Collected Works (Vol. I)

THE QUEST 31 IN MEMORIAM A. J. B.} THE life (by angels’ touch divinely lifted From our dim space-bounds to a vaster sphere), The spirit, through the vision of clouds rifted, Soars quick and clear. Even so, the mists that roll o’er earth are riven, The spirit flashes forth from mortal sight, And, flaming through the viewless space, is given A robe of light. As when'the conqueror Christ burst forth of prison, And triumph woke the thunder of the spheres, So brake the soul, as newly re-arisen Beyond the years. Far above Space and Time, that earth environ With bands and bars we strive against in vain, Far o’er the world, and all its triple iron And brazen chain, Far from the change that men call life fled higher Into the world immutable of sleep, We see our loved one, and vain eyes desire In vain to weep. Woeful our gaze, ifon lone Earth descendent, To view the absence of yon flame afar— Yetin the Heavens, anew, divine, resplendent, Behold a star! One light the less, that steady flamed and even Amid the dusk of Earth’s uncertain shore; One light the less, but in Jehovah’s ITeaven One star the more ! 1 A maternal aunt of the poet. THE QUEST. APART, immutable, unseen, Being, before itself had been, Became. Like dew a triple queen Shone as the void uncovered: The silence of deep height was drawn’ A veil across the silver dawn On holy wings that hovered.} The music of three thoughts became The beauty, that‘is one white flame, The justice that surpasses shame, The victory, the splendour, The sacred fountain that is whirled From depths beyond that older world A new world to engender.? The kingdom is extended.? Night Dwells, and I contemplate the sight That is not seeing, but the light That secretly is kindled, Though oft time its most holy fire Lacks oil, whene’er my own Desire Before desire has dwindled. I see the thin web binding me With thirteen cords of unity 4 Toward the calm centre of the sea. (O thou supernal mother !) 5 The triple light my path divides To twain and fifty sudden sides ® Each perfect as each other. ! A qabalistic description of Macroprosopus. Dew,” ‘* Deep Height,” etc., are his titles. 2 Microprosopus. ’ Malkuth, the Bride. Light may yet be found. 4 The Hebrew characters composing the name Achd, Unity, add up to 13. ® Binah, the Great Deep: Mother who shall. be daughter by Bn, the Son. 6 Bn adds to 52. In its darkness the the offended reconciled to her