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Voice on the Wind, and Other Poems

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<h2>THE LAND OF HEARTS MADE WHOLE</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Do you know the way that goes Over fields of rue and rose,— Warm of scent and hot of hue, Roofed with heaven's bluest blue,— To the Vale of Dreams Come True? </div> <div class="stanza"> Do you know the path that twines, Banked with elder-bosks and vines, Under boughs that shade a stream, Hurrying, crystal as a gleam, To the Hills of Love a-Dream? </div> <div class="stanza"> Tell me, tell me, have you gone Through the fields and woods of dawn, Meadowlands and trees that roll, Great of grass and huge of bole, To the Land of Hearts Made Whole? </div> <div class="stanza"> On the way, among the fields, Poppies lift vermilion shields, In whose hearts the golden Noon, Murmuring her drowsy tune, Rocks the sleepy bees that croon. [Pg 4]</div> <div class="stanza"> On the way, amid the woods, Mandrakes muster multitudes, 'Mid whose blossoms, white as tusk, Glides the glimmering Forest-Dusk, With her fluttering moths of musk. </div> <div class="stanza"> Here you hear the stealthy stir Of shy lives of hoof and fur; Harmless things that hide and peer, Hearts that sucked the milk of fear— Fox and rabbit, squirrel and deer. </div> <div class="stanza"> Here you see the mossy flight Of faint forms that love the night— Whippoorwill- and owlet-things, Whose far call before you brings Wonder-worlds of happenings. </div> <div class="stanza"> Now in sunlight, now in shade, Water, like a brandished blade, Foaming forward, wild of flight, Startles then arrests the sight, Whirling steely loops of light. </div> <div class="stanza"> Thro' the tree-tops, down the vale, Breezes pass and leave a trail Of cool music that the birds, Following in happy herds, Gather up in twittering words. [Pg 5]</div> <div class="stanza"> Blossoms, frail and manifold, Strew the way with pearl and gold; Blurs, that seem the darling print Of the Springtime's feet, or glint Of her twinkling gown's torn tint. </div> <div class="stanza"> There the myths of old endure: Dreams that are the world-soul's cure; Things that have no place or play In the facts of Everyday 'Round your presence smile and sway. </div> <div class="stanza"> Suddenly your eyes may see, Stepping softly from her tree, Slim of form and wet with dew, The brown dryad; lips the hue Of a berry bit into. </div> <div class="stanza"> You may mark the naiad rise From her pool's reflected skies; In her gaze the heaven that dreams, Starred, in twilight-haunted streams, Mixed with water's grayer gleams. </div> <div class="stanza"> You may see the laurel's girth, Big of bloom, give fragrant birth To the oread whose hair, Musk and darkness, light and air, Fills the hush with wonder there. [Pg 6]</div> <div class="stanza"> You may mark the rocks divide, And the faun before you glide, Piping on a magic reed, Sowing many a music seed, From which bloom and mushroom bead. </div> <div class="stanza"> Of the rain and sunlight born, Young of beard and young of horn, You may see the satyr lie, With a very knowing eye, Teaching youngling birds to fly. </div> <div class="stanza"> These shall cheer and follow you Through the Vale of Dreams Come True; Wind-like voices, leaf-like feet; Forms of mist and hazy heat, In whose pulses sunbeams beat. </div> <div class="stanza"> Lo! you tread enchanted ground! From the hollows all around Elf and spirit, gnome and fay, Guide your feet along the way Till the dewy close of day. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then beside you, jet on jet, Emerald-hued or violet, Flickering swings a firefly light, Aye to guide your steps a-right From the valley to the height. [Pg 7]</div> <div class="stanza"> Steep the way is; when at last Vale and wood and stream are passed, From the heights you shall behold Panther heavens of spotted gold Tiger-tawny deeps unfold. </div> <div class="stanza"> You shall see on stocks and stones Sunset's bell-deep color tones Fallen; and the valleys filled With dusk's purple music, spilled On the silence rapture-thrilled. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then, as answering bell greets bell, Night ring in her miracle Of the doméd dark, o'er-rolled, Note on note, with starlight cold, 'Twixt the moon's broad peal of gold. </div> <div class="stanza"> On the hill-top Love-a-Dream Shows you then her window-gleam; Brings you home and folds your soul In the peace of vale and knoll, In the Land of Hearts Made Whole. </div> </div> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> [Pg 8] <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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