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Title: The Freeman, and Other Poems
Author: Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow
Release date: June 9, 2021 [eBook #65574]
Most recently updated: October 18, 2024
Language: English
Credits: Tim Lindell, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FREEMAN, AND OTHER POEMS ***
THE FREEMAN
AND OTHER POEMS
THE FREEMAN
AND OTHER POEMS
BY
ELLEN GLASGOW
NEW YORK
DOUBLEDAY, PAGE & CO.
MCMII
Copyright, 1902, by
Doubleday, Page & Co.
The DeVinne Press.
TO
LOUISE COLLIER WILLCOX
CONTENTS
THE FREEMAN
AND OTHER POEMS
THE FREEMAN
“Hope is a slave, Despair is a freeman”
A vagabond between the East and West,
Careless I greet the scourging and the rod;
I fear no terror any man may bring,
Nor any god.
Careless I greet the scourging and the rod;
I fear no terror any man may bring,
Nor any god.
The clankless chains that bound me I have rent
No more a slave to hope I cringe or cry;
Captives to Fate, men rear their prison walls,
But free am I.
No more a slave to hope I cringe or cry;
Captives to Fate, men rear their prison walls,
But free am I.
I tread where arrows press upon my path,
I smile to see the danger and the dart;
My breast is bared to meet the slings of hate,
But not my heart.
I smile to see the danger and the dart;
My breast is bared to meet the slings of hate,
But not my heart.
A CREED
In fellowship of living things,
In kindred claims of Man and Beast,
In common courtesy that brings
Help from the greater to the least,
In love that all life shall receive,
Lord, I believe.
In kindred claims of Man and Beast,
In common courtesy that brings
Help from the greater to the least,
In love that all life shall receive,
Lord, I believe.
In peace, earth’s passion far above,
In pity, measured not nor priced,
In all souls luminous with love,
Alike in Buddha and in Christ,
In any rights that wrongs retrieve,
Lord, I believe.
In pity, measured not nor priced,
In all souls luminous with love,
Alike in Buddha and in Christ,
In any rights that wrongs retrieve,
Lord, I believe.
THE TRAVELLER
The storm clouds swirl against the moon,
The hawk flies black across the snow,
My steed shies at the shifting gloom,
The darkness thickens where I go.
But I ride on when stars are flown,
As one who journeys to his own.
The hawk flies black across the snow,
My steed shies at the shifting gloom,
The darkness thickens where I go.
But I ride on when stars are flown,
As one who journeys to his own.
From hamlets draped in frozen white
The flames of ruddy windows fall,
Above the lashing of the night
I hear the cheerful voices call.
The homely hearths are lit in vain
For one who rides across the plain.
The flames of ruddy windows fall,
Above the lashing of the night
I hear the cheerful voices call.
The homely hearths are lit in vain
For one who rides across the plain.
The sharp blasts beat upon my breast,
The wolves bay loud behind my back;
I greet their howls with jest for jest,
And laugh to hear them on my track.
Across the night with terrors sown,
I spur and journey to my own.
The wolves bay loud behind my back;
I greet their howls with jest for jest,
And laugh to hear them on my track.
Across the night with terrors sown,
I spur and journey to my own.
From open graves on either side,
Wan fingers rise and beckon me;
Old wrongs, uprooted as I ride,
Cry out that right is yet to be.
Dead faces throng upon the way,
Dead voices speak and bid me stay.
Wan fingers rise and beckon me;
Old wrongs, uprooted as I ride,
Cry out that right is yet to be.
Dead faces throng upon the way,
Dead voices speak and bid me stay.
A PRAYER
Grant me but courage, Lord!
I ask not that Thou smooth the appointed path;
I ask not any joys the years afford,
I ask not even Thine averted wrath.
I ask not that Thou smooth the appointed path;
I ask not any joys the years afford,
I ask not even Thine averted wrath.
Let me but learn to smile—
Let me face lightly any blow that falls;
Bear bravely with my bondage all the while,
And hug my freedom within prison walls.
Let me face lightly any blow that falls;
Bear bravely with my bondage all the while,
And hug my freedom within prison walls.
A BATTLE CRY
I have made my stand at last
Where the thickest foes are found;
I shall fall as I have fought,
Yielding inch by inch the ground.
Where the thickest foes are found;
I shall fall as I have fought,
Yielding inch by inch the ground.
I have no surrender given,
I have measured hate with hate;
I have never stooped to call,
“Quarter!” to victorious Fate.
I have measured hate with hate;
I have never stooped to call,
“Quarter!” to victorious Fate.
When sore pressed I have not sought
Aid from comrades in the field;
I have never turned to find
Succour from a friendly shield.
Aid from comrades in the field;
I have never turned to find
Succour from a friendly shield.
FAME
RESURRECTION
The trumpet of the Judgment shook the night,
Dust quickened and was flesh; grave-clothes were shed;
With moaning of strong travail and lament,
The sea gave up her dead.
Dust quickened and was flesh; grave-clothes were shed;
With moaning of strong travail and lament,
The sea gave up her dead.
THE SHADOW
It has followed me for years,
I have seen It slim and tall;
When the day its distance wears,
It has lengthened on the wall;
Slanting black
On my track,
I have felt Its presence fall.
I have seen It slim and tall;
When the day its distance wears,
It has lengthened on the wall;
Slanting black
On my track,
I have felt Its presence fall.
Oft I flee at break of day,
But It races as I ride;
Oft I seek to slink away,
But It slouches at my side;
Or It steals
On my heels,
As the bridegroom to the bride.
But It races as I ride;
Oft I seek to slink away,
But It slouches at my side;
Or It steals
On my heels,
As the bridegroom to the bride.
As I roam along the track
Of the vagrants o’er the leas;
Oft I mark one glancing back,
And I ask him what he sees—
But they laugh
As they chaff,
“’Tis his shadow that he flees!”
Of the vagrants o’er the leas;
Oft I mark one glancing back,
And I ask him what he sees—
But they laugh
As they chaff,
“’Tis his shadow that he flees!”
I shall ask of one I love,
Pointing to Its passage fleet,
As along the ways we rove,
What It is that haunts the street.
She will say,
“Nay, nay, nay,
’Tis the shadow at your feet!”
Pointing to Its passage fleet,
As along the ways we rove,
What It is that haunts the street.
She will say,
“Nay, nay, nay,
’Tis the shadow at your feet!”
I shall wink and see the trick—
Do they dream that I am blind?
I have but to turn, and quick,
On my pathway I shall find
That It wags,
And It lags,
But It follows close behind.
Do they dream that I am blind?
I have but to turn, and quick,
On my pathway I shall find
That It wags,
And It lags,
But It follows close behind.
JUSTICE
They cursed her with the curse of God,
They smote her with His awful Name:
With brands of fire they branded her,
And brands of shame.
They smote her with His awful Name:
With brands of fire they branded her,
And brands of shame.
She fell beside the road and lay
Silent within the sounding place;
A dog turned from the passers-by
And licked her face.
Silent within the sounding place;
A dog turned from the passers-by
And licked her face.
DRINKING-SONG
Fill the bowl and praise the wine,
Give good measure, rise and quaff—
(Who dares say the dawn-stars shine?
Brothers, shame him by a laugh.)
What knows he of soon or late,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Give good measure, rise and quaff—
(Who dares say the dawn-stars shine?
Brothers, shame him by a laugh.)
What knows he of soon or late,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Kiss the blue eyes and the brown,
Cheeks that pale and cheeks that glow,
Kiss the smile and kiss the frown,
Lightly love and lightly go.
He knows neither love nor hate,
Who has been the fool of Fate.
Cheeks that pale and cheeks that glow,
Kiss the smile and kiss the frown,
Lightly love and lightly go.
He knows neither love nor hate,
Who has been the fool of Fate.
Clasp a stranger by the hand,
Call it friendship for a day;
When alone you see him stand,
Swear you only spoke in play.
What cares he for friend or mate,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Call it friendship for a day;
When alone you see him stand,
Swear you only spoke in play.
What cares he for friend or mate,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Gather laurels that decay,
Wear them withered on your breast;
Ere they crumble in a day;
Tread them under foot in jest.
What knows he of honour’s weight,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Wear them withered on your breast;
Ere they crumble in a day;
Tread them under foot in jest.
What knows he of honour’s weight,
Who has been the fool of Fate?
Take the best that Life can give,
Drink, but do not pass it on.
Live to drink and drink to live—
(Who spoke of a dream foregone?)
He has seen all dreams abate,
Who has been the fool of Fate.
Drink, but do not pass it on.
Live to drink and drink to live—
(Who spoke of a dream foregone?)
He has seen all dreams abate,
Who has been the fool of Fate.
COWARD MEMORY
A street half flecked with shade and sun,
A last year’s leaf along it blown,
A gray wall where green lichens run;
Like water falling on dry stone,
A robin’s ripe notes dropping one by one.
A last year’s leaf along it blown,
A gray wall where green lichens run;
Like water falling on dry stone,
A robin’s ripe notes dropping one by one.
Sad sun and shade and sadness over all
The distance blended into solemn hues,
On the warm air suspended as a pall
The sweetness dying violets diffuse,
While from a single tree the ashen elm flowers fall.
The distance blended into solemn hues,
On the warm air suspended as a pall
The sweetness dying violets diffuse,
While from a single tree the ashen elm flowers fall.
THE SAGE
I do not see the lightning’s flash,
Nor hear the thunder’s din;
What though the storms about me crash—
My refuge is within.
Nor hear the thunder’s din;
What though the storms about me crash—
My refuge is within.
Though every evil stands confest,
And every pleasure flies,
I bear a world within my breast,
A light within my eyes.
And every pleasure flies,
I bear a world within my breast,
A light within my eyes.
Of every fount from out the earth
I, too, have drunk my fill,
And all the joys I count of worth
Become my own at will.
I, too, have drunk my fill,
And all the joys I count of worth
Become my own at will.
Though I have never loved a maid,
Love’s heights I may ascend;
Though no friend’s hand my own has stayed,
I still can pledge my friend.
Love’s heights I may ascend;
Though no friend’s hand my own has stayed,
I still can pledge my friend.
From good and bad alike I draw
Security of soul;
Naught happens but becomes a law
To strengthen my control.
Security of soul;
Naught happens but becomes a law
To strengthen my control.
No passions ever rock my heart,
I know not fear nor hate;
A peace in which all worlds have part
Encompasses my fate.
I know not fear nor hate;
A peace in which all worlds have part
Encompasses my fate.
I dread not any form of wrath,
I hate not any sin;
Whatever grief assail my path,
It cannot come within.
I hate not any sin;
Whatever grief assail my path,
It cannot come within.
WAR
Ripples of ribbons borne on high,
Bloodstains upon a brazen sky;
From cannon belching on the plain,
Fire that by fire is fought again.
A flash where steel by steel is met;
A fume of smoke and blood and sweat.
Sharp from the smeared and trodden gorse
The death-cry of a wounded horse.
Bloodstains upon a brazen sky;
From cannon belching on the plain,
Fire that by fire is fought again.
A flash where steel by steel is met;
A fume of smoke and blood and sweat.
Sharp from the smeared and trodden gorse
The death-cry of a wounded horse.
Dust of a plain ground into red
By armies of majestic dead.
Gaunt shadows on the changeless sky,
A flock of vultures swarming nigh.
’Mid ashes where a hearth has stood,
Children that cry aloud for food.
Where green the peaceful highways run,
A woman ravished in the sun.
And far across the reeking sod
A Nation sounding thanks to God.
By armies of majestic dead.
Gaunt shadows on the changeless sky,
A flock of vultures swarming nigh.
’Mid ashes where a hearth has stood,
Children that cry aloud for food.
Where green the peaceful highways run,
A woman ravished in the sun.
And far across the reeking sod
A Nation sounding thanks to God.
THE TRUE COMEDIAN
What if the road is rough, the dart
Of mischance levelled at thy breast?
Beyond the shudder and the smart,
Canst thou not see the jest?
Of mischance levelled at thy breast?
Beyond the shudder and the smart,
Canst thou not see the jest?
What if the arrow in the sling
Was tipped with poison ere it flew?
Since thine the hurt and thine the sting,
Be thine the laughter too.
Was tipped with poison ere it flew?
Since thine the hurt and thine the sting,
Be thine the laughter too.
Canst thou not read the wit that lies
Beneath the bold burlesque of Fate?
Or art thou sick of parodies
Who playest with love and hate?
Beneath the bold burlesque of Fate?
Or art thou sick of parodies
Who playest with love and hate?
ARIDITY
She looked unto the east and saw
A pallid stretch of sickly sea;
Unto the west she turned and met
The land’s aridity.
A pallid stretch of sickly sea;
Unto the west she turned and met
The land’s aridity.
A bloodless wave of rising sun
Was flung across her open door;
It smote her like a slimy thing,
And crawled along the floor.
Was flung across her open door;
It smote her like a slimy thing,
And crawled along the floor.
REUNION
Ah, hold me fast! What of the day?
I care not if the sun be dead,
Nor if the stars be gold or gray.
Nay, though the rising moon be red,
Our dawn is here, our night is past,
The world may fade—but hold me fast!
I care not if the sun be dead,
Nor if the stars be gold or gray.
Nay, though the rising moon be red,
Our dawn is here, our night is past,
The world may fade—but hold me fast!
LOVE HAS PASSED ALONG THE WAY
Love has passed along the way—
Lo! the doors have opened wide,
Hands have beckoned him to stay,
Hearts have fluttered to his side.
Let him loiter as he may,
Love has passed along the way.
Lo! the doors have opened wide,
Hands have beckoned him to stay,
Hearts have fluttered to his side.
Let him loiter as he may,
Love has passed along the way.
A SUPPLIANT
Lo, these many years I lay,
As a suppliant to my God,
Bore the Cross upon my breast,
Bowed my head beneath the rod.
As a suppliant to my God,
Bore the Cross upon my breast,
Bowed my head beneath the rod.
I have kept my temple fair,
I have watched it day and night,
Lo, my cruse of oil is full,
And my lamp of faith is bright!
I have watched it day and night,
Lo, my cruse of oil is full,
And my lamp of faith is bright!
I have knelt these many years,
Lord, and I am kneeling still;
On my spirit send Thy grace,
On my body work Thy will.
Lord, and I am kneeling still;
On my spirit send Thy grace,
On my body work Thy will.
For at last I shall arise,
I shall stand before Thy throne,
Saying: “Lord, the night is past,
And I come to claim my own!”
I shall stand before Thy throne,
Saying: “Lord, the night is past,
And I come to claim my own!”
Saying: “I have served Thee well,
Great my fathers’ God and mine,
I have kept Thy temple white,
And the lamp of faith is Thine.
Great my fathers’ God and mine,
I have kept Thy temple white,
And the lamp of faith is Thine.
“I have knelt my whole years long,
Now I must arise and stand;
There is one among the lost
Who shall clasp me by the hand.
Now I must arise and stand;
There is one among the lost
Who shall clasp me by the hand.
“All the prayers that I have prayed
Were as naught could this not be,
That wherever he has lain
He might stretch his hand to me.
Were as naught could this not be,
That wherever he has lain
He might stretch his hand to me.
“All the years that I have bowed,
Kneeling there, I knelt in vain,
Could I not in heaven or hell
Look and see his face again.
Kneeling there, I knelt in vain,
Could I not in heaven or hell
Look and see his face again.
THE MOUNTAIN PINE
Around me in the void of night there moves
The struggle of uncreate worlds to be,
The stars are not the stars, I hear afar
The planets’ minstrelsy.
The struggle of uncreate worlds to be,
The stars are not the stars, I hear afar
The planets’ minstrelsy.
For me there is no time, no space, no depth,
No love, no hate, no passionate despair.
I face my destiny—to what has been
And will be, I am heir.
No love, no hate, no passionate despair.
I face my destiny—to what has been
And will be, I am heir.
THE MASTER HAND
WRITTEN BEFORE ANDREA DEL SARTO’S
PORTRAIT OF HIMSELF
The master hand lifted the brush, and lo,
Colour and light took form at his command,
When Death struck down with an immortal blow
The master hand.
Colour and light took form at his command,
When Death struck down with an immortal blow
The master hand.
A heap of clay becomes a heap of sand,
The mad, tumultuous centuries bestow
Laurel and dust to sweeten Death’s demand.
The mad, tumultuous centuries bestow
Laurel and dust to sweeten Death’s demand.
TO A STRANGE GOD
IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM, AUGUST, 1896
All day within the clanging town
There sounds the press of weary feet;
All night do men and beasts go down
Into the struggle of the street.
From sun to sun, from round to round,
The reek of sweat pollutes the ground.
There sounds the press of weary feet;
All night do men and beasts go down
Into the struggle of the street.
From sun to sun, from round to round,
The reek of sweat pollutes the ground.
The clamour of discordant days
Reaches the desecrated room
Where faces wan from alien ways
Shine through the daylight to the gloom,
Where, thick with dust and shadows sown,
A heathen god lies overthrown.
Reaches the desecrated room
Where faces wan from alien ways
Shine through the daylight to the gloom,
Where, thick with dust and shadows sown,
A heathen god lies overthrown.
His altar is a case of glass;
Strange laughter flies into his face;
From side to side before him pass
Rude voices of a younger race.
Around him, stripped of gold and flowers,
Lie gods of other creeds than ours.
Strange laughter flies into his face;
From side to side before him pass
Rude voices of a younger race.
Around him, stripped of gold and flowers,
Lie gods of other creeds than ours.
He looks before him and he harks
The heathen scoffing at his shame;
Like arrows in the air he marks
The lips that trifle with his name;
And he whose worship they disown,
He smiles on them—a God of stone.
The heathen scoffing at his shame;
Like arrows in the air he marks
The lips that trifle with his name;
And he whose worship they disown,
He smiles on them—a God of stone.
He smiles upon them, on his face
No graven majesty beguiles.
They mock his Godhead—from his place
He bends unto them and he smiles.
His favours as a garnered sheaf
Know not belief from unbelief.
No graven majesty beguiles.
They mock his Godhead—from his place
He bends unto them and he smiles.
His favours as a garnered sheaf
Know not belief from unbelief.
He sits in silence, he who saw
The hoary homage of the East—
Before whose sovereignty of Law
There bowed, adoring, man and beast.
He sits in silence, and a God
He bows himself beneath the rod.
The hoary homage of the East—
Before whose sovereignty of Law
There bowed, adoring, man and beast.
He sits in silence, and a God
He bows himself beneath the rod.
O God of stone! to whom the years
Rustle like leaves that drop away,
The seal upon thy forehead bears
The impress of a larger day.
No doubt that damns may bid to cease
Thine old insuperable peace.
Rustle like leaves that drop away,
The seal upon thy forehead bears
The impress of a larger day.
No doubt that damns may bid to cease
Thine old insuperable peace.
When, blind with carnage that inflames,
We pander to the pangs of lust,
Our orgies falter, and the shames
That hold us dwindle into dust.
From gods of flesh that we have known
We turn to thee—a God of stone.
We pander to the pangs of lust,
Our orgies falter, and the shames
That hold us dwindle into dust.
From gods of flesh that we have known
We turn to thee—a God of stone.
Our right hath been the right of steel,
Our litany the battle-cry;
Bound and abased beneath our heel,
Thy chosen people prostrate lie.
And where thy children came in prayer,
Our proud hosannas rend the air.
Our litany the battle-cry;
Bound and abased beneath our heel,
Thy chosen people prostrate lie.
And where thy children came in prayer,
Our proud hosannas rend the air.
Though we have warred with doubts for deeds,
Our fortresses and faiths decay,
Our altars rot with canker creeds—
Thou art forever and to-day;
No sacrifice averts thy frown,
No worship brings thy blessing down.
Our fortresses and faiths decay,
Our altars rot with canker creeds—
Thou art forever and to-day;
No sacrifice averts thy frown,
No worship brings thy blessing down.
THE VISION OF HELL
I died and passed from earth and went my way,
I trod the starry gulf from sphere to sphere,
I felt the breath of God upon my brow
As I drew near.
I trod the starry gulf from sphere to sphere,
I felt the breath of God upon my brow
As I drew near.
I paused above Infinity’s abyss,
Scanning the upward path my spirit trod;
A million silver planets spun between
The earth and God.
Scanning the upward path my spirit trod;
A million silver planets spun between
The earth and God.
Yet, scarlet on the ether’s inky waves,
The crooked orbit of the earth was cast;
Dark silhouettes against that solemn light,
Its countless creatures passed.
The crooked orbit of the earth was cast;
Dark silhouettes against that solemn light,
Its countless creatures passed.
I saw those mortal shadows stumble on,
Rising in anguish, passing in a breath,
Blind atoms, treading their predestined doom
From birth to death.
Rising in anguish, passing in a breath,
Blind atoms, treading their predestined doom
From birth to death.
Upon the smiling mask that Nature wears,
Was writ the blasphemy of human wills;
I saw man’s bloody footprint on the shore,
His hand upon the hills.
Was writ the blasphemy of human wills;
I saw man’s bloody footprint on the shore,
His hand upon the hills.
I heard his laughter as he passed along,
I heard the mortal boast immortal breath;
I saw the earth in tragic irony,
Plunge to its death.
I heard the mortal boast immortal breath;
I saw the earth in tragic irony,
Plunge to its death.
Then low into Jehovah’s listening ear
I spoke: “O God of Gods, the life you gave
Is but a lying travesty, whose lie
Ends in the grave.
I spoke: “O God of Gods, the life you gave
Is but a lying travesty, whose lie
Ends in the grave.
“Look on the lives that you have made and marred,
Filing gray phantoms in a hapless train:
The stronger finds your heaven; the weaker finds
An endless pain.
Filing gray phantoms in a hapless train:
The stronger finds your heaven; the weaker finds
An endless pain.
“O God, within the hollow of whose hand
A million worlds are tossed to win or lose,
You choose the stronger for salvation, but
The damned I choose.
A million worlds are tossed to win or lose,
You choose the stronger for salvation, but
The damned I choose.