Читать книгу Alaska Days with John Muir - Samuel Hall Young - Страница 7

Table of Contents

At eventide, upon a dreary sea,

I watched a mountain rear its hoary head

To look with steady gaze in the near heaven.

The earth was cold and still. No sound was heard

But the dream-voices of the sleeping sea.

The mountain drew its gray cloud-mantle close,

Like Roman senator, erect and old,

Raising aloft an earnest brow and calm,

With upward look intent of steadfast faith.

The sky was dim; no glory-light shone forth

To crown the mountain's faith; which faltered not,

But, ever hopeful, waited patiently.

At morn I looked again. Expectance sat

Of immanent glory on the mountain's brow.

And, in a moment, lo! the glory came! An angel's hand rolled back a crimson cloud. Deep, rose-red light of wondrous tone and power— A crown of matchless splendor—graced its head, Majestic, kingly, pure as Heaven, yet warm With earthward love. A motion, like a heart With rich blood beating, seemed to sway and pulse, With might of ecstasy, the granite peak. A poem grand it was of Love Divine— An anthem, sweet and strong, of praise to God— A victory-peal from barren fields of death. Its gaze was heavenward still, but earthward too— For Love seeks not her own, and joy is full, Only when freest given. The sun shone forth, And now the mountain doffed its ruby crown For one of diamonds. Still the light streamed down; No longer chill and bleak, the morning glowed With warmth and light, and clouds of fiery hue Mantled the crystal glacier's chilly stream, And all the landscape throbbed with sudden joy.