Place Enough For Me and Peace

Upon the thousands cast

Into the field of days, with troubled flow

My thought went out; I saw them ranked and massed

In battle, and laid low.

To live, to think and feel,

It was to fat the robber of the nest;

I looked, I saw the serpent at the heel,

The aspic at the breast.

I saw want's tightening twist,

His crushing coil, around the child of care;

I saw the day-god wallow through the mist

To gild a harlot's hair.

I saw high worth bowed down,

Vanity glad as laughing summer-green;

I saw the unkingliest thing clap on a crown,

Hoar honor wasting mean.

But on itself thought turns.

" Thou fool! " mine said. " The lovely violet blows,

There's fire yet in the star, the foxglove burns,

Runs love-blood in the rose.

" Curled in the shadow-vase,

Ferns cluster; morn shakes bright the willow leaves;

The haughty worlds are at the appointed place,

The swallows at the eaves.

" The grasshopper has song,

The noon heat at the cricket's heart, it stings;

The bluebird still brings heaven with him along,

Of it he shines and sings.

" Out of the sun and cloud

The silences, the wonders of the wind;

All trustful things with joyance cry aloud,

They seek not, and they find. "

" Now will I once more bend, "

I said, " to humble service, wiser live;

With hope for my heartfellow, fate my friend,

Take as the days may give.

" From murmuring will I cease,

And longer after folly follow not;

But, lord of place enough for me and peace,

Will stand up in my lot. "