The Washington herald., 1910-11-13
THE SPIRIT OF POETRY.


Written for Tie Washington HeEaldl
Listen. white flower of my heart. Soft
like a spirit art thy feet. the light from
thine eyes like bars OF sunshine and the
music Of thy voice like the whispering of
! night winds. Thine eyes have the mild
ness of the dove; thy very looks are
teachers of purity. Thou dost give TO
God the blossom of thy nature, thy light
est word the angels hear unrebuking
Thy soul is drawn through raised eyes to
heaven, thy thoughts are like tense
chords that give their music at chance
breath. A thousand delicate hands are
harping on thy soul no sight. no sound
but stirs in thee the sense of pleasure. be
it no more than the winds cautious tread
or the swaying OF bough. Through thee
my love is taken with a fair surprise, and
all night long thou dost battle my brow
with thy healing dews Tnou dost call
my wild thoughts to their nests and bid
sweet peace descend upon my soul. Thou
dost freight the slow clouds I'm my brain
with thy faneies. Thou dost lie close to
my being and strive to give my dreams
tangible shape Thou dost reveal In me
fragments OF an imperfect song, incom-
plete by an irresolute hand. Thou art TO
me sweet Eden, and though driven forth.
! still dwell beneath the shadow of thy
trees. Through thee old griefs remem-
bered; still, how strange they scent
Thou hast taught me the brightness that
comes from tears and the sadness that
springs from laughter. Through thee /
have grown less young than yesterday,
but thou bidst the lark stIll sing above
my door Thou hast taught me that love
may be a dream elusive, beautiful won
derful. but suffering is a fact as hard as
life, Thou hast taught me the symbol OF
death and babe me press my forehead
against the feet OF Him who hung upon
the cross, His precious head bearing the
mark OF thOrns. Thou hast taught me I
must not keep back my own strength
which under thy care grows and in.
cTeases and oveTwhelms my soul, and il
the infowing of good which Jehovah
vouchsafed is infinite, only less infinite Is
the outtiowing which through thee is
genius and love Thou keepest me on the
borderland between experience and illu-
sion Thou hast tinged the nature OF my
life, yet / can call forth no more sound
than thy shadows. and my thoughts are
but grapes against a wall. my soul ire
medably bent with desire TO do thy bid
a
storm has inflicted Thou giwest me the
heart that Graves and the reason that
reprehends. Thou hast folded me In thy
close embrace and carried me with rhyth-
mic step through paradise. Thou hast
softly ravished me with the resonance OF
thy subtle perfume and strains OF pas
sionate music. Thou hast shown me the
ecstasy Of light, which cannot be eN-
planned even in thy words Thou hast
given me the emotion. cadence. and now
er of love, and the simplicity and glory
or passion Thou hast taught me that the
flowers are intoxicated with Joy when the
soft summer winds caress them and elo-
riously uplift their ecstatic hearts 10 God
Thou hast taught me that He who fash
Toned me with His hands has given me
the food Of this immense love- open and
quiyering and has never failed 10 treat
me other than according 10 my rank in
His sight Thou hast taught me 10 see
the world, the whole world, as II IS. to
look behind the scenes. 10 read human
life, which is a glorious thing. most salts
flying and divine Thou hast shown me
all the wonder and glory OF life: the
sweet and delicate voices in the forest
the imperious splendor Of the sun the
playful sweetness OF the moon. the peace
OF the pslpitaung stars, the velvet of
green pastures, the mountains with their
shrouds Of immaculate SHOWS. the growth
OF plants, the song of insects. the muir
muir OF life In the sea, the wisdom of
birds, and how nature is busy all winter
weaving new clothes for the flowers out
or The strands of death" Thou hast
taught me the enchantment OF flowers
and 10 sing my soul TO sleep with the
lullaby Of whispering leaves. Thou hast
taught NE all revenge is crime. that man
Is holier than a creed. and that hopes
sunshine fingers on prison wall. and