THE gardens overseas are sweeter— The roof-tree learned it of the wind; The poppies owned to blasts unkind; The sand stretched white as the surge that beat her. We shall away ere the clouds grow fleeter, Dear brow of the large grey eyes, and find The gardens overseas are sweeter! But vain might Hope or Song entreat her, Or golden rose; she smiled, she pined! Oh, was my love so poor and blind It had at last no voice to greet her,— "The gardens overseas are sweeter!" @3August, 1910@1. In gardens overseas,—oh, God, what flowers Are strewn along the paths and fountain-place! What blood-drenched roses, what white charnel trace Among the lily-fields that once were ours! What vulture-nightingale would haunt these bowers! What noisome reek and odour foul disgrace, In gardens overseas, oh, God, what flowers! Hate through the realms of Love usurps the powers. The groans, the women's shrieks the winds efface In the night's hollow where the cesspools race! Blesséd art thou, to sleep away such hours In gardens overseas! Oh, God,—what flowers!— @3August, 1917.@1 In gardens overseas strange ghosts are playing Among the children, waving spirit wands To guide their gambols 'mid the flower-lands. Upon the benches loving wraiths delaying Clasp their frail arms, the secrets old half-saying; The widows feel a kiss upon their bands; In gardens overseas, strange ghosts are playing— The mothers mark a radiant Stranger straying With light upon His wounds of feet and hands: "Forbid them not to come"—He smiles and stands; Whilst thou, Belovéd, in thy smooth grave staying, In gardens overseas, strange ghosts are playing— @3August, 1918.@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ESSAY ON STONE by HAYDEN CARRUTH LETTER TO MAXINE SULLIVAN by HAYDEN CARRUTH IMAGINARY ANCESTORS: THE GIRAFFE WOMAN OF BURMA by MADELINE DEFREES PURSUIT OF THE WORD by ROBERT FROST I LOOKED FOR LIFE AND DID A SHADOW SEE by JAMES GALVIN BRIGHTNESS AS A POIGNANT LIGHT by DAVID IGNATOW |