– 16 –

Rock-Crystal

Routine-galled, dulled, by many years cumbered,
slipping halter holiday-wise,
away into the west land.

So much cool green to see; such deep silence
to hear; clear silence; bright waters;
such deep green of tree-shade; such chiming
of gem necklaces—birds shaking,
concealed, the leaves with crystal songs.

To hear, at evening, young mountaineers,
come down godlike from sunlit pinnacles,
tell of prowess and peril; and, taken from pocket,
show faceted crystals from high rock-surfaces.

To muse: All this, it has been like to crystal,
cold-dropping waters, clearest bird-voice,
sheerest silence, light-flashing glacier.
To be invited: Please have this crystal.

And so, like fay-bestowed flower in the fairy-tale,
beauty, fast in a crystal, bearing,
back to the city.

– 17 –

Humanity has ever found it comfortable
to render richest experience portable,
heart to heart with a sign indenture,
sum up in symbol, most high adventure;
till, years gone by, and significance broken,
folk ask: What mean you by this token?

Let us in kindness covet for every man
one lovely memory at least in life-span
fit to be locked up in crystal reliquary,
so all may see it, yet none see, save he.