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O hark！ A sound across the air； Which tells not of December's cold； A sound most musical and rare。 Thy bells are ringing as of old； With silver throats and tongues of gold。 Alas！ it is too sweet for truth； An empty echo of our youth。
Nay； never echo spake so loud！ It is indeed thy bells that ring。 And lo； against the leaden cloud； Thy towers！ Once more we leap and spring； Once more melodiously we sing； We sing； and in our song forget That winter lies around us yet。
Oh； what is winter； now we know； Full surely； thou canst never fail？ Forgive our weak untrustful woe； Which deemed thy glowing face grown pale。 We know thee； mighty to prevail。 Doubt and decrepitude depart； And youth comes back into the heart。
O Love； who turnest frost to flame With ardent and immortal eyes； Whose spirit sorrow cannot tame； Nor time subdue in any wise … While sun and moon for us shall rise； Oh； may we in thy service keep Till in thy faith we fall asleep！
BELOW HER WINDOW
Where she sleeps； no moonlight shines No pale beam unbidden creeps。 Darkest shade the place enshrines Where she sleeps。
Like a diamond in the deeps Of the rich unopened mines There her lovely rest she keeps。
Though the jealous dark confines All her beauty； Love's heart leaps。 His unerring thought divines Where she sleeps。
REQUIEM
For thee the birds shall never sing again； Nor fresh green leaves come out upon the tree； The brook shall no more murmur the refrain For thee。
Thou liest underneath the windswept lea； Thou dreamest not of pleasure or of pain； Thou dreadest no to…morrow that shall be。
Deep rest is thine； unbroken by the rain； Ay； or the thunder。 Brother； canst thou see The tears that night and morning fall in vain For thee？
THOU ART QUEEN
Thou art queen to every eye； When the fairest maids convene。 Envy's self can not deny Thou art queen。
In thy step thy right is seen； In thy beauty pure and high； In thy grace of air and mien。
Thine unworthy vassal I； Lay my hands thy hands between； Kneeling at thy feet I cry Thou art queen！
IN TIME OF DOUBT
‘In the shadow of Thy wings； O Lord of Hosts； whom I extol； I will put my trust for ever；' so the kingly David sings。 ‘Thou shalt help me； Thou shalt save me； only Thou shalt keep me whole； In the shadow of Thy wings。'
In our ears this voice triumphant； like a blowing trumpet； rings； But our hearts have heard another； as of funeral bells that toll； ‘God of David where to find Thee？' No reply the question brings。
Shadows are there overhead； but they are of the clouds that roll； Blotting out the sun from sight； and overwhelming earthly things。 Oh； that we might feel Thy presence！ Surely we could rest our soul In the shadow of Thy wings。
THE GARDEN OF SIN
I know the garden…close of sin； The cloying fruits； the noxious flowers； I long have roamed the walks and bowers； Desiring what no man shall win：
A secret place to shelter in； When soon or late the angry powers Come down to seek the wretch who cowers； Expecting judgment to begin。
The pleasure long has passed away From flowers and fruit； each hour I dread My doom will find me where I lie。 I dare not go； I dare not stay。 Without the walks； my hope is dead； Within them； I myself must die。
URSULA
There is a village in a southern land； By rounded hills closed in on every hand。 The streets slope steeply to the market…square； Long lines of white…washed houses； clean and fair； With roofs irregular； and steps of stone Ascending to the front of every one。 The people swarthy； idle； full of mirth； Live mostly by the tillage of the earth。
Upon the northern hill…top； looking down； Like some sequestered saint upon the town； Stands the great convent。
On a summer night； Ten years ago； the moon with rising light Made all the convent towers as clear as day； While still in deepest shade the village lay。 Both light and shadow with repose were filled； The village sounds； the convent bells were stilled。 No foot in all the streets was now astir； And in the convent none kept watch but her Whom they called Ursula。 The moonlight fell Brightly around her in the lonely cell。 Her eyes were dark； and full of unshed woe； Like mountain tarns which cannot overflow； Surcharged with rain； and round about the eyes Deep rings recorded sleepless nights； and cries Stifled before their birth。 Her brow was pale； And like a marble temple in a vale Of cypress trees； shone shadowed by her hair。 So still she was； that had you seen her there； You might have thought you were beholding death。 Her lips were parted； but if any breath Came from between them； it were hard to know By any movement of her breast of snow。
But when the summer night was now far spent； She kneeled upon the floor。 Her head she leant Down on the cold stone of the window…seat。 God knows if there were any vital heat In those pale brows； or if they chilled the stone。 And as she knelt； she made a bitter moan； With words that issued from a bitter soul； … ‘O Mary； Mother； and is this thy goal； Thy peace which waiteth for the world…worn heart？ Is it for this I live and die apart From all that once I knew？ O Holy God； Is this the blessed chastening of Thy rod； Which only wounds to heal？ Is this the cross That I must carry； counting all for loss Which once was precious in the world to me？ If Thou be God； blot out my memory； And let me come； forsaking all； to Thee。 But here； though that old world beholds me not； Here； though I seek Thee through my lonely lot； Here； though I fast； do penance day by day； Kneel at Thy feet； and ever watch and pray； Beloved forms from that forsaken world Revisit me。 The pale blue smoke is curled Up from the dwellings of the sons of men。 I see it； and all my heart turns back again From seeking Thee； to find the forms I love。
‘Thou； with Thy saints abiding far above； What canst Thou know of this； my earthly pain？ They said to me； Thou shalt be born again； And learn that worldly things are nothing worth； In that new state。 O God； is this new birth； Birth of the spirit dying to the flesh？ Are these the living waters which refresh The thirsty spirit； that it thirst no more？ Still all my life is thirsting to the core。 Thou canst not satisfy； if this be Thou。 And yet I dream； or I remember how； Before I came here； while I tarried yet Among the friends they tell me to forget； I never seemed to seek Thee； but I found Thou wert in all the loveliness around； And most of all in hearts that loved me well。
‘And then I came to seek Thee in this cell； To crucify my worldliness and pride； To lay my heart's affections all aside； As carnal hindrances which held my soul From hasting unencumbered to her goal。 And all this have I done； or else have striven To do； obeying the behest of Heaven； And my reward is bitterness。 I seem To wander always in a feverish dream On plains where there is only sun and sand； No rock or tree in all the weary land； My thirst unquenchable； my heart burnt dry。 And still in my parched throat I faintly cry； Deliver me； O Lord： bow down Thine ear！
‘He will not answer me。 He does not hear。 I am alone within the universe。 Oh for a strength of will to rise and curse God； and defy Him here to str