Queen Moo's Talisman; the Fall of the Maya Empire/VII
VII.
here flows the river Nile, the Queen found rest;
There once again her days with peace were blest.
Upon that soil where welcome frank was found,
Did Móo a giant Sphinx from out the ground
Cause to arise, and thus Coh's fame renew?
Did she immortalize her consort true?
As child of Can the natives called her Queen;
Their ancestors Cans' subjects all had been.
Móo reigned again, and many a year she dwelt
In Chem, the Land of Boats. There too she felt
Her call to liberty, and passed away,
Rejoiced at last the summons to obey.
"Now cometh bliss! the flesh doth loose its hold;
Death's tender kiss will leave it still and cold.
Upon my weary brow the veil of Night
Descends; my soul leaps forth to joyous flight!
O touch my heart with thy all-healing balm
Oblivion sweet! now lull me in thy calm,"
Móo yearned for this. Then fell upon her ear
A voice—"Blessèd are they who know not fear!
The Heart of Heaven e'er radiates love's light,
And soul released finds nothing to affright
Save visions false of terror, bred by creeds,
And deep remorse that gnaws at evil deeds."
Soul stirred, awoke and saw! Herself Móo found.
Was this the law, tho' not to body bound,
To still live on? What time in nothingness
Had fled? Since she besought unconsciousness
Had ages sped? And now appeared her guide,
Cay, whom long she mourned when he had died.
His clear calm eyes again she searched amazed;
Their power thrilled and drew her as she gazed.
Then murmured she—"If this be happy dream
Let me dream on." O Light! thy wondrous beam
Throughout creation glows, now and for aye,
If Will Omnipotent ordaineth day.
Thy rays are harmonies, celestial Light!
Because thou art, there is no endless night.
Earth's weary children long for deep repose;
But from the glorious light all music flows.
As night and day forever alternate,
In darkest silence life doth germinate.
No mortal can conceive th' entrancing sounds
That greet the spirit freed from terrene bounds.
Could love's effulgence from supernal spheres
But reach the mortal eye bedimmed with tears,
A solace sweet as rain on sun-parched leaf
Would fall on those bereft and bowed with grief.
No more would Death a bitter foe appear;
Kind Hope and Faith would banish Doubt and Fear.
To Móo awaked another rapture flowed—
Coh's eyes with love unquenched before her's glowed.
O Love! thou art the power of life, the force
That lifts the soul; Divinity thy source.
Ignoble things thy presence doth redeem,
Sweet breath of God! most holy and supreme!
Eternal thou, throughout the boundless space;
Thy purity no act can e'er abase.
Deep passion broods pent up, in matter dark;
Death comes, and there upon his gliding bark
Reality appears; soul finds its own—
Pure Love released, unmasked, stands forth alone.
By man has time been made the gauge of Earth.
What cares the soul in realm of spirit birth
How oft around spin globes above, below?
Of happiness do beings weary grow?
Must they return—again to feel the throes
Of matter's strife—from passionless repose?