Even like that hollow-bosomed rose, inverse And infinite, the heaven of thy vast verse, Our Master, over all our souls impends, Imminent; we, with heart-enkindled eyes Upwondering, search the music-moulded skies Sphere by sweet sphere, concordant as it blends Light of bright sound, sound of clear light, in one, As all the stars found utterance through the sun. And all that heaven is like a rose in bloom, Flower-coloured, where its own sun's fires illume As from one central and imperious heart The whole sky's every part: But lightening still and darkling downward, lo The light and darkness of it, The leaping of the lamping levin afar Between the full moon and the sunset star, The war-song of the sounding skies aglow, That have the herald thunder for their prophet: From north to south the lyric lights that leap, The tragic sundawns reddening east and west As with bright blood from one Promethean breast, The peace of noon that strikes the sea to sleep, The wail over the world of all that weep, The peace of night when death brings life on rest.
Goddess who gatherest all the herded waves Into thy great sweet pastureless green fold, Even for our love of old, I pray thee by thy power that slays and saves, Take thou my song of this thy flower to keep Who hast my heart in hold; And from thine high place of thy garden-steep, Where one sheer terrace oversees thy deep From the utmost rock-reared height Down even to thy dear depths of night and light, Take my song's salutation; and on me Breathe back the benediction of thy sea.
_Between two seas the sea-bird's wing makes halt, Wind-weary; while with lifting head he waits For breath to reinspire him from the gates That open still toward sunrise on the vault High-domed of morning, and in flight's default With spreading sense of spirit anticipates What new sea now may lure beyond the straits His wings exulting that her winds exalt And fill them full as sails to seaward spread, Fulfilled with fair speed's promise. Pass, my song, Forth to the haven of thy desire and dread, The presence of our lord, long loved and long Far off above beholden, who to thee Was as light kindling all a windy sea._
FOR THE ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF VICTOR HUGO, FEBRUARY 26, 1880