HOME FOR LOVE

Because the earth is vast and dark

And wet and cold;

Because man's heart wants warmth and light

Lest it grow old;

Therefore the house was built — wall, roof

And brick and beam,

By a lost hand following the lost

Delight of a dream,

And room and stair show how that hand

Groped in eager doubt,

With needless weight of teasing timber

Matching his thought —

Such fond superfluousness of strength

In wall and wood

As his half-wise, half-fearful eye

Deemed only good.

His brain he built into the house,

Laboured his bones;

He burnt his heart into the brick

And red hearth-stones.

It is his blood that makes the house

Still warm, safe, bright,

Honest as aim and eye and hand,

As clean, as light.

Because the earth is vast and dark

The house was built —

Now with another heart and fire

To be fulfilled.