Herba Santa

I

After long wars when comes release

Not olive wands proclaiming peace

  Can import dearer share

Than stems of Herba Santa hazed

  In autumn's Indian air.

Of moods they breathe that care disarm,

They pledge us lenitive and calm.

II

Shall code or creed a lure afford

To win all selves to Love's accord?

When Love ordained a supper divine

  For the wide world of man,

What bickerings o'er his gracious wine!

  Then strange new feuds began.

Effectual more in lowlier way,

  Pacific Herb, thy sensuous plea

The bristling clans of Adam sway

  At least to fellowship in thee!

Before thine altar tribal flags are furled,

Fain wouldst thou make one hearthstone of

    the world.

III

To scythe, to sceptre, pen and hod--

  Yea, sodden laborers dumb;

To brains overplied, to feet that plod,

In solace of the _Truce of God_

  The Calumet has come!

IV

Ah for the world ere Raleigh's find

  Never that knew this suasive balm

That helps when Gilead's fails to heal,

  Helps by an interserted charm.

Insinuous thou that through the nerve

  Windest the soul, and so canst win

Some from repinings, some from sin,

  The Church's aim thou dost subserve.

The ruffled fag fordone with care

  And brooding, God would ease this pain:

Him soothest thou and smoothest down

  Till some content return again.

Even ruffians feel thy influence breed

  Saint Martin's summer in the mind,

They feel this last evangel plead,

As did the first, apart from creed,

  Be peaceful, man--be kind!

V

Rejected once on higher plain,

O Love supreme, to come again

  Can this be thine?

Again to come, and win us too

  In likeness of a weed

That as a god didst vainly woo,

  As man more vainly bleed?

VI

Forbear, my soul! and in thine Eastern

    chamber

  Rehearse the dream that brings the long

    release:

Through jasmine sweet and talismanic amber

  Inhaling Herba Santa in the passive Pipe

    of Peace.