POSSESSION
This, this alone, we keep: Memory, fraught
With sweet or bitter fruit of seed flung hence;
Pain's quickened sight; Love, of strong service wrought,
And knowledge born of wise Obedience.
With sweet or bitter fruit of seed flung hence;
Pain's quickened sight; Love, of strong service wrought,
And knowledge born of wise Obedience.
SUCCESSION
A wild mood from the windy sea,
The thrall of white foam over me,
As if the gods laughed once again,
Dared life to drink of love and pain!
The thrall of white foam over me,
As if the gods laughed once again,
Dared life to drink of love and pain!
I could have flown to their embrace,
Met Death and mocked him, face to face;—
Mayhap 'twas where old loves had met,
And a dead fisher cast his net.
Met Death and mocked him, face to face;—
Mayhap 'twas where old loves had met,
And a dead fisher cast his net.
Within the silence of the wood,
Strange shadow spun its spell and mood;
A power called and baffled where
The hush of mystery filled the air.
Strange shadow spun its spell and mood;
A power called and baffled where
The hush of mystery filled the air.
Alien, yet one, my steps did seem
To break upon a mighty dream,—
Perchance, beneath my feet, some brave,
The woods' dead sovereign had his grave.
To break upon a mighty dream,—
Perchance, beneath my feet, some brave,
The woods' dead sovereign had his grave.
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