Page:American Poetry 1922.djvu/106



as aged kings, Wearing like them the purple, The mountains ring the mesa Crowned with a dusky light; Many a time I watched That coming-on of darkness Till the stars burned through the heavens Intolerably bright.

It was not long I live there, But I became a woman Under those vehement stars, For it was there I heard For the first time my spirit Forging an iron rule for me, As though with slow cold hammers Beating out word by word;

"Take love when love is given, But never think to find it A sure escape from sorrow Or a complete repose; 92