WAIKIKI, Warm perfumes like a breath from vine and tree And stabs with pain the night's brown savagery. And dark scents whisper; and dim waves creep to me, Gleam like a woman's hair, stretch out, and rise; And new stars burn into the ancient skies, Over the murmurous soft Hawaian sea. And I recall, lose, grasp, forget again, And still remember, a tale I have heard, or known Of two that loved-or did not love-and one THE DEAD. I.1 Blow out, you bugles, over the rich Dead! Of work and joy, and that unhoped serene, That men call age; and those who would have been, Their sons, they gave, their immortality. Blow, bugles, blow! They brought us, for our dearth, Honour has come back, as a king, to earth, THE DEAD. II. These hearts were woven of human joys and cares, These had seen movement, and heard music; known Touched flowers and furs and cheeks. All this is ended. There are waters blown by changing winds to laughter Frost, with a gesture, stays the waves that dance Unbroken glory, a gathered radiance, A width, a shining peace, under the night. 1 These three sonnets, with two others, introduce the volume 1914,' and were written soon after Brooke had joined the army. THE SOLDIER. If I should die, think only this of me: In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given ; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven. |