Songs before Sunrise

Blossom or berry or weed.
Sweet though they be not, or fair,

That the dew of your word kept growing,

Sweet at least was the seed.

Men bring you love-offerings of tears,

And sorrow the kiss that assuages,

And slaves the hate-offering of wrongs,
And time the thanksgiving of years,

And years the thanksgiving of ages;

I bring you my handful of songs.

If a perfume be left, if a bloom,

Let it live till Italia be risen,

To be strewn in the dust of her car
When her voice shall awake from the tomb

England, and France from her prison,

Sisters, a star by a star.

I bring you the sword of a song,

The sword of my spirit's desire,

Feeble; but laid at your feet,
That which was weak shall be strong,

That which was cold shall take fire,

That which was bitter be sweet.

It was wrought not with hands to smite,

Nor hewn after swordsmiths' fashion,