FROM THE THREAD OF LIFE’

FROM THE THREAD OF LIFE’

I

The irresponsive silence of the land,

      The irresponsive sounding of the sea,

      Speak both one message of one sense to me: —

Aloof, aloof, we stand aloof, so stand

Thou too aloof bound with the flawless band

      Of inner solitude; we bind not thee;

      But who from thy self-chain shall set thee free?

What heart shall touch thy heart? what hand thy hand? —

And I am sometimes proud and sometimes meek,

      And sometimes I remember days of old

When fellowship seemed not so far to seek

      And all the world and I seemed much less cold,

      And at the rainbow’s foot lay surely gold,

And hope felt strong and life itself not weak.