Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/454

426 Are lost.—How dear to him who lieth low

The garment wonderful wild nature throws

About its inner life: green glades withdrawn;

Anger of ocean; radiance of the rose;

The pomp superb of sunset and of dawn.

VI

White, trembling fires of the unknown universe!

Ye speak of some august, inscrutable Power

Creative, from whose hand, to bless or curse,

Ye were sent forth—thrillingly, in an hour

Of force stupendous, swift, immeasurable;

To-night those unconsuming fires tell

Of one who, in the splendor of his passion,

Alas! tho' mortal, could the immortal fashion.

VII

O stars that sing as in creation's prime!

He whom, with love and tears, we celebrate,

He, like the Power that made ye, could create—

Bringing to birth new beauty for all time:

Once, lo! these shapes were not, now do they live,

And shall forever in the hearts of men;

And from their life new life shall spring again,

To souls unborn new light and joy to give.

VIII

Ye stars, all music to the spirit's ear!

Before the imperial music-masters knelt

This master of an art sublime, austere;

The very soul of music in him dwelt,

So in his lines the haunting strains of lyres,

From gracious forms deep tones symphonic spring;

Once more we hear the sound of heavenly wires,

Again the stars of morn together sing.