Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/373

 1840-50.] ALICE GARY 357 EXTRACTS FROM VARIOUS POEMS. Looks fair as a bride, And pushes, to greet the sun's coming, Her mist sheets aside." "The attempt Is all the wedge that splits its knotty way Betwixt the impossible and possible." "I would scorn The weakness of submission, though to that Life's miserable chance were narrowed up." " 'Tis not the outward garniture of things Wliich, through the senses, makes creation fair. But the out-flow of an indwelling light That gives its lovely aspect to the world."- " Wake, Dillie ! the white vest of morning With crimson is laced ; And why should delights of God's giving Be running to waste?" " The bird may fly in its own atmosphere ; But from the long dead reaches of black space Its free wings fall back baffled. So it is With Gods and rden : each have their at- mosphere Which they are free to move in, and to which From ampler quests they needs must floun- der down." " The sweetest sound would tire to-night — the dew-drops Setting the green ears in the corn and wheat, Would make a discord in the heart at- tuned to The bridegi-oom's coming feet." " Now in the field of sunset, twilight gray, Sad for the dying day, With wisps of shadows binds the sheaves of gold. And Night comes shepherding her starry fold Along the shady bottom of the sky." " For sometimes, keen, and cold, and piti- less truth. In spite of us, will press to open light The naked angularities of things, And from the steep ideal the soul drop In wild and sorrowful beauty, like a star From the blue heights of heaven into the " The old astrologers were wrong : nor star. Nor the vexed ghosts that glide into the light From the unquiet charnels of the bad. Nor wicked sprite of air, nor such as leap Nimbly from wave to wave along the sea, Enchanting with sweet tongues disastrous ships Till the rough crews are half in love with death. Have any spell of evil witchery To keep us back from being what we would. If wisdom temper the true bent of us." " Borders and plaits of red and sapphirine Are pretty in the robe of royalty ; But to the drowning man, who strives against The whelming waves, the gaud were cum- bersome. And straightway shredded oflP, and wet, wild rocks Hugged to his bosom with a closer clasp
 * ' Yon lake, in her valley bed lying,