Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE RED HEARTH, by MARY CALDWELL DAVIS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE RED HEARTH, by                    
First Line: The child, playing by the red hearth
Last Line: While the woven spell of the hearth fire clings.
Subject(s): Wellesley College


THE Child, playing by the Red Hearth,
Heard the tale
The Stranger told of the cold North,
Of the Sea,
Of the Wind -- the strength of Man,
And the heart
Of his living, the soul of strife.

But the Child, playing by the Hearth,
Felt the warmth,
The light of the fire on his face;
And the cheer
And the comfort and drowsy peace
Of the Hearth
Out-clamored the cry of the North.

For the undaunted strength of the Sea,
And the force
Of its surging, its endless tides,
And the chill
And tingle of wind-swept cheeks
Were unknown.
To the life of the Hearth born Child.

-- The Stranger, now his tale was told,
Went alone
Out into the close-gathered Dark,
With his face
Toward the dim North, the wan, cold Stars.
And the Wind,
So his mood listed, sang wildly.

For the Stranger had braved his wrath,
And the Sea,
The unconquered and dusky foe,
Was his kin.
And sweet was the taste of its breath.
And he smiled
At the thought of the drowsy Hearth.

But few face the taunt of the wind-driven North
While the woven spell of the Hearth Fire clings.





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