Could I complain if this should be?
Nay, still I'd owe no grudge to fate,
No bitter grievance could I prate—
For joys of earth would compensate!
For what if I had never known
The surge of life, its thrill divine,
The strength of strife, hope's star-white sign,
The bitter-sweet of love's red wine?
Ah, what if, through some trick of destiny,
I'd missed this wondrous sweet mortality!
Nay, still I'd owe no grudge to fate,
No bitter grievance could I prate—
For joys of earth would compensate!
For what if I had never known
The surge of life, its thrill divine,
The strength of strife, hope's star-white sign,
The bitter-sweet of love's red wine?
Ah, what if, through some trick of destiny,
I'd missed this wondrous sweet mortality!
THE STORY HOUR
FROM all the city's haunts the children come
And crowd the quiet room, alert and still,
Their interest keyed, their very smiles and tears
Swayed ever at the story-teller's will.
And crowd the quiet room, alert and still,
Their interest keyed, their very smiles and tears
Swayed ever at the story-teller's will.
She stands among them with her face upraised,
Building anew the wonder-dreams of old.
At her command there grow to life again
The faded legends which the centuries fold.
Building anew the wonder-dreams of old.
At her command there grow to life again
The faded legends which the centuries fold.
And they who listen to her golden voice
See from the shadows visions strange arise—
Aladdin's palace glitters in the sun,
Rome burns again before their startled eyes.
See from the shadows visions strange arise—
Aladdin's palace glitters in the sun,
Rome burns again before their startled eyes.
They watch the Wise Men's camels cross the sands
Trailing the fadeless Star of Bethlehem;
And once again by "many-towered Camelot"
King Arthur's Knights ride in the lists for them.
Trailing the fadeless Star of Bethlehem;
And once again by "many-towered Camelot"
King Arthur's Knights ride in the lists for them.
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