English

To Harriett .

Here at the Half-way House of Life I linger,
Worn with the way, a weary-hearted Singer,
Resting a little space;
And lo! the good God sends me, as a token
Of peace and blessing (else my heart were broken),
The sunbeam of thy face.

My fear falls from me like a garment; slowly
New strength returns upon me, calm and holy;
I kneel, and I atone...
Thy hand is clasped in mine — we lean together. .
Henceforward, through the sad or shining weather,
I shall not walk alone.

Früh: Licht dämmert wie Nebel,
Mittags brät mich die Sonne,
Abends starr ich ins Feuer,
See brandet die Nacht lang.

Ich lausche dem Wasser,
Wie es vom Felsen fällt,
Ich lausche dem Laub,
Wie es den Baum berauscht.

Primeln sind da,
Veilchen sind da,
Ehrenpreis ist da,
Nur du bist nicht da.

With but one life full certified,
And that of every gleam denied
My portion,
Close to the unrelenting sod,
E'en as my fathers dumbly trod,
I've slumbered;
But now a surging, wild unrest
Uproots the poppies from my breast,
My soul awake, erect! anew!
I stand and face the star-swept blue,
And swear to make my dreams come true!

A rush of lightning reddened
The dense, black, roaring rain;
The night leaped into daylight
Then back to night again.

And like one hurt in battle
When blows fall hot and blind,
The great oak trembled, tottered,
And leaned against the wind.

Then, with a sudden thunder,
Its cloudy head lay low—
Its thousand years were scattered
To nothing, at one blow.

Peace on a thousand hills and dales,
Peace in the hearts of men
While kindliness reclaims the soil
Where bitterness has been.

The night of strife is drifting past,
The storm of shell has ceased,
Disrupted is the cordon fell,
Sweet charity released.

Forth from the shadow, swift we come
Wrought in the flame together,
All men as one beneath the sun
In brotherhood forever.

They are embosomed in the sod,
In still and tranquil leisure,
Their lives they've cast like trifles down,
To serve their country's pleasure.

Nor bugle call, nor mother's voice,
Nor moody mob's unreason,
Shall break their solace and repose
Through swiftly changing season.

O graves of men who lived and died
Afar from life's high pleasures,
Fold them in tenderly and warm
With manifold fond measures.

O Faces! fade upon the wall, and leave
This only, for the watcher to implore.
Dim with the peace that starry twilights weave,
It riseth, and the storm is hush'd and o'er.
Tremblin, I feed my feeble lamp once more,
Tho' all be placid as a summer eye,
See there it moves where weary waters grieve, —
O mariners! look yonder and adore!
Spirit, grow brighter on my nights and days;
Shine out of heaven; my guide and comfort be:
Pilot the wanderers through the ocean ways;
Keep the stars steadfast, and the waters free:

The fowls seek shelter, and the eaves
Drip-drip with melancholy rain —
I wonder why it makes me think
Of times which will not come again
And of great men who lived in vain?

O Faces! that look forward, eyes that spell
The future time for signs, what see ye there?
On what far gleams of portent do ye dwell?
Whither, with lips like quivering leaves and hair
Back-blowing in the whirlwind, do ye stare
So steadfast and so still? Oh speak and tell!
Is the soul safe? shall the sick world be well?
Will morning glimmer soon, and all be fair?
O Faces! ye are pale, and somewhat sad,
And in your eyes there swim the fatal tears;
But on your brows the dawn gleams cold and hoar.

Lone House amid the Main, where I abide,
Faces there are around thy walls; and see
With constant features, fair and faithful-eyed,
In solemn silence these admonish me.
They are the Faces of the strong and free;
Prophets who on the car of Tempest ride;
Martyrs who drift amid the waters wide
On some frail raft, and pray on bended knee.
Stay with me, Faces! make me free and strong!
On other walls let flush'd Bacchantes leer;
In quainter rooms of snugger sons of song
Let old fantastic tapestries appear.