ALLINGHAM, William


A Singer

That which he did not feel, he would not sing;

What most he felt, religion it was to hide

In a dumb darkling grotto, where the spring

Of tremulous tears, arising unespied,

Became a holy well that durst not glide

Into the day with moil or murmuring;

Whereto, as if to some unlawful thing,

He stole, musing or praying at its side.

But in the sun he sang with cheerful heart,

Of coloured season and the whirling sphere,

Warm household habitude and human mirth,

The whole faith-blooded mystery of earth;

And I, who had his secret, still could hear

The grotto's whisper low through every part.


A Dream

I heard the dogs howl in the moonlight night;

I went to the window to see the sight;

All the Dead that ever I knew

Going one by one and two by two.

On they pass'd, and on they pass'd;

Townsfellows all, from first to last;

Born in the moonlight of the lane,

Quench'd in the heavy shadow again.

Schoolmates, marching as when they play'd

At soldiers once - but now more staid;

Those were the strangest sight to me

Who were drown'd, I knew, in the awful sea.

Straight and handsome folk, bent and weak, too;

Some that I loved, and gasp'd to speak to;

Some but a day in their churchyard bed;

Some that I had not known were dead.

A long, long crowd - where each seem'd lonely,

Yet of them all there was one, one only,

Raised a head or look'd my way;

She linger'd a moment - she might not stay.

How long since I saw that fair pale face!

Ah! Mother dear! might I only place

My head on thy breast, a moment to rest,

While thy hand on my tearful cheek were prest!

On, on, a moving bridge they made

Across the moon-stream, from shade to shade,

Young and old, women and men;

Many long-forgot, but remembered then,

And first there came a bitter laughter;

A sound of tears a moment after;

And then a music so lofty and gay,

That eve morning, day by day,

I strive to recall it if I may.