| George William (“A. E.”) Russell (1867–1935). Collected Poems by A.E. 1913. |
| |
| 106. Love |
| |
| |
| ERE I lose myself in the vastness and drowse myself with the peace, | |
| While I gaze on the light and the beauty afar from the dim homes of men, | |
| May I still feel the heart-pang and pity, love-ties that I would not release; | |
| May the voices of sorrow appealing call me back to their succour again. | |
| |
| Ere I storm with the tempest of power the thrones and dominions of old, | 5 |
| Ere the ancient enchantment allure me to roam through the star-misty skies, | |
| I would go forth as one who has reaped well what harvest the earth may unfold; | |
| May my heart be o’erbrimmed with compassion; on my brow be the crown of the wise. | |
| |
| I would go as the dove from the ark sent forth with wishes and prayers | |
| To return with the paradise blossoms that bloom in the Eden of light: | 10 |
| When the deep star-chant of the seraphs I hear in the mystical airs, | |
| May I capture one tone of their joy for the sad ones discrowned in the night. | |
| |
| Not alone, not alone would I go to my rest in the heart of the love: | |
| Were I tranced in the innermost beauty, the flame of its tenderest breath, | |
| I would still hear the cry of the fallen recalling me back from above, | 15 |
| To go down to the side of the people who weep in the shadow of death. | |
| |
|
|
|
