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DREAMS & DUST
DREAMS & DUST
POEMS BY DON MARQUIS
TO MY MOTHER VIRGINIA WHITMORE MARQUIS
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DREAMS & DUST
PROEM
〃SO LET THEM PASS； THESE SONGS OF
MINE〃
So let them pass； these songs of mine； Into oblivion； nor repine；
Abandoned ruins of large schemes； Dimmed lights adrift from nobler
dreams；
Weak wings I sped on quests divine； So let them pass； these songs of
mine。 They soar； or sink ephemeral I care not greatly which befall！
For if no song I e'er had wrought； Still have I loved and laughed and
fought； So let them pass； these songs of mine； I sting too hot with life to
whine！
Still shall I struggle； fail； aspire； Lose God； and find Gods in the mire；
And drink dream…deep life's heady wine So let them pass； these songs of
mine。
DAYLIGHT HUMORS
THIS IS ANOTHER DAY
I AM mine own priest； and I shrive myself Of all my wasted
yesterdays。 Though sin And sloth and foolishness； and all ill weeds Of
error； evil； and neglect grow rank And ugly there； I dare forgive myself
That error； sin； and sloth and foolishness。 God knows that yesterday I
played the fool； God knows that yesterday I played the knave； But shall I
therefore cloud this new dawn o'er With fog of futile sighs and vain
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DREAMS & DUST
regrets？
This is another day！ And flushed Hope walks Adown the sunward
slopes with golden shoon。 This is another day； and its young strength Is
laid upon the quivering hills until； Like Egypt's Memnon； they grow quick
with song。 This is another day； and the bold world Leaps up and grasps its
light； and laughs； as leapt Prometheus up and wrenched the fire from Zeus。
This is another dayare its eyes blurred With maudlin grief for any
wasted past？ A thousand thousand failures shall not daunt！ Let dust clasp
dust； death； deathI am alive！ And out of all the dust and death of mine
Old selves I dare to lift a singing heart And living faith； my spirit dares
drink deep Of the red mirth mantling in the cup of morn。
APRIL SONG
FLEET across the grasses Flash the feet of Spring； Piping； as he
passes Fleet across the grasses； 〃Follow； lads and lasses！ Sing； world；
sing！〃 Fleet across the grasses Flash the feet of Spring！
Idle winds deliver Rumors through the town； Tales of reeds that
quiver； Idle winds deliver； Where the rapid river Drags the willows
down Idle winds deliver Rumors through the town。
In the country places By the silver brooks April airs her graces； In
the country places Wayward April paces； Laughter in her looks； In the
country places By the silver brooks。
Hints of alien glamor Even reach the town； Urban muses stammer
Hints of alien glamor； But the city's clamor Beats the voices down；
Hints of alien glamor Even reach the town。
THIS EARTH； IT IS ALSO A STAR
WHERE the singers of Saturn find tongue； Where the Galaxy's
lovers embrace； Our world and its beauty are sung！ They lean from
their casements to trace If our planet still spins in its place； Faith fables
the thing that we are； And Fantasy laughs and gives chase： This earth； it
is also a star！
Round the sun； that is fixed； and hung For a lamp in the darkness of
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DREAMS & DUST
space We are whirled； we are swirled； we are flung； Singing and
shining we race And our light on the uplifted face Of dreamer or
prophet afar May fall as a symbol of grace： This earth； it is also a star！
Looking out where our planet is swung Doubt loses his writhen
grimace； Dry hearts drink the gleams and are young； Where agony's
boughs interlace His Garden some Jesus may pace； Lifting； the wan
avatar； His soul to this light as a vase！ This earth； it is also a star！
Great spirits in sorrowful case Yearn to us through the vapors that
bar： Canst think of that； soul； and be base？ This earth； it is also a star！
THE NAME
IT shifts and shifts from form to form； It drifts and darkles； gleams
and glows； It is the passion of the storm； The poignance of the rose；
Through changing shapes； through devious ways； By noon or
night； through cloud or flame； My heart has followed all my days
Something I cannot name。
In sunlight on some woman's hair； Or starlight in some woman's
eyne； Or in low laughter smothered where Her red lips wedded mine；
My heart hath known； and thrilled to know； This unnamed presence
that it sought； And when my heart hath found it so； 〃Love is the name；〃
I thought。
Sometimes when sudden afterglows In futile glory storm the skies
Within their transient gold and rose The secret stirs and dies； Or when
the trampling morn walks o'er The troubled seas； with feet of flame；
My awed heart whispers； 〃Ask no more； For Beauty is the name！〃
Or dreaming in old chapels where The dim aisles pulse with
murmurings That part are music； part are prayer （Or rush of hidden
wings） Sometimes I lift a startled head To some saint's carven
countenance； Half fancying that the lips have said； All names mean
God； perchance！〃
THE BIRTH
THERE is a legend that the love of God So quickened under Mary's
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DREAMS & DUST
heart it wrought Her very maidenhood to holier stuff。 。 。 。 However that
may be； the birth befell Upon a night when all the Syrian stars Swayed
tremulous before one lordlier orb That rose in gradual splendor； P