The Poetry Corner

A New Years Message

By Algernon Charles Swinburne

To Joseph Mazzini Send the stars light, but send not love to me. - SHELLEY. Out of the dawning heavens that hear Young wings and feet of the new year Move through their twilight, and shed round Soft showers of sound, Soothing the season with sweet rain, If greeting come to make me fain, What is it I can send again? I know not if the year shall send Tidings to usward as a friend, And salutation, and such things Bear on his wings As the soul turns and thirsts unto With hungering eyes and lips that sue For that sweet food which makes all new. I know not if his light shall be Darkness, or else light verily: I know but that it will not part Hearts faith from heart, Truth from the trust in truth, nor hope From sight of days unscaled that ope Beyond one poor years horoscope. That faith in love which loves self gives, O master of my spirit, lives, Having in presence unremoved Thine head beloved, The shadow of thee, the semitone Of thy voice heard at heart and known, The light of thee not set nor flown. Seas, lands, and hours, can these divide Love from loves service, side from side, Though no sound pass nor breath be heard Of one good word? To send back words of trust to thee Were to send wings to love, when he With his own strong wings covers me. Who shall teach singing to the spheres, Or motion to the flight of years? Let soul with soul keep hand in hand And understand, As in one same abiding-place We keep one watch for one same face To rise in some short sacred space. And all space midway is but nought To keep true heart from faithful thought, As under twilight stars we wait By Times shut gate Till the slow soundless hinges turn, And through the depth of years that yearn The face of the Republic burn.