But when my joy had seized it, "Nay," he said,
And cast it gleaming to the scattering wind—
Hues green and golden, blue and fervent red.
And cast it gleaming to the scattering wind—
Hues green and golden, blue and fervent red.
Within his hand the brightest shred of all—
The very heart and secret of the web—
That held he fast and loosed he not at all;
The very heart and secret of the web—
That held he fast and loosed he not at all;
But to me said: "O thou who scorned the dole
That gave thee peace of days and long content,
Do now my will. Go forth and find thy soul."
That gave thee peace of days and long content,
Do now my will. Go forth and find thy soul."
To earth we went, nor knew I from that hour
My sister's joy or pain; but on great morns
When low light slept above a world in flower,
My sister's joy or pain; but on great morns
When low light slept above a world in flower,
Through drowsing noons where heat and color lie
In ever wavering tides of airy seas,
Winged by the darting ships of dragon-flies—
In ever wavering tides of airy seas,
Winged by the darting ships of dragon-flies—
Through these and twilight peace I went, and rid
My steps of comrades. Lonely must I find
The silent places where my soul was hid.
My steps of comrades. Lonely must I find
The silent places where my soul was hid.
In sheltered ways with summer showers sweet
I wandered on a day, and singing found
The very green I sought beneath my feet.
I wandered on a day, and singing found
The very green I sought beneath my feet.
In leafing forests when the year was new,
And heaven ribboned in the crossing boughs,
I gathered marvelous strip on strip of blue.
And heaven ribboned in the crossing boughs,
I gathered marvelous strip on strip of blue.
13
