Yeshiva University - Masmid Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 27 text:

MASMID You iiiiisl show iiic tlic roiul, I iinplorcil her 1 wouKI IciiJi ol ihc smootli-browed delights. I am glutted will) pangs of the valley, With its blood-chilling, venomous bites, And w ' luiKI Ic.Lin where the mountain-folk dally When liny (liiiil In liie towering heights. • Tiien she lield out Ikt li.uul ui the darkness And I stroked her smooth velvety hand . . . Come away from earth ' s indurate starkness Lead, Revissa, I beg ... I demand. How silken her fingers and smooth Wiien I touched her too-fairylike hand l n she fingered my forehead to soothe With its softness the brow-ridging band! But my dream-child stood still in the darkness Though she heard me entreat and command. Yet she quite had unlimbered the .starkness Willi her stroking, smooth velvety hand. ■k -k -k I know none of the pathways — she told me— That may lead to the star-laden sky. Though you, master creator, would scold me For you think that I, lawless, defy . . . What avail all entreaties to lead you — A mortal — aloft to the sky Where the fodder of earth can not feed you. And you, cloyed with delusions, shall die. Must you seek this strange pathway, she told mc To the regions no man may espy! But you, dreaming Revore, still would scold me And think that 1. fretful, defy. • • • Come, Revore, rest your head on my shoulder. Let a smile hide your shadowy frown ; Let your keen exultation grow bolder As you think of a dream-studded crown . . . For a bliss-haloed dimple will hide The dark fluttering wings of a frown, And the elves of discomfort will glide To the folds of my flowery gown — When you quiet your thoughts on my shouldei And you sleep as on pillowy down. For the joy in your heart will grow bolder When you think of your dream-studded crown.

Page 26 text:

MASMID I had searched for a succoring soul In the dreamlands that I had created — To conduct me aloft to a goal Whose attainment I long had awaited. I had seatched for a soul in the dreamlands. The phanfastical realms I created, Like the frightened who need the seem-Iands Where all youthful ambitions are mated; Like one starving for need of a soul. Whose great hunger could hardly be sated, I was eager to climb to the goal Where the process of mortals is waited. • • • From the finest of clay she was molded — She sprang from the richest of clay — Like a plant from the subsoil she sprang, And she blossomed in peerless array; Like a plant from the subsoil she sprang Whose seed had been molded of clay . . . And her lover-creator now sang In his heart for his golden-hued fay: — For her life-seed was carefully molded. So the artist was buoyant and gay. And he watched how his flower unfolded And blossomed in peerless array. • • • Like a goddess in loose-hanging drape She was sculptured, and Venus was shamed, And I knew ' neath the gold figured crepe Was a soul that was pure and unmaimed. Like a tall Grecian goddess or fairy. So beautiful beauty was shamed, She was draped lest the rash and unwary Be struck blind by such brilliance untamed — Hence I kissed the gold hem of the drape And gladly my earth-life disclaimed When I saw through the flowery crepe That her goddess-like self was unmaimed. • • • Oh, lead me away from the valley To the loftiest, towering heights Where the light-headed mountain-folk dally With the gamboling nimble-foot sprites. Oh show me the road, I beseeched her, Through the regions untrod to the heights Twenty-jour

Page 28 text:

MASMID Let us play in the heavens of earth And seek on the hills here below For the lovely, ease-garlanded mirth Who would, carefree, enliven our show . . . Let us gleefully, laughingly play On the earth-hills of many below Where, in smiles, we shall fritter away The short life-span that mirth will bestow: For no ladder can lead from the earth And escape the sun ' s fiery glow; Hence garner your portion of mirth As we dally together below. • • But if still you would clamber aloft You must look for your Nowhere alone, For not dreamers but dreams fill the soft Gentle void of the heavenly zone: Not Revore but Revissa may dwell On the heaven-capped mountain alone. No rapt mortal can soar from the dell To be king on his dream-child ' s throne . . . Yes, Revore, I should guide you aloft Where gilt beauty forever has shone. But I can not — for dreams need the soft Light perfume of the heavenly zone. . . . • • • Then she faded . . . she slipped into space Like all beauty, once bright, that must fade She went off . . . and no beauteous grace Now remains in my desolate glade . . . She has gone like all beauty once bright Whose charm and perfection must fade — My sweet dream-child has taken to flight And has left me alone and afraid ! ! ! But she shall be snatched out of space — Where, wrapt in herself, she had strayed — To be wreathed in celestial grace That never will tarnish or fade . . . Twenty-six