The Rose of Dawn | Page 8

of kind
Uhila, all
Struck to the ground by murder. In her blood
The pale
drops cried to heaven against the wrong,
Wrong to her people and her
love, till now
So beautiful.
Malua knew her pain,
And how upon its verdict hung his life.

Death's flame had touched the golden rose of love.
If it be dross or
gold, the test should tell.
The black gulf night that lies 'twixt dawn
and dawn,
Deepened by darker sin,--could frail love, tired
With
passion, hope to bridge the perilous way?
His brain cried, "No," his
heart, "Ah, Gods, but yes
Or I shall die."
He laid a tender arm
About the shrinking child and drew her forth

Along the forest path. She did not hear
The morning birds who
blithely welcomed day,
She did not see the dew upon the leaves,

Glamour of dawn, but dazed with love and pain,
Yielding to that she
knew not, kept the way
Towards the forest pool.
It seemed to them,
Waiting the unutterable moment of their loss
Or
utmost gain, as tho' the swinging earth
Was emptied of all life, the
very air
Seemed hollow and unearthly, breathless pause
On a great
brink. They reached the pool, and Taka
Gathered her senses till her
eyes were clear
As shining wells of truth. She leaned no more

Helpless upon Malua, tho' his arm
Circled her still. Before them on
the path,
Noble and dead, with mute hands pleading, eyes
Subtle
with secrets of eternity,
Waited Uhila.
In a moment's space
Malua knew the utter pangs of death
Strong as
his soul. And Taka must be free,
Free to decide between the mighty
dead
And him, the weakest of all living men.
He spoke no word, the
blood of youth once more

Fought with the skill, the power, the
eloquence
Of great familiar age. If Taka drew
From out his arms
and love a heart-beat's time,
She had decided, and Uhila won.
This

the boy knew. Taka had seen him, Ah!
Her woman's heart in pity and
distress
Shivered as tho' cold death had laid a hand
Upon her brow.
Malua felt a hell
Deep as the world, and then--the sky, pale stars,

Rose dawn, unfathomed heaven rocked in his heart
With tumult of
his glory. Taka turned,
Drew closer in his arm, and raising up
Her
flowery face smiled in his eyes.
'Twas done--
Death, life and passionate passion burned away
In the
white flame of love.
Uhila lay
Vanquished, forgotten. Turning to the sea,
Taka, Malua,
children of the sun,
Went forth to meet the sunrise and the day.
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Hay
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