The Miner

 BEETLING rock, with roar and smoke 
Break before my hammer-stroke! 
Deeper I must thrust and lower 
Till I hear the ring of ore.
 

From the mountain's unplumbed night, 
Deep amid the gold-veins bright, 
Diamonds lure me, rubies beckon, 
Treasure-hoard that none may reckon.
 

There is peace within the deep-- 
Peace and immemorial sleep; 
Heavy hammer, burst as bidden, 
To the heart-nook of the hidden! 

Once I, too, a careless lad, 
Under starry heavens was glad, 
Trod the primrose paths of summer, 
Child-like knew not care nor cummer.
 

But I lost the sense of light 
In the poring womb of night; 
Woodland songs, when earth rejoiced her, 
Breathed not down my hollow cloister.
 

Fondly did I cry, when first 
Into the dark place I burst: 
"Answer spirits of the middle 
Earth, my life's unending riddle!--" 

Still the spirits of the deep 
Unrevealed their answer keep; 
Still no beam from out the gloomy 
Cavern rises to illume me.
 

Have I erred? Does this way lead 
Not to clarity indeed? 
If above I seek to find it, 
By the glare my eyes are blinded.
 

Downward, then! the depths are best; 
There is immemorial rest.
 
Heavy hammer burst as bidden 
To the heart-nook of the hidden!-- 

Hammer-blow on hammer-blow 
Till the lamp of life is low.
 
Not a ray of hope's fore-warning; 
Not a glimmer of the morning.

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