THE ORACLE
I lay upon the summer grass
A gold-haired sunny child came by,
And looked at me, as loath to pass,
With questions in her lingering eye.
She stopped and wavered, then drew near,
(Ah! the pale gold around her head!)
And o'er my shoulder stopped to peer.
"Why do you read?'' she said.
"I read a poet of old time,
Who sang through all his living hours---
Beauty of earth--the streams, the flowers--
And stars, more lovely than his rhyme.
"And now I read him, since men go,
Forgetful of these sweetest things;
Since he and I love brooks that flow,
And dawns, and bees, and flash of wings!"
She stared at me with laughing look,
Then clasped her hands upon my knees:
"How strange to read it in a book!
I could have told you all of these!"
Arthurd Davison Ficke
Far Seeing Places
I am in love with high, far-seeing places
That look on plains half-sunlight and half storm;
In love with hours when from circling faces
Veils pass, and laughing fellowship grows warm.
You who look on me with grave eyes, where rapture
And April love of living burn confessed, --
The Gods are good! The world lies free to capture!
Life has no walls. O take me to our your breast!
Take me, --be with me for a moment's span!--
I am in love with all unveiled faces.
I seek the wonder at the heart of man;
I would go up to the far-seeing places.
While youth is ours, turn toward me for a space
The marvel of your rapture-lighted face!
Arthur Davidson Ficke
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