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On larks。 The sedentary clerk
All morning with a diligent pen
Murders the babes of other men；
And like the beasts of wood and park；
Protects his whelps； defends his den。
Unshamed the narrow aim I hold；
I feed my sheep； patrol my fold；
Breathe war on wolves and rival flocks；
A pious outlaw on the rocks
Of God and morning； and when time
Shall bow； or rivals break me； climb
Where no undubbed civilian dares；
In my war harness； the loud stairs
Of honour； and my conqueror
Hail me a warrior fallen in war。
Vailima。
XXXIX … TROPIC RAIN
AS the single pang of the blow； when the metal is mingled well；
Rings and lives and resounds in all the bounds of the bell；
So the thunder above spoke with a single tongue；
So in the heart of the mountain the sound of it rumbled and clung。
Sudden the thunder was drowned … quenched was the levin light …
And the angel…spirit of rain laughed out loud in the night。
Loud as the maddened river raves in the cloven glen；
Angel of rain！ you laughed and leaped on the roofs of men；
And the sleepers sprang in their beds； and joyed and feared as you fell。
You struck； and my cabin quailed； the roof of it roared like a bell。
You spoke； and at once the mountain shouted and shook with brooks。
You ceased； and the day returned； rosy； with virgin looks。
And methought that beauty and terror are only one； not two；
And the world has room for love； and death； and thunder； and dew；
And all the sinews of hell slumber in summer air；
And the face of God is a rock； but the face of the rock is fair。
Beneficent streams of tears flow at the finger of pain；
And out of the cloud that smites； beneficent rivers of rain。
Vailima。
XL … AN END OF TRAVEL
LET now your soul in this substantial world
Some anchor strike。 Be here the body moored； …
This spectacle immutably from now
The picture in your eye； and when time strikes；
And the green scene goes on the instant blind …
The ultimate helpers； where your horse to…day
Conveyed you dreaming； bear your body dead。
Vailima
XLI
WE uncommiserate pass into the night
From the loud banquet； and departing leave
A tremor in men's memories； faint and sweet
And frail as music。 Features of our face；
The tones of the voice； the touch of the loved hand；
Perish and vanish； one by one； from earth：
Meanwhile； in the hall of song； the multitude
Applauds the new performer。 One； perchance；
One ultimate survivor lingers on；
And smiles； and to his ancient heart recalls
The long forgotten。 Ere the morrow die；
He too； returning； through the curtain comes；
And the new age forgets us and goes on。
XLII
SING me a song of a lad that is gone；
Say； could that lad be I？
Merry of soul he sailed on a day
Over the sea to Skye。
Mull was astern； Rum on the port；
Eigg on the starboard bow；
Glory of youth glowed in his soul：
Where is that glory now？
Sing me a song of a lad that is gone；
Say； could that lad be I？
Merry of soul he sailed on a day
Over the sea to Skye。
Give me again all that was there；
Give me the sun that shone！
Give me the eyes； give me the soul；
Give me the lad that's gone！
Sing me a song of a lad that is gone；
Say； could that lad be I？
Merry of soul he sailed on a day
Over the sea to Skye。
Billow and breeze； islands and seas；
Mountains of rain and sun；
All that was good； all that was fair；
All that was me is gone。
XLIII … TO S。 R。 CROCKETT （On receiving a Dedication）
BLOWS the wind to…day； and the sun and the rain are flying；
Blows the wind on the moors to…day and now；
Where about the graves of the martyrs the whaups are crying；
My heart remembers how！
Grey recumbent tombs of the dead in desert places；
Standing stones on the vacant wine…red moor；
Hills of sheep； and the howes of the silent vanished races；
And winds； austere and pure：
Be it granted me to behold you again in dying；
Hills of home！ and to hear again the call；
Hear about the graves of the martyrs the peewees crying；
And hear no more at all。
Vailima。
XLIV … EVENSONG
THE embers of the day are red
Beyond the murky hill。
The kitchen smokes： the bed
In the darkling house is spread：
The great sky darkens overhead；
And the great woods are shrill。
So far have I been led；
Lord； by Thy will：
So far I have followed； Lord； and wondered still。
The breeze from the enbalmed land
Blows sudden toward the shore；
And claps my cottage door。
I hear the signal； Lord … I understand。
The night at Thy command
Comes。 I will eat and sleep and will not question more。
Vailima。
End