Page:The roamer and other poems (1920).djvu/98

88 Incarnating the forces of the world

That house in thee a moment, and the house

Grows radiant with the presence of the gods

That shine therefrom," tender and resonant,

The elder voice began, "whence came this mould

To be thy image, and envelop thee,

Imageless beauty, given unto love

Within the heart, and known unto thyself

A shadow in time's stream,—no more?" A smile

Played on the lips of the immortal youth:

"Such came I, body and spirit, from the gods,

The blossom of the will divine, that breaks

To blossom in the heavens and earth and seas,

The glow of life, and mystic hearts of men."

"As comes the rose upon the swaying stalk,

So hast thou budded on life's wind-swayed reed,

Making it fair," the rising voice began

To wing the golden words, "for from the soul

Only flows beauty forth upon the world.

The soul creates its world; and blest art thou

Who thus dost realize thyself in life,

Making thee beautiful." Slow spake the youth:

"Such am I, as when first I looked upon

My image in my heart; and, though I change,

Such shall I be, I know, at the last day."

"Alone and single in thy loveliness