Lute and Furrow (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... "IT WILL BE A HARD WINTER" They say the blue king jays have flown From woods of Westchester; So I to Luthany shall flee, But I will make no stir; For who fair Luthany would see Must set him forth alone. In screwing winds last night the snow Creaked like an angry jinn; And two old men from up the State, Said "Bears went early in"; Half pausing by my ice-locked gate; "March will be late to blow." So I for Luthany am bound; But I will take no pack. You can not find the way, you know, With feet that leave a track; But light as blowing leaf must go; And you must hear a sound That's like a singing strange and high Of bird you've never seen; Then two ghosts come; like doves they move; While you must walk between; And one is Youth and one is Love, Who say "We did not die." The harp-built walls of Luthany Are builded high and strong To shelter singer, fool and seer, And glad they live and long. All others die who enter there, But they are safe, these three. The seer can warm his body through By some far fire he sees; The fool can naked dance in snow; The singer--as he please And which I be of these, Oh ho That is a guess for you. Once in a thousand years, they say, The walls are beaten down; "IT WILL BE A HARD WINTER" And then they find a singer dead, But swift they set a crown Upon his lowly careless head, And sing his song for aye. So I to Luthany shall flee, While here the winter raves; God send I go not as one blind A-dancing upon graves; God save a madman if I find War's heel on Luthany. 1917 IN AN ALMS-HOUSE GARDEN Here gnarled old men as stooped as trees Youth wounded, not to die, Quaver the old philosophies, And drift around the sky. Or glad, so glad, since work is done, And no man knows his grave, They sit a little in the sun, And watch the...