FROM the drift of a star to the drift of a soul, The world is all miracle, under control; The butterfly's wing and man's reverent awe Alike wear the chain of inscrutable Law;— A law that allures us, but ever eludes, That baffles our grasping, but never deludes; We never can hold it; it holds us secure, And the wisest in reading shall longest endure; A Faith-bow of promise—a promise replete— Forever fulfilling, but never complete; We chase where it beckons, and gather the gold, And lo, on before us, new treasures unfold! The truth just discovered, the star new-revealed, Are but fore-gleams of mysteries deeper concealed; One Palimpsest deciphered, one Rune rendered clear, And new vistas of shade mock the eye of the seer.
II.
The Rune is a footprint, but whose were the feet That stamped their strong impress and vanished so fleet? And would they rest sweeter if haply they knew That back on our pathway this shadow they threw? And that we, in our groping, between hope and fear, Had learned from the shadow that they were once here? O Skald of the Norsemen, not lightly ye trod! Your song was of Odin, but Odin sang God; And waiving our "plans of salvation," we know That you, in your wildness, were reverent too. Some roll from the drum-beat that marshals the spheres Sent its echo from Nature to ravish your ears; The stars' bright reveille rang down from the blue, In that morn of the earth, an awakening to you; The grey mountains o'er-awed through the on-sweeping air, And the sea's surging rhythm engulfed thee in prayer.
III.
It is thus through all ages man's nature has yearned Toward the Infinite watch-fires that over him burned; Their warmth creeps within him and tells of his night, And a knowledge of darkness makes needful the light; He kindles no torch if he's learned to be wise, Since light meeting light, can but dazzle his eyes; But he gropes in his waiting and aching to know, Till the flicker of shadows leads out to the glow.
