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By the Roses all reeling with colours？
A tree from its tresses a blossom did shake；
It fell on her face； and I feared she would wake；
So I brushed it away for her sweet sake；
In that garden of beautiful Roses！
In the dreamy perfumes
From ripe…red blooms
In a dance and a dazzle of Roses。
Page： 60
SUNSET
IT is better； O day； that you go to your rest；
For you go like a guest who was loth to remain！
Swing open； ye gates of the east and the west；
And let out the wild shadows … the night and the rain。
Ye winds； ye are dead； with your voices attuned；
That thrilled the green life in the sweet…scented sheaves；
When I touched a warm hand which has faded； and swooned
To a trance of the darkness； and blight on the leaves。
I had studied the lore in her maiden…like ways；
And the large…hearted love of my Annie was won；
'Ere Summer had passed into passionate days；
Or Autumn made ready her fruits for the Sun。
So my life was complete； and the hours that went by；
And the moon and the willow…wooed waters around；
Might have known that we rested； my Annie and I；
In happiness calm as the slumber of sound。
On Sundays we wandered； as glad as a breeze；
By the rocks and the waves on a glittering beach；
Or we loitered in gardens melodious with bees；
And sucked the sweet pulp of the plum and the peach。
‘‘The Forest will show me the secrets of Fame；''
I said to myself in the gum…shadowed glen；
‘‘I will call every blossom and tree by its name；
And the people shall deem me a man of the men。
‘‘I will gather Roses of Sharon； my Soul； …
The Roses of Sharon so cool and so sweet；
And our brothers shall see me entwining the whole
For a garland to drop at my dear Annie's feet。''
It is better； O day； that you go to your rest；
For you go like a guest who was loth to remain！
Swing open； ye gates of the east and the west；
And let out the wild shadows … the night and the rain。
Page： 61
DOUBTING
A BROTHER wandered forth with me；
Beside a barren beach：
He harped on things beyond the sea；
And out of reach。
He hinted once of unknown skies；
And then I would not hark；
But turned away from steadfast eyes；
Into the dark。
And said … ‘‘an ancient faith is dead
And wonder fills my mind：
I marvel how the blind have led
So long the blind。
‘‘Behold this truth we only know
That night is on the land！
And we a weary way must go
To find God's hand。''
I wept … ‘‘Our fathers told us； Lord；
That Thou wert kind and just；
But lo！ our wailings fly abroad
For broken trust。
‘‘How many evil ones are here
Who mocking go about；
Because we are too faint with fear
To wrestle Doubt！
‘‘Thy riddles are beyond the ken
Of creatures of the sod：
Remember that we are but men；
And Thou art God！
‘‘O； doting world； methinks your stay
Is weaker than a reed！
Our Father turns His face away；
'Tis dark indeed。''
Page： 62
The evening woods lay huddled there；
All wrapped in silence strange：
A sudden wind … and lo！ the air
Was filled with change。
‘‘Your words are wild；'' my brother said；
‘‘For God's voice fills the breeze；
Go … hide yourself； as Adam did；
Amongst the trees。
‘‘I pluck the shoes from off my feet；
But dare to look around；
Behold；'' he said； ‘‘my Lord I greet；
On holy ground！‘‘
And God spake through the wind to me …
‘‘Shake off that gloom of Fear；
You fainting soul who could not see
That I was near。
‘‘Why vex me crying day and night？ …
You call on me to hark！
But when I bless your world with light；
Who makes it dark？
‘‘Is there a ravelled riddle left
That you would have undone？
What other doubts are there to sift？''
I answered … ‘‘None。''
‘‘My son； look up； if you would see
The Promise on your way；
And turn a trustful face to me。''
I whispered … ‘‘Yea。''
GERALDINE
MY head is filled with olden rhymes beside this moaning sea；
But many and many a day has gone since I was dear to thee！
I know my passion fades away； and therefore oft regret
That some who love indeed can part and in the years forget。
Page： 63
Ah！ through the twilights when we stood the wattle trees between；
We did not dream of such a time as this； fair Geraldine。
I do not say that all has gone of passion and of pain；
I yearn for many happy thoughts I shall not think again！
And often when the wind is up； and wailing round the eaves；
You sigh for withered Purpose shred and scattered like the leaves；
The Purpose blooming when we met each other on the green；
The sunset heavy in your curls； my golden Geraldine。
I think we lived a loftier life through hours of Long Ago；
For in the largened evening earth our spirits seemed to grow。
Well； that has passed； and here I stand； upon a lonely place；
While Night is stealing round the land； like Time across my face；
But I can calmly recollect our shadowy parting scene；
And swooning thoughts that had no voice … no utterance； Geraldine。
ACHAN
（From ‘‘Jephthah''。）
HATH he not followed a star through the darkness；
Ye people who sit at the table of Jephthah？
Oh！ turn with the face to a light in the mountains；
Behold it is further from Achan than ever！
‘‘I know how it is with my brothers in Mizpeh；''
Said Achan； the swift…footed runner of Zorah；
‘‘They look at the wood they have hewn for the altar；
And think of a shadow in sackcloth and ashes。
‘‘I know how it is with the daughter of Jephthah；
（O Ada； my love； and the fairest of women！）
She wails in the time when her heart is so zealous
For God who hath stricken the children of Ammon。
‘‘I said I would bring her the odours of Edom；
And armfuls of spices to set at the banquet！
Behold I have fronted the chieftain her father；
And strong men have wept for the leader of thousands！
Page： 64
‘‘My love is a rose of the roses of Sharon；
All lonely and bright as the Moon in the myrtles！
Her lips； like to honeycombs； fill with the sweetness
That Achan the thirsty is hindered from drinking。
‘‘Her women have wept for the love that is wasted
Like wine； which is spilt when the people are wanting；
And hot winds have dried all the cisterns of Elim！
For love that is wasted her women were wailing！
‘‘The timbrels fall silent！ And dost thou not hear it；
A voice； like the sound of a lute when we loiter；
And sit by the pools in the valleys of Arnon；
And suck the cool grapes that are growing in clusters？
‘‘She glides； like a myrrh…scented wind； through the willows；
O Ada！ behold it is Achan that speaketh：
I know thou art near me； but never can see thee；
Because of the horrible drouth in mine eyelids。''
The End