Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BEFORE THE JUDGMENT-SEAT, by SHIHO OKAMOTO


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEFORE THE JUDGMENT-SEAT, by                    
First Line: A little heart to judgment-seat was brought
Last Line: "with this fair, cruel sister I will dwell!"
Subject(s): Duty; Fate; Destiny


A LITTLE heart to judgment-seat was brought,
Because no longer Duty's mandate owning;
Its dark eyes gazed with anxious boding fraught
Into Fate's face, black-veiled, and doubtless frowning.
Beside her Duty stood, of giant form,
With eyes lack-lustre, from which tears were 'scaping;
The tireless worker held within her arm
A bunch of iron rods, for pastime shaping:
"What didst thou lack," Fate's thunder tones began,
"To win the greatest joy in Life's awarding?
To lift thy soul to heaven is Duty's plan,
Thy steps the while from all temptations guarding;
In hope and faith will bloom to fullest beauty --
E'en as the stake the flower's stalk doth stay --
The heart which is forever leal to duty,
Nor, like the flower unbound, in each wind sway!"
At words so stern the poor heart shudders, bleeds;
With quiv'ring lips she strove to check her weeping:
"Ah, grant me joy," with anguish keen she pleads,
"One moment, only one, life's pleasures reaping!
I'm always shiv'ring in the scanty dress
Which Duty made. Alas! I cannot wear it,
It is too tight, and causes sore distress;
Yet I dare don no other, so must bear it.
See'st thou how beautiful its dye, and fresh?
With my own blood she hath it lately colored;
Each bitter word cut deep into my flesh,
There thou canst aye behold her maxims' record.
Like barren desert is her dreary face,
Her scourge upon my hands she lays not lightly,
Upon my brow a crown of thorns doth place
Which pierce, though I my head turn e'er so slightly.
On my robe's hem she fetters hangs which seem
Too heavy for my feet to carry farther;
Free am I only in night's deepest dream, --
Then joy's rose-ladder mount we two together;
The palm-grove greets me with its rustling low,
And melody of harps draws me to dances
Of happy mortals, pleasure once I know,
And, as her child, joy's draught my soul entrances.
Once only let me see with open eyes
What dreams in hues of fainter lustre offer,
Once only sip the draught divine that lies
In cups the fairies to each fair bride proffer;
Only once let me cool my burning breast
In surges sweet of love's sea ever flowing;
Once only let me feel in all its zest
Joy's kiss upon my lips with fervor glowing, --
My soul's salvation take, I'll give it thee,
Remain an outcast throughout all the future;
Ope once the door of happiness to me,
Then crush me 'neath thy foot's unfeeling pressure!"
And, weeping bitterly, the heart fell prone:
"Change thou thy stern intent, cruel Fate!" crying,
Clasping meanwhile its weak arms round the throne, --
"Have mercy on the heart for pity sighing!"
Fate waved her hand: "So be it." A breeze here
Swept o'er the steps, with incense sweet enthralling;
In tones of warning from the church tow'r near
The vesper bells softly to prayer are calling.
In silence Duty doth at once obey,
With holy zeal her pallid cheeks are flushing.
A shriek rings shrilly through the room: "Oh, stay!"
The heart cries, "With you I'll pray too!" and rushing
Forward to the stern form, sinks on its breast:
"Oh, fairy realm of happiness, farewell!" --
Closer upon her brow the thorns she pressed, --
"With this fair, cruel sister I will dwell!"





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