Christmas

Word through the world went
On Christmas morn, —
'Tidings! behold, a
Townsman is born!'
Then in their council
Smiled the high lords:
'Sword for world-conquest
'Mid a world's swords.
Need shall our armies
Have of each birth,
In that last battle
Wins us the earth.'
Still were the priesthood,
Singing the Mass:
'Lo, is our creed come
Truly to pass?
BlessÉd and broken
Crumbs that we give,
Say! say, O chalice,
Can a creed live?
Then to lord Shakespeare,
Brooding alone,
While in a vision
Lear was shown,
While his just loathing
Hung over men,
Lo, from the darkness
Came Imogen.
Then said a free maid,
Heart against mine, —
Take me, lord governor,
Who am all thine!
Thou that hast blessed me
With a new light,
Ah, is thy handmaid
Fair in thy sight?'
Then said our Lady, —
'Clean is the hut,
Filled are the platters,
And the door shut.
Sit, O son Jesus!
Sit thou, sweet friend!
Poor folk have supper
And their woes end.'
'Now,' said our Father,
'All things are won:
Welcome, O Saviour!
Welcome, O Son!
More than creation
Lives now again,
God hath borne Godhead
Nowise in vain.'
Word went through Sarras
On Easter morn, —
'Tidings! behold a
Townsman is born!'

Contents / Contents, p. 4

Briseis

The footfalls of the parting Myrmidons
And counter-cries of leaguer and of town
Are hushed behind her as the silks drop down;
Alone she stands, and wonderingly cons
Heads circleted with gold or helmed with bronze;
Higher her eyes from crown to loftier crown
Creep, till they fall, nigh-blasted, at the frown
Of Argos, throned in his pavilions
And mid his captains wrathfully aware
How the plague smites the host, how by the sea
Beyond the ships, with vengeful prayer and oath,
Rages the young Achilles, of whose wrath
Innocent, ignorant, a captive, she
Sees but the dropped staff on the voided chair.

silhouetted figures 13

Contents / Contents, p. 4