THE PARTING OF WAYS 

 The skies from black to pearly grey Had veered without a star or sun; Only a burning opal ray Fell on your brow when all was done. 

 Aye, after victory, the crown; Yet through the fight no word of cheer; And what would win and what go down No word could help, no light make clear. 

 A thousand ages onward led Their joys and sorrows to that hour; No wisdom weighed, no word was said, For only what we were had power. 

 There was no tender leaning there Of brow to brow in loving mood; For we were rapt apart, and were In elemental solitude. 

 We knew not in redeeming day Whether our spirits would be found Floating along the starry way, Or in the earthly vapours drowned. 

 Brought by the sunrise-coloured flame To earth, uncertain yet, the while I looked at you, there slowly came, Noble and sisterly, your smile. 

 We bade adieu to love the old; We heard another lover then, Whose forms are myriad and untold, Sigh to us from the hearts of men. 

 

 

 A MIDNIGHT MEDITATION 

 How often have I said, "We may not grieve for the immortal dead." And now, poor blenchèd heart. Thy ruddy hues all tremulous depart. Why be with fate at strife Because one passes on from death to life, Who may no more delay Rapt from our strange and pitiful dream away By One with ancient claim Who robes her with the spirit like a flame. Not lost this high belief— Oh, passionate heart, what is thy cause for grief? Is this thy sorrow now, She in eternal beauty may not bow Thy troubles to efface As in old time a head with gentle grace All tenderly laid by thine Taught thee the nearness of the love divine. Her joys no more for thee Than the impartial laughter of the sea, Her beauty no more fair For thee alone, but starry, everywhere. Her pity dropped for you No more than heaven above with healing dew Favours one home of men— Ah! grieve not; she becomes herself again, And passed beyond thy sight She roams along the thought-swept fields of light, Moving in dreams until She finds again the root of ancient will, The old heroic love That emptied once the heavenly courts above. The angels heard from earth A mournful cry which shattered all their mirth, Raised by a senseless rout Warring in chaos with discordant shout, And that the pain might cease They grew rebellious 

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