisel and his artist-soul a-fire ,with a dream of ,mother ,isis and her smile8 ,his dream that made immortal ,one pillar of the portal-- ',tis broken now but beautiful above the yellow ,nile6 ,can you forget the reedy pipes1 the cymbals and the songs2 ,the sun upon the desert like a targe2 ,the shaking of the sistrum and the beating of the gongs2 ,the fury of the spear-thrust in the charge8 ,o leave your milk and honey1 ,your little bags of money1 ,and dream the ancient dream again above the yellow ,nile6 ,,bartimaeus ,bartimaeus at the highroad1 ,begging from the passer by ,just enough to stop his hunger-- ,hear him cry6 ,blind is he and lone and ragged1 ,with no friendly hand to lead-- ,and the sky all blue above him6 ,hear him plead4 ,there are olives and pomegranates ,green and gold among the hills1 ,miles of vineyards through the valleys ,fed by rills4 ,in the distance is a city ,walled and white beneath the sun1 ,domed and delicate with towers-- ,one by one ,rising up like fingers lifted ,high in a perpetual prayer ,to ,jehovah ,god who pities ,want and care4 ,near the blind man1 gray and broken ,is an ancient olive-press-- ,blue and scarlet blossoms give it ,tenderness1 ,weave a spell of summer-beauty ,on each stained and splintered stone1 ,give the pile a royal grandeur ,of a throne4 ,on the road are many people-- ,laughing as they hurry down ,to the little homes that wait them ,in the town4 ,comes a merchant on his camel-- ,silk from ,araby he sells3 ,listen to the rhythmic clangour ,of the bells6 ,comes a priest back from the ,temple1 ,pondering the written ,law1 ,blind to all the lovely blossoms ,in the awe1 ,in the testamented terror ,of the lengthened scroll he reads2 ,while the beggar at the highroad ,vainly pleads6 ,comes a wanton in her madness1 ,drifting down the human stream2 ,in her eyes the haunting horror ,of a dream6 ,comes a harpist gaily singing1 ,brave above the smitten cords1 ,glancing at the royal huleh ,and the gourds4 ,come two lovers from betrothal-- ,she is on a milk-white ass1 ,and he strides in strength beside her2 ,as they pass1 ,bartimaeus pleads for pity3 ,give the blind man of our all1 ,breathes the maiden1 and the young man-- ,straight and tall-- ,gives three shekels to the beggar1 ,turns and looks into her eyes2 ,then they journey to their waiting ,paradise6 99 99 99 99 99 ,strange6--,that day three people only ,heard blind ,bartimaeus' cry-- ,these1 and ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth ,passing by6 ,,the ,,cock ,a cross within the portico1 ,and leaning near an oaken door ,through which the people come and go1 ,as they have never done before4 ,a cock upon the transverse beam ,is perched4 ,within the ,high ,priest's hall ,a man's voice rises to a scream3 ,god's ,face6 ,i know ,him not at all6 ,a noise of laughter and of blows3 ,ha6 ,prophet1 tell us--who smote ,thee8 ,in sooth1 this fellow ,jesu knows6 ,art ,thou the ,christ8 ,come answer me6 ,the morning star pales in the sky-- ,the paschal moon dips down the hills-- ,the vineyards in the valley lie ,veiled in the mist of many rills4 ,a gleam of silver in the east2 ,the cock awakes and spreads his wings2 ,and he who of the day is priest1 ,this canticle of ,jesu sings3 ,wake up6 ,wake up6 ,jerusalem-- ,this is the day ,that men will slay ,the starry ,son of ,bethlehem6 ,like one lone cedar straight and tall1 ,he stands within the ,high ,priest's hall4 ,his hands are bound1 ,his breast is bare1 ,there is no pity anywhere4 ,his eyes are dim-- ,they laugh at ,him2 ,and since ,he will not to them speak1 ,a man now smites ,him on the cheek6 ,wake up6 ,wake up6 ,jerusalem-- ,this is the day ,that men will slay ,the starry ,son of ,bethlehem6 ,above the burning coals there stands ,one who is stretching forth his hands3 ,three times has he his ,friend denied ,who must this day be crucified6 ,those eyes so dim ,have looked at him2 ,and he who thrice denied and swore ,is running blindly to the door6 ,wake up6 ,wake up6 ,jerusalem-- ,the silver dawn ,is coming on-- ,a star hangs over ,bethlehem6 ,a breath of buds is in the air2 ,the feet of ,spring are on the stair1 ,descending to her olive-press ,from ,winter's palace1 and her dress ,is wrought with flowers ,of summer showers2 ,a tear of woe is in her eye-- ,she mourns that ,mary's ,son must die6 ,wake up6 ,wake up6 ,jerusalem-- ,the night is spent-- ,repent6 ,repent6 ,what do ye down in ,bethlehem8 ,cedron is calling soft and low2 ,gethsemane will never know ,again the touch of ,jesu's feet3 ,o ,nazareth1 ,this day the death ,of ,him who loved you is your loss-- ,i call this to you from ,his cross6 ,,the ,,stream ,how many ,christs have we two crucified2 ,how many prophets have we sawn asunder2 ,what wild woe have we wrought3 how deep1 how wide ,the wrong committed6 ,in the sky ,god's thunder ,threatens1 ,his lightning cleaves the clouds apart ,to show an awful ,face-- ,the ,judge is in ,his place ,of ,judgment6 ,oh1 the love ,that we have lost6 ,above1 ,beneath and all around us sounds the cry ,of ,rachel weeping over little hands ,and little feet6 ,her babes are dead6 ,you1 ,i1 ,alone are guilty2 for while error stands ,must all the starry ,christs be crucified6 ,nay1 do not hang your head3 ,though ,christs be crucified1 ,and ,rachel's babes are dead1 ,one river floweth wide ,out of the urge of ,god2 ,of that eternal stream-- ,its mother-bosom broad ,with vision and with dream-- ,are you1 ,comrade and ,i6 ,yea1 all its ancient shores ,that river runneth by ,have we touched4 ,where it pours ,past leagues of desert-sand1 ,jungles and miry places1 ,palms of an unknown land1 ,ferns and their fronded faces2 ,have we gone forth from ,god6 ,where slimy serpents crawl1 ,and crocodiles are torpid in the sun2 ,where snarling tigers sprawl1 ,and elephants come slowly one by one ,down the yellow ridges ,of the banyan's broken bridges ,to the river where the little shells are strawed2 ,where chattering monkeys leap1 ,and the flamingo struts among the reeds2 ,where parrots pause and peep1 ,and all day long the greedy ibis feeds3 ,we went flowing1 flowing1 ,and eternally out-going ,from the impulse of the mighty love of ,god6 ,lift up your head1 ,o my ,brother1 my friend6 ,know that your shame is the shame of the stream-- ,memory floods all its banks1 but the end-- ,what is the end8 ',tis a realized dream ,dreamt in the depths of an infinite peace ,ere the first star of the morning arose ,over the earth6 ,since that river's release ,from the pure spring1 how it flows6 ,how it flows1 ,bears on its bosom the sorrows of man1 ,sin and the wreckage of faith and of truth1 ,lust and hot murder1 the primitive ban3 ,eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth6 ,yet that same bosom babe ,moses did bare ,safe in his cradle of wattles6 ,its tide ,floated the tree on which ,christ1 crucified1 ,bled for ,his love of the stream and ,his share ,of the ,past6 ,lift up your head and endure6 ,are we not part of the ,all1 and as pure8 ,,the ,,one ,,oblation ,god does not need your virtue ,proclaimed in any place1 ,who knows a better beauty ,than such a pious face6 ,the stars keep ,his commandments1 ,the suns observe ,his law ,and all the countless comets ,bow down to ,him in awe4 ,god does not want your temples1 ,whose domes are in the sky2 ,with archangelic anthems ,how dare we mortals vie8 ,one thing alone1 my brothers1 ,rivals that bliss above3 ,not incense on an altar1 ,but man's oblation--,love6 ,a ,,question ,have you ,christ found-- ,whose eyes are cold ,and lips are set8 ,how you forget ,that day of old1 ,when on the ground ,he wrote one tender word3 ,let him who has not erred ,be first of these alone ,to cast a stone6 ,,combatants ,my ,god and ,i met at the ford-- ,lightning of wrath was on ,his face1 ,and in ,his hand ,he held a sword6 ,he whom of old ,i had adored ,now challenged me6 ,i paused a space-- ,my ,god and ,i met at the ford4 ,dauntless ,i stood1 and daring poured ,hot words of anger--stepped one pace2 ,and in my hand ,i held a sword4 ,steel clashed on steel6 ,together warred ,comrades of old in that fell place6 ,my ,god and ,i met at the ford4 ,one moment's thrust and ,he had scored2 ,i of ,his mercy pleaded grace3 ,god smiled on me and dropped ,his sword6 ,,on ,,the ,,wide1 ,,white ,,road ,the ,question3 ,minstrel with a song ,on the wide1 white road-- ,loafing with the lilies of the ,june-- ,what makes you so strong ,underneath your load1 ,lilting such a joyous little tune8 ,tell me1 little brother1 ,what ,i want to know-- ,why your lips are tremulous with joy-- ,why you1 like a mother1 ,soothe and love me so1 ,as she used to when ,i was a boy4 ,all the way behind ,fades into a dream ,hideous with faces in the gloom2 ,phantom-terrors blind ,with a lurid gleam ,glowing from ,gehenna-gulfs of doom6 ,the ,answer3 ,comrade1 ,i will tell you ,how ,i laugh and sing1 ,loafing with the lilies by the way4 ,comrade1 what befell you ,that you missed the ,king ,crowned with purple pansies of the day8 ,brother1 ,him ,i know-- ,lord of earth and star-- ,find ,him with the ferns beside the pool2 ,all the splendours grow ,dim and fade afar1 ,when ,he walks at shut of day and cool4 ,fear not to address ,him-- ,cosmic-,comrade ,he-- ,lonely for the love ,he wants from you6 ,up at once and bless ,him-- ,lift a jubilee ,with the host of loyal hearts and true6 ,,that ,,one ,,should ,,love ,,me ,that one should love me is enough1 ,be my path smooth or be it rough2 ,though on my head no splendours shine1 ,love crowns me with the victor-vine4 ,if on my ears no plaudits fall ,proclaiming me from stall to stall1 ,behind the scenes ,i wait my turn1 ,who saw two eyes with longing burn4 ,somewhere within that audience ,gleamed golden ,love's magnificence2 ,i stood triumphant for a space ,held by the rapture on one face4 ,out of the discord of to-day1 ,hark how the well-tuned harp-strings play6 ,peace1 ,o my ,soul6 ,one song is true1 ,though thunder-clouds conceal the blue4 ,down in the lowest deep of hell ,one word of love upon me fell2 ,forthwith my flame-scarred face was bold1 ,uplifted to a gate of gold4 ,upon my path a phantom form ,threatened with terror as of storm1 ,smote me with lightning2 ,i was strong1 ,hearing the cadence of a song4 ,a while within an awful wood1 ,uncertain of the path ,i stood2 ,a shout of laughter from a tree ,where lurked a devil1 frightened me4 ,then there was whispering of leaves1 ,soft as of swallows under eaves3 ,i love you1 love you6 ,lo6 a light ,sundered the murkiness of night4 ,three times ,i fell1 three times ,i rose ,to face the menacing of foes-- ,what gave me strength again to stand8 ,out of the dark ,i felt a hand6 ,out of the dark and dread of death1 ,upon my brow ,i felt a breath2 ,and by the brink of that abyss ,the consolation of a kiss4 ,past many moors of pain ,i trod ,impeded by the clinging clod1 ,until within one waking morn ,love in response to love was born4 ,love in response to love was mine6 ,the water-jar was filled with wine1 ,the broken cruse again restored1 ,and green had grown the withered gourd4 ,,rahab ,rahab hath vermilion lips1 ,breasts of ivory1 and her hips ,taper down to little feet ,that go dancing on the street4 ,gossips call dear ,rahab bold2 ,say her love is bought for gold1 ,barters kisses for a purse3 ,well1 some women have done worse6 ,saw you ever ,rahab's eyes-- ,all the blue of ,canaan's skies ,smiles a moment1 and you see ,beauty's best in ,galilee4 ,heard you ever ,rahab's song1 ,you would murmur3 ,surely wrong ,lives not in that lovely voice-- ,i with ,rahab will rejoice6 ,i came up the winding way ,through the vines at shut of day ,out of ,orphir1 bearing balms2 ,and ,i saw among the palms ,rahab wistful by the wall3 ,she was slender1 she was tall1 ,and ,i trembled as her eyes ,turned on me in swift surprise4 ,tyrian purple was her gown2 ,gold her girdle2 and a crown ,made of myrtle held her hair ,oval on her forehead fair2 ,little sandals shod her feet4 ,rahab1 smiling1 murmured3 ,greet ,you1 my brother6 ,are you come1 ,laden with sweet spice and gum1 ,out of ,orphir8 and ,i said3 ,rahab6 ,all the evening shed ,light and perfume on her face ,turned to me1 ,i paused a space1 ,breathless4 ,nothing ,i could say ,but her name4 ,a dear dismay ,of her beauty made me mute1 ,like a stringless harp or lute6 ,then she laughed at me and flung ,high her hands6 ,she tipped her tongue ,saucily and danced along-- ,feet in fellowship with song4 ,i pursued her through the vines ,growing where the bank confines ,jordan2 followed her until ,i forgot my master's will-- ,master of the ,caravan ,out of ,orphir6 ,as ,i ran1 ,love arose and went with me ,through the grapes of ,galilee6 ,little leaves laughed as ,i sped ,after ,rahab4 ,overhead ,two white doves were on the wing1 ,and ,i heard a throstle sing4 ,where my feet fell on the brown1 ,furrowed vineyard1 shaken down ,by her body from the vine1 ,grapes were crushed to make me wine6 ,day was gazing from the west ,on high ,hermon with confessed ,love of her whose ample brow ,crimsoned2 and from every bough ,twilight twitterings were heard4 ,how my pulses leaped and stirred-- ,wild with longing for her lips1 ,like two red pomegranate pips6 ,i stretched forth my hands and cried3 ,rahab6 and she turned aside ,from the vineyard where a wood ,near a purple wine-press stood4 ,there she paused and looked on me1 ,laughing3 ,boy1 what do you see ,in my eyes1 you tremble so8 ,fate6 ,i answered4 ,could you know1 ,rahab1 what is in my heart1 ,you would pity1 you would part ,with one kiss and one caress ,here beside the purple press6 ,boy1 she murmured1 gossips say ,rahab's poisoned lips will slay ,whom she kisses2 that her breasts ,are two hidden adders' nests6 ,though ,i die upon your mouth1 ,kiss me1 ,rahab6 for the drouth ,of the desert makes my soul ,empty as an empty bowl4 ,dreary days of journeying ,where the sands go billowing ,miles and miles beneath the sun ,leave me broken and undone4 ,all my youth was in the sere1 ,dim the eye and deaf the ear ,unto beauty until now2 ,rahab1 harken to my vow3 ,give me vision1 give me sense ,of lost beauty's immanence-- ,give me these and ,i will pay1 ,careless of what gossips say1 ,all you ask in turn for this3 ,soul of you within one ,kiss6 ,rahab's eyes were suddenly ,misted over1 and to me ,came her whisper3 ,o my ,heart6 ,take the minstrel's gift--his art-- ,with my lips on yours2 the price ,be your spirit's sacrifice-- ,pain of vision6 ,you shall know ,summits of eternal snow1 ,depths of fire6 ,you shall be torn1 ,twixt the twilight and the morn1 ,by strange dreams of angel-faces ,bending from their starry places1 ,blent with devils out of hell6 ,rahab kissed me--6 ,lo1 there fell ,veils of violet and gold ,from the sunset--fold on fold-- ,till the tangled vines were caught ,and with mist the fields were fraught2 ,notes that ,i had never heard ,in the tall bulrushes stirred1 ,trembled from the swaying trees1 ,fluting strange1 wild melodies4 ,rahab's kiss and tender glance ,taught me earth's significance2 ,opened wide eternal doors1 ,where the flood of beauty pours ,out of heaven6 out of ,god6 ,quickening the stone and clod1 ,leaf and shrub and bird and beast ,for the artist--nature's priest1 ,sleepless when her altar lights ,burn through balmy summer nights1 ,wakeful when upon the day ,pours the pollen smoke alway6 99 99 99 99 99 ,rahab kissed me by the press-- ,bound me with dear ,love's duress-- ,laughed and clapped her hands in glee ,mid the grapes of ,galilee4 ,,on ,,guard ,halt6 ,who comes there8 ,care4 ,word1 friend or foe6 ,woe4 ,what is thy will8 ,ill4 ,who sent thee here8 ,fear4 ,where doth he dwell8 ,hell6 ,name me his mate6 ,hate4 ,what is their palace8 ,malice4 ,what are their crowns8 ,frowns4 ,show me the way6 ,nay2 ,one from above1 ,greater than ,wrath1 ,stands in thy path4 ,who is he8--,love6 ,,the ,,ploughman ,the upper and the lower springs1 ,the summer-fountains fail2 ,a frowning sky his challenge flings ,with thunder through the hail2 ,the autumn holds her mantle-folds ,to veil a pallid brow-- ,she pities me and mourns to see ,my pain upon the plough3 ,for ,i must down the furrow fare ,and cleave the clod with sharpened share4 ,witless of wind that finds my face1 ,i lean against the blast ,and plough to my appointed place-- ,yon sapling like a mast2 ,i plough this way till shut of day1 ,steady upon the mark2 ,reckless of cold1 the handles hold ,from dawn until the dark-- ,this thing my duty3 cleave the clod1 ,ploughing the field alone with ,god6 ,,dear ,,little ,,maid ,,of ,,dream ,dear little ,maid of ,dream1 ,my heart1 dear ,heart1 is breaking2 ,things are not what they seem1 ,and sorrow comes with waking6 ,i yearn to hold you fast1 ,my ,dream1 but then comes waking2 ,the silver moment past1 ,and then--the sad leave-taking6 ,dear little ,maid of ,dream1 ,my heart1 dear ,heart1 is breaking6 ,,the ,,violet ,,to ,,the ,,aster ,said the ,violet to the ,aster ,all on a summer's day3 ,your colour is the same as mine1 ,come marry me1 ,i pray2 ,your bridesmaids shall be lilies1 ,a rose the vested priest1 ,and harebells ring the changes ,to call us to the feast4 ,said the ,aster to the ,violet3 ,what shall the dowry be1 ,and what my stated fortune1 ,if ,i should marry thee8 ,your fortune8 sang the ,violet1 ,the fragrance of my breath6 ,the ,aster swayed and murmured3 ,i will be yours till death6 ,,magic ,there is magic on the meadow ,and a witch has won the wood1 ,elfin laughter from the water ,as it rolls a rhythmic flood2 ,for a spirit meets my spirit ,with a flash of iris-wings1 ,and all the world's a garden ,glad with many blossomings6 ,,the ,,king ,,and ,,the ,,maid ,o love--cried the ,king ,on a day in spring1 ,as he went through the leafy wood-- ,i must be away ,to the court this day6 ,and he threw back the purple hood ,from his royal brow ,that was paling now ,with the pain of the parting hour3 ,for the maid was dear1 ,and her lips were near ,to his lips1 like a crimson flower4 ,i shall be alone ,on a gilded throne ,in the midst of my nobles all2 ,from my diadem ,to my garment's hem1 ,i shall ache for your light footfall3 ',tis no little thing1 ,dear1 to be a king ,with love of a man for a maid1 ,and to play the part ,with an empty heart1 ,like a scabbard without its blade4 ,but the maid was wise1 ,and her hazel eyes ,were brave with the light of her love3 ,god save thee1 my ,king1 ,from great suffering1 ,grant thee of ,his grace from above6 ,canst thou play thy part ,with an empty heart1 ,if ,i fill it full to the brim ,of the wine of prayer ,from the bowl ,i bear8 ,and his eyes with the tears were dim6 ,on that ivory throne ,shalt thou be alone1 ,if my thoughts are a-wing to thee2 ,if upon thy brow ,that is paling now1 ,my lips mark where the crown shall be8 ,so the ,king rode south ,from her crimson mouth ,through the forest1 field and the fells2 ,and his voice was strong ,with words of a song ,to a chime of the bridle-bells4 ,a ,,woman',s ,,prayer ,god of the heaven and earth1 ,bring to the birth ,soul of the man that ,i love2 ,from the ,above1 ,send ,him the light of ,thy face2 ,grant to him grace1 ,brave in the battle1 his shield ,never to yield6 ,god of the zephyr and gale1 ,that is a nail ,holding the hand of my dream ,hard to the beam6 ,god of the good ,paraclete1 ,both of his feet ,bleed while the sentinels toss ,dice near a cross6 ,god of the magic of morn1 ,crimsoning thorn ,crowns him6 ,oh1 hark to his cry3 ,sabachthani8 ,god of the laughter and tear1 ,that is a spear ,stained with the red drops that start ,under his heart6 ,god of the glamour and gloom1 ,into the tomb ,low is he laid2 see1 a stone ,leaves me alone6 ,god of the lily and vine1 ,is he not mine8 ,balms for his body ,i bear1 ,myrrh for his hair4 ,love6 who rolled the stone away8 ,bright as the day1 ,shineth thy brow1 and thy face ,gleams with a grace ,caught from the whispering wings ,of ,one who sings3 ,there is no death6 ,lo1 the tomb ,breaks into bloom6 ,god of a woman's wide love1 ,under1 above1 ,over the earth there is light ,sprung from the night2 ,now is the heart of me filled1 ,soul of me stilled2 ,glad of ,thy shepherding care1 ,answering prayer6 ,,foeman ,i stand ,with drawn sword in my hand ,to face ,you for a space-- ,you6 ,you6 ,comrade1 can this be true ,that ,i ,must yield or die8 ,those eyes1 ,gray like ,november skies1 ,i feel ,sharper than steel4444 ,one word ,before sword clash on sword ,and stern ,wrath in us burn ,recall ,the swift footfall ,and mirth1 ,when the awakened earth ,grew glad ,of what we had-- ,love1 life1 ,not this tremendous strife4 ,rose-red ,petals were shed ,with bloom ,of lilies in that room1 ,where we ,stood silently ,and heard ,heart-music stirred ,on chords ,by minstrel ,lords ,whose wings ,moved to the strings4 ,why--why ,dared we to try1 ,to prove ,our love8 ,wrong6 ,wrong6 ,when we knew song ,and light ,and spirit-might4 ,so now ,with paling brow ,and set ,hard lips1 we two are met ,to kill6 ,ah1 would your will ,make mine ,as grapes bruised for the wine8 ,seek you ,to run me through8 ,i take ,my sword and break ,the blade-- ,strike6 ,i have made ,of it a cross1 ,counting that loss ,which holds ,me from your garment-folds3 ,the sign ,proves me forever thine2 ,proves that ,i give ,self that our love may live6 ,,geraint ,open1 dear ,lady1 the little red door-- ,the little red door to me6 ,night is all cold and my feet are sore2 ,i have made a long journey4 ,leagues have ,i travelled1 the mountains crossed ,eager for love of thee2 ,lady1 ,i fear that thy love is lost3 ,open thy heart to me6 ,open thy heart and ,i will go in ,the red door silently2 ,there ,i shall find what ,i seek to win1 ,dear ,lady1 thy love for me6 ,,grief ,my heart is pain1 ,my spirit dearth2 ,tears are the rain ,upon the earth3 ,and all the over-clouded sky ,is not more darkened than am ,i4 ,a while ago ,i watched the snow1 ,and laughed to see ,its witchery2 ,now that your face is turned away1 ,winter's white magic melts from day4 ,the casement wide1 ,this wan ,yuletide1 ,i opened--heard ,one little bird ,a-piping on a crystalled bough1 ,but he will pipe no longer now2 ,for when he saw ,the stricken awe ,upon my face1 ,he left his place ,and winged into the upper air-- ,my visaged grief he could not bear4 ,a little child1 ,by me beguiled ,but yesterday ,from busy play1 ,this morning hurried from these eyes-- ,he could not look where courage dies6 ,under the sun ,two selves are one3 ,sorrow and ,i6 ,oh1 let me die1 ,and never meet the month of ,may-- ,now that your face is turned away6 ,,the ,,empty ,,room ,out of the storm ,i hurry in ,to find an empty room2 ,i call and call1 but no footfall ,answers across the room3 ,vainly your eyes ,i seek to win1 ,you are not here6 ,o dear--my dear1 ,there is no sound and stir of you6 ,i know not what to do4 ,i know not what to do or say1 ,i stand with vacant stare ,upon the brink of pain to think3 ,love1 whither dost thou fare8 ,an echo answers3 ,gone away6 ,your roses red their petals shed ,upon the book of verse ,i gave1 ,like tears down on a grave6 ,,love ,,eternal ,let us walk together1 lass1 7,lean upon me--so67 ,through the field of feathergrass 7,how the daisies grow67 ,till we find the word to say ,what is in our hearts to-day4 ,yes1 ,i loved you from the first4 ,dear1 there is surprise ,blent with hunger and with thirst ,in your eager eyes1 ,and you whisper3 ,is it true8-- ,knowing that ,i always knew6 ,let me tell you how it came3 ,voices through the room2 ,then one spoke to me your name 7,take this wild rose bloom-- ,i will place it in your hair7 ,and of you ,i was aware4 ,she is of a slender grace1 ,like my ,maid of dreams6 ,to myself ,i said--,her face ,with that beauty gleams-- ,beauty of that ,one ,i know ,in the ,land of ,long-,ago6 ,did you1 dearest1 understand ,why the scarlet grew ,on my forehead1 when my hand ,your fair fingers knew8 ,oh1 the world went very still ,while on me you worked your will6 ,worked your will8 ,do not deny2 ,for your heart was wise-- ,ah1 you shake your head and try ,vainly to disguise ,what was on your lips to say ,when we met that fateful day6 ,for from all eternity ,we are pledged to love1 ,bound in all our lives to be ,true to what above ,all the turmoil and the din ,strives that starry tryst to win4 ,sit with me upon this stone ,underneath the bough2 ,let the blossoms to us blown ,learn our ancient vow-- ,vow we made before the stars ,strove to break ,night's prison-bars4 ,lift your head and meet my gaze4 ,do you not recall ,somewhere in a golden haze1 ,vistaed vast1 a hall ,paved with diamond and domed ,blue above a fount that foamed ,with the water from the well ,guarded1 so they say1 ,by the angel ,israfel8 ,water of eternal bliss ,sprinkled on the lips that kiss6 ,there we lived before the suns ,led the planets up2 ,there we pledged the winged ,ones ,in a crystal cup1 ,ere we left that pillared home ,through the field of ,time to roam4 ,why1 you ask me1 dearest1 why ,did we leave that place-- ,is it such a thing to die8 ,ponder for a space3 ,what if love must lose to gain1 ,find eternal peace in pain8 ,but ,i want the ,ever-,now6 ,dear1 do you not know ,they who drive the patient plough ,and the furrows sow1 ,own the sinews of the strong-- ,reap the harvest with a song8 ,let the scattered fragments be ,gathered from the feast1 ,nothing lost2 thus speaketh ,he ,who is ,love's ,high ,priest1 ,and ,he knows who from a cross ,pledged return for every loss4 ,thus1 my ,maid of long ago1 ,here within the field ,let me tell what you would know3 ,how ,i came to yield ,to your eyes1 your lips1 your hair1 ,when the guests were gathered there ,in the room that day we met1 ,found amid the talk ,light of ancient suns which set ,a,eons ere the chalk ,cliffs of ,dover gleamed upon ,merchant-prows from ,babylon4 ,love and ,life eternal are1 ,fill unfathomed space1 ,bind with rapture star to star1 ,gleam from every face1 ,soar with angels1 plunge to hell3 ,lucifer and ,israfel6 ,so above the choric spheres1 ,at the knees of ,god ,you and ,i beyond the years ,kissed1 then clove the clod ,with our spirit's sundered flame2 ,till amid the talk your name ,fell seraphic1 smote me through ,with unearthly pain3 ,i was ,i and you were you-- ,met on earth again1 ,bound to live and bound to love ,by that oath we made above6 ,,after ,,the ,,feast ,i have drunk deeply of the cup1 ,fared well and fed2 ,the guests with whom ,i sat to sup1 ,are gone to bed3 ,a broken harp lies on the floor1 ,its tangled strings will sound no more-- ,the wine-stained linen ,i deplore4 ,here is a little trampled rose1 ,a violet2 ,here is a hyacinth1 and those ,are mignonette3 ,they looked so proudly from their place1 ,first at the feast--with tears ,i trace ,now but a vestige of that grace4 ,upon the table is a crown-- ,where is the ,king8 ,the little leaves that tremble down1 ,cover a ring2 ,a vase of crystal shattered lies ,against a goblet1 where the wise ,talked through the laughter4 ,how time flies6 ,it is not very long ago1 ,here in the hall1 ,when to the tapers' tangled glow ,the rise and fall ,of voices over nuts and wine ,murmured like wind through leaf and vine2 ,and there was joy of me and mine4 ,i snuff the tapers one by one4 ,the darkness falls4 ,alas1 for feasting and for fun6 ,my madrigals ,are ended4 ,i will not again ,sing4 ,sound of wind and weeping rain ,is now the interlude of pain6 ,yet it was good to know the feast1 ,to be a guest2 ,though at the table ,i was least ,among the best4 ,blindly ,i grope unto the door1 ,gather a flower from the floor-- ,i will come back here never more6 ,what6 ,never more go gladly back8 ,ah1 foolish me6 ,when down the winding starry track ,the company1 ,with laughter their lord following1 ,shall yet return to greet the ,king ,who claims the crown and wears the ring6 ,and though ,i have put out each light1 ,gathered one flower1 ,bravely ,i fare forth into night-- ,what is an hour1 ,a day1 a year1 if1 after all ,the silence1 those dear comrades call1 ,and there is harping in the hall8 ,i wait the summons2 gladly go ,against the rain2 ,they will be seated row on row ,here once again3 ,and in that brave1 loved company ,what song and laughter there will be1 ,when ,i resume my minstrelsy6 ,,the ,,lonely ,,road ,o will you take the lonely road1 ,the upward road1 ,among the many stars8 ,its pavement is by ,pain bestowed1 ,your feet shall find the scars6 ,your feet shall know the scars1 my friend3 ,it is a path without a bend4 ,it leadeth not by pastures green1 ,through meadows green1 ,nor near the little hills2 ,gaunt granite cliffs it runs between1 ,dark ,fear that chaos fills ,with cloud and storm and shadowings ,of vigilant unfolded wings4 ,it windeth not along the streams1 ,the laughing streams2 ,it leadeth straight and far ,beyond the mirrored pool of dreams ,in peril to a star3 ,who comes this way must go alone1 ,steadfast and strong nor making moan4 ,it is the path called ,perilous1 ,named ,perilous1 ,the path that heroes tread ,who hear the cry3 ,o come with us6-- ,brave voices of the dead-- ,for they are compassed by a throng ,of ,harpers harping to a song3 ,follow afar ,past cliff and scar1 ,finding your star6 ,brave in the night1 ,up to the light1 ,proving your might6 ,though the foot fail1 ,and the heart wail2 ,though the brow pale2 ,follow afar ,where the gods are1 ,finding your star6 ,along this way ,lord ,jesu went1 ,christ ,jesu went2 ,hither came ,socrates1 ,and all who were with tears forspent-- ,the shining companies ,of those who lifted high the heart ,beyond the lure of any mart4 ,and would you fare this lonely way1 ,this starry way8 ,take but a scrip and staff1 ,with sandals for your feet1 to-day2 ,though fools in folly laugh1 ,deriding that you leave the less-- ,their idle dream of happiness6 ,if you would find the way of wings1 ,wide-open wings1 ,that lift one to a star1 ,you must be free from hamperings ,of lock and bolt and bar2 ,cast care of gold and silk aside ,with pomp of place and rank and pride4 ,if on your path there be a cross1 ,a wayside cross1 ,with nails and sponge and spear1 ,a gambling ,guard who turn to toss ,dice for the robe you wear2 ,avoid not that appointed place1 ,though thorns with crimson stain your face6 ,but if you take this road1 my friend1 ,my wistful friend1 ,your world will wake to song1 ,and all high1 holy angels bend ,to hail you of their throng3 ,and where the ,sons ,eternal are1 ,you shall be throned upon your star4