THE DIVINE VISION
AND OTHER POEMS
BY A. E.
[Transcriber's note: "A.E." is a pseudonym of George William Russell]
London MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED NEW YORK: THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1904
BY THE SAME WRITER
HOMEWARD, SONGS BY THE WAY. THE EARTH BREATH.
Copyright in the United States of America.
TO
S. M. T. K. S. V. G. R. E. Y. J. S.
COMRADES IN THE CRAFT
When twilight flutters the mountains over, The faery lights from the earth unfold: And over the caves enchanted hover The giant heroes and gods of old. The bird of æther its flaming pinions Waves over earth the whole night long: The stars drop down in their blue dominions To hymn together their choral song. The child of earth in his heart grows burning, Mad for the night and the deep unknown; His alien flame in a dream returning Seats itself on the ancient throne. When twilight over the mountains fluttered, And night with its starry millions came, I too had dreams: the songs I have uttered Come from this heart that was touched by the flame.
CONTENTS
The Divine Vision The Gates of Dreamland Freedom The Master Singer Remembrance Dana The Grey Eros Rest The Nuts of Knowledge The Burning Glass The Twilight of Earth Night The Morning Star A Farewell The Message At One The Well of All Healing A New Being A Call of the Sidhe Love from Afar Babylon The Silence of Love Aphrodite Refuge The Faces of Memory The Secret Love The Weaver of Souls Transformation Children of Lir Light and Dark Twilight by the Cabin Beauty The Vision of Love A Memory A Summer Night Whom We Worship Mistrust The Dream The Feast of Age A Way Of Escape Recall The Voice of the Waters In Connemara An Irish Face Hope in Failure The Crown The Everlasting Battle Ordeal The Child of Destiny A Farewell The Parting of Ways A Midnight Meditation Age And Youth The Joy of Earth Reconciliation
NOTE
THE DIVINE VISION
This mood hath known all beauty, for it sees O'erwhelmed majesties In these pale forms, and kingly crowns of gold On brows no longer bold, And through the shadowy terrors of their hell The love for which they fell. And how desire which cast them in the deep Called God too from His sleep. Oh, pity, only seer, who looking through A heart melted like dew, Seest the long perished in the present thus, For ever dwell in us. Whatever time thy golden eyelids ope They travel to a hope; Not only backward from these low degrees To starry dynasties, But, looking far where now the silence owns And rules from empty thrones, Thou seest the enchanted hills of heaven burn For joy at our return. Thy tender kiss hath memory we are kings For all our wanderings. Thy shining eyes already see the after In hidden light and laughter.
THE GATES OF DREAMLAND
It's a lonely road through bogland to the lake at Carrowmore, And a sleeper there lies dreaming where the water laps the shore; Though the moth-wings of the twilight in their purples are unfurled, Yet his sleep is filled with music by the masters of the world.
There's a hand is white as silver that is fondling with his hair: There are glimmering feet of sunshine that are dancing by him there: And half-open lips of faery that were dyed a faery red In their revels where the Hazel Tree its holy clusters shed.
"Come away," the red lips whisper, "all the world is weary now; 'Tis the twilight of the ages and it's time to quit the plough. Oh, the very sunlight's weary ere it lightens up the dew, And its gold is changed and faded before it falls to you.
"Though your colleen's heart be tender, a tenderer heart is near. What's the starlight in her glances when the stars are shining clear? Who would kiss the fading shadow when the flower-face glows above? 'Tis the Beauty of all Beauty that is calling for your love."
Oh, the great gates of the mountain have opened once again, And the sound of song and dancing falls upon the ears of men, And the Land of Youth lies gleaming flushed with rainbow light and mirth, And the old enchantment lingers in the honey-heart of earth.
FREEDOM
I will not follow you, my bird, I will not follow you. I would not breathe a word, my bird, To bring thee here anew.
I love the free in thee, my bird, The lure of freedom drew; The light you fly toward, my bird, I fly with thee unto.
And there we yet will meet, my bird, Though far I go from you, Where in the light outpoured, my bird, Are love and freedom too.
THE MASTER SINGER
A laughter in the diamond air, a music in the trembling grass; And one by one the words of light as joydrops through my being pass: "I am the sunlight in the heart, the silver moon-glow in the mind; My laughter runs and ripples through the wavy tresses of the wind. I am the fire upon the hills, the dancing flame that leads afar Each burning hearted wanderer, and I the dear and homeward star. A myriad lovers died for me, and in their latest yielded breath I woke in glory giving them immortal life though touched by death. They knew me from the dawn of time: if Hermes beats his rainbow wings, If Angus shakes his locks of light, or golden-haired Apollo sings, It matters not the name, the land: my joy in all the Gods abides: Even in the cricket in the grass some dimness of me smiles and hides. For joy of me the daystar glows, and in delight and wild desire The peacock twilight rays aloft its plumes and blooms of shadowy fire, Where in the vastness too I burn through summer nights and ages long, And with the fiery-footed watchers shake in myriad dance and song."
REMEMBRANCE