Page:The roamer and other poems (1920).djvu/148

138 Whose prize is noble death." "Love long I knew,"

The Roamer said—what tears were in his voice!—

"Since first my tender years felt the embrace

Of his enlacing arms, warm round me thrown,

And in his face saw beautiful the soul.

Now my sad thoughts adore him, long unseen,

Who in my heart lodges his deity.

Immortal Love! he taught my joyful youth

The yearning of the spirit infinite

For the long kiss of life, whate'er its pain;

And, gladdening in his face invisible,

I do his will, and on his errands go.

Night comes; and I am fain of voice and hand,

The smile, the word, the look, the sight of him,

My morning star." The darkening shadows fell

About them in the lone and silent hills

By sunset fired. "Love," answered the fair youth,

"The more he lives, the more lays off life's weeds,

And in another world he is divine.

But here he wanders in his childhood fond

A beggar, and he clothes himself with gifts,

The fairest in the world; and flowers, whereof

He brought within his breast the heavenly seed,

Here germinate; and beautiful he shows

In every outward part; but lovelier far

He is, when he puts on his manly age,