by Mary Gladys Meredith Webb (1881 - 1927)
The ancient gods
Language: English
Certainly there were splashings in the water, Certainly there were shadows on the hill, Dark with the leaves of purple-spotted orchis; But now all's still. It may be that the catkin-covered sallow, With her illusive, glimmering surprise, Pale golden-tinted as a tall young goddess, Deceived my eyes; And the white birches wading in the margin, Each one a naked and a radiant god, Dazzled me; and the foam was flung by currents Where no feet trod. Only I know I saw them -- stately, comely, Within the leafy shadows of the stream; They woke amid the shallow, singing water A fading gleam. They left no trail for any beast to follow, No track upon the moss for man to trace; In a long, silent file up-stream they vanished With measured pace. The hollow water curved about their ankles Like amber; splashes glistened on their thighs; Sun barred their lifted heads and their far-seeing Yet sightless eyes. Some were like women, with deep hair of willows, Bare breasts and gracious arms and long, smooth hips, And the red roses of desire half frozen Upon their lips: But most were massive-browed and massive-shouldered And taller than the common height of men. They went as those that have not home nor kindred, Nor come again. Still, where the birches fingered their reflection, The thrushes chanted to the evening sky; Still the grey wagtails raced across the shingle As they went by. Beyond the furthest of the saffron shallows I lost them in the larches' rainy green, And only saw the stretches of marsh-mallows Where they had been. You say the sallow and the birch deceived me: But I know well that I beheld to-day The ancient gods, unheralded, majestic, Upon their way.
Authorship:
- by Mary Gladys Meredith Webb (1881 - 1927), "The ancient gods", appears in Poems and The Spring of Joy, first published 1928 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Bernard James Naylor (1907 - 1986), "The ancient gods", 1947 [ high voice and piano ], from Presences [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-08-14
Line count: 44
Word count: 288