Two songs

Caterpillar on the wall,
Whither, whither do you crawl?
You know not, yourself, methinks,
Strange and wandering little sphinx!

I will tell you where to go,
Underneath the winter snow
In an old tree's secret hole
You shall hide your little soul.

There, with summer, you shall sleep,
Thence, with summer you shall leap,
Wave your fairy wings on high,
Sip the flowers and kiss the sky.

Emblem worm of many a thing,
So the poet's mind can spring
Through the hush of brooding hours,
Kiss the sky and sip the flowers.

Once with life and love enarmoured
  We besought the gods above;
"Send us love and life!" we clamoured,
  And they sent us life and love.

Soon they over-filled the measure;
  Soon we prayed them, "Grant us calm!"
But they answered, "Pain is pleasure!
  "Crush from bitter herbs the balm!

"Forms of beauty ye may fashion
  "From the anguish of the heart;
"Only by the cross of passion
  "Can ye win the crown of Art."