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Nothing can tame me； nothing can bind；
I am a child of the heartless wind
But oh the pines on the mountain's crest
Whispering always； 〃Rest； rest。〃
THE POOR HOUSE
HOPE went by and Peace went by
And would not enter in；
Youth went by and Health went by
And Love that is their kin。
Those within the house shed tears
On their bitter bread；
Some were old and some were mad；
And some were sick a…bed。
Gray Death saw the wretched house
And even he passed by
〃They have never lived；〃 he said；
〃They can wait to die。〃
NEW YEAR'S DAWNBROADWAY
WHEN the horns wear thin
And the noise； like a garment outworn；
Falls from the night；
The tattered and shivering night；
That thinks she is gay；
When the patient silence comes back；
And retires；
And returns；
Rebuffed by a ribald song；
Wounded by vehement cries；
Fleeing again to the stars
Ashamed of her sister the night；
Oh； then they steal home；
The blinded； the pitiful ones
With their gew…gaws still in their hands；
Reeling with odorous breath
And thick； coarse words on their tongues。
They get them to bed； somehow；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
And sleep the forgiving；
Comes thru the scattering tumult
And closes their eyes。
The stars sink down ashamed
And the dawn awakes；
Like a youth who steals from a brothel；
Dizzy and sick。
THE STAR
A WHITE star born in the evening glow
Looked to the round green world below；
And saw a pool in a wooded place
That held like a jewel her mirrored face。
She said to the pool： 〃Oh； wondrous deep；
I love you； I give you my light to keep。
Oh； more profound than the moving sea
That never has shown myself to me！
Oh； fathomless as the sky is far；
Hold forever your tremulous star！〃
But out of the woods as night grew cool
A brown pig came to the little pool；
It grunted and splashed and waded in
And the deepest place but reached its chin。
The water gurgled with tender glee
And the mud churned up in it turbidly。
The star grew pale and hid her face
In a bit of floating cloud like lace。
DOCTORS
EVERY night I lie awake
And every day I lie abed
And hear the doctors； Pain and Death；
Conferring at my head。
They speak in scientific tones；
Professional and low
One argues for a speedy cure；
The other； sure and slow。
To one so humble as myself
It should be matter for some pride
To have such noted fellows here；
Conferring at my side。
。
THE INN OF EARTH
I CAME to the crowded Inn of Earth；
And called for a cup of wine；
But the Host went by with averted eye
From a thirst as keen as mine。
Then I sat down with weariness
And asked a bit of bread；
But the Host went by with averted eye
And never a word he said。
While always from the outer night
The waiting souls came in
With stifled cries of sharp surprise
At all the light and din。
〃Then give me a bed to sleep；〃 I said；
〃For midnight comes apace〃
But the Host went by with averted eye
And I never saw his face。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
〃Since there is neither food nor rest；
I go where I fared before〃
But the Host went by with averted eye
And barred the outer door。
IN THE CARPENTER'S SHOP
MARY sat in the corner dreaming；
Dim was the room and low；
While in the dusk； the saw went screaming
To and fro。
Jesus and Joseph toiled together；
Mary was watching them；
Thinking of kings in the wintry weather
At Bethlehem。
Mary sat in the corner thinking；
Jesus had grown a man；
One by one her hopes were sinking
As the years ran。
Jesus and Joseph toiled together；
Mary's thoughts were far
Angels sang in the wintry weather
Under a star。
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Mary sat in the corner weeping；
Bitter and hot her tears
Little faith were the angels keeping
All the years。
THE CARPENTER'S SON
THE summer dawn came over…soon；
The earth was like hot iron at noon
In Nazareth；
There fell no rain to ease the heat；
And dusk drew on with tired feet
And stifled breath。
The shop was low and hot and square；
And fresh…cut wood made sharp the air；
While all day long
The saw went tearing thru the oak
That moaned as tho' the tree's heart broke
Beneath its wrong。
The narrow street was full of cries；
Of bickering and snarling lies
In many keys
RIVERS TO THE SEA
The tongues of Egypt and of Rome
And lands beyond the shifting foam
Of windy seas。
Sometimes a ruler riding fast
Scattered the dark crowds as he passed；
And drove them close
In doorways； drawing broken breath
Lest they be trampled to their death
Where the dust rose。
There in the gathering night and noise
A group of Galilean boys
Crowding to see
Gray Joseph toiling with his son；
Saw Jesus； when the task was done；
Turn wearily。
He passed them by with hurried tread
Silently； nor raised his head；
He who looked up
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Drinking all beauty from his birth
Out of the heaven and the earth
As from a cup。
And Mary； who was growing old；
Knew that the pottage would be cold
When he returned；
He hungered only for the night；
And westward； bending sharp and bright；
The thin moon burned。
He reached the open western gate
Where whining halt and leper wait；
And came at last
To the blue desert； where the deep
Great seas of twilight lay asleep；
Windless and vast。
With shining eyes the stars awoke；
The dew lay heavy on his cloak；
The world was dim；
RIVERS TO THE SEA
And in the stillness he could hear
His secret thoughts draw very near
And call to him。
Faint voices lifted shrill with pain
And multitudinous as rain；
From all the lands
And all the villages thereof
Men crying for the gift of love
With outstretched hands。
Voices that called with ceaseless crying；
The broken and the blind； the dying；
And those grown dumb
Beneath oppression； and he heard
Upon their lips a single word；
〃Come！〃
Their cries engulfed him like the night；
The moon put out her placid light
And black and low
RIVERS TO THE SEA
Nearer the heavy thunder drew；
Hushing the voices 。 。 。 yet he knew
That he would go。
* * * * * *
A quick…spun thread of lightning burns；
And for a flash the day returns
He only hears
Joseph； an old man bent and white
Toiling alone from morn till night
Thru