YOUTH RIDING ji % ^ MARY CAROLYN DAVIES Class IES.a^iii_ CjQEXright deposit. YOUTH RIDING THE MACMILLAN COMPANY H»W YORK • BOSTON • CHICAGO • DALLAS ATLANTA • SAN FRANCISCO MACMILLAN & CO., Limited LONDON • BOMBAY • CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, Ltd. TORONTO YOUTH RIDING LYRICS BY MARY CAROLYN DAVIES Author of "The Drums in Our Street" THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1919 All rights reserve^ ^0 Copyright, 1919 By the macmillan company Set up and clectrotyped. Published November, 1919* NOV 26 1919 LA535878 i ^ ^ DEDICATED TO EDWARD J. WHEELER, JESSIE B. RITTENHOUSE, AND THE OTHER OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE POETRY SOCIETY OF AMERICA Thanks are due to the following maga- zines for permission to republish many of these poems: Atlantic Monthly, Century, Poetry, Poetry Journal, Contemporary Verse, Dial, Smart Set, Judy, Youth's Companion, Touchstone, Pictorial Review, Reedy' s Mirror, Smith's, Liberator, A ins lee's. Others, and others. PART I YOUTH RIDING YOUTH RIDING I will not bow my head To listen to the dead. I am alive and I am young, There is gladness on my tongue, And my lips are red. There is red within my blood, There is red beneath my cheek, There is a flood Of red that makes me sing and speak And shout with youth — I shall never bow my head And sit and listen to the dead. I am young, I am young 1 I am fleet ! [3] Youth Riding I am fresh and living and sweet. They reach out hands for the joy I hold, They who are old, they who are old ! Old in heart, and old in years. Old by right of shrinkings and fears. I give them joy with my two hands thrust Out to their hands, for they are dust, They are dust and they are mold, They who are old. They are dust falling under my feet. And what I have I will not withhold. They take what I give, and greedily Pluck at my gown for the youth they see — At my throat, on my hands — I loose each gem. And give to them — But well I know To give is to keep, they can not hold The youth I stretch to them. They are old. [4] Youth Riding I have the step of a god, the swift Sweep of a deer, and a swallow's lift. I can go where the tree winds go ; I can run where the quick winds run. I walk safe with the talisman That you may snatch from Spring if you can ! My mouth shall be red and my cheek be red, My hair shall be gold upon my head, My laugh shall be new as the first laugh heard, My heart shall be clear as a pool unstirred, I shall never grow old and change ! I shall be all that is wild and strange. All that sets the thought aglow To have, to snatch, to glimpse, to go, To hear, to snare, to make, to know I I shall be what is beyond the white Horizon's line, and what the night [5] Youth Riding Holds in Its lips for the tired to hear. I who am youth shall be always dear I Those alone are slaves who choose. — We who wish, may have life to use ! Others Change may traffic among, Others Change may choose and buy, Not I, not I ! I bear a sword, I bear a shield, I have a spear to wield. I shall go over the world and kill, Tread and tramp and blot and still All that is wrong, though set on high, I who am youth, and cannot die ! All who arc old have need to fear ! They shall not cumber And keep the earth for a place to slumber. [6] Youth Riding — I am youth and I come alone ! I will pull you from your throne, I will pull you from your place, You who are staid and calm of face ! I look within you and I see Well you have need to shrink from me ! I am a rebel and I ride Wherever there are things to hide, I pull them into the light; and slay All that is old and mean and gray. I shall snatch, I shall seek, I shall find, too, and destroy 1 I am youth, I am youth, I am joy! Ruthless to myself and the weak. Tireless to rear and build, and seek, I shall not shrink from a lonely land Or grope with my hand for another hand Or a staff to hold [7] Youth Riding Like those who cower And like those who are old. Only my own heart I hear. Only my own strength I heed. I have no lack ! I have no fear ! I have no need ! I shall yet kill evil, I Who am youth, and cannot die ! [8] THE DAY BEFORE APRIL The day before April Alone, alone, I walked in the woods And I sat on a stone. I sat on a broad stone And sang to the birds. The tune was God's making But I made the words. [9] BORROWER I sing of sorrow. I sing of weeping. I have no sorrow. I only borrow From some to-morrow Where it lies sleeping, Enough of sorrow To sing of weeping. [10] MARRIAGE Back from the dusty church, The words all said And the strange kiss given, We walked down the long lane of Fourteenth Street, (Our shoulders touching home-bound clerks. And shoppers, straggly shawls about their heads). To the Hungarian restaurant where for weeks You had courted me between the soup and steak. To-night The mirrors all about the walls seemed only To show your face to me, and mine to you ; Wherever I might look, I found your eyes. Youth Riding You mine, and as we gazed We quite forgot that earth held other things; Until our friendly waiter, twinkling-eyed. Came bustling back, a link from heaven to earth. Three blocks of windy street, Three flights of stairs. And then we stood Before your studio door. You turned the key And groping in the dark, you found a candle And pouring tallow in a little pool Upon the mantelpiece, you stood it there In its tall whiteness. There was rain outside; The skylight hummed and rattled with its coming. A few faint sounds blew up from the loud distance ; [12] Youth Riding The grunt of a Salvation Army's drum Blent with the noise Of women's voices roughened by the night Singing from hearts the night has roughened too — And softened. The street flung up its sounds against our window, But could not force the fortress of our thoughts, Your thoughts of me, and mine of you, old, new, And riotous — And frightened — We, who had always been such open com- rades, Now were half afraid To touch each other's hands, [13] Youth Riding To see each other's faces in the dim And holy dusk. We thought of God. I prayed to Him, As I had prayed when first you said, '' I love you," The same quick, breathless, little broken prayer, " God, oh, don't let us hurt each other, ever." The portraits you had painted were about us, A ghostly company of friends. Life seemed all ends; Ends of things finished, ends of things begun. Ends, ends — No safe and placid middles. Because the silence choked from utterance All other words, we talked of daily things, [14] Youth Riding Your order for a cartoon, and the story Long overdue, that I must mail to-morrow — And then the silence Laid its hands even on these commonplaces. We looked at one another gravely, Shy children that our mothers. Youth and Life, Had brought to see each other, and to play Together. Two startled children Permitted by the gold ring on my hand To stay and talk there in the dusk alone And for the first time not to think of clocks But if we liked, watch night's dark bud bloom dawn. The silence grew and filled the room's dim corners. [IS] Youth Riding The candle on the mantel burned its life out And its flame died, and all the room was dark ; And on the skylight fell the black loud rain ; And in the world there \yas no other sound But your breathing And the beating of my heart. Then in the dark You stumbled to me And caught me by the shoulders And laid your mouth on mine. And all the hunger of our lives for life, And all my hunger for you, yours for me, Surged up in us, love caught us as a storm A helpless ship, and beat upon us; joy Rose like a tossing sea, and swallowed us. [i6] SONG We cannot die, for loveliness Is an eternal thing. If God, his dim old ej^es to bless, Brings back the Spring, Shall he not bring again your grace, Your laughter, your warm hair ? And how can he destroy my face Your kiss made fair ? [17] TO L. E. D. You are alive, and I ; And that is why We reached out over the cluttered dead And touched hands and were comforted. Over the dead who live in rows, (Like houses all alike to the eye Except for a number to tell them by) . Who live in rows, and think in rows. Who feel in rows, and, still in rows. Will sometime even more surely die, And in a well-kept graveyard lie In acquiescent measured rows. But your thoughts were like undipped hedges ; Your thoughts like leaves grew past the edges [i8] Youth Riding Of all the boundaries men could make. Beauty was in you like a thirst That naught in life would ever slake. I saw within your searching eyes The sleepless nights that had made you wise ; I saw within your face the same Questioning that from the first Has lived in me, too, and has given Me all the goals for which Fve striven. I saw your unrest like a flame Burning little things away That might have grown within you . . . They, The dead, who in the room discussed Trivial things, as people must, Though shrewd their eyes, could never see The hidden thing in you and me, The little spark of life that drew You close to me and me to you. [19] SNOW Your kiss is on my face Like the first snow Upon a summer place. Bewildered by that wonder The grasses tremble under The thing they do not know. I tremble even so. [20] A GRACE Bread Is your hand upon my head; Wine Is your warm mouth pressed to mine. Let us thank the gods who give Bread and wine that we may live. [21] MY MOTHER SAID — " Love will be a sword to you," My mother said — " Not a pillow Behind your head, Not a staff Below your hand, Not a stream In a brown land; Love will never Be a breast Where you, sore beset, May rest. '' What you have felt You will forget. To old-time joy, [22] Youth Riding To old-time fret Eyes you will shut, Ears you will seal. You will bow, And you will kneel. Grass beneath. Sky overhead — What you possessed You will count as dead. '* You will give all to love as his due: And for that will love be a sword to you — " My mother said. [23] ARTIST DEATH It IS Death that makes the sun so red, The moon so round : It is Death that makes the blue and yellow Spring from the ground, To catch our senses and confound. It IS Death's hand that stirs the water And lays the white. Young moon there quivering with pain For our delight, As we walk out at night. It is Death that makes the wind so fair That turns a tree. It is Death that makes your eyes so sweet, Your step so free ; And makes you fond of me. [ 24 ] THE DOOR The littlest door, the inner door, I swing it wide. Now in my heart there is no more To hide. The farthest door — the latch at last Is lifted; see. I kept the little fortress fast. — Be good to me. [25] A WOMAN^S SONG I can love you without caring What is the end of my love's faring; I can love you without asking, Without seeking, without tasking; I can love you giving all That I hold to you in thrall ; I can love you without being Wise, or careful, or far-seeing: I can love without comparing Yours and my love. Joyous — daring - Would you have me love you so? It is the only way I know. [ 26 ] COMMUNION Your lips upon my white Arm in the slow moonlight Are like a spoken prayer. My loosened hair Is over all your cheek. If you or I should speak Our eyes' words would be stilled. A breath is in the room As though a rose found bloom ; A sound is on our ears As though a wild bird trilled Far off, in gardens dim With dusk of fading years* If God should stand before Our miracle-flung door, There would be no surprise In our calm welcoming eyes. [27] SWORD Hold no words back, Love, from me. Fearing one A sword may be. Need for choosing Words would fall On my heart Worst sword of all. [28] FREE Over and over I tell the sky : I am free — I ! Over and over I tell the sea: — I am free ! Over and over I tell my lover I am free, free ! Over and over. But when the night comes black and cold, I who am young, with fear grow old ; And I know, when the world is clear of sound, I am bound — bound — [29] SEA GULLS *' I am the white gull overhead! " To my love I said; And stretched my arms and cried To the gull's cry. And I shall have no freedom till I die. I shall know never lift of sky Or sweep of sea. I am chained cruelly by his love of me. [30] FIRE OF THE SUN Passionate children of the sun — You are one and I am one. A piece of his fire burns still in you; And in me, too. Lower your lids and veil your eyes. Let us pretend that we are wise ; That we are very wise, and that you Can smother that fire, and that I can, too. Let us forget that we are young, And have wanting in us. Let us go Walking cautiously and slow All these folk among. (Fire of the sun, smother, smolder!) Let us pretend that we are older [31] Youth Riding And that we are calm, and do not know. (Fire of the sun, burn low!) Let us laugh, and let us sing. That will be. a pleasant thing. Let us look at life, and weigh. And scrutinize it well, and say, *' We think we will not buy to-day." [32] TRAPS A trap's a very useful thing: Nature in our path sets Spring. It is a trap to catch us two, It is planned for me and you. Do not think my cheeks are warm, Do not wonder if my arm Would make a pillow sweet for rest. Not to speak or glance is best — To smother the thing that calls so clear Deep in our thoughts at the spring of the year. If we stop, if we look, if we speak, if we care,. Spring will catch us unaware. Will put us in a house with four Chairs, a table, and a door [33] Youth Riding To enslave us evermore. She means to tie you firm and tight To a desk from dawn till night, To make you strain and make you sweat Till you forget, till you forget All that is good and fine and high. She will give you fear to keep till you die. She means to tear my flesh to make A child to steal my hours awake, To break my hours asleep, to be Slayer of the youth in me. Slayer of the youth in you. Slayer of that which makes us sing. — Let us never look at Spring; It is a trap to catch us two. [34] THE APPLE TREE SAID: My apples are heavy upon me. It was the Spring; And proud was I of my petals, Nor dreamed this thing: That joy could grow to a burden, Or beauty could be Changed from snow-light to heavy To humble me. [35] TOYS We were happy. Now I weep; Pain is an easy Toy to keep. Fragile joy Breaks in a day; Pain will last Till I tire of play. [36] VINTAGE Heartbreaks that are too new Can not be used to make Beauty that will startle. That takes an old heartbreak. Old heartbreaks are old wine. Too new to pour is mine. [37] LINKS Nature threw a mist around, and trapped us two: Made me seem a fair and lovely thing to you; Made you seem a tall man desirable to own. — She has taken Spring away and left us two alone. There is never mist now — that is Nature's way. Where the love words all are said, what is left to say? While we two were touching Spring, tasting it and smelling. Nature trapped us neatly — and whcrc's the use rebelling? [38] GHOUL Love IS dead. But I look back from where I stand (From fear I fled.) But I steal back and snatch the pain To make one little song again; I cut his finger from his hand That I may have the heavy ring — I seize a memory from the dead, That I may sing. [39] RUST Iron left in the rain And fog and dew With rust is covered. — Pain Rusts into beauty, too. I know full well that this is so : — I had a heartbreak long ago. [40] THIS IS THE BITTEREST THING TO KNOW You are dead; dead, and there is laughter still. You are dead; dead, and on the floor below Those lovers kiss and cuff ; and lovers will Play through their crazy game we used to know. Play through their silly game ; and youth will be In all the men whom I shall pass and see. In all the young girls chatting — and in me. I, too, will laugh again and lift my head, Forgetting you, to hear some stranger's call. This is the bitterest thing to know of all : /, too, will laugh, though you, my love, are dead. [41] PART II A DAY I SUN PRAYER Sun, Lay your hand upon my head. I shall be kind to-day. Sun, make me kind! And lovely too — My eyes, And cheeks. And make me wise. I bow my head Low, low — Lay your hand upon it, so. [45] Youth Riding II SHADOWS Lean lower, Tree ! Give your beauty all to me. Have two arms to reach the sky. Eyes I have And hands to press Lazy buds apart, and feet To touch the stream with, Mouth to sing And ears to hear the gray brook's tone. These I have, these only. Tree, Give your shadows all to me ! I have no shadows of my own. [46] Youth Riding III WIND PRAYER Tree-wind Sea-wind Wind that whirls the sand, Loud wind Cloud wind Wind of swaying water, Let me hold your hand, Let me be your daughter ! Give me what I need. Wind of leaf and seed — Say your magic wisdom Over, slow, to me. Wind that rules the seal Wind that rules the grasses I — The wind passes — [47] Youth Riding IV RAIN Rain falls on the grass And on my feet. The drops are cool and round. The clover, oh How sharp it greets me ! And the trees bend low Beneath the raindrops. Faster Louder Rounder Colder The mad drops strike. If we were older We should be wise and shrink from rain. But because we are young, the grass and I Hold out our arms for its pain. [48] Youth Riding V THE GRAPES The grapes are round and dark Like eyes that mark Each thing I do. The sun has made them sweet and round; The wind will pull them to the ground. — I shall die, too. VI DUSK Dusk, Wrap your mantle About us both. I am tired too. And cold, and full of sleep. And keep [49] Youth Riding Your arm around me. Day Is far away And night has not yet called us. Let us pull The mantle closer, Dusk, O beautiful! [50] FOREST DANCE I shall dance in the forest, And all my dancing shall be for you — • For you, who are very far away. The wind shall make A tune for my feet. It must be low ; It must be sweet — For it is for you. Sweeter, lower; A little slower — Now I raise my foot and knee ; And spurn the ground; and leap; and see The sky like a scarf to strain to, touch, [51] Youth Riding Feel, and be part of, and claim, and clutch, And wave in my dance ! It is a fine Silken scarf, and it is mine ! It is made for my dance ! Wind ! Louder ! Faster ! Be confusion ! Be disaster ! Now I crouch, and now I run. And dance, and dance, and catch the sun In one outstretched arm, and fling it high Back, against the wall of the air ! Now it is caught in the scarf I wear ! Now it is caught in my scarf, the sky. Like a jewelled pin, like a yellow stone I It, too, is my own ! Now I shall trail my scarf, and tread A stately march, and droop my head, Mimicking flowers, and they will all Tremble with anger. I shall let fall My scarf, and now I shall dance the word [52] Youth Riding That is in my heart when I think of you. (It is a burning word, and holy. It is like a wakened bird.) Wild, and mad is my dance ! I turn Swaying, trembling, like a tree, Like a tree that starts to burn In a forest, that feels the fire creep slowly Up its branches, into its bark. And sees its own smoke, like a dark Cloud that shuts it out from the known Trees with whom it has leaved and grown. Caught in flames, it shivers to see Itself a flame, that was a tree ! So I dance ! Wind, sing, sing ! Louder, wilder, faster fling Down your music I I drop the sky Beneath my feet, and I tread it under. I hold my cupped hands, full of wonder, High, high — [53] Youth Riding I dance in the forest, And all my dancing is for you, Who are far away, and will never know. [54] DANCE God's in me when I dance God, making Spring Out of his thoughts And building worlds By wishing. God Laughing at his own Queer fancies, Standing awed, And sobbing; Musing, Dreaming, Throbbing; Commanding; Creating — God's in me When I dance. [55] Spring day I close my eyes. The whole world dies. I open them and I create A tree, a falling fence, a gate, A pine cone fallen from the tree — And me. Against the tree I lean my cheek And as I stand and do not speak I think the heart that throbs in me Is underneath the bark, its beat Fills my cold face with sudden heat; The sap that comes from rain and sun To fill the tree and make it live Is in my veins, I feel it run [56] Youth Riding Through hands and temples radiantly; And like the tree I lean upon I too am a tree ! I raise my head and see The world, and it is sweet, And sunny to my feet And green, and rustling. High I lift my arms ! The sky Is just beyond my reach ! I understand the speech Of squirrel and weed and stone. When I am grown A little taller still I shall see past the hill To where the great world ends. The keen winds are my friends. And God, too, and the grass. Above, there pass White shapes that change and flow And blend and break and go [57] Youth Riding Beyond my eyes. Below The grasses dream and sway. And I am even as they. And then I draw apart and gaze Upon the hard hill's mystic haze. I am a girl again; the tree Is long world distant now. I see No homely thing that I have knov/n. The earth has vanished, tree and stone. I am alone, I am alone ! All space and all eternity Has held, and holds, but God and me. I am afraid of what I see. And then I close my eyes, and then When I open them again Out of nothing I create A tree, a falling fence, a gate — [58] A GIRL'S SONGS I I have three rings on my hand: One is set in blue And one has chrysoprase And one I wear for you. They are friends to me, They keep me company All the white night through. And when I think of death And how without a breath The house is, and the night, My three rings clinging tight, Are warm upon my hand — My three round rings, [59] Youth Riding They are living things; And they understand. ** Don't be afraid," they say, and I Pretend I would not fear to die. II My watch beneath my pillow white Whispers to me all the night. My heart beats and my watch ticks And the fear of dying pricks Like a pin God holds, and he Stabs my brain with it gleefully. My watch ticks and my heart beats And cool and smooth are the linen sheets And I am alone, and the house is still. And there are stars past the windowsill. Ill I should like to be a nun I think sometimes — [ 60 ] Youth Riding A nun, to fast, hear chimes. And wear black gowns with folds; and keys ; And know the words of rosaries, To have no long hair : and to give Obedience while I live To other women, and to walk As though I were older, and to light Candles at saints' feet, and talk About himself to God at night. Sometimes I think Fd rather be Sitting like this, and daintily Eating wafers with my tea. [6r] MOMENTS I LOITERER Wait for me, Life : Don't go so fast : There is so much I want to see : Look, Life, we passed Another little child like me. Why must we always hurry so ? I want to stop and say '' Hello." II KIN I am kin to things that fly; I am kin to things that run; To things that blot and dark the sky; [62] Youth Riding To things that play and touch the sun; And to things that leap and cry. No kin to other folk am I — III THE BLURRED TWIG Spring has come into the park, and into me. I look as high as the roofs reach, and I see That the branches are blurred, they are not sharp-cut and clear; As they were a day ago. I am sorry it is here, Spring, for it means I have lived another year. And so must die a whole year sooner. You Will have to die a whole year sooner, too. [^2^ Youth Riding IV THE DANCING DRESS My little dancing dress is sad, It is so long since we have been Very close of kin. Together once we used to bow; We are only strangers now. In very lonesome folds it lies : I look at it with casual eyes. Once at my slightest touch it stirred; It quivered at my body's word: And it and I were only one. We were a shadow and its sun; We were a nest and its westless bird ; We were wine in its glass; [64] Youth Riding We were wind and grass; I was a bud and it the bough. — These things are all over now. It is long since we have been Very close of kin — OUR STREET The moon was falling into our street Out of a tree, And we walked slow, and the night was sweet, And there were three Stars huddled together in the space That is the sky, and in your face Was a little laughing, a little pain And the fear that there could not be again A night so dear as this night had been. And we said Good-by, and I went in. Youth Riding And you walked away; and the church clock spoke. And the moon fell into our street and broke. VI THE FRAME I am a picture in a frame, The frame is made of thoughts in you; It is black like fear, and red like flame. I can not burst it and come through Its narrow edges, and walk free. — I am here in a frame for all to see ■ — VII REBEL I do not want to be a leaf When I am dead; Or a red rose. I must, though, I suppose ! [66] THE DROWNED MEN I heard the dead men talking Beneath the sea. On the gray sand My lover spoke to me : " Your face is dearer than the world," he said. He said, '^ If I were dead And you came by, I still would stir and wake For my love's sake. Give me your heart," he said. I sat unheed- ing. And laughed, and did not listen to his plead- ing. And woven through his speech I heard The drowned men's secrets, every word. [67] Youth Riding One Tangled his hands in sea-weed, And said, " So was her hair." One held a buried jewel to his eyes. And said, " She was more fair." A third Whose voice was young, Said, '' In the sweet sea-sounds It seemed just then That I her laughter caught." One stretched his hand to close upon A trembling, tiny fish That darted through it. And vanished, and he sighed, " So was her thought." [68] Youth Riding I heard the drowned men talking Where ruined ships, And sea-things keep them grisly company. And through their words my lover's wove. ** Give me your lips," He said again to me. " I will be constant evermore," he said. He said, '* If I were dead I still would think of you The ages through. And speak your name And wait until you came." And then, because I knew As he did not, that what he said was true, I lifted up my lips and kissed him too. [69] PART III IN MY ROOM I READ AND WRITE In my room I read and write. Somewhere men cry out and fight, Struggling for the thing they need. Somewhere women reach and take What time withholds, and wrench and make Days into something odd and new. They say words which are wild and true. They bend life like a rod of glass That they have heated in the flame Of their wills. They would know shame If they did not bring to pass Mighty things for beauty's sake And truth's. And they will never sheathe The sword they fight with, while they breathe. Shelter, clothing, food and ease [73] Youth Riding May not beat them to their knees ; Need of touch, and word, and rest Will not hpld them from the quest. All, in good time, after stress, As they know well, they shall possess. Somewhere men and women take What time withholds, and wrench and make Life into something odd and new. Women seek for what is true. Under wrong men turn and fight. — In my room I read and write. [74] YOUTH^S A CLEAN SWORD Youth's a clean sword; 'Twin hew at wrong; Youth's a keen sword, And strong. Youth's in my hand; And I will thrust And thrust, before It turns to rust. [75] VASSAL My soul a king is; His vassal I. I fight here shrilling His battle cry. His wars I wage him, My booty bring. ■ — Forth, Death, defend you I The King! The King! [76] BEGGAR Three coins of grief! Life, passerby! Stop ! Hear my cry ! A beggar I ! Three coins of grief! That I may buy, Toothsome and sweet, Wisdom to eat! [77] THE DEAD MAKE RULES The dead make rules, and I obey. I, too, shall be dead some day. Youth and maid, who, past my death. Have, within your nostrils, breath, I pray you, for my own pain's sake. Break the rules that I shall make I [78] THE SHOVELS OF THE DEAD My mother's made in the old mold, and does not understand. She never was an exile out of any land. She never was a rebel that railed against a king. My mother never felt or dreamed or con- quered anything. She kept the pathways made her, by shovels of the dead. She never tramped the white snow nor won- dered where it led. She never wished a new thing, she thinks it sad and wild That there should be such strange thoughts in the white mind of her child. She has a gown of gold cloth and maids to come and go, [79] Youth Riding She rides abroad in carriages, and docs not care or know That down the lane a woman keeps house with wifely care For seven squalid children and a memory and despair. She wishes me to dance and let the young men call And speak to me of opera and nothing else at all; And if a dirty artist or a shabby bard came in And talked of heights and beauty, and life, she'd think that sin. There are eager girls who sweep the world without our door. There are men who dream and toil and sing and serve the poor ; [80] Youth Riding Who serve the rich and poor with dreams and soup and bread. — I sit here with my mother and chat at tea, instead. I will leave my mother's house, I will take the road; I will carry nothing but a heavy load. No loads that are easy, as the load my mother bears; But something that will make my back bend like theirs. But my mother has no life at all except in me. How can I she bore in pain still bring her agony ? Bow her head and dim her eyes to weeping night and day? I am all her future, and I love her and will stay. [8i] THE DREAM-BEARER Where weary folk toil, black with smoke, And hear but whistles scream, I went, all fresh from dawn and dew, To carry them a dream. I went to bitter lanes and dark, Who once had known the sky, To carry them a dream — and found They had more dreams than I. [82] AN APOLOGY FOR POETS The bird is sad And so it cries. Men are silent Who are wise; They hide the griefs That at them pulL But they make Nothing beautiful. [83] PART IV TO OTHER MARYS Christ said, " Mary," as he walked within the garden The morning that he rose from death, calm and free of pain; The wounds in his hands and his side no longer burned him. He that once had been a man was a God again. Christ said, '' Mary " as he walked within the garden. All in his triumphing, back from the dead. With the wind upon his cheek, while the world was new to him, '' Mary " was the first name he ever said. The first Mary God chose, he looked about the world for her [87] Youth Riding And saw her walking with the maids of Galilee ; — She stood beside a clumsy-nailed cross above a hillside, And saw the babe on it she had held at her knee. — Christ praised another Mary whom the saints rebuked for wastefulness; For he understood them well, all Marys of his day. Yes, and of to-day, too, Mary staid and caring, Marys wild and home-loving — it was his way. Martha and Lazarus talked with Christ at supper-time, Martha and Lazarus, of crops and folk and wars ; [88] Youth Riding But while the food was cleared away, low by the doorstep It was Mary spoke to him, when there were stars. Not of crops and gossip, not of work and neighbors — Christ and Mary talked about the wishing to be good And the easy falling, and the new beginnings. And the way the moon looked, low above the wood. Christ said, ** Mary," as he walked within the garden; Startled, Mary Magdalene raised her tear- stained face. That was very long ago, in a far-off country, In a far-off country, and a foreign place. [89] Youth Riding Still each year at Easter-time do we think again of her, And the other Marys who are dead in the earth, Who are dead long ago, but who loved and tended him. When our Lord was a man, and felt of tears and mirth. All the Marys of the world, let us pray to- gether now, Mary Schwartz, and Mary Brown, and Mary Rosenstein, Little Mary Donnelly, Mary Holt and Mary Hull, Mary Olsen, Mary Morse, all in a line. Since it is the Easter-time, and little bells are ringing. Let us walk in still pride, with lifting of the head, [90] Youth Riding For when he had risen from the grave, as all the world knows, " Mary " was the first name that God ever said. [91] A BALLAD OF MARY Joseph's words were kindly words, Joseph's hands were kind, And the thoughts were kindly thoughts Went across his mind. Was no shining round his head; Wore no raiment white ; And his words no music had, And his face no light. Joseph smoothed her pillow down, Held a cup of mead. Joseph's ways were thoughtful ways For a woman's need. As upon her stable-bed Yellow-sweet with hay; [92] Youth Riding With deep eyes that none could read Stilly Mary lay. Slow she smiled and grateful-wise, Let no half-look tell Joseph seemed a sober man After Gabriel. [93] AFTER EASTER ^^ It was here he used to sit, And here he slept; And when he heard my brother'd died I mind how he wept. # *' Here was his low bench, And here his bed," To the neighbor women Martha said. " He liked the talking. And he liked more To sit silently Looking at the floor." [94] Youth Riding Martha spoke the neighbors With pride in her tone! But Mary in the garden Was crying alone. [95] CLOISTERED To-night the little girl-nun died. Her hands were laid Across her breast; the last sun tried To kiss her quiet braid; And where the little river cried, Her grave was made. The little girl-nun's soul, in awe. Went silently To where her brother Christ she saw, Under the Living Tree ; He sighed, and his face seemed to draw Her tears, to see. He laid his hands on her hands mild. And gravely blessed; [96] Youth Riding *' Blind, they that kept you so," He smiled, With tears unguessed. '* Saw they not Mary held a child Upon her breast? " [97] REMINISCENCES The other side of Death, one night, Walked out a youth and maid ; And they reviewed (as children might A game that they had played) The battle they had died to fight. The cost they both had paid. ** I heard — or seemed to hear," she said, '* Far voices, seemed to see St. Michael point me to a sword To set my country free ; With men, a man I fought," her head Dropped forward wearily. The boy assented with a nod, ** Like me," he said, " beguiled. [98] Youth Riding A dove — a voice from heaven — odd My fancies were, and wild ! I thought I was the son of God," He said, and, rueful, smiled. [99] IN THE PARK I had forgotten children felt so sweet. One sees them on the street, And passes by with only a faint start Of pleasure in their being. For they start Through our gray lives like sea-gulls in gray skies, And we, like fisher people, watch with eyes Made by long years indifferent. But to-day It was Spring everywhere, even in the park. I sat upon the ground, and a book lay Before me. Aitid I read; then watched the dark And light run through the grass. There were children calling. And hiding, romping, falling. At length a little group came playing near me; [ 100 ] Youth Riding I thought that they might fear me, And so I kept my eyes down. Suddenly Forgetting them. I raised my head — to see The close face of a child; I smiled, And she smiled back, and came A little nearer me, and asked my name. '^Mary," I said, ^^ what's yours?" ''It's Geraldine, Named for my aunt. But she has never seen A single one of all us children yet. And," quickly pointing, '' her name's Mar- garet, And that's my brother Jimmie, Margaret's two ; She'll be three though, next April. What are you Reading?" ''A story." ''May we sit here?" "Do!" [lOl] Youth Riding '' Or Will we be a bother? Mother tells Us not to bother strangers. The grass smells Good, don't it? Will you play Blind man with us?'' ''Perhaps, some other day." Then they ran shouting, dancing, where the men Were gravely making a flower bed, And then The gardener, scowling, walked to me and said, '' Lady, don't let your children go Over there where the men are digging." I Stared at him, saying nothing in reply. I know That it is very wrong to act a lie. But still I looked at him, and made no sign. I wanted him to think that they were mine ! [ 102] Youth Riding The children straggled back, and played; then heard The stories that I knew, and scarcely stirred. I caught up Margaret in a little ball And kissed her face — child faces are so small I The rounded mouths! The little curious shape Of the soft ears, and the curls in the nape Of the proud baby necks ! Their arms are white . . . And Jimmie put his curls upon my knee And Geraldine came closer bashfully And pressed against me. Jimmie hurt my feet By leaning on them. Margaret snuggled tight. — I had forgotten children felt so sweet — [ 103 ] AN OLD TALE The princess sleeps And her hair grows long. And her birds sleep Each with a song Stuck In his throat; And over her bower Hour after hour The buds sleep too. The old cook sleeps. And the quiet braids Of the serving maids Are gold in the sun. And in the yard The knights that guard Sleep, every one; And, near the throne [104] Youth Riding The captains tall Are sleeping all As though out in stone ; Each cardinal Sleeps ; and the king And the queen, with a ring Of pages round. And the world spins round And the princess sleeps. Thrust after thrust A prince hews strong — At the hedge, and his hair, And his face are fair. (He is not the man Who will waken the princess, His eyes will be gone And his bones will lie [105] Youth Riding And catch the light When the prince rides by Whose kiss will stir The world and her. He is only one Of the hundred men Who will dream of the princess, Die, and then Be a pathway white For the last brave knight To lead him straight Where her lips await.) And he sings. And he feels the stings Of the thorns. And he cries. To his page, *^ Courage, lad I Hew on and thrust. [io6] Youth Riding If God is just We shall wake her And take her Home to our kingdom. You will be squire to her, Walk at her bridle — She will be smiling And speaking out shyly All that her heart holds, And singing a little For gladness of waking. And I shall make Life Bow on its knees to her; I shall make Life Bow on its knees to her — Hew on and thrust ! If God is just. We shall find her And wake her And take her home." [ 107] Youth Riding In its iron hands For miles around A silence keeps The forest deeps. And the world spins round. — And the princess sleeps. [ 108 ] PART V TWO DREAMS DWELL IN HER EYES Two dreams dwell in her eyes, I cannot see them there, But bow, in humble wise, My head in prayer. Two songs sing in her eyes, I cannot hear them sing. But, ah, I hold my breath With listening. [Ill] CHOSEN Girlish wise, she and I Walked together. Death came by. Death has passed and chosen her; And she does not speak or stir; She who loved to call and run Shall not bare her head to sun, Shall not hear the triumphing Of the birds another Spring. She must sleep beneath the ground. — In my heart unworthily I pray thanks that it was she That his groping fingers found — [112] THE RIDERS Life is on a swift horse, and Youth is on a fleet, Beauty rides with spur and whip, and noth- ing stays. Snatch my hand, and pull me close, and make them beat, Your heart and my heart, a few small days ! Let the quarrels go now, the explaining word; Let the treasured griefs drop down like sand. What are our best toys, when Their hoofs are heard? Put the words behind us, and touch my hand. [113] Youth Riding Mighty are the steeds and swift, wild the steeds that bear The Three on the highroad where the small stones fly. If your face hide at my neck, my eyes hide in your hair. We shall never know, then. Who has rid- den by ! [IH] PASSERBY From youth's high casement to the street Look down, my sweet, With pitying eyes at Time and Death, Two bent old men who soon must die ; While you and I Draw lusty breath — [115] PART VI SONGS OF A GIRL I The buds Coming to color Make me weep. For my own brown cloak Has never been broken. Spring, rend me I II The hummings of the street, Their whisperings, And the moon White above me — These, and the beating of my heart Make me glad — [119] Youth Riding III The moon Strikes my hand Across my face as I lie. And the pain of it Keeps me from sleeping. IV Rainsound, sunset, and night, Clear skies, and the falling of water — Who would seek love ? What is love ? Love is when you touch me, Love is the noise of stars singing as they march, [120] Youth Riding Love is a voice of worlds glad to be together. What is love ? VI There is a strong wall about me to protect me, It is built of the words you have said to me. They are swords about me to keep me safe, They are the kisses of your lips. Before me goes a shield to guard me from harm, It is the shadow of your arms between me and danger. VII We walked alone through the long corridors of living. Our footfalls echoing; And then we came [121] Youth Riding By opposite doors To the great hall Of each other's presence. VIII For long Locked shields within me Withstood the onslaught of your words. Then came your kiss Like an arrow shot cunningly upward — IX See, I lead you to my heart. It is a winding way, the way to my heart, It is thorn beset and very long. It is walled and sentineled. And none could ever find the way alone. So take my hand, and I will lead you to my heart. [122] Youth Riding Touch me, and I am yours. I do not know why — XI Your kiss Is on my face Like the first snow On bewildered grass — XII Your hand and mine Hold converse together. We do not know what they are saying. Although we listen, Eager eavesdroppers, We cannot understand What they are saying — [ 123] Youth Riding XIII I feel your heart beating in your hands as they touch me ; I feel your breath Sobbing against my hair. Oh, put your mouth on mine and leave it so — XIV That leaning tree was once a girl, and heard A man's heart next her own. Remembering She holds her arms across the moon for us — XV Our hearts lie so close That when your heart trembles Mine will be afraid. Our hearts beat so near That when your heart stirs Mine will hear it. [ 124] Youth Riding Our hearts speak so loud That all the world must know ■ XVI Of sticks and leaves We made an image of love In play. And then the image came to life And seized us — xvu We two — we are young I We have lips to sing, To sing and kiss. We two, we are glad ! We have hearts that beat, That beat — and break. XVIII Take this kiss and wear it, [125] Youth Riding A shield that will ward off My words that might hurt you — XIX Within the little house Of my great love for you, This safe and happy house, I sit and sing, while all the world goes by. Within the house that is my love for you No harm can come, nor any thought of fear; There is no danger that can cross the threshold. You did not build this house Nor I; But God the Carpenter — XX Your eyes are two miracles, [126] Youth Riding And I who have seen them, Believe. XXI Perhaps God, planting Eden, Dropped a seed Within Time's neighbor plot That grew to be This hour? XXII Like an artist Who had finished a masterpiece And is almost afraid, You passed your finger Tremblingly- Over my lips Outlining their curves In the darkness. [ 127] Youth Riding And when you felt them smile You kissed the smile out And forced hunger upon them — XXIII The moments Of our being tired of one another Are the whetstone Against which Life holds The knife of our loving. XXIV Your arms can speak More readily than your voice. Your shoulder touching mine tells breathless news. XXVI Birds, And leaves falling in Autumn, [128] Youth Riding Have tried to teach me sadness, But they have only taught me joy. Perhaps it is you, Come to bring joy to me. Who shall show me sadness at the last? XXVI I hear our hearts together Like one clock Ticking our lives away. Could not some other Have reminded us of death? Why must it be Our own hearts In the first hour That they have beat together? XXVII Life is a dagger With no hilt. [ 129] Youth Riding As you tighten your arms about me You only drive the two ends deeper Into your heart And mine. XXVIII I bend and touch the torches in your eyes; Their flame lights all the little room called life. XXIX The wonder of your arm about me, Of your face close enough to touch, Of your soft breathing — What can God show me When I am dead That can make me marvel? [ 130] THE PROPOSAL The carved chair is angry with me. See how straight and stiff It is; It disapproves Because I have on my green slippers And because I have danced a hole in my stocking, And perhaps, too, because I am happy. The mirror loves me ; And so I bend to kiss It Where my own lips show leaning to meet me. The mirror understands Because it has seen Into the hearts of many women. And I shall be a woman soon. [131] Youth Riding Swaying curtains, you are not more beautiful Than I, You are not more graceful Nor does the wind curl its fingers about you more readily. You sway and dream. Even so do I sway in the wind of life, and dream — Fire on the hearth. That do you know? I am very young, And you have lived through the ages. Tell me. — But perhaps I would not believe, after all — Great carved lions Over my mantel You have guarded me well. [132] Youth Riding Portrait of a kissed lady, Portrait of a man who is growing old, Portrait of a child who would rather be playing — Portraits of dead people. Do you live again when you see me ? Do you remember, too? Square ceiling. You have kept the sky from me for a long time. But now I have found the sky. Walls, your arms have held me close, But soon other arms shall hold me. Shadows playing in the room. Leaping, clutching at one another, You are too young to understand. [ 133] Youth Riding Romp, shadows! When the fire goes, You shall not play any more — [134] COURTING This Sunday evening In small town parlors, and in country lanes, Upon porch steps, or in some soft apartment. How many pulses almost break the wrist They beat in with their outcry ! How many patient clocks in quiet rooms This hour Guard while the world is made anew By two hands touching — How many shy and slender words Are broken by the brute strength of a kiss! What seekers are finding God In some man's eyes, some woman's finger- tips, [135] Youth Riding Hearing His will in broken, whispered words, Their own words and another's — In all the world What throngs of men and women On this His holy day- Are doing God's work — ■ — As you and I are — [136] WIFE You are a rope That binds me to a desk, That ties me by the wrist To its chair. They two, The desk and chair Alone of all the world Hear my ideals And my beliefs And my thoughts about things. In the window. There is a sky With roofs denting it. Under the roofs are the people Who ought to hear [ 137] Youth Riding What the two The desk and chair Greedily lap up. — I do not love the desk and chair It is the rope that makes me talk to them. [138] PART VII RESTAURANT TABLES The little tables in restaurants That are made for lovers to talk across, The eager little tables Would have much to tell each other If they could meet. Some have seen a kiss Given in a glance. Others have seen moments made Which will last forever. A red, mother-of-pearl, table in San Francisco On which rest two cups without handles. And on which tea is spilt, Could tell of young lovers quarrelling, [141] Youth Riding And with rude, quick, hands breaking all their sweetest memories So that the bitterness inside oozes forth. A table in an uptown hotel Stiff with crystal and cut flowers, Prim with an array of forks and glasses Seeming placed in their spheres by the music that is near. Could tell of words like budding seeds Breaking through the hard, frozen, ground of youth And springing to sudden sunlight. — And the little rough wooden table In George's on Sixth Avenue Knows what you said to me Last evening. [ 142] NEW YORK THE SUBWAY New York Is a mother Goading Prodding Spurring Her children on to achievement. Only here does she show them any tenderness, Here, where she folds them in her arms. And lets them rest against her breast An instant, Before she flings them out into the battle again. FIFTH AVENUE BUS Let us get on the back of this green beetle And see the world On our way to the office. [143] Youth Riding The beetle sways As if it were trying to brush us off. It blunders along the streets Like a blind thing Finding its way By some miracle. It stops And starts again. It creeps on down the street Thinking its own thought While we sit on its back And see the world. We can look down at the faces on the side- walk And at the black shiny tops of hansoms; We can see into second stories Of all the buildings. We know their secrets. The white faces turn unsecingly up to us ; [ 144] Youth Riding The roofs look indifferently down; And the green beetle Like a beast in a fairy tale, Bears us on its back That we may see the world. LOWER BROADWAY The great buildings Stand patiently And stretch high their arms, Holding up the sky Lest it sag And let all heaven down upon our heads. TELEPHONING Past all the tangled noises of the streets, Past the long blocks of hate and trade and greed, Into this sweating, swearing office comes Your voice ; It is as low and cool and sweet [145] Youth Riding As though you stood beside me In some garden And as you talked, touched roses, And looked down To where vine tendrils swayed against your dress. It seems That If I turn my head — so — I would see You standing here and smiling, That if I stretched my arm out I could lay My fingers on your throat And feel you say My name — A NEW YORK GRAVEYARD Rows of men and women Resting, Democratically crowded together, As if this were some subway [ 146 ] Youth Riding Where they relax for a moment And close their eyes, wearily, (Listening always for the name of their station) Where they rest, shoulder to unknown shoulder, Before pushing out into the light and air again To buy and sell — [147] THREE POEMS Dedicated to : Diaghileff's Ballet Russe. WASLAV NIJINSKY You have run Into the market place of our thoughts And with a ribbon Overturned the vendors' stands. You have scattered The loaves of bread Which were heaped in the wire basket. You have entered Slowly In your brown monkish garments And then pranced impishly. You have come laden with scrolls And you have thrown the scrolls upon the ground. You have cast off the scholar's garb Youth Riding And danced whitely In the moonlight. Alone in the square After the affrighted ones have fled You dance forever, Like a green moonbeam, Like a mad one. Like laying hold upon Spring. The country youths and the maidens That are in us Watch you ; Then fling themselves Into the pool of your abandon. There are no others in the market place, These have covered up their eyes Behind the windows; V^hile you dance With the youths and maidens [152] Youth Riding Upon the mauve paving stones. Then come, Like a clock striking, The ones of doom. Between their black rows you stand Alone, Their eyes of death upon you. You gaze afraid. Then you fling a gay mocking dance in their faces. And the lifted hand Gives your sentence They slay you. These thoughts that you mocked. The market place fills slowly With sobbing. [153] Youth Riding The peasants gaze Upon your dead body. Then, breaking the dark, You run, a spirit. Among them. And your laughter and theirs Is like colored lights Flung into the sky. In the market place of our hearts You will be slain Many times And always Again You will run Into the quietness Tossing colored balls into the sky [154] ENTR'ACTE SYMPHONIQUE The music Is telling the crowd What that girl wishes She is crying It is cruel The music is telling aloud What that old woman has hoarded And kept hidden For sixty years Could it not let her die in peace With no one suspecting? It is showing The yearnings Of the people in that box — Will it not cease — And saying what this child would like to be [155] Youth Riding That old man can never hold his head up again Now that his secret is discovered The barriers we have taken years to erect Are useless now We can not meet each other's eyes We who sit in this theater There is no peace Because of the music knowing We have no sanctuary The music is slipping its sly fingers in among us And pulling out From secret places what is there. What we have searched for and could not discover Within our hearts, it flaunts before us now. [156] Youth Riding I turn my face away I close my eyes That it may not see me. I feel the uneasiness in your shoulder As it barely touches mine That tells me you are shrinking from it also. What if it should find That we love one another ? [157] PRINCE IGOR (Adolf Bohm) She was a Back Bay school-teacher She sat in the front row of one of the boxes; And wore rimmed glasses ; And she was watching With an expression of distaste upon her fea- tures. It was Boston looking at Russia. The music clamored And howled And tore And made the dancers mad. The men with their bows and arrows Ran and panted. They stood in a circle [158] Youth Riding And beat their bows upon the ground. One of the dancers With the slant eyes of the Slav With the cat grace of the Mongolian Glided through the lines of bowmen Swayed from side to side And sank inarticulate Upon the ground. She leaned forward, her chin in her palms. In her face Was rage at her own dumbness All the rushing torrents within her Dammed, looked out from her eyes. The dancers ran in circles They threw their bows into the air and caught them. There was ugly ecstasy in her face. They stamped upon the ground. Her teeth were set together Like a dog's snarling. [159] Youth Riding The dancers whirled and spun. Her eyes were savage, thwarted, Filled with a lust to kill, to make. The dancers sprang and leaped. The music taunted and beat and stung. The dancers shook their bodies from side to side. Her eyes were like the yell of a savage; In her face were tribal dances, Tribal v/ooings. The music rose to larger joy It pulled the dancers up with it Into frenzy. Their twisted bodies Their writhing features Cried out louder than the music. The strongest dancer ran Down through the lines of bowmen And, kneeling in agony, Shook his head from side to side ,[j6o] Youth Riding Then, raising his bow Drew the arrow to the head And shot it into the sky Her teeth were bared Her eyes half closed The curtain fell And she went home To teach arithmetic. [i6i] THE DANCER I watch the dancer, Bending, Lithely stooping. Leaping, rippling. Her motions changing As though she were a song of many notes; Her white robes swaying, Her scarves like water under wind; Her face held up to joy As a leaf to sunlight; Her arms yearning and crying out for beauty, Reaching up And pulling down beauty upon her head, Then flinging it from her, to our outstretched hands. But it is you Calm, restrained, motionless, [162] Youth Riding Sitting beside me in your orchestra seat, watching her also, Is it you whom I see dancing with such ecstasy, Tortured with music Mad with motion Giving yourself to your joy; It is your throat, upon whose whiteness the light falls, Your transfigured face I see Held up to gladness As a leaf to sunlight, And your lifted arms Asking, and holding beauty. You Seeing my tranced eyes fixed upon her Are a little jealous. — You need not be. Beloved — [163] PART VIII PORTRAIT You laugh And ride life as if it were a broncho. As it rears and tries to kill you You only cling tighter And laugh. Other men life may have thrown and trampled But you will break it to your will And make it carry you wherever you wish to go. [167] A MARRIAGE Walking along a mountain trail at night with you, Never knowing when a rock will turn be- neath our feet Or the loose earth slip And plunge us into the half-seen precipice below — Our life is like that. We cling to each other's hands tightly; We walk cautiously ; And are too frightened To be unkind. [i68] SWORD FERNS I He upon the deep moss, My cheek making a rounded hole. The sword ferns about me are so thick That I can not see the earth; They are bending and tossing Like green scimitars In a wild battle ; Crowding something to death. It is my other self that they are stabbing. What was I is dead; They have killed it. This thing that lies in the moss Making soft depressions with its rounded body [169] Youth Riding Is a wood nymph Born of the moss and the earth and the leaves; Kin to the trees and the peaks and the quick streams, Lover of the wind — [ 170] HOUSES Dogwood tree, Hemlock tree, Sword fern, Thimbleberry bush — Are you glad that you are not walls? White sky With nine blue clouds. Are you proud not to be a ceiling? Round gray rocks At the edge of the broken mountain stream. Are you breathless with relief That you are not chairs ? Ah, stream, if you were a carpet! Laugh, be triumphant! Wind, wind, you and I [171] ' Youth Riding Who live in this green mountain, And shout, and are silent, Let us purse our lips and blow Until all the houses in the world Topple over and flee Like dried leaves Tumbling in new grotesque terror. [172] PROSPECTORS It's not the gold. Why, any one might know If he would only stop to think of It, It's not the gold. — We take the trail, each one Beside cold, thirst, and fear and solitude — We think it's for the gold. — We say it is. Sometimes we die, too, when a tunnel goes, (They're rotten timbered, half of these black holes). Or when the cold has got us and we're glad. — We go out, thinking still it was the gold. It isn't, though; I think it's only that We've got to prove what's in us; to ourselves Or God, perhaps, or may be to the mountains They stand and leer at us through all our struggle. [ 173] Youth Riding WeVe got to prove it to them. So we take Our packs, and keep on stumbling in the hills In places where there never was a trail And never will be, maybe, till weVe been Part of the trees and bushes for a while. The mountains try to break us, and we put Our strength to theirs . . . The mountains always win. [174] A MINING TOWN When I am bravest, Not in dreams, but glimpsed through my work, I see you again, town of my childhood; — Eager, flaming town. Confident, alert. Knowing that to-morrow will bring you gold — Town of the mountainside With glaciers above you, and snow peaks ; With the dark, still lake at your feet, And pines at your door — Down your streets the miners go laughing; And the old prospectors gather To talk each one about a claim in the hills [ 175 ] Youth Riding That will make him rich Some day. Death is quick and sudden in the mining town And therefore life is joyous. Here is a man who limps He was caught in a snowslide ; But chiefly the hills do their work swift and clean; That gap in the circle? — a bear on the trail, and the men at the mine found his body and brought it home. That silence where a laugh should be? A cave-in, in the tunnel — and, pinned under rocks, he watched Death crawl in to him — and we who knew him, know that he laughed as he watched. The other vacant keg? The fuse was too short, the explosion came too soon, by a second. [176] Youth Riding That is why they laugh so loud, these miners. Life is a game of chance, You can lose only once ! So laugh and treat while you're winning! The gaunt old peaks stand looking down. Waiting, They seem to reach the shadows, their arms, closer for their prey. The lake looks hungrily up, It shows its white teeth, laughing, and calls out. Slapping words at the shore ; about the men it holds In Its dark arms, and kisses endlessly with its wet mouth Down in the shadows. Men lie there that came through a hundred dangers. To find this blue death. [ 177 ] Youth Riding Was ever child of yours afraid, little Town? They all have the eyes of you, eyes that see far, And therefore smile. I am your child. I too have your hands of daring And your heart of reckless joy. I shut my eyes and see you. I seem to stand Again upon your hillside. Breathing in the biting cold And the danger, I stand glad, uplifted. Like a boy shouting because it is Spring; I see again your lake below me And your peaks above, I touch a tamarack with my hands And hear speech of the great woods around me; [178] Youth Riding I am one with the north, one with the hills, one with danger, As I laugh, and climb. I shall remember you, Eager town, Strong, alert, flaming with joy and snatch- ing the adventure, I, who am your child, will remember ! And I shall never be afraid Even of life ; And who that does not x^ar Life can fear Death Which is so much a lesser thing? THE END [ 179] PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 111 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township. PA 16066 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS