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The Love Child

Where the bridge out at Woodley did stride,
Wi' his wide arches' cool sheäded bow,
Up above the clear brook that did slide
By the popples, befoam'd white as snow:
As the gilcups did quiver among
The white deäisies, a-spread in a sheet.
There a quick-trippen maid come along, —
Aye, a girl wi' her light-steppen veet.

An' she cried " I do praÿè, is the road
Out to Lincham on here, by the meäd? "
An' " oh! ees, " I meäde answer, an' show'd
Her the way it would turn an' would leäd:
" Goo along by the beech in the nook,

Progressions

A lovely child alone, singing to himself serenely, —
Playing with pebbles in an unfrequented garden
Through drowse of summer afternoon where time drifts greenly.

A youth, impassioned by he knows not what, exploring
Delusive labyrinths in errors age will pardon, —
A youth, all ignorance, all grace, his dreams adoring.

A man, confounded by the facts of life that bind him
Prometheus-like to rocks where vulture doubts assail him, —
A man, with blank discarded youthfulness behind him.

A mind, matured in wearying bones, returning slowly

So Hast du Ganz und Gar Vergessen

So hast du ganz und gar vergessen

So now you have forgotten wholly
How once your heart was mine, mine solely;
Your heart had so sweet and so false a glow,
Nought could be sweeter or falser, I know.

So the love and the pain is forgotten wholly
That tortured my heart and made it lowly.
But whether the pain was as great as my love,
I know not. I know they were both great enough.

Ich Grolle Nicht, und Wenn das Herz Auch Bricht

Ich grolle nicht, und wenn das Herz auch bricht

I will not mourn altho' my heart be torn,
Oh love forever lost! I will not mourn.
Altho' arrayed in light and diamonds bright,
No single ray falls in thy heart's deep night.

I know this well . . . I saw thee in a dream
And saw the night within thy heart supreme;
And saw the snake that gnawed upon thy heart . . .
I saw how wretched, oh my love, thou art.

O Schwore Nicht und Küsse Nur

O schwore nicht und küsse nur

Oh kiss me, love, and never swear,
For women's oaths are light as air!
Your speech is sweet, but sweeter is
The silent answer in your kiss!
'Tis this alone that has my faith —
The word is but a perfumed breath.

Well, swear then, love; oh, swear away;
I will believe each word you say!
And as I sink upon your breast
I will believe that I am blessed;
I will believe your love of me
Stretches beyond Eternity.

Song

After Jehudah Halevi
On the wind
in the cool of the evening
I send greetings to my friend.

I ask him only to remember the day
of our parting when we made a covenant
of love by an apple tree.

Wild Peace

Blue noon shines o'er the sea;
Waves break starry on the sand;
Lights and sounds and scents come free
On the radiant air of the land.
I am filled with the melody of waves
That take my heart onward in tune;
My heart follows yearning after, and craves
No other delight nor boon.

They enfold the earth in desire
With a closer and closer kiss;
From life into life they expire,
In dying their birth and their bliss.
I am melted in them, I am filled
With the passion in peace they have found.
Even so would my spirit in peace be thrilled,