Page:Songs before sunrise (IA beforesunrisongs00swinrich).pdf/142

130

ARMAND BARBÈS.

 

I.

Fire out of heaven, a flower of perfect fire,

That where the roots of life are had its root
And where the fruits of time are brought forth fruit;
A faith made flesh, a visible desire,
That heard the yet unbreathing years respire
And speech break forth of centuries that sit mute
Beyond all feebler footprint of pursuit;
That touched the highest of hope, and went up higher;
A heart love-wounded whereto love was law,
A soul reproachless without fear or flaw,
A shining spirit without shadow of shame,
A memory made of all men’s love and awe;
Being disembodied, so thou be the same,
What need, O soul, to sign thee with thy name?

II.

All woes of all men sat upon thy soul

And all their wrongs were heavy on thy head;
With all their wounds thy heart was pierced and bled,