SYMBOLS

The Database of Ornament

SPLENDOUR of dawn on the hills, in the rose-coloured
      blossom of morn;
Splendour of moonlight unmuffled and glassed in the
      shimmering sea;
Splendour of melody rolling on surges of harp and
      of horn:
But the splendour of sunset on cloud is the symbol of splendour
      to me.

Glory of legions embattled, with wind-blown banners for
      wings;
And of brows that are laurelled and lit with the vision of glories
      to be;
Glory of birth, and the blazon of heralds and triumph of kings:
But the glory of grass on the grave is the symbol of glory to
      me.

Beauty of noon in the cloudless blue and the full-blown flower;
Beauty of minds that are pure, and beauty of souls that are
      free;
Beauty of woman unveiled in the bloom of the Lesbian bower:
But the beauty of love in the bud is the symbol of beauty to
      me.

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Sorrow of hopes unfulfilled in the blight of unholy desire,
And voices of love that are hushed in the shade of the church-
      yard tree;
Sorrow of sins that grow black in the flame of the cleansing
      fire:
But the sorrow of wasted youth is the symbol of sorrow to me.

Mystery of wings that are furled in the flesh of the grovelling
      worm;
Mystery of wisdom that slumbers embalmed in the cell of the
      bee;
Mystery of fragrance and colour congealed in the core of a
      germ:
But the mystery of life from the dead is the symbol of mystery
      to me.

                                                                        W. J. ROBERTSON.