Words for the Hour/The Two Stars
THE TWO STARS.
I, the Mistress of the Valley,In the twilight soft and dim,Hold the headway of my fancies'Gainst the evening shadows grim.
In the distance strives the streamletWith the neighbor's rustic flute,In the boughs the breeze doth nestle,And all other things are mute.
In the little, silent cottageWhere, as to the palace door,Comes the sunshine, every morning,To be slowly darkened o'er;
Gathered lie the pretty babies,In the silken snood of sleep,While the angels keep above them,Folded wing and noiseless sweep.
Straight before me rise twin hillocksLike to brothers, matched in size,Shutting out the distant landscape,And the flush of evening skies.
While the doubtful face of heavenLooks beyond me and above,As with one red eye of justice,And one lenient eye of love.
Far to Sight though near to Reason,The new risen moon appears,Like a martyr-scar of gloryShining through eternal years.
So! be merciful, thou Heaven!Do not crush me as I standIn the dark and narrow defile,With the hills on either hand.
Where the shadows grew perplexing,And no outlet was to see,Bear this witness to my weakness,That my striving was to thee.
Smile upon my latest struggle,Tenderly my fault reprove,With thy fiery eye of justice,And thy lenient eye of love.