Part 2

You and I have found the joy had birth In the angel childhood of the earth, Hid within the heart of man and maid. You and I of Time are not afraid.

You and I can mock his fabled wing, For a kiss is an immortal thing. And the throb wherein those old lips met Is a living music in us yet.

THE WEAVER OF SOULS

Who is this unseen messenger For ever between me and her, Who brings love's precious merchandise, The golden breath, the dew of sighs, And the wild, gentle thoughts that dwell Too fragile for the lips to tell, Each at their birth, to us before A heaving of the heart is o'er. Who art thou, unseen messenger?

I think, O Angel of the Lord, You make our hearts to so accord That those who hear in after hours May sigh for love as deep as ours; And seek the magic that can give An Eden where the soul may live, Nor need to walk a road of clay With stumbling feet, nor fall away From thee, O Angel of the Lord.

TRANSFORMATION

In other climes as the times shall fleet You yet may the hero be, And a loving heart may beat, my sweet, In a woman's breast for thee.

Your flight shall be in the height above, My wings droop low on the lea. For the eagle must grow a dove, my love, And the dove an eagle be.

CHILDREN OF LIR

We woke from our sleep in the bosom where cradled together we lay: The love of the Dark Hidden Father went with us upon our way. And gay was the breath in our being, and never a sorrow or fear Was on us, as singing together, we flew from the infinite Lir.

Through nights lit with diamond and sapphire we raced with the Children of Dawn, A chain that was silver and golden linked spirit to spirit, my swan. Till day in the heavens passed over, and still grew the beat of our wings, And the Breath of the Darkness enfolded to teach us unspeakable things.

Yet lower we fell and for comfort our pinionless spirits had now The leaning of bosom to bosom, the lifting of lip unto brow. Though chained to the earth yet we mourned not the loss of our heaven above, But passed from the vision of Beauty to the fathomless being of Love.

Still gay is the breath in our being, we wait for the Bell Branch to ring To call us away to the Father, and then we will rise on the wing, And fly through the twilights of time till the home lights of heaven appear; Our spirits through love and through longing made one in the infinite Lir.

LIGHT AND DARK

Not the soul that's whitest Wakens love the sweetest: When the heart is lightest Oft the charm is fleetest.

While the snow-frail maiden, Waits the time of learning, To the passion laden Turn with eager yearning.

While the heart is burning Heaven with earth is banded: To the stars returning Go not empty-handed.

Ah, the snow-frail maiden! Somehow truth has missed her, Left the heart unladen For its burdened sister.

TWILIGHT BY THE CABIN

Dusk, a pearl-grey river, o'er Hill and vale puts out the day-- What do you wonder at, asthore, What's away in yonder grey?

Dark the eyes that linger long-- Dream-fed heart, awake, come in, Warm the hearth and gay the song: Love with tender words would win.

Fades the eve in dreamy fire, But the heart of night is lit: Ancient beauty, old desire, By the cabin doorway flit.

This is Etain's land and line, And the homespun cannot hide Kinship with a race divine, Thrill of rapture, light of pride.

There her golden kinsmen are: And her heart a moment knew Angus like the evening star Fleeting through the dusk and dew.

Throw the woman's mask away: Wear the opal glimmering dress; Let the feathered starlight ray Over every gleaming tress.

Child of Etain, wherefore leave Light and laughter, joyful years, For the earth's grey coloured eve Ever dropping down with tears?

Was it for some love of old? Ah, reveal thyself. The bars On the gateway would not hold: He will follow to the stars.

BEAUTY

My spirit would have beauty to build its magic art Come hither, star of evening, and dwell within my heart Oh, twilight, fall in pearl dew, each healing drop may bring Some image of the song the Quiet seems to sing.

My spirit would have beauty to offer at the shrine, And turn dull earth to gold and water into wine, And burn in fiery dreams each thought till thrice refined It may have power to mirror the mighty Master's mind.

My spirit would have beauty to draw thee nigh, my bird. I seek the lips that spake thee, sung thee, a starry word. I'd breathe anew that music, and lure thee from afar, And still thy quivering pinions at peace in thy own star.

THE VISION OF LOVE

The twilight fleeted away in pearl on the stream, And night, like a diamond dome, stood still in our dream. Your eyes like burnished stones or as stars were bright With the sudden vision that made us one with the night.

We loved in infinite spaces, forgetting here The breasts that were lit with life and the lips so near; Till the wizard willows waved in the wind and drew Me away from the fulness of love and down to you.

Our love was so vast that it filled the heavens up: But the soft white form I held was an empty cup, When the willows called me back to earth with their sigh, And we moved as shades through the deep that was you and I.

A MEMORY

You remember, dear, together Two children, you and I, Sat once in the autumn weather, Watching the autumn sky.

There was some one round us straying The whole of the long day through, Who seemed to say, "I am playing At hide and seek with you."

And one thing after another Was whispered out of the air, How God was a big, kind brother Whose home is in everywhere.

His light like a smile comes glancing Through the cool, cool winds as they pass, From the flowers in heaven dancing To the stars that shine in the grass.

From the clouds in deep blue wreathing And most from the mountains tall, But God like a wind goes breathing A dream of Himself in all.

The heart of the Wise was beating Sweet, sweet, in our hearts that day: And many a thought came fleeting And fancies solemn and gay.

We were grave in our way divining How childhood was taking wings, And the wonder world was shining With vast eternal things.

The solemn twilight fluttered Like the plumes of seraphim, And we felt what things were uttered In the sunset voice of Him.

We lingered long, for dearer Than home were the mountain places Where God from the stars dropt nearer Our pale, dreamy faces.

Our very hearts from beating We stilled in awed delight, For spirit and children were meeting In the purple, ample night.

A SUMMER NIGHT

Her mist of primroses within her breast Twilight hath folded up, and o'er the west, Seeking remoter valleys long hath gone, Not yet hath come her sister of the dawn. Silence and coolness now the earth enfold, Jewels of glittering green, long mists of gold, Hazes of nebulous silver veil the height, And shake in tremors through the shadowy night. Heard through the stillness, as in whispered words, The wandering God-guided wings of birds Ruffle the dark. The little lives that lie Deep hid in grass join in a long-drawn sigh More softly still; and unheard through the blue The falling of innumerable dew, Lifts with grey fingers all the leaves that lay Burned in the heat of the consuming day. The lawns and lakes lie in this night of love, Admitted to the majesty above. Earth with the starry company hath part; The waters hold all heaven within their heart, And glimmer o'er with wave-lips everywhere Lifted to meet the angel lips of air. The many homes of men shine near and far, Peace-laden as the tender evening star, The late home-coming folk anticipate Their rest beyond the passing of the gate, And tread with sleep-filled hearts and drowsy feet. Oh, far away and wonderful and sweet All this, all this. But far too many things Obscuring, as a cloud of seraph wings Blinding the seeker for the Lord behind, I fall away in weariness of mind. And think how far apart are I and you, Beloved, from those spirit children who Felt but one single Being long ago, Whispering in gentleness and leaning low Out of its majesty, as child to child. I think upon it all with heart grown wild. Hearing no voice, howe'er my spirit broods, No whisper from the dense infinitudes, This world of myriad things whose distance awes. Ah me; how innocent our childhood was!

WHOM WE WORSHIP

I would not have the love of lips and eyes, The ancient ways of love: But in my heart I built a Paradise, A nest there for the dove.

I felt the wings of light that fluttered through The gate I held apart: And all without was shadow, but I knew The bird within my heart.

Then, while the innermost with music beat, The voice I loved so long Seemed only the dream echo faint and sweet Of a far sweeter song.

I could not even bear the thought I felt Of Thee and Me therein; And with white heat I strove the veil to melt That love to love might win.

But ah, my dreams within their fountain fell; Not to be lost in thee, But with the high ancestral love to dwell In its lone ecstasy.

MISTRUST

You look at me with wan, bright eyes When in the deeper world I stray: You fear some hidden ambush lies In wait to call me, "Come away."

What if I see behind the veil Your starry self beseeching me, Or at its stern command grow pale, "Let her be free, let her be free?"

THE DREAM

I woke to find my pillow wet With tears for deeds deep hid in sleep. I knew no sorrow here, but yet The tears fell softly through the deep.

Your eyes, your other eyes of dream, Looked at me through the veil of blank; I saw their joyous, starlit gleam Like one who watches rank on rank.

His victor airy legions wind And pass before his awful throne-- Was there thy loving heart unkind, Was I thy captive all o'erthrown?

THE FEAST OF AGE

See where the light streams over Connla's fountain Starward aspire! The sacred sign upon the holy mountain Shines in white fire: Wavering and flaming yonder o'er the snows The diamond light Melts into silver or to sapphire glows, Night beyond night: And from the Heaven of Heaven descends on earth A dew divine. Come, let us mingle in the starry mirth Around the shrine. O Earth, Enchantress, Mother, to our home In thee we press, Thrilled by thy fiery breath and wrapt in some Vast tenderness. The homeward birds, uncertain o'er their nest Wheel in the dome, Fraught with dim dreams of more enraptured rest, Another home. But gather ye, to whose undarkened eyes Night is as day, Leap forth, immortals, Birds of Paradise, In bright array, Robed like the shining tresses of the sun, And by his name Call from his haunt divine, the ancient one Our Father Flame. Aye, from the wonder light, heart of our star, Come now, come now. Sun-breathing spirit, ray thy lights afar: Thy children bow, Hush with more awe the heart; the bright-browed races Are nothing worth, By those dread gods from out whose awful faces The earth looks forth Infinite pity set in calm, whose vision cast Adown the years Beholds how beauty burns away at last Their children's tears. Now while our hearts the ancient quietness Floods with its tide, The things of air and fire and height no less In it abide; And from their wanderings over sea and shore They rise as one Unto the vastness, and with us adore The midnight sun, And enter the innumerable All And shine like gold, And starlike gleam in the immortal's hall, The heavenly fold, And drink the sun-breaths from the Mother's lips Awhile, and then Fail from the light and drop in dark eclipse To earth again, Roaming along by heaven-hid promontory And valley dim, Weaving a phantom image of the glory They knew in Him. Out of the fulness flow the winds, their song Is heard no more, Or hardly breathes a mystic sound along The dreamy shore, Blindly they move, unknowing as in trance; Their wandering Is half with us, and half an inner dance, Led by the King.

A WAY OF ESCAPE

There's a way of escape through the Gate of Sorrow, A light at the end of the Path of Pain: But our joy and our love can have no to-morrow, And to drink is to sink to the earth again.

There is death in the breath when our lips draw nigher, And we lay waste the plain for a flower to grow; And we build up the tower of an hour's desire With dust from the pit of its overthrow.

RECALL

What call may draw thee back again, Lost dove, what art, what charm may please? The tender touch, the kiss, are vain, For thou wert lured away by these.

Oh, must we use the iron hand, And mask with hate the holy breath, With alien voice give love's command, As they through love the call of death?

THE VOICE OF THE WATERS

Where the Greyhound River windeth through a loneliness so deep, Scarce a wild fowl shakes the quiet that the purple boglands keep, Only God exults in silence over fields no man may reap.

Where the silver wave with sweetness fed the tiny lives of grass I was bent above, my image mirrored in the fleeting glass, And a voice from out the water through my being seemed to pass.

"Still above the waters brooding, spirit, in thy timeless quest; Was the glory of thine image trembling over east and west Not divine enough when mirrored in the morning water's breast?"

With the sighing voice that murmured I was borne to ages dim Ere the void was lit with beauty breathed upon by seraphim, We were cradled there together folded in the peace in Him.

One to be the master spirit, one to be the slave awoke, One to shape itself obedient to the fiery words we spoke, Flame and flood and stars and mountains from the primal waters broke.

I was huddled in the heather when the vision failed its light, Still and blue and vast above me towered aloft the solemn height, Where the stars like dewdrops glistened on the mountain slope of night.

IN CONNEMARA

With eyes all untroubled she laughs as she passes, Bending beneath the creel with the seaweed brown, Till evening with pearl-dew dims the shining grasses And night lit with dreamlight enfolds the sleepy town.

Then she will wander, her heart all a laughter, Tracking the dream star that lights the purple gloom. She follows the proud and golden races after, As high as theirs her spirit, as high will be her doom.

AN IRISH FACE

Not her own sorrow only that hath place Upon yon gentle face. Too slight have been her childhood's years to gain The imprint of such pain. It hid behind her laughing hours, and wrought Each curve in saddest thought On brow and lips and eyes. With subtle art It made that little heart Through its young joyous beatings to prepare A quiet shelter there, Where the Immortal Sorrows might find a home. And many there have come; Bowed in a mournful mist of golden hair Deirdre hath entered there. And shrouded in a fall of pitying dew, Weeping the friend he slew, The Hound of Ulla lies, with those who shed Tears for the Wild Geese fled. And all the lovers on whom fate had warred Cutting the Silver Cord Enter, and softly breath by breath they mould The young heart to the old, The old protest, the old pity, whose power Are gathering to the hour When their knit silence shall be mightier far Than leagued empires are. And dreaming of the sorrow on this face We grow of lordlier race, Could shake the rooted rampart of the hills To shield her from all ills, And through a deep adoring pity won Grow what we dream upon.

HOPE IN FAILURE

Though now thou hast failed and art fallen, despair not because of defeat, Though lost for a while be thy heaven and weary of earth be thy feet, For all will be beauty about thee hereafter through sorrowful years, And lovely the dews for thy chilling and ruby thy heart-drip of tears.

The eyes that had gazed from afar on a beauty that blinded the eyes Shall call forth its image for ever, its shadow in alien skies. The heart that had striven to beat in the heart of the Mighty too soon Shall still of that beating remember some errant and faltering tune.

For thou hast but fallen to gather the last of the secrets of power; The beauty that breathes in thy spirit shall shape of thy sorrow a flower, The pale bud of pity shall open the bloom of its tenderest rays, The heart of whose shining is bright with the light of the Ancient of Days.

THE CROWN

I wore in joy a radiant star; Its rays flew forth into the night; It made them glad who watched afar, And filled their gloom with happy light.

Their eyes no more the light may win, And all the loves are changed to scorns. The rays of light pierce deep within, The star is now my crown of thorns.

THE EVERLASTING BATTLE

When in my shadowy hours I pierce the hidden heart of hopes and fears, They change into immortal joys or end in immemorial tears. Moytura's battle still endures and in this human heart of mine The golden sun powers with the might of demon darkness intertwine.

I think that every teardrop shed still flows from Balor's eye of doom, And gazing on his ageless grief my heart is filled with ageless gloom: I close my ever-weary eyes and in my bitter spirit brood And am at one in vast despair with all the demon multitude.

But in the lightning flash of hope I feel the sun-god's fiery sling Has smote the horror in the heart where clouds of demon glooms take wing, I shake my heavy fears aside and seize the flaming sword of will I am of Dana's race divine and know I am immortal still.

ORDEAL

Love and pity are pleading with me this hour. What is this voice that stays me forbidding to yield, Offering beauty, love, and immortal power, AEons away in some far-off heavenly field?

Though I obey thee, Immortal, my heart is sore. Though love be withdrawn for love it bitterly grieves: Pity withheld in the breast makes sorrow more. Oh that the heart could feel what the mind believes!

Cease, O love, thy fiery and gentle pleading. Soft is thy grief, but in tempest through me it rolls. Dreamst thou not whither the path is leading Where the Dark Immortal would shepherd our weeping souls?

THE CHILD OF DESTINY

This is the hero-heart of the enchanted isle, Whom now the twilight children tenderly enfold, Pat with their pearly palms and crown with elfin gold, While in the mountain's breast his brothers watch and smile. Who now of Dana's host may guide these dancing feet? What bright immortal hides and through a child's light breath Laughs an immortal joy--Angus of love and death Returned to make our hearts with dream and music beat? Or Lugh leaves heavenly wars to free his ancient land; Not on the fiery steed maned with tumultuous flame As in the Fomor days the sunbright chieftain came, But in this dreaming boy, more subtle conquest planned. Or does the Mother brood some deed of sacrifice? Her heart in his laid bare to hosts of wounding spears, Till love immortal melt the cruel eyes to tears, Or on his brow be set the heroes' thorny prize. See! as some shadows of a darker race draw near, How he compels their feet, with what a proud command! What is it waves and gleams? Is that a Silver Hand Whose light through delicate lifted fingers shines so clear? Night like a glowing seraph o'er the kingly boy Watches with ardent eyes from his own ancient home; And far away, rocking in living foam The three great waves leap up exulting in their joy, Remembering the past, the immemorial deeds The Danaan gods had wrought in guise of mortal men, Their elemental hearts madden with life again, And shaking foamy heads toss the great ocean steeds.

A FAREWELL

Only in my deep heart I love you, sweetest heart. Many another vesture hath the soul, I pray Call me not forth from this. If from the light I part Only with clay I cling unto the clay.

And ah! my bright companion, you and I must go Our ways, unfolding lonely glories, not our own, Nor from each other gathered, but an inward glow Breathed by the Lone One on the seeker lone.

If for the heart's own sake we break the heart, we may When the last ruby drop dissolves in diamond light Meet in a deeper vesture in another day. Until that dawn, dear heart, good-night, good-night.

THE PARTING OF WAYS

The skies from black to pearly grey Had veered without a star or sun; Only a burning opal ray Fell on your brow when all was done.

Aye, after victory, the crown; Yet through the fight no word of cheer; And what would win and what go down No word could help, no light make clear.

A thousand ages onward led Their joys and sorrows to that hour; No wisdom weighed, no word was said, For only what we were had power.

There was no tender leaning there Of brow to brow in loving mood; For we were rapt apart, and were In elemental solitude.

We knew not in redeeming day Whether our spirits would be found Floating along the starry way, Or in the earthly vapours drowned.

Brought by the sunrise-coloured flame To earth, uncertain yet, the while I looked at you, there slowly came, Noble and sisterly, your smile.

We bade adieu to love the old; We heard another lover then, Whose forms are myriad and untold, Sigh to us from the hearts of men.

A MIDNIGHT MEDITATION