The Heritage (Duer Miller)

by Alice Duer Miller

For works with similar titles, see The Heritage.

THE HERITAGE

By Alice Duer Miller

On summer evenings when the full moon shines

Serene and fair,
High in the crystal air,
On hillsides deep in birches and in pines,
Then in all hearts there stirs a hidden fire
Of hope, or memory;
Some their beloved dead more yearningly desire,
Some dream of loves to be,
Some weep their swift and sweet mortality.

But I remember only,
⁠Long centuries ago,
A glen more dark and lonely
⁠Than these which now I know,
The noise of waters flowing,
And faint, salt breezes blowing,
Ivy and myrtle growing,

⁠As here they do not grow.

There, when the moon was at full we would come, we would come,

To the shrilling of pipes, and the terrible tone of the drum
Rolling long, rolling loud, as the voice that presages the rain,
We would come to the cavern profound, to the holy domain.

Then in the moonlight entrancing,

⁠Figures moved agile and fleet.
Then there was dancing, ay, dancing,
⁠Leaping and stamping of feet,—
Dancers that drifted and darted,
⁠Light as a leaf in the breeze,
Circles that met and that parted,
⁠While the stars danced through the trees.
Quickening, the drums beat the measure,
⁠All the night long on the hill,—
Such was the Thunderer's pleasure. . . .
⁠This I remember me still.

O placid northern moon on this calm lake
Beaming demure and tame,
How can I take
Aught of delight in thy pale flame?
I ache
For a communion I have known
Long centuries ago,
Which nevermore the world will seek, or will know;
For a belief outgrown,
Yet how much more my own
Than creeds that hold me quiet on my knees;
For rites that brought delights like these,

And Gods I once knew how to please.