Walter De la Mare

“ Steadfast and cold shall choose the dark night's
Inhospitality.
[Pg 74]
HAUNTED
The rabbit in his burrow keeps
No guarded watch, in peace he sleeps;
The wolf that howls into the night
Cowers to her lair at morning light;
The simplest bird entwines a nest
Where she may lean her lovely breast,
Couched in the silence of the bough;
But thou, O man, what rest hast thou?
The deepest solitude can bring
Only a subtler questioning
In thy divided heart ”

“ Above its peaks the eagle floats,
Lone in a sunless sky;
Mute are the golden woodland throats
Of the birds flitting by.
No voice is audible. The wind
Sleeps in its peace.
No flower of the light can find
Refuge 'neath its trees ”

“ When all at peace, two friends at ease alone
Talk out their hearts,—yet still,
[Pg 77] Between the grace-notes of
The voice of love
From each to each
Trembles a rarer speech,
And with its presence every pause doth fill.
Unmoved it broods, this all-encompassing hush
Of one who stooping near,
No smallest stir will make
Our fear to wake;
But yet intent
Upon some mystery bent,
Hearkens the lightest word we say, or hear.
[Pg 78]
WINTER DUSK
Dark frost was in the air without,
The dusk was still with cold and gloom,
When less than even a shadow came
And stood within the room. ”

“ Fair colours, beauteous flowers, dainty fruit
Made earth seem Paradise
To them that dwelt within this lonely house:
Like children of the gods in lasting peace,
They ate, sang, danced, as if each day's carouse
Need never pause, nor cease. ”

“ This great trilogy, the life story of a musician, at first the sensation of musical circles in Paris, has come to be one of the most discussed books among literary circles in France, England and America.
Each volume of the American edition has its own individual interest, can be understood without the other, and comes to a definite conclusion. ”

“ A shimmering moth its pinions furls,
Grey in the moonshine of his curls;
'Neath the faint stars the night-airs stray,
Scattering the fragrance of the may;
And with each stirring of the bough
Shadow beclouds his childlike brow.
[Pg 32]
DREAMS
Be gentle, O hands of a child ”

“ His ram's bell rings 'neath an arch of stars,
'Rest, rest, and rest again.'
[Pg 25]
THE BINDWEED
The bindweed roots pierce down
Deeper than men do lie,
Laid in their dark-shut graves
Their slumbering kinsmen by. ”

“ The hundreds of letters from readers and poets suggesting additions or corrections as well as the columns of reviews of the first edition have been considered. Poets who were chary of lending their support to an unknown venture have now generously permitted the use of their work.
This edition includes the "new" poets such as Masefield, Chesterton, Frost, Rupert Brooke, de la Mare, Ralph Hodgson, etc. ”

“ A vital compelling work. We who love it feel that it will live."—Independent.
"The most momentous novel that has come to us from France, or from any other European country, in a decade."—Boston Transcript.
A 32-page booklet about Romain Rolland and Jean-Christophe, with portraits and complete reviews, on request. ”

“ AND OTHER POEMS BY
WALTER DE LA MARE
NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
The author's thanks for permission to reprint certain of the poems included in this collection are due to the Editors of the Saturday Review, the Thrush, the Pall Mall Magazine, the Odd Volume, the Lady's Realm, the English Review, the Westminster Gazette, the Commonwealth, and the Nation.
[Pg vii]
CONTENTS
[Pg 1]
THE THREE CHERRY TREES
There were three cherry trees once,
Grew in a garden all shady;
And there for delight of so gladsome a sight,
Walked a most beautiful lady,
Dreamed a most beautiful lady. ”