THE IN THE DOORWAY. HE swallow has set her six young on the rail, The water's in stripes like a snake, olive-pale On the weather-side, black, spotted white with the wind: "Good fortune departs, and disaster 's behind,” Hark, the wind with its wants and its infinite wail! Our fig-tree, that leaned for the saltness, has furled Each leaf like a hand opened wide to the world No glint of the gold, Summer sent for her sake: Yet here are we two; we have love, house enough, This house of four rooms, that field red and rough, For the rabbit that robs, scarce a blade or a bent; If a magpie alight now, it seems an event; And they both will be gone at November's rebuff. But why must cold spread? but wherefore bring change To the spirit, God meant should mate His with an infinite range, And inherit His power to put life in the darkness and cold? O, live and love worthily, bear and be bold! Whom Summer made friends of, let Winter estrange! AMONG THE ROCKS. GOOD, gigantic smile o' the brown old earth, This autumn morning! How he sets his bones To bask i' the sun, and thrusts out knees and feet For the ripple to run over in its mirth; Listening the while, where on the heap of stones The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet. That is the doctrine, simple, ancient, true; Such is life's trial, as old earth smiles and knows. If you loved only what were worth your love, Love were clear gain, and wholly well for you: Make the low nature better by your throes! Give earth yourself, go up for gain above! |