Poems (Craik)/Life Returning

by Dinah Maria Craik

LIFE RETURNING.

After War-time.

LIFE, dear life, with sunbeam finger touching
 This poor damp brow, or flying freshly by
 On wings of mountain wind, or tenderly
In links of visionary embraces clutching
 Me from the yawning grave—
Can I believe thou yet hast power to save?

I see thee, O my life, like phantom giant
 Stand on the hill-top, large against the dawn,
 Upon the night-black clouds a picture drawn
Of aspect wonderful, with hope defiant,
 And so majestic grown
I scarce discern the image as my own.

Those mists furl off, and through the vale resplendent
 I see the pathway of my years prolong:
 Not without labor, yet for labor strong:
Not without pain, but pain whose touch transcendent
 By love's divinest laws
Heart unto heart, and all hearts upwards, draws.

O life, O love, your diverse tones bewildering
 Make silence, like two meeting waves of sound;
I dream of wifely white arms, lisp of children—
 Never of ended wars,
Save kisses sealing honorable scars.

No more of battles! save the combat glorious
 To which all earth and heaven may witness stand;
 The sword of the Spirit taking in my hand
I shall go forth, since in new fields victorious
 The King yet grants that I
His servant live, or His good soldier die.