| George William (“A. E.”) Russell (1867–1935). Collected Poems by A.E. 1913. |
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| 95. The Master Singer |
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| A LAUGHTER in the diamond air, a music in the trembling grass; | |
| And one by one the words of light as joydrops through my being pass: | |
| “I am the sunlight in the heart, the silver moon-glow in the mind; | |
| My laughter runs and ripples through the wavy tresses of the wind. | |
| I am the fire upon the hills, the dancing flame that leads afar | 5 |
| Each burning-hearted wanderer, and I the dear and homeward star. | |
| A myriad lovers died for me, and in their latest yielded breath | |
| I woke in glory giving them immortal life though touched by death. | |
| They knew me from the dawn of time: if Hermes beats his rainbow wings, | |
| If Angus shakes his locks of light, or golden-haired Apollo sings, | 10 |
| It matters not the name, the land: my joy in all the gods abides: | |
| Even in the cricket in the grass some dimness of me smiles and hides. | |
| For joy of me the daystar glows, and in delight and wild desire | |
| The peacock twilight rays aloft its plumes and blooms of shadowy fire, | |
| Where in the vastness too I burn through summer nights and ages long, | 15 |
| And with the fiery-footed watchers shake in myriad dance and song.” | |
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