V

I turned me from that place in humble wise,

And fingers soft were laid upon mine eyes,

And I beheld the fruitful earth, with store

Of odorous treasure, full and golden grain,

Ripe orchard bounty, slender stalks that bore

Their flowered beauty with a meek content,

The prosperous leaves that loved the sun and rain,

Shy creatures unreproved that came and went

In garrulous joy among the fostering green.

And, over all, the changes of the day

And ordered year their mutable glory laid —

Expectant winter soberly arrayed,

The prudent diligent spring whose eyes have seen

The beauty of the roses uncreate,

Imperial June, magnificent, elate

Beholding all the ripening loves that stray

Among her blossoms, and the golden time

Of the full ear and bounty of the boughs,—

And the great hills and solemn chanting seas

And prodigal meadows, answering to the chime

Of God’ s good year, and bearing on their brows

The glory of processional mysteries

From dawn to dawn, the woven leaves and light

Of the high noon, the twilight secrecies,

And the inscrutable wonder of the stars

Flung out along the reaches of the night.

And the ancient might

Of the binding bars

Waned as I woke to a new desire

For the choric song

Of exultant, strong

Earth-passionate men with souls of fire.