Poems (Dorr)/"By Divers Path"
"BY DIVERS PATHS"
Unknown to me thy name or state, Save that a mantle saintlyOf rare and sweet unworldliness Enfolded thee most quaintly.
We came and went by divers paths; We planned nor time, nor meeting;We spake not, save by nod, or smile, Or glance of casual greeting.
Yet, led by some strange chance or fate To-day by ruined altars,Where, strained through clustering ivy leaves The pitying sunshine falters;
To-morrow where your blue lakes shine, And bloom your English daisies;Or on Helvellyn's lofty crest The sunset splendor blazes;
Or where deep organ-thunders roll Through grand cathedral arches,And stately Durham's triple towers Look toward the Scottish marches;
Thus, here and there, we met, nor knew Each other's name nor mission,The while a subtile kinship grew To silent recognition.
At length where stretched a princely street In long, receding splendor,Down which the golden sunshine threw A radiance warm and tender;
While far above us, frowning, hung A castle old and hoary,Stern on its battlemented heights Renowned in song and story;
And near us, throned in marble state, O'er time and death victorious,He sat, the magic of whose pen Made king and castle glorious—
There, face to face, once more we met, Like leaves in autumn weather,That blown afar by varying winds, Yet drift again together.
A look, a smile, and "Is it thou?" A little low, sweet laughter,Just one close clasp of meeting hands, And then, a moment after,
Between us swept the surging crowd And we were borne asunder.O, friend unknown, in what far land Will we next meet, I wonder?