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〃I watch it every night；〃 she said； and crept
Within my arm。
〃Soft little star； I wish the angels kept
It safe from harm
Alway。
〃I know it is afraid；〃 she said； her eyes
Held a sweet tear。
〃They send it all alone into the skies；
No big stars near；
To stay。
〃They push it out before the sweet； kind moon
Lights up the sea。
They laugh because it fears the dark。 ‘Soon； soon；
You'll braver be；'
They say。
〃One night I climbed far up that high white tree
Beside the beach；
And tried to stretch my hand across the sea
And tried to reach
The grey。
〃For something made me feel my heart would break
Unless that night
I in my hand my trembling star could take
And kiss its fright
Away。
〃There only blew a strange wind chillily；
And clouds were swept。
The angels would not let my own star see
That someone wept。
I pray
〃To Christ； who hears my little prayers each night；
That He will seek
Through all His skies for that sweet； frightened light；
And stoop His cheek
And say
〃‘My angels must not send so frail a thing
To light the West。
Lift up the little trembling star to cling
About my breast
Alway。'〃
‘Oh； if that Rainbow up there！'
Oh； if that rainbow up there；
Spanning the sky past the hill；
Slenderly； tenderly fair
Shining with colours that thrill；
Oh； if that rainbow up there；
Just for a moment could reach
Through the wet slope of the air
Here where I stand on the beach！
Here where the waves wash the strand；
Swing itself lovingly low；
Let me catch fast with one hand；
Climb its frail rigging and go。
Climb its frail rigging and go？
Where is its haven of rest？
Out in the gleam and the glow
Of the blood…red waves of the West？
Or where the isles of the dawn
Lie on an amethyst sea；
Does it drift； pale and forlorn；
Ghost of the glory I see？
Is there； ah； is there a land
Such as the Icelanders say；
Or past the West's ruddy strand
Or on the edge of the day；
Some undiscovered clime
Seen through a cloud's sudden rift；
Where all the rainbows of Time
Slowly and silently drift？
Some happy port of a sea
Never a world's sail has made；
Where till the earth shadows flee
Never a rainbow may fade。
Oh； if that rainbow up there；
Just for a moment would reach；
Through the wet slope of the air
Here where I stand on the beach。
Here where the waves wash the strand
Swing itself lovingly low；
Let me catch fast with one hand；
Climb its frail rigging and go！
Johannes Carl Andersen。
Soft； Low and Sweet
Soft； low and sweet； the blackbird wakes the day；
And clearer pipes； as rosier grows the gray
Of the wide sky； far； far into whose deep
The rath lark soars； and scatters down the steep
His runnel song； that skyey roundelay。
Earth with a sigh awakes； and tremors play；
Coy in her leafy trees； and falt'ring creep
Across the daisy lawn and whisper； 〃Well…a…day；〃
Soft； low and sweet。
From violet…banks the scent…clouds float away
And spread around their fragrance； as of sleep：
From ev'ry mossy nook the blossoms peep；
From ev'ry blossom comes one little ray
That makes the world…wealth one with Spring； alway
Soft； low and sweet。
Maui Victor
Unhewn in quarry lay the Parian stone；
Ere hands； god…guided； of Praxiteles
Might shape the Cnidian Venus。 Long ungrown
The ivory was which； chiselled； robbed of ease
Pygmalion； sculptor…lover。 Now are these；
The stone and ivory； immortal made。
The golden apples of Hesperides
Shall never； scattered； in blown dust be laid；
Till Time； the dragon…guard； has lived his last decade。
The Cnidian Venus； Galatea's shape；
A wondering world beheld； as we behold；
Here； in blest isles beyond the stormy Cape；
Where man the new land dowers with the old；
Are neither marble shapes nor fruits of gold；
Nor white…limbed maidens； queened enchantress…wise；
Here； Nature's beauties no vast ruins enfold；
No glamour fills her such as 'wildering lies
Where Mediterranean waters laugh to Grecian skies。
Acropolis with figure group and frieze；
Parthenon； Temple； concepts born divine；
Where in these Isles are wonders great as these？
Unquarried lies the stone in teeming mine；
Bare is the land of sanctuary and shrine；
But though frail hands no god…like record set
Great Nature's powers are lavish； and combine
In mountain dome； ice…glancing minaret；
Deep fiord； fiery fountain and lake with tree…wove carcanet。
And though the dusky race that to and fro；
Like their own shades； pass by and leave no trace；
No age…contemning works from quick brain throw；
They still have left what Time shall not efface；
The legends of an isolated race。
Not vainly Maui strove； no； not in vain
He dared the old Mother of Death and her embrace：
That mankind might go free； he suffered pain
And death he boldly dared； eternal life to gain。
Not death but dormancy the old womb has known；
New love shall quicken it； new life attain：
These legends old in ivory and stone
Shall live their recreated life again；
Shall wake； like Galatea； to joy and pain。
Legends and myths and wonders； what are these
But glittering mines that long unworked have lain？
A Homer shall unlock with magic keys
Treasure for some antipodean Praxiteles！
Dora Wilcox。
In London
When I look out on London's teeming streets；
On grim grey houses； and on leaden skies；
My courage fails me； and my heart grows sick；
And I remember that fair heritage
Barter'd by me for what your London gives。
This is not Nature's city： I am kin
To whatsoever is of free and wild；
And here I pine between these narrow walls；
And London's smoke hides all the stars from me；
Light from mine eyes； and Heaven from my heart。
For in an island of those Southern seas
That lie behind me； guarded by the Cross
That looks all night from out our splendid skies；
I know a valley opening to the East。
There； hour by hour； the lazy tide creeps in
Upon the sands I shall not pace again
Save in a dream； and； hour by hour； the tide
Creeps lazily out； and I behold it not；
Nor the young moon slow sinking to her rest
Behind the hills； nor yet the dead white trees
Glimmering in the starlight： they are ghosts
Of what has been； and shall be never more。
No； never more！
Nor shall I hear again
The wind that rises at the dead of night
Suddenly； and sweeps inward from the sea；
Rustling the tussock； nor the wekas' wail
Echoing at evening from the tawny hills。
In that deserted garden that I lov'd
Day after day； my flowers drop unseen；
And as your Summer slips away in tears；
Spring wakes our lovely Lady of the Bush；
The Kowhai； and she hastes to wrap herself
All in a mantle wrought of living