iii[iiaii[ilri|itl|j|p(t ill liii!' ! IJiiill ill ', liid^ii i'iUi;.' i D O, Q, h Ifilfh COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. ST. HILDA AND OTHER POEMS ST. HILDA OTHER POEMS f% FREDERICK W. BECKER THE GRAFTON PRESS NEW YORK T5 -Ji"^ ^ DEC I i^m iCmsS Ct. XXc Not \ COPY B. lrg*'^«g^ . i . II I ■ Copyright ig04 by the Grafton Press CONTENTS St. Hilda . . . /. The Minstrel II. The Sleeping Har III. The Wanderer VI. The Awakening V. St. Hilda . When She Comes The Tell-Tale Spring The Star of My Loving At the Gates of Pearl In the Moonlight The Siren s Repulse The Deceitful Daisy The South-Winds Say The Lovers' Mirage o To Eunice Come Lea ..... The Toiler s Dream When Alice Came . My Captain . To April' s Brook Page 9 9 II 15 15 16 19 20 21 23 24 25 28 29 31 36 38 39 41 44 46 51 Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2011 witii funding from Tine Library of Congress littp://www.arcliive.org/details/stliildaotlierpoemOObeck ST. HILDA AND OTHER POEMS St, Hilda I. The Minstrel THE way-side turf was brightly gemmed With Springtime's fairest stars; The buds to durance long condemned Had burst their prison bars. The song of bird, the hum of bee, Glad welcome- gave to Spring; The earth and sky joined heartily, And every living thing. Beside the way a Minstrel gray Sang merry songs of love; And some, perhaps, took wing that day, O'er distant seas to rove. And others are resounding yet, Adown the paths of Time; And those who hear them ne'er forget The beauties of their rhyme. [9 ] Beside the Minstrel where he knelt Within that woodland bower, There lay a Harp that ne'er had felt The Master's magic power. And as his songs filled brake and wold With sweetest echoings, The Minstrel took the Harp of Gold And touched its tensioned strings. He swept them with his cunning sweep; He tried his utmost skill; But mute, like Innocence asleep, They answered not his will. Again, again, with soulful might, He smote each separate chord; They trembled, as if with affright, Yet disobeyed their lord. "Upon this Harp there is a spell," The wondering Harper cried; "On many have I played and well, Yet none has me defied. [10] "I leave thee here, thou Harp so cold, Amono;st the weeds and fjrass. Nor tender arms shall thee enfold. Till this has come to pass: "Until upon some distant day, Though many years it be, There comes adown this winding way, A heart attuned to thee." IL The Sleeping Harp The wild rose cried, "Awake! Awake! And listen to my song; Then come, my Love, thy silence break, Why sleepest thou so long ? "My Love, arise, confide in me And I will be thy bride; O Love, awake! abide with me Till ebbs life's fevered tide." The gentle lily, drooping low. Demurely kept apart; She envied not the wanton's glow Nor fickleness of heart. [II] She could but sigh, "If thou wilt sleep, Then lie within this breast, And tender vigils will I keep, Till ended be thy rest." The humming bird, bold brigand free, With booty-laden soul. Droned, "Come with me and stealthily, O'er flowery fields we'll troll. "And buds so fair and buds so rare. We'll loot along the way; And blossoms bright and debonair Will lure us on to stay, "Till fainting Phoebus falls asleep. Within his crimson bed. And dusky curtains, trailing deep. Enshroud his dying head. "And where the shadows thickly fall, We'll hide on mossy banks. And hearken for the Satyrs' call To join them in their pranks." [12] The Harp slept on, nor note nor sound, Was heard for many a year; And dead leaves strewed the silent mound, And weeds and grasses sear. III. The Wanderer The clouds hung low in the skies one day — The skies that once were bright — And some were black and some were gray, And none were lined with light. Peculiar phantoms crept between Those ever-shifting walls. Like gliding monks at a midnight scene Within their ghostly halls. Below, dim, misty spirits dank Went trailing noiselessly, From tree to tree and bank to bank, In endless phantasy. Anon some tremulous Shape of Mist, Recoiled with wavering grace. When uncouth winds its garments kissed, Or fanned its ashen face. [13] From out the cloud of spectres weird, Upon that dark noontide, A poor and lowly maid appeared, And Sorrow walked beside. Down the path with silent tread, The Wanderer passed along; She minded not the clouds o'erhead. Nor feared the ghostly throng. She slowly sank upon the ground, Forsaken to her doom, Beside the silent, leaf-strewn mound, Beside the Harp's cold tomb. No faith on earth, no hope of Heaven, Was writ upon that face; She longed for peace that ne'er was given — The clod her resting-place. She clasped her hands in mute despair And tears fell warm and fast Down pallid face, through curtaining hair; For Life seemed dead and past. [14] IV. The Awakening Lo! the air was softly stirred, As if by unseen wings; And on the breeze was faintly heard Uncertain whisperings. Like echoes from those sunnier cKmes Where flowed Life's happy streams, Or faintly tinkling fairy chimes Heard long ago in dreams. Then plainer fell the melody Upon that startled ear; Upon her waiting tremblingly, In wonder, awe, and fear. And louder grew those wondrous notes. Clearer — clearer — clearer , Like carols from a thousand throats, Nearer — nearer — nearer. And that swelling music filled her. With hopes gone long before; And that welling music thrilled her Quivering heart-strings o'er and o'er. [15] Then softly stole the mists away, Dim spirits robed in white; And the shadows — phantoms gowned in gray- Like shades of dying night. And the Seasons joined with gladness In the chorus that was borne On the wings that swept the sadness, From that poor heart forlorn. And Trust, like incense from On High, Took her in close embrace; And Love on pinions white drew nigh And kissed that upturned face. V. St. Hilda "She softly comes in beauty fair. With lilies on her breast; And silver poppies in her hair, — To woo the world to rest. "Where'er she goes the sunshine flows In broad and golden streams; And every darkling heaven glows With her bright and beauteous beams. [i6] "And when she smiles rich music falls In showers of delight; Like music from the lark that calls Its fellow in his Right. "Upon the tender heart that breaks She pours her healing balm; Unto the restless soul that wakes She whispers peace and calm. "She draws the weary sister near And tells of love and joy, For her who one repentant tear Lets fall in Hope's employ. "Within the sad and lonely home She comforts those who weep, And reads from out Life's wondrous tome: 'They sorrow not who sleep.' "She plucks the thorn from out the road That weary feet must plod; And lifts for heavy hands the load That falls beside the sod." [^7] And this was writ in glowing line Upon a new-made page Within the dusty Book of Time — To shine from age to age. [i8] WHEN SHE COMES IN the coming of the dawning, Like the sunshine from above That floods the golden morning, Thou shalt come, my sweetest Love. In the coming of the noontide. When all nature sings with glee. My heart shall sing of thee, its Bride, Love's sweetest melody. In the coming of the twilight. With its shadows o'er the land, Love's star shall make our pathway bright. As we journey hand in hand. [19] THE TELL-TALE SPRING N a quiet, restful valley, Where all care is laid away. And the zephyrs gently dally With the Hlies all the day, Where the daisies and the clover Are a-basking in the sun, And the cricket keeps his cover Till his evening song's begun, Bubbles up a crystal fountain — Midst the buttercups all gold — From the depths of yonder mountain: Bringing joy and joy untold. By this dear spring she is kneeling; And the shadows are made light By a face that in vain's concealing What is writ in eyes so bright. And I, stooping there above her, Mirrored in the spring quite plain. Read, what I would e'en discover, That my love is not in vain. [20] THE STAR OF MY LOVING THE Star of my Loving is set in the gloam- ings It shone for a moment, to die in the West; And my soul it is roving — in darkness 'tis roaming — And from its fierce torment craves respite and rest. The Sun of my Longing is sunk o'er the moun- tain, Hath left my heart dreary, hath left it forlorn; Like the wanderer turning from the ne'er-flow- ing fountain, Who of life is a-weary, who would go to his bourne. The Wings of my Spirit are flown to the sea- ward; Are battling the elements — the illimitable tide — And my love that was infinite, true, never way- ward. In spotless habiliments would have gowned thee my Bride. [21] Then I'll quaff the dark potion, from the em- bittered chalice, Till my spirit be free on the Stygian shore; And my heart with emotion, for thee, my lost Alice — That hath beat but for thee — shall beat nevermore. [22] AT THE GATES OF PEARL AT the Gates of Pearl a Peri stood — The Gates to a better land — And the sun shone down in a golden flood On an earnest, eager band. "By what token," the Peri said, "O would'st thou enter here?" As his gaze fell on an humble maid. In whose eye — for joy — a tear. "A Lover have I," the maiden said, "Who all for love of me, Evil and sin aside hath laid; That's why we come to thee." Then spake the youth at the maiden's side: "My Love is true and good, And for love of me hath sanctified Her purest womanhood." "O enter ye!" the Peri cried, "All love like this should be;" And the Gates of Pearl were opened wide - To you, my Love, and me. [23] IN THE MOONLIGHT ON my soul there is painted, in colors of gladness, A face unacquainted with grief or with sad- ness; With trust overflowing, with love sweetly beaming, In the twilight's faint glowing; in the star- light's bright gleaming. In my breast there is graven an image enduring; My heart is its haven; my life is its mooring; 'Twas chiselled in brightness, in the moonbeam's soft rays; 'Twill my path fill with lightness when dark be the days. 24] THE SIREN'S REPULSE "^/"^^OME, thou soul with sorrow weighted! V^ Thou shalt find eternal rest In these arms with solace freighted; In these arms then sleep till sated; Come and end thy weary quest! In these arms then be caressed. "In this bosom be thy pillow; Thou shalt find it tender, true, Sympathetic as yon willow Weeping o'er some earthy billow, Softly with the falling dew; Come, my Love, thy youth renew! "Lilies fair shall be thy cover, Spun on warp of softest green; Fairer than yon stars that hover For a time — then sink forever — Stars upon an emerald sheen; Lily-stars spread by thy Queen. "Songs of love shall be the chorus; Songs of love and minstrelsy, [25] Sung by Nymphs who shall adore us, While fair Sprites shall trip before us — Song and dance and revelry — Heart and soul Love's symphony. "Wouldst thy soul from love-scenes wander! Shouldst thy soul crave loud acclaim! Martial strains in torrent thunder Shall be thine, thine without number; Echoes of my hero's fame — Echoing far my hero's name. "Turn thine eyes from yonder crescent, Flaunting faithless rays and cold; Turn thine eyes to mine, liquescent With the tears of love, quiescent. Till thou cam'st like Knight of Old: Till thou cam'st my love to hold." "Those rays that on me are beaming Beam on her who far away — Beam on her who now lies dreaming — Her whose heart with love is teeming For a wanderer gone astray; For this lone soul held at bay. [26] Then by that Celestial token Sending hope from yonder sky — By that promise I have spoken Love for her shall keep unbroken! I abjure thee — thee deny! I abhor thee and defy!" [27] THE DECEITFUL DAISY Y heart saith that he loves me; This flower saith not so: Then shall I b'lieve my fancy, Or this white and golden blow ? My spirit is in travail, Like waves on a troubled sea, When I this bloom unravel And it saith he loves not me. But away, deceitful flower! Nor will I trust thee more — For see! towards yonder bower, My Love hastes as of yore. He will clasp me to his bosom, On my lips will print a kiss; Then away, thou falsest blossom! Would'st thou deny me this ? [28] THE SOUTH-WINDS SAY ^HE South-winds say — "Delay! Delay!" The soft winds say — "O stay! O stay! And be thou lulled as we will; Then go not forth to the dreary North, Where the winds and the hearts are chill! "And we will wreathe, as we softly breathe — Yes! we will wreathe and with Poppies sheathe Thy soul in Celestial ease; Then go not forth to the dreary North, By the dark and the storm-swept seas! "'Neath cerulean skies love's emblem lies; To empyreal skies love's spirit flies. To roam in ethereal bliss: Then go not forth to the dreary North, W^hen in South-land love is like this!" "'Neath Northern skies, my Paradise; Towards Northern skies, my spirit flies. To dwell with an Angel bright; In the twilight's falling my Love is calling; And my Love is my soul's pure light. [29] "Then I must av/ay, nor can delay! I must away, nor another day, From the bosom of my Love abide! In the twlHght's falling my Love is calling; And my Love is my Life's sweet bride. "My sweetheart, I come! no more to roam; My darling I come to thy Northern home. Where thy love makes all skies blue; For in the twilight's falling I hear thee calling *0h, come to this heart so true!'" [30] THE LOVERS' MIRAGE lY the shadows of the minaretted-city's marble gate, 'Neath the gently-nodding branches of the pur- ple-fruited date, 'Mid the softly-murm'ring echoes of the foun- tain's silver rill, Where the sweetly-scented lotus-perfumed zephyrs play at will, Sits a maiden watching, waiting, gazing fondly o'er the sands; Sits a maiden patient, praying for her Love from distant lands: "O Allah be good, and Allah be kind. And shield my lord from the scorching wind." When, with face aglow with rapture, the maid with gladsome cry. Where, on the far horizon, blends burning sand and sky, A silhouetted form beholds with eager out- stretched arm: "O Allah be praised! it is my lord, returned safe from harm! [31] Then will I in this paradise his safe return prepare; With sweet acacia blossoms deck my scented, raven hair; Upon my amber-tinted breast shall sleep the lotus bloom; Thus greet my lord with joyousness and sweetest of perfume. "But see! My eye deceiveth me; his step doth not draw nigh; Wait! My lord, on wings of love to thy true side I Ry, With wine of milk from thy good steed and aromatics choice, So shall thy fainting heart and soul with mine, my lord, rejoice." Forgetful of the scorching wind and of the burn- ing waste, Like the swift gazelle she speeds in fear-oblivious haste, One wish alone beats in her heart, one wish gleams in her eye, To greet her lord in sweet embrace or with him go to die. [32] "My lord, O come! My heart grows faint; my lord, O come! I fall; Here by this parched rivulet, 'neath this dis- m.antled wall, Where in those fruitful days agone there purled a stream so rife, I lay me down in weariness; lay down for thee my life." On the desert's flaming bosom like a fieiy expanse, 'Mid the tesseilating sepulchres of fated caravans, In the wake of the sirocco swirling on in demon blast. By the long-forsaken fountain that for aye hath flowed its last, Stands an Arab, looking, longing, gazing fondly towards the East; Stands an Arab panting, pining from his load to be surceast; To Allah he prayed, for Allah is great: "O guard my maid at the marble gate!" When lo! He looks with anxious gaze and sees, with throbbing heart, Away upon the billows red where grove and desert part, [33] A vision fair; a vision bright; w^ith eager out- stretched arm, "O Allah, shield yon faithful maid, else she do suffer harm! "Return to thy abiding-place; return, my own sweet maid. And tarry thou, till I do come, beneath the palm tree's shade; And await thy lord with open arms by the laughing fountain-side. Where of the lotus fruit we'll eat till the Gates of Joy ope' wide!" Vanished is the vision bright, oh, buried is the form Beneath the desert's cerement; the desert's yellow storm. "Be brave, my own sweet maid, be brave, for see, I come! I come! To lay me by thy side to die or safely bear thee home. "Awake! My very soul, awake! Awake, my own dear Heart! For see, on wings of love I've come, from thee no more to part! [34] Awake! Light of my Life, awake! — Allah! I fall — I faint—" And the fiendish winds in ghoulish glee but mocked the sad complaint. In the swiftly falling shadows of the Libyan twilight, Neath the sable-draped mantle of the dusky Queen of Night, In the solemn, silent haven of the desert's fitting tomb. Where lies buried grief and sorrow deep as Earth's maternal womb, Sleeps an Houri; sleeps a Mah'med;in Celestial pose and mould; Sleeps a Maiden and her Lover, clasped in arms of bronze and gold; Nevermore will sit the Maiden gazing fondly o'er the sands, Nevermore will come the Lover, for his own, from distant lands; For Allah was stern, though Allah was nigh, And His heart did turn from the Lovers' cry. [35] TO EUNICE E welcome thee, fair Eunice, The fairest in the land, With hearts that e'er to thee are bound By pure affection's band; We welcome thee in joyousness, And greet with gladsome hand. When they took thee, fairest Eunice, They robbed us of the light That beamed from orbs the truest And turned our day to night; A night bereft of moon and stars — Nor e'en a glimmer bright. But see, our fairest Eunice! In the East the dawn doth break; And the gloomy shadows of the night, Now speedy wings do take. And with songs of joyousness the birds A newborn day awake. Then w^elcome, fairest Eunice, And thrice welcome be our meed; [36] And welcome to these loyal hearts, That never more shall bleed; For thou art with us once again — What more doth true hearts need ? [37 COME IN my breast thou did'st find a fountain As pure as the sparkHng dew, That gladdens the field and the mountain, Wan nature and life to renew. Thou foundest what none e'er discovered, In this heart, in its solitude old; And 'twas thy warm love that uncovered This fount of its frost and its cold. Thou did'st revel in its bounteous flowing. Like the nymphs at sport in the sea. In whose tresses the sunbeams are glowing. And the zephyrs are dancing in glee. Then the boreal winds came blowing, And they chilled the stream of my love; But they could not fetter its flowing At its source in my heart, though they strove. Should'st thou of thy life become weary, Should'st thou for pure love be athirst, Then come! when forsaken and dreary, And drink at this fount as at first. [38] LEA LEA came when midnight's mourning Fringed with gloomy shadows dread, Shrouded every once-adorning Star, that it from Heaven fled; While the chill winds yet were moaning; While my heart in bonds lay groaning; Dirges was my soul intoning For the hopes that there lay dead. Lea, I did name that maiden When she came, long, long; ago. When with tears the skies were laden Till the clouds did overflow. Tender was her gladsome greeting. Whispering, "Sorrows shall be fleeting; Bright days shall be yours through meeting Lea, on your night of woe." Thus the saintly Angels sent her To me on that starless night; Much those luminous Angels lent her Spirit of their love and light, That she came in brightness gleaming; So she came with beauty beaming; Lea came my life redeeming From its Winter's withering blight. [39] Ever at that altar kneeling, Votive incense offering there — Incense sweetly upward stealing Mingled with this lover's prayer: May our love be, ye supernal Fates who rule in realms eternal. Ever fragrant as the vernal Bloom that burthens Carmel's air. [40] THE TOILER'S DREAM I HEAR the great cathedral bells! And from the blessed chime there wells A note of joy and peace. And from their golden-tongued throats, A melody to Heaven floats That tells of pain's surcease. And as the cadences arise, Like sweetest incense, to the skies, My soul in rapture waits; For to the echoes of the chime Come wafted downward notes sublime. From out the Golden Gates. And I hear the angels singing, As my spirit, swiftly winging, Soars to realms above; And I hear a song in Glory, That tells a new, new story — That tells of endless love. And the angels come to meet me, And with smiles the angels greet me, In the New Jerusalem. [41] And the love I there see beaming Is the brightest jewel gleaming In the Savior's diadem. Oh, horror! What this brazen din, That, v?ith the gray dawn creeping in, Fills heart and soul with gloom! It is that hollow, mocking clang That ever down the ages rang, That tolled the slave to doom. Ah me! 'Twas but a vision brief That took me from this world of grief To realms of brightest life. 'Twas ever thus these weary years. That dreamland smiles gave way to tears Of earth's hard toil and strife. Oft through the vigils of the night. My soul would fain have taken flight — Have fled this aching mold. But with the morn, that doleful bell Repeats the mandate I know well, To meet the world so cold. [42] With heart and soul devoid of trust, A sacrifice to mammon-lust, I go with halting feet, And join the listless, weary throng That struggles aimlessly along To toil in yonder street. [43] WHEN ALICE CAME '^\7"OU came to me, Alice, in the budding of 1 springtime; When April's soft tear-drops were dried by May's sunshine; When all nature was throbbing to burst from her prison. And Love from his wintery couch had but risen. 'Your eyeSjO my sweetheart, were springtime's best flowers; Like violets bathing in April's pure showers; Or dewdrops a-gleaming, like stars that were riven To shine here on earth and make this, Love, my heaven. 'Your lips like the coral ? O never! no, never! Like pinkest of rosebuds ? Ah, ever! yes, ever! With warmth overladen and bursting with fragrance, And quivering, trembling, to love's sweetest cadence. [44] LofC. "On my cheek there was wafted — methought it was summer — Warm zephyrs — Pray, April, since when are you warmer Than June, with its roses and sunshine and glory ? Quoth April quite naively, 'It is the old story.'" [45] MY CAPTAIN Y Jack was my good captain, And I my captain's mate; And calmly we were sailing To gain the Westward Gate. No need had we of compass, Nor need of mariner's chart, For the course that we were steering We both knew well by heart. The sky was clear and cloudless — As fair as sky could be — And placid was the bosom Of that, our summer sea. The sun high in the zenith Smiled with the laughing tide; And spangled every ripple. Like the gown of a gypsy bride. No thought had we of danger, Nor feared we aught the storm That ever follows sunshine, As follows night the morn. [46] We sighed but with the breezes That drove our bark along, And softly joined their chorus, Humming through shrouds their son^ When lo! from out the Northward, A mighty storm did blow; And darkness filled the Heavens, And hid the sun's bright glow. Like mountains were the billows; Dark valleys lay between; Our bark, like one sore-wounded. Did stagger and careen. When with a parting fury. The hurricane had passed, And I found myself awaking 'Mid the wreckage of the mast, I saw engulfed my captain. Beneath the foamy track; And the parting winds brought to me This message from my Jack: [47] "Keep true the course you're steering, My own, my faithful mate, And in the night-shades' falling You will make the Westward Gate. "And o'er the waters eleamino; You will see the harbor light; And find your captain waiting, Through every watch of night." O'er many a sea of glory. By many a coral strand, Past happy, lithesome mermen With smile and beckoning hand, By many a sun-kissed island, Through many a perfumed breeze; Yet I heeded not their temptings To rest in flowery ease. With song and jest and laughter. Full many a crew sailed by; Nor cared I for their pleasures, Nor heaved one envious sigh. [48] I kept the course I promised And bravely held the helm, And steered my bark by dangers Which others did o'erwhelm. And now the shadows deepen; The sun to sleep has gone; My heart now truly tells me My voyaging is done. Lo! Now I see a glimmer — The harbor light I see! Holy, Heavenly beacon I long have watched for thee! 1 hear you call, my captain! I see your face full well; I knew that you would greet me, When night-shades round me fell. For, captain, O my captain, I kept the course so true! For, captain, O my captain, I longed to be with you! [49] And now, with you, my captain, Within this Westward Gate, I anchor here forever — Your own, your faithful mate. [50] TO APRIL'S BROOK LIKE a minnesinger's heart-sung lay That is wafted down from a bygone day, Your song shall echo — echo — echo — Until the stars forget to glow. A song of love with trust entwined; A melody of hope combined With faith, and sweetest sympathy For those who weep on bended knee. Then let your music loud resound As down your rocky bed you bound, And tell faint hearts that drooping lie You bring them life — they shall not die. And as o'er lea you wend your way, Sing soft a soothing roundelay; And on your bosom — to the seas Bear thou the tears — bring thou heart's-ease. Then hurry on! Delay no more! By castle gate, past cottage door, Let this then be your one refrain: To aching hearts love comes again. [51] DEC 1 1904i