Once at a simple turning of the way I met God walking; and although the dawn Was large behind Him, and the morning stars Circled and sang about his face as birds About the fieldward morning cottager, My coward heart said faintly, “Let us haste! Day grows and it is far to market-town.” Once where I lay in darkness after fight, Sore smitten, thrilled a little thread of song Searching and searching all my muffled sense Until it shook sweet pangs through all my blood, And I beheld one globed in ghostly fire Singing, star-strong, her golden canticle; And her mouth sang, “The hosts of Hate roll past, A dance of dust-motes in the sliding sun; Love’s battle comes on the wide wings of storm, From east to west one legion! Wilt thou strive?” Then, since the splendor of her sword-bright gaze Was heavy on me with yearning and with scorn, My sick heart muttered, “Yea, the little strife, Yet see, the grievous wounds! I fain would sleep.” O heart, shalt thou not once be strong to go Where all sweet throats are calling, once be brave To slake with deed thy dumbness? Let us go The path her singing face looms low to point, Pendulous, blanched with longing, shedding flames Of silver on the brown grope of the flood; For all my spirit’s soilure is put by And all my body’s soilure, lacking now But the last lustral sacrament of death To make me clean for those near-searching eyes That question yonder whether all be well, And pause a little ere they dare rejoice. Question and be thou answered, passionate face! For I am worthy, worthy now at last After so long unworth; strong now at last To give myself to beauty and be saved. PANDORA’S SONG (From “_The Fire-Bringer_”) I stood within the heart of God; It seemed a place I had known: (I was blood-sister to the clod, Blood-brother to the stone.) I found my love and labor there, My house, my raiment, meat and wine, My ancient rage, my old despair,— Yea, all things that were mine. I saw the spring and summer pass, The trees grow bare, and winter come; All was the same as once it was Upon my hills at home. Then suddenly in my own heart I felt God walk and gaze about; He spoke; his words seemed held apart With gladness and with doubt.