Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Lyrics and Verse Tales. III. “M.” to “N.”Emily H. Hickey (1845–1924)
H
As dewy turf to wayworn feet;
As cooling draught of water given
To lips athirst from morn to even;
As bread and wine at Sacrament
To soul of blessed penitent.
As swallow to the roadless blue,
When spring hath wakened in his breast
Life’s rapture of the brooding west:
Or as the sea in his response
To that still call which is the moon’s.
As to the earth her atmosphere;
As warp to woof where web is wove;
As strength to hope; as light to love;
As my own blood, my flesh, my breath;
As near as life, as near as death.
As glory of the morning-star
From Lucifer; as far as bliss
Of comradeship from Judas’ kiss;
As day from night: indeed, more far
From me than heaven from hell you are.