Orion, and Other Poems

by Charles G.D. Roberts

 

MIRIAM.—I

SAPPHICS

 
MIRIAM, loved one, were thy goings weary?
Journeyed not with thee one to brighten thy way?
Lighted with love-light how could it be dreary?
           Was it not my way?

Why wert thou weary? All the golden glories                                    
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Streaming from love’s lamp thy enraptured sight won;
Sweetly we whispered old self-heroed stories,
           Miriam, bright one!

Crimson lipp’d love-flowers sprang about us going,
Clustering closely, rosy shadows weaving;                                     
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Straight from our footsteps glowing ways were flowing,
           Vistas far-cleaving.

Silvery lute-notes thrilled athrough the noonlight,
Flutings of bird-throats light as flight of swallow;
Scents rose around us thick as in the moonlight                              
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           Leaves fall and follow.

How could I dream that thou wert growing weary?
Never I guessed it till I saw thee fading;
Saw thee slip from me,—and my way fell dreary.
           Cease thine upbraiding!                                                      
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Cease thine upbraiding, ah, my widowed spirit!
Trace on thy path by rays from backward sight won.
More than I gave thee the bliss thou dost inherit,
           Miriam, bright one!