To Louise Michel I cannot take your road, Louise Michel, blow; Have knelt beside you in the murky cell. You never followed hate (let this atone) own: Wild was the road, but Love has always led, So I am silent where I cannot praise ; And here now at the parting of the ways, I lay a still hand lightly on your head. Shepherd Boy and Nereid Ah, once of old in some forgotten tongue, And flower-soft lyrics by immortals sung air: God looked from Heaven that hour, for you were fair, And I a poet, and the star was young. You'd heard my woodland pipe and left the sea Your hair blown gold and all your body white Had left the ocean-girls to follow me. Shepherd Boy and Nereid We joined the hill-nymphs in their joyous flight, And you laughed lightly to the sea, and sent Quick glances flashing through me went. A Song at the Start Oh, down the quick river our galley is going, With a sound in the cordage, a beam on the sail : The wind of the canyon our loose hair is blowing, And the clouds of the morning are glad of the gale. Around the swift prow little billows are breaking, And flinging their foam in a glory of light; Now the shade of a rock on the river is shaking, And a wave leaps high up growing suddenly white. |