Lake Lyrics and Other Poems

by William Wilfred Campbell

 

A LYRIC OF WEARINESS

 
    Sweeter to listen thy singing
Than wearisome babble of men;
    To hearken down closer to thy singing,
    Thy bells so tumultuous, ringing,
On marshlands and wind-tangled fen.
5
    Full-wearied, to drink in and listen
    The ripple of waters that glisten,
    Forgetting the babble of men.

    Forgetting the gibe and the sneering;
The pettiness, rancor and fray
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    Of a world whose birth and appearing,
    Whose jealousies, struggles, and jeering,
And curses are but for a day.
    Close-brother to bud and to blossom
    Low-cradled in summer’s warm bosom,
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    I drink the sweet peace of the day.

    The mad world may buckle its armor,
May gird itself strong to the strife;
    It may heat its weird furnaces warmer,
    Yea seven times seven still warmer,
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Till the white flame slays like a knife:
    But dead to its curse and ambition,
    I listen the waves’ soft petition,
    And rest me apart from the strife.

    O brothers, what matter, what reason,
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To struggle a few weary hours?
    Better be one of the bees in
    The blossoms one sweet little season,
To gather the honey of flowers.
    To gather the sunshine and sweetness,
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    And round out life’s little completeness,
    Passing away with the hours.