Poems - Tapa blanda

Excerpt: ...SHAWN Then I would mould a world of fire and dew, 171 With no one bitter, grave or over wise, And nothing marred or old to do you wrong, And crowd the enraptured quiet of the sky With candles burning to your lonely face. MARY Your looks are all the candles that I need. SHAWN Once a fly dancing in a beam of the sun, Or the light wind blowing out of the dawn, Could fill your heart with dreams none other knew, But now the indissoluble sacrament Has mixed your heart that was most proud and cold With my warm heart for ever; the sun and moon Must fade and heaven be rolled up like a scroll; But your white spirit still walk by my spirit. (A Voice singing in the wood.) MAURTEEN There's some one singing. Why, it's but a child. It sang, "The lonely of heart is withered away." A strange song for a child, but she sings sweetly. Listen, listen! (Goes to door.) 172 MARY O, cling close to me, Because I have said wicked things to-night. THE VOICE The wind blows out of the gates of the day, The wind blows over the lonely of heart, And the lonely of heart is withered away. While the faeries dance in a place apart, Shaking their milk-white feet in a ring, Tossing their milk-white arms in the air; For they hear the wind laugh and murmur and sing Of a land where even the old are fair, And even the wise are merry of tongue; But I heard a reed of Coolaney say, "When the wind has laughed and murmured and sung The lonely of heart is withered away!" MAURTEEN Being happy, I would have all others happy, So I will bring her in out of the cold. (He brings in the faery child.) THE CHILD 173 I tire of winds and waters and pale lights. MAURTEEN And that's no wonder, for when night has fallen The wood's a cold and a bewildering place, But you are welcome here. THE CHILD I am welcome here. For when I tire of this warm little house There is one here that must away, away. MAURTEEN O, listen to her dreamy and strange talk. Are you not cold? THE CHILD I will crouch down beside you, For I...