Days and Dreams.

by Madison J. Cawein.

PART I.

1.

_He waits musing._

Herein the dearness of her is: The thirty perfect days of June Made one, in beauty and in bliss Were not more white to have to kiss, To love not more in tune.

And oft I think she is too true, Too innocent for our day; For in her eyes her soul looks new-- Two crowfoot-blossoms watchet-blue Are not more soft than they.

So good, so kind is she to me, In darling ways and happy words, Sometimes my heart fears she may be Too much with G.o.d and secretly Sweet sister to the birds.

2.

_Becoming impatient._

The owls are quavering, two, now three, And all the green is graying; The owls our trysting dials be-- There is no time for staying.

I wait you where this buckeye throws Its tumbled shadow over Wood-violet and the bramble-rose, Long lady-fern and clover.

Spice-seeded sa.s.safras weighs deep Rough rail and broken paling, Where all day long the lizards sleep Like lichen on the railing.

Behind you you will feel the moon's Gold stealing like young laughter; And mists--gray ghosts of picaroons-- Its phantom treasure after.

And here together, youth and youth, Love will be doubly able; Each be to each as true as truth, And dear as fairy fable.

The owls are calling and the maize With fallen dew is dripping-- Ah, girlhood, through the dewy haze Come like a moonbeam slipping.

3.

_He hums._

There is a fading inward of the day, And all the pansy sunset hugs one star; To eastward dwindling all the land is gray, While barley meadows westward smoulder far.

Now to your gla.s.s will you pa.s.s For the last time?

Pa.s.s, Humming that ballad we know?-- Here while I wait it is late And is past time-- Late, And love's hours they go, they go.

There is a drawing downward of the night; The wedded Heaven wends married to the Moon; Above, the heights hang golden in her light, Below, the woods bathe dewy in the June.

There through the dew is it you Coming lawny?

You, Or a moth in the vines?

You!--at your throat I may note Twinkling tawny, Note, A glow-worm, your brooch that shines.

4.

_She speaks._

How many smiles in the asking?-- Herein I can not deceive you; My "yes" in a "no" was a-masking, Nor thought, dear, once to grieve you.

I hid. The humming-bird happiness here Danced up i' the blood ... but what are words When the speech of two souls all truth affords?

Affirmative, negative what in love's ear?-- I wished to say "yes" and somehow said "no"; The woman within me knew you would know, For it held you six times dear.

_He speaks._

So many hopes in a wooing!-- Therein you could not deceive me; The heart was here and the hope pursuing, Knew that you loved, believe me.-- Bunched bells o' the blush pomegranate--to fix At your throat; three drops of fire they are; And the maiden moon and the maiden star Sink silvery over yon meadow ricks.

Will you look?--till I hug your head back, so-- For I know it is "yes" though you whisper "no,"-- And my kisses, sweet, are six.

5.

_She speaks._

Could I recall every joy that befell me There in the past with its anguish and bliss, Here in my heart it has whispered to tell me, These were no joys to this.

Were it not well if our love could forget them, Veiling the _was_ with the dawn of the _is_?

Dead with the past we should never regret them, These were no joys to this.

When they were gone and the present stood speechful, Ardent with word and with look and with kiss, What though we know that their eyes are beseechful, These were no joys to this.

Is it not well to have more of the spirit, Living high futures this earthly must miss?

Less of the flesh with the past pining near it?-- Such is the joy of this.

6.

_She sings._

We will leave reason, Dear, for a season; Reason were treason Since yonder nether Foot-hills are clad now In nothing sad now; We will be glad now, Glad as this weather.

Heart and heart! in the Maytime, Maytime, Youth and Love take playtime, playtime ...

I in the dairy; you are the airy Majesty pa.s.sing; Love is the fairy Bringing us two together.

_He sings._

Starlight in ma.s.ses Of mist that pa.s.ses, Stars in the gra.s.ses; Star-bud and flower Laughingly know us; Secretly show us Earth is below us And for the hour Soul has soul. In the Maytime, Maytime, Youth and Love take playtime, playtime ...

You are a song; a singer I hear it Whispered in star and in flower; the spirit, Love, is the power.

7.

_He speaks._