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the bridle…rein。 〃My pretty girl；〃 quoth the fool； 〃take me up； For to ride
with you to the town I am fain。〃
But the maiden struck at his upraised arm And pelted him hotly with
eggs； a score。 The mule； lashed into a fury； ran； The fool went back to
his stone and swore。
Then out of the cloud of settling dust The burly form of an abbot
appeared； Reading his office he rode to the town。 And the fool got up；
for his heart was cheered。
He stood in the midst of the long； white road And swept off his cap
till it touched the ground。 〃Ah； Reverent Sir； well met；〃 said the fool； 〃A
worthier transport never was found。
〃I pray you allow me to mount with you； Your palfrey seems both
sturdy and young。〃 The abbot looked up from the holy book And cried
out in anger； 〃Hold your tongue！
〃How dare you obstruct the King's highroad； You saucy varlet； get
out of my way。〃 Then he gave the fool a cut with his whip And leaving
him smarting； he rode away。
The fool was angry； the fool was sore； And he cursed the folly of
monks and maids。 〃If I could but meet with a man；〃 sighed the fool； 〃For
a woman fears； and a friar upbraids。〃
Then he saw a flashing of distant steel And the clanking of harness
greeted his ears； And up the road journeyed knights…at…arms； With
waving plumes and glittering spears。
The fool took notice and slowly arose； Not quite so sure was his
foolish heart。 If priests and women would none of him Was it likely a
knight would take his part？
They sang as they rode； these lusty boys； When one chanced to turn
toward the highway's side； 〃There's a sorry figure of fun；〃 jested he；
〃Well； Sirrah！ move back； there is scarce room to ride。〃
〃Good Sirs； Kind Sirs；〃 begged the crestfallen fool； 〃I pray of your
courtesy speech with you； I'm for yonder town； and have no horse to ride；
Have you never a charger will carry two？〃
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A Dome of Many…Coloured Glass
Then the company halted and laughed out loud。 〃Was such a request
ever made to a knight？〃 〃And where are your legs；〃 asked one； 〃if you
start； You may be inside the town gates to…night。〃
〃'T is a lazy fellow； let him alone； They've no room in the town for
such idlers as he。〃 But one bent from his saddle and said； 〃My man； Art
thou not ashamed to beg charity！
〃Thou art well set up； and thy legs are strong； But it much misgives
me lest thou'rt a fool； For beggars get only a beggar's crust； Wise men
are reared in a different school。〃
Then they clattered away in the dust and the wind； And the fool
slunk back to his lonely stone； He began to see that the man who asks
Must likewise give and not ask alone。
Purple tree…shadows crept over the road； The level sun flung an
orange light； And the fool laid his head on the hard； gray stone And wept
as he realized advancing night。
A great； round moon rose over a hill And the steady wind blew yet
more cool； And crouched on a stone a wayfarer sobbed； For at last he
knew he was only a fool。
The Green Bowl
This little bowl is like a mossy pool In a Spring wood； where dogtooth
violets grow Nodding in chequered sunshine of the trees； A quiet place；
still； with the sound of birds； Where； though unseen； is heard the endless
song And murmur of the never resting sea。 'T was winter； Roger； when you
made this cup； But coming Spring guided your eager hand And round the
edge you fashioned young green leaves； A proper chalice made to hold the
shy And little flowers of the woods。 And here They will forget their sad
uprooting； lost In pleasure that this circle of bright leaves Should be their
setting； once more they will dream They hear winds wandering through
lofty trees And see the sun smiling between the leaves。
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A Dome of Many…Coloured Glass
Hora Stellatrix
The stars hang thick in the apple tree； The south wind smells of the
pungent sea； Gold tulip cups are heavy with dew。 The night's for you；
Sweetheart； for you！ Starfire rains from the vaulted blue。
Listen！ The dancing of unseen leaves。 A drowsy swallow stirs in the
eaves。 Only a maiden is sorrowing。 'T is night and spring； Sweetheart； and
spring！ Starfire lights your heart's blossoming。
In the intimate dark there's never an ear； Though the tulips stand on
tiptoe to hear； So give； ripe fruit must shrivel or fall。 As you are mine；
Sweetheart； give all！ Starfire sparkles； your coronal。
Fragment
What is poetry？ Is it a mosaic Of coloured stones which curiously
are wrought Into a pattern？ Rather glass that's taught By patient labor
any hue to take And glowing with a sumptuous splendor； make Beauty a
thing of awe； where sunbeams caught； Transmuted fall in sheafs of
rainbows fraught With storied meaning for religion's sake。
Loon Point
Softly the water ripples Against the canoe's curving side； Softly the
birch trees rustle Flinging over us branches wide。
Softly the moon glints and glistens As the water takes and leaves；
Like golden ears of corn Which fall from loose…bound sheaves；
Or like the snow…white petals Which drop from an overblown rose；
When Summer ripens to Autumn And the freighted year must close。
From the shore come the scents of a garden； And between a gap in
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A Dome of Many…Coloured Glass
the trees A proud white statue glimmers In cold； disdainful ease。
The child of a southern people； The thought of an alien race； What
does she in this pale； northern garden； How reconcile it with her grace？
But the moon in her wayward beauty Is ever and always the same；
As lovely as when upon Latmos She watched till Endymion came。
Through the water the moon writes her legends In light； on the
smooth； wet sand； They endure for a moment； and vanish； And no one
may understand。
All round us the secret of Nature Is telling itself to our sight； We may
guess at her meaning but never Can know the full mystery of night。
But her power of enchantment is on us； We bow to the spell which
she weaves； Made up of the murmur of waves And the manifold whisper
of leaves。
Summer
Some men there are who find in nature all Their inspiration； hers the
sympathy Which spurs them on to any great endeavor； To them the fields
and woods are closest friends； And they hold dear communion with the
hills； The voice of waters soothes them with its fall； And the great winds
bring healing in their sound。 To them a city is a prison house Where pent
up human forces labour and strive； Where beauty dwells not； driven forth
by man； But where in winter they must live until Summer gives back the
spaces of the hills。 To me it is not so。 I love the earth And all the gifts of
her so lavish hand： Sunshine and flowers； rivers and rushing winds； Thick
branches swaying in a winter storm； And moonlight playing in a boat's
wide wake； But more than these； and much； ah； how much more； I love the
very human heart of man。 Above me spreads the hot； blue mid…day sky；
Far down the hillside lies the sleeping lake Lazily reflecting back the sun；
And scarcely ruffled by the little breeze Which wanders idly through the
nodding ferns。 The blue crest of the distant mountain； tops The green crest
of the hill on which I sit； And it is summer； glorious； deep…toned summer；
The very crown of nature's changing year When all her surging life is at its