When I did name her little lost one, she
Brushed from her eyes the precious drops of love,
As if her memory with his sweet name shaken
...
In life's exigencies men have been known
To pass themselves, and to attain to more
Than hope; as if in combat with the gods
...
I who have known thee, Birth, must know Death too:
As old, old men their children's children fold
...
The last fruit off a tree is oft more sweet
And finely flavoured than the first, and so
Within life's autumn men may pleasures pluck
...
The poet's born, the priest is made: at last
Shall come a day when all men at the shrine
Of poesy shall pay their vows, and know
...
She was so dear, so fair. Her memory stays,
Even her dying robs me not of this,
That I have walked with her in mortal ways
Whose tender beauty now immortal is.
...
The winged words, they pass
Still everywhere,
Seeds of the spirit-grass
The dream-winds bear
...
The Song-god helps me mightily, and runs
Before life's purpose like a primal power,
Spirit in sense of all that I am still;
...
God but knows what path
This small stream must take,
Through what gleams and glooms
Which the years shall make.
...
Sleep puts sin by, as the grave life's despair;
And though bad dreams in sleep may come, the soul
Is tainted not with error, being then
...