Poems (Jackson)/Two
For works with similar titles, see Two.
SAVE place—one roof—one name—their daily breadIn daily sacrament they breakTogether, and together takePerpetual counsel, such as use has fedThe habit of, in words which makeNo lie. For courtesy's sweet sakeAnd pity's, one brave heart whose joy is dead,Smiles ever, answering words which wakeBut weariness; hides all its ache,—Its hopeless ache, its longing and its dread;Strong as a martyr at the stakeRenouncing self; striving to slakeThe pangs of thirst on bitter hyssop redWith vinegar! O brave, strong heart!God sets all days, all hours apart,Joy cometh at his hour appointed.
TWO.
I.
APART.
SAVE place—one roof—one name—their daily breadIn daily sacrament they breakTogether, and together takePerpetual counsel, such as use has fedThe habit of, in words which makeNo lie. For courtesy's sweet sakeAnd pity's, one brave heart whose joy is dead,Smiles ever, answering words which wakeBut weariness; hides all its ache,—Its hopeless ache, its longing and its dread;Strong as a martyr at the stakeRenouncing self; striving to slakeThe pangs of thirst on bitter hyssop redWith vinegar! O brave, strong heart!God sets all days, all hours apart,Joy cometh at his hour appointed.II.
TOGETHER.
No touch—no sight—no sound—wide continentsAnd seas clasp hands to separateThem from each other now. Too late!Triumphant Love has leagued the elements To do their will. Hath light a mateFor swiftness? Can it overweightThe air? Or doth the sun know accidents?The light, the air, the sun, inviolateFor them, do constant keep and stateMessage of their ineffable contentsAnd raptures, each in each. So greatTheir bliss of loving, even fateIn parting them, hath found no instrumentsWhose bitter pain insatiateDoth kill it, or their faith abateIn presence of Love's hourly sacraments.