More Songs by the Fighting Men
The fire and sea and sunset are the face of his lost Love,
His heart is plucked by stronger chords than ever cities wove,
But, buried 'twixt the pavement grey, grey walls and smoke-hid skies
In a closely leaded coffin the old pedlar's lost love lies.
The Gate
MUSING alone beside my midnight fire
On some old tale of bygone chivalry,
I heard upon the wind's unending sigh
The muffled feet of many thousand years.
I saw them pass, grey-cloaked and travel-stained,
Toward a crystal gate beyond the stars.
He that is called the Builder came to me
And took me by the hand, and then he spake:
"This is the Gate through which the years must pass
To be absolved from the Eternal Curse
And lay aside their shabby cloak of sin.
Brave men have brought their strength and gentleness,
Children have brought their laughter, women tears
For stones to build the Crystal Gate—and thou?"
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