The Rhymer-s Reply. Incense And Splendor

Incense and Splendor haunt me as I go.
Though my good works have been, alas, too few,
Though I do naught, High Heaven comes down to me,
And future ages pass in tall review.
I see the years to come as armies vast,
Stalking tremendous through the fields of time.
MAN is unborn. To-morrow he is born,
Flame-like to hover o-er the moil and grime,
Striving, aspiring till the shame is gone,
Sowing a million flowers, where now we mourn-
Laying new, precious pavements with a song,
Founding new shrines, the good streets to adorn.
I have seen lovers by those new-built walls
Clothed like the dawn in orange, gold and red.
Eyes flashing forth the glory-light of love
Under the wreaths that crowned each royal head.
Life was made greater by their sweetheart prayers.
Passion was turned to civic strength that day-
Piling the marbles, making fairer domes
With zeal that else had burned bright youth away.
I have seen priestesses of life go by
Gliding in samite through the incense-sea-
Innocent children marching with them there,
Singing in flowered robes, -THE EARTH IS FREE�:
While on the fair, deep-carved unfinished towers
Sentinels watched in armor, night and day-
Guarding the brazier-fires of hope and dream-
Wild was their peace, and dawn-bright their array!