John Collier

John Collier (1884-1968), American poet.

 

 

 Isadora Duncan (The Modern Age)

  O Priestess of an unperish'd fire that glows

 To ecstasy ere our mind can understand!

 O Life-Spring from a permanent stream that flows

 Even 'neath our famish'd land!

 We bless you for the mighty Thought you bring,

 And for the dumb despairs your motions thrill

 To such glad life as in our dreams may sing,

 And which is singing still.

 We bless you for the token to us all

 You flash'd on our raised vision, through the dust

 Of staggering hours. O Lode-Star beautiful

 In skies that are not lost!

 O'er road that is not lost. O'er April lands

 Where rains dance through the tide of human flowers,

 And sunrise, and the work of human hands

 Fulfil unspeakable hours!

 Oh not a dream! Though when you went away

 Such silence fell as long we had not known,

 Who had forgotten Silence in the fray-

 Oh out silence grown,

 And from your dancing, from the awakening reed

 Of unheard music, from beckoning hand

 Of your sweet summons, rise the desires that lead

 Into your land, our land!