Page:Lyrics of Life, Coates, 1909.djvu/87

 Rh I am Love,—thyself hast named me;

Yet thou fearest! Lo! I leave thee,

Till as now, thou come to find me."

Once again the man, at sunrise,

Journeyed forth,—his step less buoyant,—

Passing over fields new-wakened,

Where the dew lay on the blossoms

Like to softly gleaming opals.

Once again Earth, fresh from slumber,

In the early light and tender

Wore her green and mystic beauty;

Yet his heart sang not within him

As the birds sang in the branches.

Onward still, without impatience,

Through a world whose charm half pained him,

Journeying,—behold!—the river

And the long-forgotten angel—

Dark-browed, with the look celestial!

As of old, the pilgrim started,

And his pale cheek flushed with anger:

Death, thy pledge! Thou hast betrayed me!

Naught have I and thou in common:

It is Life that I am seeking!"