Page:The complete poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar.pdf/72


 * For aye a pure, high soul shone through

Her every act: this was Ione.

'T was in the radiant summer weather,
 * When God looked, smiling, from the sky;

And we went wand'ring much together
 * By wood and lane, Ione and I,
 * Attracted by the subtle tie

Of common thoughts and common tastes,
 * Of eyes whose vision saw the same,
 * And freely granted beauty's claim

Where others found but worthless wastes.

We paused to hear the far bells ringing
 * Across the distance, sweet and clear.

We listened to the wild bird's singing
 * The song he meant for his mate's ear,
 * And deemed our chance to do so dear.

We loved to watch the warrior Sun,
 * With flaming shield and flaunting crest,
 * Go striding down the gory West,

When Day's long fight was fought and won,

And life became a different story;
 * Where'er I looked, I saw new light.

Earth's self assumed a greater glory,
 * Mine eyes were cleared to fuller sight.
 * Then first I saw the need and might

Of that fair band, the singing throng,
 * Who, gifted with the skill divine,
 * Take up the threads of life, spun fine,

And weave them into soulful song.

They sung for me, whose passion pressing
 * My soul, found vent in song nor line.

They bore the burden of expressing
 * All that I felt, with art's design,
 * And every word of theirs was mine.

I read them to Ione, ofttimes,
 * By hill and shore, beneath fair skies,