Light : a narrative poem / by Joaquin Miller [electronic text]

BOOK FOURTH

CANTO I

I

LAND which of all Hawaii's isles Of sandal wood and singing wilds Received and housed this maiden rare— This bravest, best, since Eve's despair?It matters not; enough to know Night-blooming trumpets ever blow Love's tuneful banner to the breeze In chorus with the ardent seas;That Juno walks her mountain wallIn peacock plumes the whole year through.You hear her gaudy lover callFrom dawn till dusk, then see them fall From out the clouds far, far below, And droop and drift slow to and fro— Dusk rainbows blending with the dew.

II

And had he won her? He had wed, But now it was that he most woo, Must keep alone his widowed bed Or sit and woo the whole night through. He plead. He could not touch her hand; Her eyes held anger and command And memories of a trustful time He would have made her muck and slime.

III

He plead his perfect life, still plead; But spurning him she mocking said: "You would have trailed me in the dust In very drunkenness of lust— And now you dare to meekly plead Your love of Light, your studious youth, Your strenuous toil, your quest of truth, Your perfect life! Indeed! Indeed!

IV

"Behold the pale, wan, outworn wife Of him who pleads his perfect life! Her step is slow, she waits for death; Hear, hear her wan babe's hollow cry! He scarce can cry above a breath. Poor babe! begotten but to die,

Or, harder fate, live feebly on, The shame of mother, curse of state— Half-witted, worthless, jest of fate.

V

Behold God's image, fashioned tall As heaven, stooping down to crawl Upon his belly as a snake, Ere yet his sense is well awake, Ere yet his force has come, ere yet The child-wife knows but to regret. And lo! the greatest is the least; For man lies lower than the beast.

VI

"Such pity that sweet love should lie Prone, strangled in its bed of shame, And no man dare to publish why! Such pity that in slain Love's name The weak bring forth the weaker, bring The leper, idiot, anything That lawless passion can beget! Sweet pity, pity for them all— The child that cries, child-wife that dies, The weakling that may linger yet A feeble day to feebly fall— As food for sword or cannon ball,

For prison wall or charity Or fruit of gruesome gallows tree!

VII

"But pity most poor man, blind man, Whose passions stoop him to a span. Why, man, each well-born man was born To dwell in everlasting morn, To top the mountain as a tower, A thousand years of pride and power; To face the four winds with the face Of youth until full length he lies— Still God-like, even as he dies.

VIII

"Could I but teach lorn man to live, But teach low man to truly love, Could I but teach blind man to see, How gladly he would turn to me And give great thanks, and ever give Glad heed, as to some soft-voiced dove.

IX

"The burning cities of the plain, The high-built harlot, Babylon,The bannered mur'ls of Rome undone,That rose again and fell again To ashes and to heaps of dust,

All died because man lived in vain; Because man sold his soul to lust.

X

"And count what crimes have come of it! I say all sins, or said or writ, Lie gathered here in this dark pit Of man's licentious, mad desire, Where woman's form is ruthless thrown, As on some sacrificial stone, And burned as in a living fire, To leave but ashes, rue, and ire.

XI

"Aye, even crimes as yet unnamedAre born of man's degrading lust. The wildest beast man ever tamed, Or ever yet has come to know— The vilest beast would feel disgust Could it but know how low, how low God's image sinks in muck and slime, In crimes so deeper than all crime, In slime that hath not yet a name, And yet man knows no whit of shame!

XII

"Poor, weak, mad man, so halt, so blind! Poor, weak, mad man that must carouse

And prostitute what he should house And husband for his coming kind! Behold the dumb beasts at glad morn, Clean beasts that hold them well in hand! How nobler thus to lord the land, How nobler thus to love your race, To house its health and strength and grace, Than rob the races yet unborn And build new Babylons to scorn!

XIII

"I say that each man has a right, The right the beast has to be born Full-flowered, beauteous, free and fair As wide-winged bird that rides the air; Not as a babe that cries all night, Cries, cries in darkness for such Light As man should give it at its birth. I say that poor babe has a right, The right, at least, of each wild beast— Aye, red babe, black, white, west or east, To rise at birth and lord the earth, Strong-limbed, long-limbed, robust and free As supple beast or towering tree.

XIV

"God's pity for the breasts that bear A little babe, then banish it To stranger hands, to alien care, To live or die as chance sees fit. Poor, helpless hands, reached anywhere, As God gave them to reach and reach, With only helplessness in each! Poor little hands, pushed here, pushed there, And all night long for mother's breast: Poor, restless hands that will not rest And gather strength to reach out strong To mother in the rosy morn! Nay, nay, they gather scorn for scorn And hate for hate the lorn night long— Poor, dying babe! to reach about In blackness, as a thing cast out!

XV

"God's pity for the thing of lust Who bears a frail babe to be thrust Forth from her arms to alien thrall, As shutting out the light of day, As shutting off God's very breath! But thrice God's pity, let us pray, For her who bears no babe at all,.

But, grinning, leads the dance of death. That sexless, steel-braced breast of bone Is like to some assassin cell, A whited sepulcher of stone, A graveyard at the gates of hell, A mart where motherhood is sold, A house of murders manifold!"

CANTO II

I

HE heard; he could but bow his head In silence, penitence, and shame, Confess the truth of all she said Of crimes committed in Love's name, Nor beg the sacred seal of red To marriage bond and marriage bed.

II

And that was all, aye, that was all For days, for days that seemed as years. He still must woo, put by her fears, Make her his friend, let what befall; Bide her sweet will and, loving, bide Meek dalliance with his maiden bride.

III

One night in May, such soulful night Of cherry blossoms, birds, such birds As burst with song, that sing outright Because so glad they cannot keep Their song, but sing out in their sleep! Such noisy night, a cricket's night, A night of Katydids, of dogs That bayed and bayed the vast, full moon In chorus with glad, tuneful frogs— With May's head in the lap of June. How hot, how sultry hot the room! Their garden tree in perfect bloom Gave out fair Nippon's full perfume— The night grew warm and very warm, And warm her warm, full-bosomed form!

IV

How vital, virile, strong with life, The world without, the maiden wife! How wondrous fair the world, how fair The maid meshed in her mighty hair! The man uprose, caught close a skin, A lion's skin, threw this about His great, Herculean, pent-up form, Thrust feet into his slippered shoes,

Then, with a lion's force and frown He strode the wide room up and down, The skin's claws flapping at his thews. He turned, he caught her suddenly And instant wrapped her close within; Then down the stairs and back and out Beneath the blossomed Nippon tree— Against the tree he pressed her form, He was so warm, so very warm— He held her close as close could be Against the blossomed cherry tree.

V

He held with all his might and main— Held her so hard he shook the tree, Because he trembled mightily And shook in his hard, happy pain— Because he quivered, as a pine When tropic storm sweeps up the line, As when some swift horse, harnessed low, Frets hard and bites the bit to go. She laughed such low, sweet laugh, and said, The while she raised her pretty head, "Please, please, be gentle good to me, And please don't hurt the cherry tree."

VI

The warm land lay as in a swoon,Full length,the happy lap of June—A fair bride fainting with delightAnd fond forgetfulness with night. How warm the world was and how wiseThe world is in its love of life,Its hate of harshness, hate of strife,Its love of Eden, peace that liesIn love-set, leaf-sown Paradise!

VII

How generous, how good is nightTo give its length to man's delight—To give its strength from dusk till mornTo push the planted yellow corn!How warm this garden was, how warmWith life, with love in any formTwo lowly crickets, clad in black,Came shyly forth, shrank sudden back—Then chirped in chorus, side by side;And oh, their narrow world was wide As oceans, light their hearts as air,And oh, their little world was fair,And oh, their little world was warmBecause each had a lover there,Because they loved and didn't care.

VIII

How languid all things with delight, With sensuous longings, sweet desire That burned as with immortal fire, Immortal love that burns to live And, lives to burn, to take, to give, Create, bring forth, and loving share With God the fruitage, flesh or flower— Just loving, loving, bud or bower, Or bee or birdling, small or great, Just loving, loving to create, With just one caution, just one care— That all creation shall be fair.

IX

The very garden wall was warm With gorgeous sunshine gone away; Each vine, with eager, reaching arm, Clung amorous, tiptoed to kiss, With eager lips, the ardent clay That held her to its breast of bliss.

X

Blown cherry blossoms basking lay, A perfect pathway of perfume; The tiger lily scarce had room For roses bending in a storm

Of laden sweetness more than sweet. The moon leaned o'er the garden wall, Then, smiling, tiptoed up her way, The while she let one full beam fall, Love-laden in the sensuous heat, So sweet, so warm, so still withal, Love heard pink cherry blossoms fall.

XI

A Katydid laid his green thigh Against another leaf-green form And so began to sing and sigh, As if it were his time to die From stress and strain of passion's storm— He, too, was warm and very warm.

XII

A tasseled hammock, silken red, Swung, hung hard by, and foot and head, A blossom-laden cherry tree. This famed tree of the Japanese, Whatever other trees may be, Is held most sacred of all trees: Not quite because of its perfume, Not all because of rich pink bloom, But much because its blossomed boughs Not only list to lover's vows,

But true to lovers, ever true, Refuse to let one moonbeam through.

XIII

Here, close beneath this Nippon tree, The sweetest tree this side Cathay, The lover's tree of mystery, Where not a thread of moonlight lay, While waves of moonlight laughed and played At hide and seek the other way, He threw her, full length, from his arm; Full length, then raised her drooping head, Threw back the skin and, blushing red, He sought to say—He nothing said! He nothing did but blush and blush And feel his hot blood rush and rush— The very hammock's fringe was warm The while he leaned low from his place And felt her warm breath in his face.

XIV

Then, all abashed, he trembled so He clutched the hammock hard and fast, He held so hard it came, at last, To swing, to swing fast to and fro. Such awkwardness! He clutched, let go, Then clutched so hard he shook each tree

Till perfumed silence came to see— Till fragrance fell upon her hair, Such hair, a storm of pink and snow. How fair, how fair, how sensuous fair, Half hidden in a pink snow-storm; And yet how warm, how more than warm!

XV

How shamed he was! His great heart beat As beats some signal for retreat. This stupid, bravest of brave men, Confused, dismayed, hung down his head, Then turned and helplessly had fled, Had she not reached a timid hand And, half as pleading, half command And half-way laughing, shyly said, From out her snood of snow and rain, "Please shake the Nippon trees again!"

XVl

He shook the trees; a fragrant shower, On laughing, face and loosened hair— A flash of perfume and of flower— Oh, she was fair and very fair! Then with a sudden strength he plucked His red-ripe cherry from the tree, Wound 'round the skin and loosely tucked

The folds about her modestly, Then on and up with giant stride He bore his blushing maiden bride, So cherry ripe, so cherry red, And laid her in her bridal bed— Laid perfumed bride, laid flesh and flower, Half drowning from the fragrant shower. What snows strewn in her ample hair, What low, light laughter everywhere, Or cherry tree, or step or stair! Just low, soft laughter, cherry bloom, Just love and love's unnamed perfume.

XVII

He tossed the lion's skin aside, With folded arms leaned o'er his bride, Turned low the light, then stood full length, Then strode in all his supple strength The room a time, tossed back his hair, Then to his bride, swift bent to her, And kneeled, as lowliest worshiper.

XVIII

And then he threw him by her side, His long, strong limbs thrown out full length, His two fists full of housed-up strength. What pride, what manly, kingly pride

That he had conquered, bravely slain His baser self, was self again!

XIX

He held a hand, exceeding small, He breathed her perfume, threw her hair Across her breast with such sweet care He scarce did touch her form at all. Again he rose, strode to and fro, Came back and turned the light quite low.

XX

He bowed his face close to her feet; Now he would rise, then would not rise; He bent, blushed to his very eyes, Then sudden pushed aside the sheet And kissed her pink and pearly toes. Their perfume was the perfect rose When perfect summer, passion, heat, Points both hands of the clock straight up, As when we lift and drain the cup, As when we lift two hands and pray When we have lived our bravest day, The horologe of life may stop With both hands pointing to the top.

XXI

Then suddenly, in strength and pride, Full length he threw him at her side And caught again her timid hand, A bird that had escaped his snare. He caught it hard, he held it there, He begged her pardon, begged and prayed She would forgive him, then he laid His face to her face and the land Was like a fairy land. They lay As children well outworn at play.

XXII

As children bounding from their bed, So rested, radiant, satisfied With self and selfishness denied, Life seemed some merry roundelay. They laughed with early morn, they led, So full of soul, of strength were they, The laughing dance of love all day.

XXIII

All day? A month of days, and each A song, a sermon, but to teach, A holy book to teach the truth Of endless, laughing, joyous youth. He stood so tall, he stood so strong —

As one who holds the keys yet keeps His treasure housed in shining heaps, Until all life was as a song.

XXIV

At last, one warmest morning, she Held close his hand, held hard the door, Would scarce let go, said o'er and o'er, "Good-by! Come early back to me!" And then, close up beside, as one Might eager seek some stout oak tree When storm is sudden threatened, she Put up her pretty, pouting mouth, Half closed her laughing, saucy eyes— Such lips, such roses from the south, The warm, south side of Paradise!—

XXV

Good-by! Come early back to me!" Why, he heard nothing else all day, Saw nothing else, knew naught but this, Their fond, fond, first full-flowered kiss, Wherein she led the rosy way, As is her right, as it should be. He looked his watch hard in its face A hundred times, he blushed, he smiled, Did leave his friends and lightly pace

The street, half laughing, as a child. A million kisses! He'd had one— Scant one, his joy had just begun!

XXVI

Come early? He was at the gate And through the door ere yet the day Had kneeled down in the west to pray Its vesper prayer, all brimming o'er And blushing that he could not wait To kiss her just once more, once more; Take breath then kiss her o'er and o'er.

XXVII

By some sweet chance he found her there, Close fenced against the winding stair, With no escape, behind, before. She put her lips up as to plead She might be spared a little space; But there was mischief in her face, A world of frolic and of fun, And he could run as he could read, Aye, he could read as he could run. And then she pushed her full lips out: "You are so strong, you hold so fast! You know I tried to guard the door." And then she frowned, began to pout

And sighed, "Dear, dear, 'tis not well done!" And then he caught her close, and then He kissed her, once, twice, thrice again.

XXVIII

Then days and many days of this— Ah! man, make merry and carouse Upon your way, within your house, Hold right there in your manly hand, Your happy maid who waits your kiss; Carouse on kisses and carouse In soul, the livelong, thronging day When duty tears you well away, To know what waits you at the gate, And waiting loves and loves to wait.

XXIX

And how to kiss? A thousand ways, And each way new and each way true, And each way true and each way new Each day for thrice ten thousand days.

XXX

How loyal he who loves, how grand! He does not tell her overmuch, He does not sigh or seek to touch Her garments's hem or lily hand;

She is his soul, his life, his light, His saint by day, his shrine by night.

XXXI

True love leads home his maiden bride Low-voiced and tender, soft and true; He leans to her, to woo, to woo, As if she still turned and denied— No selfish touch, no sated kiss To kill and dig the grave of bliss.

XXXII

True love will hold his maiden brideAs nobles hold inheritance; He will not part with one small pence Of her fair strength and stately pride, But wait serenely at her side, Supremely proud, full satisfied.

XXXIII

Why, what a glorious thing to view! Each morn a maiden at your side, The one fair woman, maid and bride, With all her sweetness waiting you! How wise the miser, more than wise, Who knows to count and keep such prize!

XXXIV

How glad the coming home of him Who knows a maiden waits and waits, All pulsing, still, within his gates, To kiss his goblet's golden brim; How joyous still to woo and woo, To read the old new story through!

XXXV

Ah me, behold what heritage! What light by which to walk, to live This age when lights resplendent burn, This glorious, shining, new-born age, When love can bravely give and give And get thrice tenfold in return, If man will only love and learn!

XXXVI

And now soft colors through the house Began to surely bud and bloom; The wise, the fair, far-seeing spouse Began to deck the bridal room; Began to build, as builds a bird, When first footfalls of spring are heard.

XXXVII

Some warm-toned colors on the wall, Then gorgeous, grass-like carpetings

Strown, sown with lily, pink and all That nature in sweet springtime brings; Then curtains from the Orient, The silken couch, soft as a kiss, The music born of love and blent But rarely with such loves as this; Mute music, where not hand of man Or foot of man is seen or heard, Such soft, sweet sound as only can In happy blossom time he heard— Be heard from happy, nested bird.

XXXVIII

And now full twelve o'clock, the noon Of faithful, trustful, wedded love, The two hands pointing straight above, This vast midnight, this argent June! Their noon was midnight and the moon Came through the silken sheen and laid A sword of silver at her side. And peace, sweet, perfect peace was hers, As when nor bird nor blossom stirs, And she was now no more afraid; The moon surrendered to the maid, Drew back and softly turned aside, As bridesmaid turning from the bride.

XXXIX

All voiceless, noiseless, tenderly He pressed beside her, took her hand— He took her from the leaning moon, And far beyond the amber sea, They sailed the seas of afternoon— The far, still seas, so grandly grand, Until they came to babyland.