# Mooni

"(Written in the shadow of 1872)."
Ah, to be by Mooni now, Where the great dark hills of wonder, Scarred with storm and cleft asunder By the strong sword of the thunder,  Make a night on morning's brow! Just to stand where Nature's face is Flushed with power in forest places — Where of God authentic trace is —  Ah, to be by Mooni now!
 Just to be by Mooni's springs! There to stand, the shining sharer Of that larger life, and rarer Beauty caught from beauty fairer  Than the human face of things! Soul of mine from sin abhorrent Fain would hide by flashing current, Like a sister of the torrent,  Far away by Mooni's springs.
 He that is by Mooni now Sees the water-sapphires gleaming Where the River Spirit, dreaming, Sleeps by fall and fountain streaming  Under lute of leaf and bough — Hears, where stamp of storm with stress is, Psalms from unseen wildernesses Deep amongst far hill-recesses —  He that is by Mooni now.
 Yea, for him by Mooni's marge Sings the yellow-haired September, With the face the gods remember When the ridge is burnt to ember,  And the dumb sea chains the barge! Where the mount like molten brass is, Down beneath fern-feathered passes, Noonday dew in cool green grasses  Gleams on him by Mooni's marge.
 Who that dwells by Mooni yet, Feels, in flowerful forest arches, Smiting wings and breath that parches Where strong Summer's path of march is,  And the suns in thunder set? Housed beneath the gracious kirtle Of the shadowy water myrtle, Winds may hiss with heat, and hurtle —  He is safe by Mooni yet!
 Days there were when he who sings (Dumb so long through passion's losses) Stood where Mooni's water crosses Shining tracts of green-haired mosses,  Like a soul with radiant wings; Then the psalm the wind rehearses — Then the song the stream disperses Lent a beauty to his verses,  Who to-night of Mooni sings.
 Ah, the theme — the sad, grey theme! Certain days are not above me, Certain hearts have ceased to love me, Certain fancies fail to move me  Like the affluent morning dream. Head whereon the white is stealing, Heart whose hurts are past all healing, Where is now the first pure feeling?  Ah, the theme — the sad, grey theme!
 Sin and shame have left their trace! He who mocks the mighty, gracious Love of Christ, with eyes audacious, Hunting after fires fallacious,  Wears the issue in his face. Soul that flouted gift and Giver, Like the broken Persian river, Thou hast lost thy strength for ever!  Sin and shame have left their trace.
 In the years that used to be, When the large, supreme occasion Brought the life of inspiration, Like a god's transfiguration  Was the shining change in me. Then, where Mooni's glory glances, Clear, diviner countenances Beamed on me like blessed chances,  In the years that used to be.
 Ah, the beauty of old ways! Then the man who so resembled Lords of light unstained, unhumbled, Touched the skirts of Christ, nor trembled  At the grand benignant gaze! Now he shrinks before the splendid Face of Deity offended, All the loveliness is ended!  All the beauty of old ways!
 Still to be by Mooni cool — Where the water-blossoms glister, And, by gleaming vale and vista, Sits the English April's sister  Soft and sweet and wonderful. Just to rest beyond the burning Outer world — its sneers and spurning
Ah! my heart — my heart is yearning  Still to be by Mooni cool!
 Now, by Mooni's fair hill heads, Lo, the gold green lights are glowing, Where, because no wind is blowing, Fancy hears the flowers growing  In the herby watersheds! Faint it is — the sound of thunder From the torrents far thereunder, Where the meeting mountains ponder —  Now, by Mooni's fair hill heads.
 Just to be where Mooni is, Even where the fierce fall races Down august, unfathomed places, Where of sun or moon no trace is,  And the streams of shadows hiss! Have I not an ample reason So to long for — sick of treason — Something of the grand old season,  Just to be where Mooni is?
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. According to Australian Copyright Council - Duration of Copyright, the following works are public domain:
* published non-government works whose author died before January 1, 1955,
* anonymous or pseudonymous works and photographs published before January 1, 1955, and
* government works published more than 50 years ago (before January 1, 1974).
This work is also in the public domain in the United States because it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), and it was first published before 1989 without complying with U.S. copyright formalities (renewal and/or copyright notice) and it was in the public domain in Australia on the URAA date (January 1, 1996). This is the combined effect of Australia having joined the Berne Convention in 1928, and of 17 USC 104A with its critical date of January 1, 1996.
Because the Australian copyright term in 1996 was 50 years, the critical date for copyright in the United States under the URAA is January 1, 1946.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse