Youth

I

Morn’s mystic rose is reddening on the hills,
Dawn’s irised nautilus makes glad the sea;
There is a lyre of flame that throbs and fills
Far heaven and earth with hope’s wild ecstasy.—­
          With lilied field and grove,
          Haunts of the turtle-dove,
            Here is the land of Love.

II

The chariot of the noon makes blind the blue
As towards the goal his burning axle glares;
There is a fiery trumpet thrilling through
Wide heaven and earth with deeds of one who dares.—­
          With peaks of splendid name,
          Wrapped round with astral flame,
            Here is the land of Fame.

III

The purple priesthood of the evening waits
With golden pomp within the templed skies;
There is a harp of worship at the gates
Of heaven and earth that bids the soul arise.—­
          With columned cliffs and long
          Vales, music breathes among,
            Here is the land of Song.

IV

Moon-crowned, the epic of the night unrolls
Its starry utterance o’er height and deep;
There is a voice of beauty at the souls
Of heaven and earth that lulls the heart asleep.—­
          With storied woods and streams,
          Where marble glows and gleams,
            Here is the land of Dreams.

Life’s Seasons

I

When all the world was Mayday,
  And all the skies were blue,
Young innocence made playday
  Among the flowers and dew;
Then all of life was Mayday,
  And clouds were none or few.

II

When all the world was Summer,
  And morn shone overhead,
Love was the sweet newcomer
  Who led youth forth to wed;
Then all of life was Summer,
  And clouds were golden red.

III

When earth was all October,
  And days were gray with mist,
On woodways, sad and sober,
  Grave memory kept her tryst;
Then life was all October,
  And clouds were twilight-kissed.

IV

Now all the world’s December,
  And night is all alarm,
Above the last dim ember
  Grief bends to keep him warm;
Now all of life’s December,
  And clouds are driven storm.

Old Homes

Old homes among the hills!  I love their gardens,
Their old rock-fences, that our day inherits;
Their doors, ’round which the great trees stand like wardens;
Their paths, down which the shadows march like spirits;
Broad doors and paths that reach bird-haunted gardens.