| |
IN HADES
THEN saw I, with gray eyes fulfilled of rest, | |
| And lulling voice, a woman sweet, and she,— | |
| “Bear thou my word: I am of all most blest; | |
| Nor marvel that I am Eurydice. | |
| I stood and watched those slow feet go from me | 5 |
| Farther and farther; in the light afar, | |
| All clear the figure grew—then suddenly | |
| Into my dark his face flashed like a star!— | |
| And that was all. The purple vaporous door | |
| Left me triumphant over time and space; | 10 |
| Sliding across between forevermore, | |
| It could not hide the glory of that face. | |
| For me no room to doubt, no need to learn— | |
| He knew the whole—and could not choose but turn!” | |
| |
BENEDICITE
“ALL Green Things on the earth, bless ye the Lord!” | 15 |
| So sang the choir while ice-cased branches beat | |
| The frosty window-panes, and at our feet | |
| The frozen, tortured sod but mocked the word, | |
| And seemed to cry like some poor soul in pain, | |
| “Lord, suffering and endurance fill my days; | 20 |
| The growing green things will their Maker praise,— | |
| The happy green things, growing in warm rain! | |
| So God lacks praise while all the fields are white!” | |
| I said; then smiled, remembering southward far | |
| How pampas-grass swayed green in summer light. | 25 |
| Nay, God hears always from this swinging star, | |
| Decani and Cantoris, South and North, | |
| Each answering other, praises pouring forth | |
| |
