Page:The college beautiful, and other poems.djvu/23

Nor wrap my limbs in thine enchanted cloak
Beneath the tree whose hollow shadows teem
With changing faces of fantastic folk
And dim, dissolving shapes, — thy wizard oak
Whose every leaf conceals a fabled dream,
Whose dipping boughs disturb thy hushed and holy stream.

But take me to thy kingdom's very heart,
solemn Sleep, with thee alone to dwell.
In deepest grotto hide me, far apart
From tone or touch, and guard mine eyelids well.
Yea, charm the weary senses deaf and blind,
And let me there lie face to face with thee.
So shall the morning cleave the clouds to find
Thy fragrance clinging to my waking mind,
But what thy lips did whisper unto me
I'11 bear too fine for consciousness, too deep for memory.

Then call my footsteps in, O silent warden,
For even as I plead, night waxes late.
Call thou my feet to rest within the garden
And lift the latches of the rustic gate.
There grant me shelter till the blushing east
Proclaim another sun, whose golden gaze
Shall view me passing, from thy trance released,
With glad heart forth to share the generous feast