Chapter I: Foreword

A few of the poems of this volume are retained from two of the author's earlier volumes which are now out of print. The rest are new.

CONTENTS

NON-DRAMATIC: PAGE
INVOCATION 3
THE FAIRIES OF GOD 4
A SONG OF THE OLD VENETIANS 6
NIRVANA DAYS 8
THE YOUNG TO THE OLD 21
OFF THE IRISH COAST 23
A VISION OF VENUS AND ADONIS 24
SOMNAMBULISM 26
SERENATA MAGICA 28
O-SHICHI AND MOTO 31
AS OF OLD 40
A PRAYER 42
THE SONG OF A NATURE WORSHIPER 43
THE INFINITE'S QUEST 45
LAD AND LASS 46
THE STRONG MAN TO HIS SIRES 48
AT STRATFORD 53
THE IMAGE PAINTER 54
WANDA 56
IN A STORM 60
ANTAGONISTS 61
SEEDS 63
WORLD-SORROW 64
THE SOUL'S RETURN 67
BIRTHRIGHT 69
ROMANCE 71
ON THE ATLANTIC 73
BY A SILENT STREAM 74
THE GREAT BUDDHA OF KAMAKURA TO THE SPHINX 76
NECROMANCE 78
LOOK NOT TO THE WEST 79
A NIKKO SHRINE 81
THE QUESTION 83
I'LL LOOK NO MORE 85
NIGHT'S OCCULTISM 86

MORE OR LESS DRAMATIC: PAGE
UNCROWNED 87
WRITTEN IN HELL 88
AT THE HELM 93
DEAD LOVE 94
MORTAL SIN 96
SEA-MAD 97
THE DEATH-SPRITE 99
WORMWOOD 103
QUEST AND REQUITAL (_A Quatorzain Sequence_) 105
LOVE IN EXTREMIS 112
OVER THE DREGS 114
BEWITCHED 116
QUARREL 118
OF THE FLESH 120
A DEATH SONG 123
ON BALLYTEIGUE BAY 125
NIGHT-RIDERS 129
HONOR 132
BRUDE, A DRAMATIC FANTASY 135

INVOCATION

(_From a High Cliff_)

Sweep unrest
Out of my blood,
Winds of the sea! Sweep the fog
Out of my brain
For I am one
Who has told Life he will be free.
Who will not doubt of work that's done,
Who will not fear the work to do.
Who will hold peaks Promethean
Better than all Jove's honey-dew.
Who when the Vulture tears his breast
Will smile into the Terror's Eyes.
Who for the World has this Bequest--
Hope, that eternally is wise.

THE FAIRIES OF GOD

Last night I slipt from the banks of dream
And swam in the currents of God,
On a tide where His fairies were at play,
Catching salt tears in their little white hands,
For human hearts;
And dancing dancing, in gala bands,
On the currents of God;
And singing, singing:--
_There is no wind blows here or spray--
Wind upon us!
Only the waters ripple away
Under our feet as we gather tears.
God has made mortals for the years,
Us for alway!
God has made mortals full of fears,
Fears for the night and fears for the day.
If they would free them from grief that sears,
If they would keep all that love endears,
If they would lay no more lilies on biers--
Let them say!
For we are swift to enchant and tire
Time's will!
Our feet are wiser than all desire,
Our song is better than faith or fame;
To whom it is given no ill e'er came,
Who has it not grows chill!
Who has it not grows laggard and lame,
Nor knows that the world is a Minstrel's lyre,
Smitten and never still!..._
Last night on the currents of God.

A SONG OF THE OLD VENETIANS

The seven fleets of Venice
Set sail across the sea
For Cyprus and for Trebizond
Ayoub and Araby.
Their gonfalons are floating far,
St. Mark's has heard the mass,
And to the noon the salt lagoon
Lies white, like burning glass.

The seven fleets of Venice--
And each its way to go,
Led by a Falier or Tron,
Zorzi or Dandalo.
The Patriarch has blessed them all,
The Doge has waved the word,
And in their wings the murmurings
Of waiting winds are heard.

The seven fleets of Venice--
And what shall be their fate?
One shall return with porphyry
And pearl and fair agàte.
One shall return with spice and spoil
And silk of Samarcand.
But nevermore shall _one_ win o'er
The sea, to any land.

_Oh, they shall bring the East back,
And they shall bring the West,
The seven fleets our Venice sets
A-sail upon her quest.
But some shall bring despair back
And some shall leave their keels
Deeper than wind or wave frets,
Or sun ever steals._

NIRVANA DAYS