47

VESTAL FLAME 48

_The dark had left no speech save hand-in-hand_ 51

THE PROPHET 53

THE LONG LANE 56

_Ah but, Beloved, men may do_ 59

ALISON'S MOTHER TO THE BROOK 61

_You, Four Walls, wall not in my heart!_ 65

CANTICLE OF THE BABE 67

_And thou, Wayfaring Woman whom I meet_ 73

GLADNESS 75

THE NIGHTINGALE UNHEARD 81

_Envoi_ 87

THE SINGING MAN

AN ODE OF THE PORTION OF LABOR

'_The profit of the Earth is for all._'
--ECCLESIASTES.

THE SINGING MAN

I

He sang above the vineyards of the world.
And after him the vines with woven hands
Clambered and clung, and everywhere unfurled
Triumphing green above the barren lands;
Till high as gardens grow, he climbed, he stood,
Sun-crowned with life and strength, and singing toil,
And looked upon his work; and it was good:
The corn, the wine, the oil.

He sang above the noon. The topmost cleft
That grudged him footing on the mountain scars
He planted and despaired not; till he left
His vines soft breathing to the host of stars.
He wrought, he tilled; and even as he sang,
The creatures of his planting laughed to scorn
The ancient threat of deserts where there sprang
The wine, the oil, the corn!

He sang not for abundance.--Over-lords
Took of his tilth. Yet was there still to reap,
The portion of his labor; dear rewards
Of sunlit day, and bread, and human sleep.
He sang for strength; for glory of the light.
He dreamed above the furrows, 'They are mine!'
When all he wrought stood fair before his sight
With corn, and oil, and wine.

_Truly, the light is sweet
Yea, and a pleasant thing
It is to see the Sun.
And that a man should eat
His bread that he hath won;--
(So is it sung and said),
That he should take and keep,
After his laboring,
The portion of his labor in his bread,
His bread that he hath won;
Yea, and in quiet sleep,
When all is done._

He sang; above the burden and the heat,
Above all seasons with their fitful grace;
Above the chance and change that led his feet
To