Martha Dickinson Bianchi

The Cathedral and Other Poems Martha Dickinson Bianchi

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ...parched and prairie wide--For love of her! One wore a cross upon his breast And prayerful paced a narrow cell, While erring souls through him were blest--Beneath her spell! And one,--another, made no sign, But worked and sung without demur, Nor spilled his secret cruse of wine--The love of her! Unconscious Mistress! Boon or curse, Her lovers love her, feel her spur--And I--have made this little verse For love of her! A FACE NOT beauty in that wayward guise Compelling praise from youth's swift eyes; But sacred loveliness thou hast, Like ruins of a perfect past! WAITING THE blood but feebly gropes, The breathing slows--The heart still hopes Although the head well knows He will not come! Listen! Now pulsing bold Hope's own false morn Leaps hot,--sinks cold; Must Joy's child be still-born? Down fades the waning light--Despairing grown Each wild sweet fright Leaves one at last alone. At footfall of the rain Hope joins the race With fear again; Echoes the wind's swift pace? Ah no! Among the vines Both wind and rain, As day declines, Mourn Love's long watch in vain. He will not come! WAITING Ah God! He comes, He comes! Darkness is bliss Beyond the sun's For sake of one hot kiss! Go day! He comes! A FALLACY PITY for Omar! Whose pale accents spell That "I myself am heaven or hell"! Who in no dearer self hath e'er discerned A heaven transfigured, or a hell that burned! JOY HAIL! Hail Joy, The wild glad terror of Joy! Shaking the tense under-strings of the heart, Tearing the nimbus of sorrow apart, Spring's torch-winged madrigal boy! Hail Joy! The reveller Joy! Hail! Hail Joy, Thy kisses are stinging and sweet! Herald of hovering sky-dreams above, Drunk of thy height as of wine or of love, Life reels 'neath thy luminous feet! Hail Joy! Delirious...