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By the Aurelian Wall and Other Elegies

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{96} <h2>AN AFTERWORD To G. B. R.</h2> <div class="poetry"> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> Brother, the world above you Is very fair to-day, And all things seem to love you The old accustomed way. </div> <div class="stanza"> Here in the heavenly weather In June’s white arms you sleep, Where once on the hills together Your haunts you used to keep.{97} </div> <div class="stanza"> The idling sun that lazes Along the open field And gossips to the daisies Of secrets unrevealed; </div> <div class="stanza"> The wind that stirs the grasses A moment, and then stills Their trouble as he passes Up to the darkling hills,— </div> <div class="stanza"> And to the breezy clover Has many things to say Of that unwearied rover Who once went by this way;{98} </div> <div class="stanza"> The miles of elm-treed meadows; The clouds that voyage on, Streeling their noiseless shadows From countries of the sun; </div> <div class="stanza"> The tranquil river reaches And the pale stars of dawn; The thrushes in their beeches For reverie withdrawn; </div> <div class="stanza"> With all your forest fellows In whom the blind heart calls, For whom the green leaf yellows, On whom the red leaf falls;{99} </div> <div class="stanza"> The dumb and tiny creatures Of flower and blade and sod, That dimly wear the features And attributes of God; </div> <div class="stanza"> The airy migrant comers On gauzy wings of fire, Those wanderers and roamers Of indefinite desire; </div> <div class="stanza"> The rainbirds and all dwellers In solitude and peace, Those lingerers and foretellers Of infinite release;{100} </div> <div class="stanza"> Yea, all the dear things living That rove or bask or swim, Remembering and misgiving, Have felt the day grow dim. </div> <div class="stanza"> Even the glad things growing, Blossom and fruit and stem, Are poorer for your going Because you were of them. </div> <div class="stanza"> Yet since you loved to cherish Their pleading beauty here, Your heart shall not quite perish In all the golden year;{101} </div> <div class="stanza"> But God’s great dream above them Must be a tinge less pale, Because you lived to love them And make their joy prevail. </div> </div></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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