And then--what? one afternoon of quiet summer weather O, woodlands and meadow-lands along the blue St. John, My birch finds a path--though your rafts lie close together-- Then O! what starry miles before the grey o' the dawn!........ I have met the new day, among the misty islands, Come with whine of saw-mills and whirr of hidden wings, Gleam of dewy cobwebs, smell of grassy highlands.-- Ah! the blood grows young again thinking of these things.
Then, last and best of all! Though all else were found hollow Would Time not send a little space, before the Autumn's close, And lead us up the road--the old road we used to follow Among the sunset hills till the Hunter's Moon arise?...... Then, Home through the poplar-wood! damp across our faces The grey leaves that fall, the moths that flutter by: Yea! this for me, now, of all old hours and places, To keep when I am dead, Time, until she come to die.
Are those her feet at last upon the stair? Her trailing garments echoing there? The falling of her hair?
About a year ago I heard her come, Thus; as a child recalling some Vague memories of home.
O how the firelight blinded her dear eyes! I saw them open, and grow wise: No questions, no replies.
And now, tonight, comes the same sound of rain. The wet boughs reach against the pane In the same way, again.
In the old way I hear the moaning wind Hunt the dead leaves it cannot find,-- Blind as the stars are blind.
--She may come in at midnight, tired and wan, Yet,--what if once again at dawn I wake to find her gone?
Is it very long ago things were as they are Now? or was it ever? or is it to be? Was it up this road we came, glad the end was far? Taking comfort each of each, singing cheerily?
O, the way was good to tread! Up hill and down; Past the quiet forestlands, by the grassy plains; Here a stony wilderness, there an ancient town, Now the high sun over us, now the driving rains.
Strange and evil things we met--but what cared we, Strong men and unafraid, ripe for any chance? Battles by the countless score, red blood running free-- Soon we learned that all of these were our inheritance.
Some of us there were that fell: what was that to us? They were weak--we were strong--health we held to yet: Pleasant graves we digged them, we the valorous,-- Then to the road again, striving to forget.