Poems of Sidney Lanier/My Springs
MY SPRINGS.
In the heart of the Hills of Life, I knowTwo springs that with unbroken flowForever pour their lucent streamsInto my soul's far Lake of Dreams.
Not larger than two eyes, they lieBeneath the many-changing skyAnd mirror all of life and time,—Serene and dainty pantomime.
Shot through with lights of stars and dawns,And shadowed sweet by ferns and fawns,—Thus heaven and earth together vieTheir shining depths to sanctify.
Always when the large Form of LoveIs hid by storms that rage above,I gaze in my two springs and seeLove in his very verity.
Always when Faith with stifling stressOf grief hath died in bitterness,I gaze in my two springs and seeA Faith that smiles immortally.
Always when Charity and Hope,In darkness bounden, feebly grope,I gaze in my two springs and seeA Light that sets my captives free.
Always, when Art on perverse wingFlies where I cannot hear him sing,I gaze in my two springs and seeA charm that brings him back to me.
When Labor faints, and Glory fails,And coy Reward in sighs exhales,I gaze in my two springs and seeAttainment full and heavenly.
O Love, O Wife, thine eyes are they,—My springs from out whose shining grayIssue the sweet celestial streamsThat feed my life's bright Lake of Dreams.
Oval and large and passion-pureAnd gray and wise and honor-sure;Soft as a dying violet-breathYet calmly unafraid of death;
Thronged, like two dove-cotes of gray doves,With wife's and mother's and poor-folk's loves,And home-loves and high glory-lovesAnd science-loves and story-loves,
And loves for all that God and manIn art and nature make or plan,And lady-loves for spidery laceAnd broideries and supple grace
And diamonds and the whole sweet roundOf littles that large life compound,And loves for God and God's bare truth,And loves for Magdalen and Ruth,
Dear eyes, dear eyes and rare complete—Being heavenly-sweet and earthly-sweet,—I marvel that God made you mine,For when He frowns, 'tis then ye shine!
Baltimore, 1874.