Читать книгу October and Other Poems with Occasional Verses on the War - Bridges Robert - Страница 13

Two demons thrust their arms out over the world,

Hell with a ruddy torch of fire,

And Hate with gasping mouth,

Striving to seize two children fair

Who play’d on the upper curve of the Earth.

Their shapes were vast as the thoughts of man,

But the Earth was small

As the moon’s rim appeareth

Scann’d through an optic glass.

The younger child stood erect on the Earth

As a charioteer in a car

Or a dancer with arm upraised;

Her whole form—barely clad

From feet to golden head—

Leapt brightly against the uttermost azure,

Whereon the stars were splashes of light

Dazed in the gulfing beds of space.

The elder might have been stell’d to show

The lady who led my boyish love;

But her face was graver than e’er to me

When I look’d in her eyes long ago,

And the hair on her shoulders fal’n

Nested its luminous brown

I’ the downy spring of her wings:

Her figure aneath was screen’d by the Earth,

Whereoff—so small that was

No footing for her could be—

She appeared to be sailing free

I’ the glide and poise of her flight.

Then knew I the Angel Faith,

Who was guarding human Love.

Happy were both, of peaceful mien,

Contented as mankind longeth to be,

Not merry as children are;

And show’d no fear of the Fiends’ pursuit,