Ride to the Lady | Page 6

was like the shock of Doomsday,--not a tar but shuddered hard. All was hushed for one strange moment; then that awful calm was broken By the heavy plash that answered the descent of mast and yard.
So, her cannon still defying, and her colors flaming, flying, In her pit her wounded helpless, on her deck her Admiral dead, Soared the Orient into darkness with her living and her dying: "Yet our lads made shift to rescue three-score souls," the seaman said.
Long the boy with knit brows wondered o'er that friending
of the foeman;?Long the man with shut lips pondered; powerless he to tell the cause Why the brother in his bosom that desired the death of no man, In the crash of battle wakened, snapped the bonds of hate like straws.
While he mused, his toddling maiden drew the daisies to a posy; Mild the bells of Sunday morning rang across the church-yard sod; And, helped on by tender hands, with sturdy feet all bare and rosy, Climbed his babe to mother's breast, as climbs the slow world
up to God.
A RESURRECTION
Neither would they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
I was quick in the flesh, was warm, and the live heart shook my breast; In the market I bought and sold, in the temple I bowed my head. I had swathed me in shows and forms, and was honored above the rest For the sake of the life I lived; nor did any esteem me dead.
But at last, when the hour was ripe--was it sudden-remembered word? Was it sight of a bird that mounted, or sound of a strain that
stole??I was 'ware of a spell that snapped, of an inward strength that
stirred,?Of a Presence that filled that place; and it shone, and I knew
my Soul.
And the dream I had called my life was a garment about my feet, For the web of the years was rent with the throe of a
yearning strong.?With a sweep as of winds in heaven, with a rush as of flames that meet, The Flesh and the Spirit clasped; and I cried, "Was I dead so long?"
I had glimpse of the Secret, flashed through the symbol obscure
and mean,?And I felt as a fire what erst I repeated with lips of clay; And I knew for the things eternal the things eye hath not seen; Yea, the heavens and the earth shall pass; but they never
shall pass away.
And the miracle on me wrought, in the streets I would straight
make known:?"When this marvel of mine is heard, without cavil shall men receive Any legend of haloed saint, staring up through the seal��d stone!" So I spake in the trodden ways; but behold, there would none believe!
THE GLORIOUS COMPANY
"Faces, faces, faces of the streaming marching surge,?Streaming on the weary road, toward the awful steep,?Whence your glow and glory, as ye set to that sharp verge,?Faces lit as sunlit stars, shining as ye sweep?
"Whence this wondrous radiance that ye somehow catch and cast, Faces rapt, that one discerns 'mid the dusky press?Herding in dull wonder, gathering fearful to the Vast??Surely all is dark before, night of nothingness!"
Lo, the Light! (they answer) _O the pure,
the pulsing Light,?Beating like a heart of life, like a heart of love,?Soaring, searching, filling all the breadth and depth and height, Welling, whelming with its peace worlds below, above!_
"O my soul, how art thou to that living Splendor blind,?Sick with thy desire to see even as these men see!--?Yet to look upon them is to know that God hath shined:?Faces lit as sunlit stars, be all my light to me!"
THE TRUMPETER
Two ships, alone in sky and sea,?Hang clinched, with crash and roar;?There is but one--whiche'er it be--?Will ever come to shore.
And will it be the grim black bulk,?That towers so evil now??Or will it be The Grace of God,?With the angel at her prow?
The man that breathes the battle's breath?May live at last to know;?But the trumpeter lies sick to death?In the stifling dark below.
He hears the fight above him rave;?He fears his mates must yield;?He lies as in a narrow grave?Beneath a battle-field.
His fate will fall before the ship's,?Whate'er the ship betide;?He lifts the trumpet to his lips?As though he kissed a bride.
"Now blow thy best, blow thy last,?My trumpet, for the Right!"--?He has sent his soul in one strong blast,?To hearten them that fight.
COMRADES
"Oh, whither, whither, rider toward the west?"?"And whither, whither, rider toward the east?"?"I rode we ride upon the same high quest,?Whereon who enters may not be released;
"To seek the Cup whose form none ever saw,--?A nobler form than e'er was shapen yet,?Though million million cups without a flaw,?Afire with gems, on princes' boards are set;
"To seek the Wine whereof none ever had?One draught, though many a generous wine flows free,--?The spiritual blood that shall make glad?The hearts of mighty men that are to