  LO! in a dream Love came to me and cried: “The summer dawn creeps over land and sea; The golden fields are ripe for harvest-tide, And the grape-gatherers climb the mountain-side; The harvest joy is come; I wait for thee. Arise, come down, and follow, follow me.” And I arose, went down, and followed him. The reaper’s song went ringing through the air; Below, the morning mists grew pale and dim, And on the mountain ridge the sun’s bright rim Rose swiftly, and the glorious dawn was there. I followed, followed Love, I knew not where. Through orange groves and orchard ways we went; The cool fresh dew lay deep on grass and tree, Above our heads the laden boughs were bent With weight of ripening fruit; the faint sweet scent Of fragrant myrtles drifted up to me: Blindly, O Love, blindly I followed thee! O Love, the morning shadows passed away From off the broad fair fields of waving wheat; I followed thee, till in the full noonday The weary women in the vineyards lay; The tall field flowers drooped fading in the heat: I followed thee with bruised and bleeding feet. Upon the long white road the fierce sun shone, And on the distant town and wide waste plain, O Love, I blindly, blindly followed on, Nor knew how sharp the way my feet had gone; Nor knew I aught of shame or loss or pain, Nor knew I all my labour was in vain. The sun sank down in silence o’er the land, The heavy shadows gathered deep and black; Across the lonely waste of reeds and sand I followed Love: I could not touch his hand, Nor see his hidden face, nor turn me back, Nor find again the far-off mountain-track. Blindly, O Love! blindly I followed thee: The summer night lay on the silent plain, And on the sleeping city and the sea; The sound of rippling waves came up to me. O Love! the dawn drew near; far off again The gray light gathered where the night had lain. On through the quiet street Love passed, and cried: “The summer dawn creeps over land and sea; Sweet is the summer and the harvest-tide; Awake, arise, Love waits for thee, his Bride.” And she arose and followed, followed thee, O traitor Love! who hast forsaken me. |
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