To Catullus

Laughter and tears to you the gods once gave,
Those silver tears upon your brother's grave,
And golden laughter in your lady's bower.
And silver-gold in your love's bitter hour.
You showed us, burdened with our hopes and fears,
Laughter and tears.

Poor tears that fell upon the thirsty sands,
Poor laughter stifled with ungentle hands,
Poor heart that was so sweet to laugh and cry.
Your joyful, mournful songs shall never die,
But show us still across the shadowing years
Laughter and tears.

St Paul's, 1912