And so, when some plain irks, or some steep hill, I—knowing that Thy will was once our will— Shall be most sure Thou livest with her still,
And only waitest—Thou and she alone— Until I know again as I have known The glory that abideth near our throne.
Let us bury him here, Where the maples are red! He is dead, And he died thanking God that he fell with the fall of the leaf and the year.
Where the hillside is sheer, Let it echo our tread Whom he led; Let us follow as gladly as ever we followed who never knew fear.
Ere he died, they had fled; Yet they heard his last cheer Ringing clear,— When we lifted him up, he would fain have pursued, but grew dizzy instead.
Break his sword and his spear! Let this last prayer be said By the bed We have made underneath the wet wind in the maple trees moaning so drear:
"O Lord God, by the red Sullen end of the year That is here, We beseech Thee to guide us and strengthen our swords till his slayers be dead!"
They pity me who have grown old,— So old, mine eyes may not behold If any wolf chance near the fold.
They pity me, because, alas! I lie and dream among the grass, And let the herds unheeded pass.
They deem I must be sorrowing, Because I note not when the Spring Is over me and everything.
They know not why I am forlorn,— How could they know?—They were not born When he rode here that April morn.
They were not living when he came Into this valley, swift like flame,— Perchance they have not heard his name!
My men were very valiant men— (Alas, that I had only ten! These people were not living then.)
But when one is not yet awake His banner is not hard to take, His spears are easy things to break.
And dazed men are not hard to slay When many foes, as strong as they, With swords and spears come down their way.
This valley now has quiet grown; And I lie here content, alone, Dreaming of things that I have known;
And count the mounds of waving grass— (Ten,—yea, and ten more, by the Mass!) And let the restless cattle pass.
_Under the sun, the Kingfisher_ _From his high place was watching her._
He knew she came from some far place; For when she threw her body down, She seemed quite tired; and her face Had dust upon it; and her gown, That had been yellow, now was brown.