| |
| NOW while the sunset offers, | |
| Shall we not take our own: | |
| The gems, the blazing coffers, | |
| The seas, the shores, the throne? | |
| |
| The sky-ships, radiant-masted, | 5 |
| Move out, bear low our way. | |
| Oh, Life was dark while it lasted, | |
| Now for enduring day. | |
| |
| Now with the world far under, | |
| To draw up drowning men | 10 |
| And show them lands of wonder | |
| Where they may build again. | |
| |
| There earthly sorrow falters, | |
| There longing has its wage; | |
| There gleam the ivory altars | 15 |
| Of our lost pilgrimage. | |
| |
| —Swift flame—then shipwrecks only | |
| Beach in the ruined light; | |
| Above them reach up lonely | |
| The headlands of the night. | 20 |
| |
| A hurt bird cries and flutters | |
| Her dabbled breast of brown; | |
| The western wall unshutters | |
| To fling one last rose down. | |
| |
| A rose, a wild light after— | 25 |
| And life calls through the years, | |
| “Who dreams my fountains’ laughter | |
| Shall feed my wells with tears.” | |
| |
