T H E P O E M S O F

F R A N K D E M P S T E R ! H E R M A N

EDIT ED

W ITH A N I NTR O DU CTI O N B Y CL INTO N S C O LL A R D COPY RI G HT 188 1 0 1 2 1 AND 1 B D E ER ER , 7, 39 , 89 , 897 , 904, Y FR AN K MP ST SH MA N

COP Y RI GHT 1 1 B Y L I ET D RA HER , 9 7, JU U ND S MAN

A L L RI G HTS R E S E R VE D

T HI S DITI O R I T D T THE R I VER SI DE R ES S E N, P N E A P

CA MB RI D E I S L I ITED T O O NE T HO SA D CO I ES G , M U N P O F W HI C H T HI S I S NUM BER

NOV CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES — DEDICATION TO MY FANCY MORNING MIST DAWN AND DUSK SUMMER INDIAN SUMMER — THE ICE PRI SONER FEB RUARY THE MARCH WIND AN APRIL CAROL IDYLLIC — A GLOW WORM IN AN OLD GARDEN WITH A ROSE TO A DAI SY ON SOME BUTTERCUPS TO‘ A DANDELION APPLE BLOSSOMS A ROSE LYRI C ! PANSIES FOR THOUGHTS NOBILITY A BUNCH OF QUATRAINS

A RED ROSE APRIL

BACCHUS

1v1 CONTENTS

A CATCH A SNARE A MADRI GAL A BETROTHAL A PERSIAN DANCING GIRL A MAD RI GAL THE B OOK- HUNTER AT THE DOOR A REMINISCENCE LOVE ’ S SEASONS

IN PARENTHESIS TO MY MESSAGE A CI GAR A BUNDLE OF LETTER S A RHYME FOR PRI SCILLA A PERSIAN NOCTURNE HER GUITAR THE MUSE FOR SAYNTE AL T HIS A V EN YNE, D YE

TO C I F BR AR 1 UP D , E U Y 4 ENGAGED A LYRI C AN UNTUTORED MIND THE VILLAGE SCHOOL A COLONIAL MISSIVE GOOD- NI GHT SONNETS BREE! ES OF MORNING A PACIFIC DAWN A BUTTERFLY IN WALL STREET THE DANCING GYPSY STRATEGY — RE AWAKENING CONTENTS MISS THOMAS ’ S A NEW YEAR ’ S MASQUE FRENCH FOLLIES CO PAN AND I ME , , P PE WHEN TWILI GHT COMES AN OLD ROND O B EHIND HER FAN HER CHINA CUP TO CUPID ! A A AW A ! ” W KE , KE TO MY LOVE VAL ENTINE TO AN ANONYMOUS MISS A COQUETTE A SWELL OF RHYME TO AUSTIN DOBSON

LYRICS FOR A LUTE FANCY TO FANCY THE HARBOR OF DREAMS

BREATH OF SONG . OMAR KHAYYAM REVERY AT MIDNI GHT ISRAFEL BACKLOG DREAMS SORCERY MOTHS ON A GREEK VASE MOODS FULFILMENT MNEMOSYNE’ S MIRROR TIME ’ S SONG ATTAINMENT Vii CONTENTS ALLAH’ S HOUSE PERPETUITY QUATRAINS SUNRISE MOONRISE A HOLLYHOCK WINTER ’ S B EGGAR CONTRAST SUN AND MOON SURF MUSIC LYRI CS LOVE AN OLD SONG THE LAST LETTER PEPITA HER SMILE HI S SUNLI GHT TO A ROSE UNDER HER BALCONY AD ASTRA CONTENTMENT HELIOTROPE VALENTINES ON A CLOCK TO WINTER HI S STARLI GHT UNSPOKEN SONG THE NUN ’ S ROSE MEMORIES DIRGE NOCTURNE REMEMBRANCE

A GREETIN G FOR SPRING viii CONTENTS

— THE SKY SHI P A WOODLAND SPRING THE NAIAD ’ S CUP ETERNITY LANE STORM IN THE CLOVER WINTER STARLIGHT DAYB REAK B OOKS ASPIRATION — THE FLY LEAF TO THE READER

FORGOTTEN BOOKS TO HI S B OOK

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS TO THE LITTLE READERS BLOSSOMS ANEMONE DAI SIES SPRING ’ S COMING — GOLDEN ROD

[ ix CONTENTS DECEMB ER KING B ELL IN THE MEAD OW FAIRY JEWELS THE FOUR WINDS HUMMING- B IRD SONG PEB B LES IN THE ORCHARD A REAL SANTA CLAUS CHERRI ES FLYING KITE KRI SS KRIN GLE WI! AR D FROST THE JUGGLER A FAI RY STORY THE SHADOWS — — HI DE AND SEEK THE ARCHER A FUNNY FELLOW SPINNING TOP SMILES AND TEAR S

CLOUDS LEAVES AT PLAY SHADOW PI CTURES GHOST FAIRI ES SONG FOR WINTER A DEWDROP JESTER B EE SNOWFLAKES DREAMS — MAY CHIL DRE N ROB IN ’ S APOLOGY

SOLDIERS OF THE SUN ° I x l CONTENTS SNOW SONG

ELFI'N LAMPS BIRDS’ MUSIC SHADOW CHILDRE N FAIRY SHIPWRECK BEES THE WATERFALL

WINTER ’ S ACROBATS VACATION SONG — THE SNOW BIRD THE FAI RI ES’ DANCE THE ROSE ’ S CUP — THE SNOW WEAVER — THE STORY TELLER THE RAINBOW THE STORY OF OMAR THE CHRISTMAS CAT

LYRICS OF JOY FANCY CONFESSION WITCHERY DIES ULTIMA A TEAR B OTTLE THE DAY’ S SHROUD A SEA GHOST A BIRD ’ S ELEGY SECRET THE POET THE CHARM HIS DESIRE THE MUSE THE INTERPRETER

W ITH HERRICK CANOE SONG A GARLAND A PRAYER

THE YEAR ’ S DAY ARB UTUS VIOLET APRIL MAY MORNING HONEYSUCKLES W INTER DREAMS WHITE MAGIC FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW NANTUCKET LOVE TO JULIET ROSE LORE THE B OWER OF CUPID MOONLI GHT AND MUSIC IN AB SENCE FOR MUSIC LOVE ’ S SPRINGTIDE TO HER MY APRIL A MAY MADRI GAL NOCTURNE MEMORI ES A SONG ’ S ECHO WITH ROSES TW O SONGS SONNETS I xii SAINT ROSE SURF MUSIC TO A MOCKING BIRD MUSIC THE SHOWER THE WINTER POOL

THE SNOW’ S DREAMER THE CATHEDRAL B ELLS

DAWN STORM DUSK STARLIGHT A SEA FANCY MASTERY DERELICT FOG THE PENALTY LIFE THE GOAL KNOWLEDGE IN A GARDEN IVY GRASS ROSE DAY DREAM FIRE FANCIES CITY SPARROWS WRIT IN WATER CONTRAST A WI SH UNCOLLECTED POEMS THE LOOM OF SONG [ xiii ] CONTENTS ECHO THE BROOK ACCOMPANIMENT MOONLIGHT THE FORTRESS OF SAN MARCO THE FAMILIAR MELODY TWILIGHT ROMANCE BROADWAY AT MIDNIGHT THE END OF AUTUMN THE LONELY ROOM ON A BRON! E MEDAL OF LINCOLN FOR POPPIES GIPSY EXPERIENCE LABOR OMNIA VINCIT AUTUMN LEAVES THE TREE TAVERN NOCTURNE A FIRST EDITION THE HOUSE OF DREAMS LIMITATION THE IMMORTAL FLOWER INDEX OF FIRST LINES INDEX OF TITLES I NTRO D U CTI ON

a 1 6 o N the ye r 33, there landed in Bost n two brothers , S S m o o amuel and Philip her an, wh se ancest r, in di

wa s S G rect line, one Thomas herman, entleman, a man D C En of parts and prominence in iss , ounty Norfolk, g

wa s land, during the reign of Henry VII . It from the

o younger of these two brothers, Philip, a pers n of note S in his day, he having been the first ecretary of the C m R F olony of Ports outh, hode Island, that rank

Dempster Sherman was descended .

wa s New The poet born in Peekskill, York, on May

6 1 860 . , , being the oldest of a family of nine children

wa s D S m His father John empster her an, an educator L Ma cFa rla nd and bookman, and his mother, ucy , of S S cotch ancestry . Mr . herman passed his boyhood relimi days in his native town , where he received his p

a t A nary education the Peekskill Military cademy .

For m wa s a ti e, just before entering college, he secre

Ca indr who tary to Mr . William de y, of Washington , D wa s connected with the War epartment . He entered C U 1 8 m olumbia niversity in the autumn of 79, co plet 1 8 8 m ing his course in 4 , being co pelled, on account

- wa s of ill health, to drop back a class . He one of the A first graduates of the School of rchitecture, a depart R A t ment founded by Professor William . Ware . Harvard U niversity he passed a year in post-graduate study, but was obliged to give this up owing to the [ XV ] INTRODUCTION

influ physical breakdown of his father . Through the F ence of Professor Ware, he was made a ellow in 1 8 8 A t A rchitecture at Columbia in 7 . this institution he wa s in turn instructor adjunct professor and Professor of Graphics The last d named position he held at his eath , which occurred 1 1 1 6 On 1 6 on the 9th of September, 9 . the th of No vember 1 8 8 a D , 7 , he married Juliet Mersere u urand, of Peekskill . Of his atta inments as an instructor one of his col leagues has sa id In the School of A rchitecture Pro fe ssor S herman was not merely an extraordinarily bril a liant lecturer on mathematical subjects , but lso the u g ide, counselor, and friend of his students . His work will live in the lives of hundreds of those whom he inspired, and in the progress and development of the w School, for hich more than once, in of per ! times l exit C p y and uncertainty, his wise counsels and lear d headed Vision had prove of inestimable value . A ’ v nother of Mr . Sherman s Uni ersity associates F G cor (Professor ranklin H . iddings! tenders this dial tribute ! To those who knew Frank Dempster Sherman in the intimacy of colleagues the trait that marked him wa s his cheerful faithfulness to da y-by

A S day duty . a teacher he gave himself without stint, and from students he demanded knowledge and accu wa racy . His own exquisite workmanship s more than wa s re talent ; it also fidelity . His genius for tireless search and relentless verification made his exhaustive genealogy of the Sherman kindred a work that will [ xvi ] INTRODUCTION

be cited for generations as a standard- setting achieve F or ment . kindred and friends nothing that he could

wa s give too good, and sacrifice of time and strength

was a thing of course . He would help another fellow to get the right sta rt in professional work or in author

wa s r A nd ship with an enthusiasm that ti eless . all these things he did and was because his helpful living

own L rics o o had in it the quality of his y f j y . I never

a nd heard him called Professor among his colleagues , ’ F rarely S herman . To everybody he was rank or D ’ empster .

In addition to his activities as poet /and professor, a nd his comprehensive and untiring genealogical re e Mr a s arches, . Sherman was an enthusi stic philatelist

- S and collector of book plates . His kill as a draughts

- deS I nm man led him latterly into book plate g g, where he might easily have distinguished himself had he — S O cared to do . More than one editor has attested to ’ i i his delight in rece v ng Mr . Sherman s manuscripts ,

CO er- for his chirography was like pp plate , as any one

‘ may discern who cares to examine his remarkable rec ords of the S herman family now preserved in the genealogical department of the New York Public L i b r ra y . d A e Mr. Sherman was a poet of moo s . fter long p riods S S of ilence, the hores of Nantucket, the seclusion C C of the atskills, the pine groves of the arolinas, the A quaintness of St . ugustine streets , would move him

. F to sudden and sustained bursts of song urthermore, he left behind him a mass of ungathered material (not xvii INTRODUCTION

contained in the present volume! , printed under vari

- ous pen names , facile, witty, and possessed of a gra cious A charm, that is practically unrivaled in merican

. C wa s poetry While at olumbia he a contributor to,

' o Ad d Col umbza mz and one of the edit rs of, the ; at Harvard he wrote both for the Ad voca te and the L a m p oon ; and later his name wa s frequently seen in all

r the prominent pe iodicals of the country . I

' ’ ’ ' ‘ Hzc Aa bzza t f el zczta s Render this Latin phrase as d a you will, in a broad or a restricte sense, it pplies with S ingular fitness to the poetry of Frank Dempster L Sherman . ooking into the crystal of life, the scenes that were most actively and vividly presented to his

I magination were those of beauty and happiness , and n C of these he sa g with an unfailing larity and charm . F rom first to last a firm believer in art, he never mis took this much misunderstood term for artifice . Early n to recog ize his limitations, it was thus that he pro claimed his credo

’ In na ture s open book An epic is the sea ; A lyri c is the brook; Ly rics for me !

So while he wa s an ardent admirer of all that is high E C est and truest in nglish poetry from haucer down, it wa s that which is strictly lyrical that exercised for

o him the most p tent appeal . S L n When Mr . herman began writing, o gfellow, [ xviii ]

INTRODUCTION

ne u O notes no groping after a medi m of expression, no immaturity in handling the thought, as is the case with many a youthful writer . ’ Ma d rz a l s a nd Ca tclzes g , the poet s earliest venture IS I n S NO in bookmaking, nsti ct with a debonair pirit . initial volume by any singer is more buoyant or more blithe .

’ How ea sy t is to write a rhyme !

lilts this gay devotee of the Muses . How easy indeed for so merry- hearted a troubadour ! Here are many things airy and amatory . Youth, exuberant youth ,

S . ? ings, with no pose of age Sentiment yes , but with

a All out touch of mawkishness . is simple, sincere, L and spontaneous . atterly Mr . Sherman expressed

S regret not infrequently that, at the outset, he hould have won recognition and no small reputation as a S writer of what Mr . tedman once aptly styled Patri R ” cia n . hyme This feeling on his part , however, seems unwarranted, for he was a master of Society Verse . F a r more welcome oftentimes the gay Benedict than ! D ” n the moody ane ; and pleasa t it is, on occasion, to turn from the stern gravity of Milton or the lofty earnestness of Wordsworth to the bonhommie Of L Pra ed and ocker . So the charm in the gay aban ’ ” S E ! An don of such pieces as herman s ngaged, ”

A G . vowal, and Her uitar is undeniable

Ma dm a k a nd Ca tckes S O- In the days of g , the called ” French F orms were fascinating many poets in Eng A E r land and merica . xperimenting in these rest icted xx 1 INTRODUCTION S limits, Mr . herman achieved no little success . Indeed ” it may be doubted if such ! F ollies (this wa s the ’ ” Fa n poet s name for them! as Behind Her , Her ” ” C Cu A a A hina p , and w ke, wake, have been equaled D by any writer save Mr . obson . III Passing over the clever fooling in a volume enti

' tl ed M w W a zn s o Ol d Ta l es i In con unc gg g f , wr tten j we tion with John Kendrick Bangs, find our poet com

I ' in L s L a t rzc or a e . ing fully to his own y f Here , in the O n m peni g poe , he puts this question

I s there a ny fetter strong Tha w ll hold ou soul of son ? t i y , g S W . hatever that fetter may be, Mr herman had dis it covered , for this whole volume breathes the soul ” — Of . song In it , however varied the theme , love, the nature, books, the art is perfect, music magical .

The freshness of youth has not been left behind, but with it is blended maturity . There is youth in Her S ” Smile His unlight, but there is an older vision in R ” such an exquisite lyric as emembrance .

D a y to my hea rt W ith you comes a lwa ys fa ir ; W hen you depa rt ’ T is wili h here t g t t .

Then l ove unba rs The doo of d ea ms for me r r , And lights the sta rs Of memory ! [ xxi ] INTRODUCTION

It is a wider experience, too, out of which grew the A t ” brief poem Midnight, in which such an unusual is and beautiful metaphor embodied .

See onde the belf owe , y r , ry t r ’ Tha t glea ms in the moon s pa l e light ! Or is it a ghostl y flower Tha t drea ms in the sil ent night

I li sten a nd hea r the chime ’ Go ua e n o er the own q v ri g t , And out of this flower of Time Twel e e a l s a re f e n v p t wa t d dow .

L rics or a L a te It may be said that in y f Mr . Sher

S - man first hows himself a true nature lover, and, in S some degree, an interpreter . In heer lyrical sweep and rapture A Greeting for S pring ” may be set side C ’ A ” S . by ide with Mr arman s lovely Mother pril . No one save an enamored hunter after first editions could have written the book poems which close this volume . No verses upon a library could be happier than those beginning,

Give me a room where every nook I s dedi ca ted to a book; and no couplet could be finer or more tender than the

who following, in the final selection, addressed to one throughout much of the poet ’ s life meant to him both inspiration and aspiration

’ Her pra ise is inspira tion s brea th ; ’ Her scorn were a spira tion s dea th !

[ xxii ] INTRODUCTION

IV

Were one making up a shelf of poetry for children, two there are books that , at the beginning, one would

' ’ ’ S o Ckil d s unhesitatingly choose . These are tevens n s ’ Ga rden of Vers es and S herman s L i ttl e- Folk Ly rics and it would be purely a matter of taste which to place

own a first, for each has its especi l merit and charm .

‘ - s Mr S m In L ittl e Folk Ly r ic . herman co es very near o the do to the heart of childho d , ability to which is a m unique gift . In i agination he never goes so far that the youthful mind may not accompany him . He writes

aéoa t or m not juvenility, but f it, and does not istake E the childish for the childlike . verywhere he is cheery,

h u suggestive, fanciful . In turn delicate, sprightly or morous , he leads the little folk on through the months of the year amid birds, blossoms , fruit, and snowflakes . It would be a strange Child who would not be beguiled

VCrse- by these delightful, these Winsome, pictures for in each, whatever be the theme, there is that mixture S of fact and ideality, the ights and sounds and inci dents, which characterize and illuminate the child

' drama . V

’ Mr . Sherman s last book (with the exception of a

S A S oa tker n Fl z kt light volume, g , published jointly

wa s L r ics o o with a friend! y f j y , which appeared in

1 0 . 9 4 In its pages, as many times previously, the note now of happiness is dwelt upon, but with a touch of C ” gravity, as seen in the closing stanza of onfession . xxiii INTRODUCTION

So a ll m l r cs s n of o y y i i g jy , And sha ll until my lips a re mute ; In old a ge ha ppy a s the boy

To whom God ga ve the l ute .

There is, moreover, now and again a shadow, a chord a of p thos, which serves by contrast to add a bright ness to the poetic conception . This may be discerned ” in D A such pieces as ies Ultima and Tear Bottle, more especially in the latter which tells of the glass wherein the tears of a Greek girl fell two thousand years ago . We sense a certa in poignant regret in

Lon Art but L fe how r e ! g is , i b i f And the end seems so unjust This compa nion of her grief He e to-da whil e she is us ! r y , d t

’ It was Mr . Sherman s frequent claim that the son wa s a net form in which he failed, but his experiments A fl with it hardly justify his contention . Butter y in

Wall Street, with its Vivid last line,

You a re a e of he uncer a in ol typ t ir t g d, will compare favorably with the best American son nets and in Ly rics of joy and among the Uncol l ected P oems are other instances of his S kill in nurturing the ” lovely flower of fourteen perfect petals .

VI

D - f O . uring the last six years his life, Mr Sherman A wrote no poetry . fter a summer of unusual produc tivit y , spent in one of the most delightful vales of the C e atskills, he became intensely absorbed in the gen xxiv l INTRODUCTION

alogy of the Sherman family, the outcome of which

remains tod ay a marvel of industry and achievement . A lthough he grew, without reason, to consider him

a n self part of the past, he never lost i terest in the art

which, for so long a time, had been nearest to his heart . Vital and exceptionally brilliant as an instructor

and lecturer in the realm of architecture, he was no F less illumining when he spoke of poetry . rom the days of his early enthusiasms when, walking at twilight C ' under the ambridge elms, he would improvise sonnet,

b wa s rondeau, or allade with an ease that the despair the of those less versatile, until the last weeks before

! end , his ability to discriminate between the true and wa s false in verse as remarkable as it was unerring . A lthough in practice he was a precisian, his likings m and sy pathies were broad . ’ S n a In all Mr . herma s poetry there is fine certitude, d an inevitableness . He fashione an epigram with the

sa me surety with which a carver cuts an intaglio . His A vision was never clouded . long whatsoever ways he

o led, the paths were un bscured by an illusory haze .

Many are his fancies and figures , and each is definite A . S and sharp of outline another has said, his poems have a compactness and completeness of organism

that, make them memorable When more ambitious

e not verse has b en forgotten, it would be surprising S m ’ if some of Mr . her an s exquisite lyrics would hold their place in the thought and memory of our children ’ s

children . CL I TO COL L AR N N S D . B I B LI O G RAP HY

Ma dr a l s a nd a l ckes A C . ig White, Stokes llen, 1 8 8 New York, 7 .

’ N i s o Ol d Ta l es W ith ohn n ew W a gg ng f . ( J Ke drick C 1 8 8 Bangs . ! Ticknor ompany, Boston, 7 .

L r s or a L a te Mifflin ic . C y f Houghton ompany, 1 8 0 Boston, 9 .

L i ttl e Folk Mifll in C Houghton ompany,

1 8 2 . Boston, 9

L ri s o o Mifflin C a c . y f j y Houghton omp ny, Boston,

1 904 .

Fl lzt C ig . (With linton Scollard . ! C 1 0 George William Browning, linton, New York, 9 5 .

TO MY FATHER

Ma driga l s a nd ca tches ca ught I n the ca ge of Ha ppy - thought Are these a ma tory rhymes ; Reveri es of olden times W hen my hea rt wa s ever bent A ter some new sentiment f , Veeri ng li ke a ship a t sea W i th the tides o melod f y, Trembli ng like the sta rs a bove W ith ea ch l a st-di scovered l ove.

These a re son s or l a dsome outh g f g y , Ha lf i n jest a nd ha lf i n truth Lyri cs light a s ga l es tha t toss Lea ves the orcha rd oor a cross fl , Lyri cs ga y a s ca rol s sung ossom-l a den vi nes a mon B l g, All pitched i n a major key Ca tch a nd ma driga l a nd gl ee S ongs whose i nspira ti on ca me I n the consta nt l ea pi ngfl a me Of my l ove for Her whose eyes Look on us rom P a ra di se f , And my l ove for you whose hea rt ’ Ga ve L‘ ove s ma ri ner the cha rt Tha t he mightfind only joy me o r b Onl o or u o . y jy f , y y MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

FA N CY

IFT the oars and let us go

Whither listless winds may blow, D rifting idly with the tide,

S Kissing grasses either ide, Skimming deeps that lie between Bending willow-branches green ’ On 11 , and on, and on we float With no pilot for our boat

Save the zephyr, cool and bland,

L - isping from the launching land, G d o uide by no stars ab ve,

Only lucent eyes of love . we S l Sailing, at last hal reach

Silver sands of island beach, Where a seaward-blown perfume

Hints of orchard fruit and bloom . In this golden ocean-isle L et h us wander for a w ile, Plucking from its treasure-trees

Apples of Hespe rides . MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

MORNING MIST

CROSS the level meadow-land

There hangs a veil of vapor white, Like some forgotten robe of night H ’ eld in the morning s rosy hand .

A - run long the grass the wind waves , ’ A nd wake the witches weird refrain ’ Behold the ghost of last night s rai n ! A nd 10 ! , it melts before the sun

Then comes a rustle in the wood, A s if upon the leaves were cast A — sudden spell, the ghost has passed Into their shadowed solitude !

DAWN AND DUSK

I L ENDER strips of crimson a Ne r the dim horizon lie, Shot across with golden bars Reaching to the fading stars ; Soft the balmy west wind blows Wide the portals of the rose ; Of Smell dewy pine and fir, Lisping leaves and vines astir ; [ 4 1 DAW N AND DUSK

On the borders of the dark

w- Gayly sings the meado lark,

Bidding all the birds assemble, ! Hark, the welkin seems to tremble Suddenly the sunny gleams

a o - Bre k the p ppy fettered dreams , D reams of Pan, with two feet cloven,

Piping to the nymph and faun,

Who, with wreaths of ivy woven, N imbly dance to greet the dawn .

II

Shifting Shadows indistinct ; L v ea es and branches , crossed and linked, C ling like children, and embrace, ’ F o rightened at the m on s pale face . In the gloomy wood begins Noise of insect violins ; Swarms of fireflies flash their la mps

In their atmospheric camps, A nd the sad-voiced whip-poor-will E bill choes back from hill to ,

L C o iquid lear ab ve the crickets, C o s hirping in the th rny thicket ,

Weary eyelids , eyes that weep, Wait the magic touch of sleep ; dew While the , in silence falling, F ills the air with scent of musk,

And - this lonely night bird, calling, D rops a note down through the dusk . [ s ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

SUMMER

EADOW S lost in clouds of mist Grass whose lips the dew has kissed Buds whose fra grant breath is drawn Through the freshness of the dawn Vines in whose S light pulses flows Life-blood of the crimson rose ; Flocks of happy-hearted birds Talking in melodious words ;

Brooks, unfettered by the Spring,

Through the pastures murmuring, Children prattling in their glee Chasing to the mother sea ;

- Soft south breezes, gentle rain, Rival wooers of the plain ; Here a nd there beside the path Flowers emerging from their bath ;

-floods o n Waving forest f gree , L eaves with blossoms white between .

Ah ! the bud is open now,

Hints of fruit hang on the bough, A nd the velvet rose is born

At the coming. of the mom ’ There s a gladness in the sun

Speaks of something new begun, [ 6 ] INDIAN SUMMER Of a work mysterious

Nature has performed for us . ’ Hark ! the honey-bee s low hum ’ Tells us that the summer s come !

IND IA N SUMMER

CROSS the billowy meadow grasses

The Summer passes with languid tread, A nd where she journeys the path is burning, A nd leaves are turning to brown and red .

She goes in silence across the valley Where low winds rally around her track And touch her garment and murmur, Maiden, ! With roses laden come back, come back

She no t She does not heed them , does listen ; Her soft eyes glisten with welling tears ; Her heart grows heavy for not replying TO to s verdure dying, prayers she hear .

She But once, in sorrow, turns and lingers

To kiss the fingers fast growing cold, ’ And all the Earth for a moment S pleasure

Yields up her treasure of yellow gold .

[ 7 1 MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

THE ICE—PRISONER

O r B VE, a dome of g ay below, landscape carpeted with snow No bird so warmly clad or bold W h o dares to brave the bitter cold . I find within the silent wood A solitude of solitude . Through leafless trees no breeze is blown

To hint that I am not alone, NO echo cracks the crystal a ir The world about me seems to wear A a look of pe ceful loneliness, Remembering the soft caress Of s summer winds that robbed the flower ,

A nd music measuring the hours . Throughout the land the hush of death ! Of ! I breathe, and, lo, the ghost breath ’ The crisp snow crunches nea th my tread

Like fallen twigs and branches dead .

But hark ! A long the frozen ground mdfll ed I catch a liquid sound, A voice that sings of Paradise,

L ow i murmur ng in walls of ice, A melody that seems to run

To find aga in the truant sun . I hear the fettered pulses stir Of winter ’ s happy prisoner [ 8 ]

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

. Until their empty hands with blossoms fill

A nd - tempt the honey bees .

Blow, wind of March, and wake The S leeping violets with gentle words ; Spread your green canopy of leaves and make A shelter for the birds .

Blow, sturdy wind of March, ’ A nd burst the winter s frosty prison-bars ; ’ Blow all the Clouds from heaven s azure arch

A nd stud it with white stars .

Blow, wind of March , aye, blow,

Until the orchards heed your voice, and bloom Then whisper softly where the wild flowers grow ’ About the winter s tomb .

A N APR IL CAROL

PRI L ! R n S n obi , i g to greet her ; D own the meadow dart to meet her ! She See, brings the leaf and flower, F S ickle sun and fickle hower,

Gives the day another hour,

Makes the breezes sweeter .

April !

Maidens , lend your faces Dimpled smiles and gentle graces ! [ 10 1 IDYLLI C

’ - See, she brings the blue bells chimes ,

l overs Tardy with their rhymes , her Steals days from warmer climes,

Nights from dewy places .

April !

Song, be blithe and tender ; ! Music, sound with double splendor

She See, brings the warbling birds,

Troops of bees and dappled herds, e T aches love mysterious words,

Bids the heart surrender .

I DYL L IC

O lie beneath a cloudless Sky On moss beside a Shallow brook Where smells of wild-flowersi n the dells

Make me forgetful of my book, of S To dream hepherd with his crook, Of Sh eep on grassy slopes asleep , To catch a visionary look Of a shepherdess , and he r her step F all like a whisper on the ground,

To watch her sunny smiles , and see

Her dainty garments , soft and snowy , F old gracefully her form around, ’ T is like a day in S icily D With aphnis and his sweetheart Chloe .

[ I I ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

A GLOW—WORM

LOSE by the margin tufts of gra ss

Weighed down with dew and damp,

I found you as I chanced to pass, Your trimmed and shining lamp Illumining with greenish light The dusty road in dusky night

A velvet ring set round with gems That softly shone below ’ a The p le blue chicory s tall stems , A s if the path to S how To some belated beetle who Went stumbling homeward in the dew

A phosphorescent beacon there, A solitary guide For insect ships that sail the air On breaths of fragrant tide Or were you from some realm on high A star dropped from the summer Sky ?

IN AN OL D GA RDEN

HREE giant fi r- trees reach their arms

TO S hade this quiet garden plot, A nd here and there a fragrant knot

Of roses tempts the buzzing swarms . [ I 2 ] W I TH A ROSE Amid a host of alien weeds Spring faces of familiar blooms a Which, bre thing stories in perfumes,

Seem ghosts of some forgotten seeds .

n The creeping vi e, its tendrils round m box The crooked rows of untrim ed , F c orsaken now, methinks it kno ks n To gai admittance to the ground .

Al l s , all is wa te and desolate, r The blowing firs are full of g ief, The blue-bird hidden by a leaf w q Sings sorro y to his mate .

The sca ttered flowers alone are ga y ;

Their fragrance fills the gentle Wind, And I w d a nd ,_ gro n drowsy, ream find

The long forgotten yesterday .

WITH A ROSE

TINY fire within this rose L ends to the leaves a crimson flush Like tha t soft tint which comes and goes ’ A nd weaves a modest maiden s blush . So to my Sweet this censer bloom ’ S wung by L ove s little acolyte

I send, that all its fine perfume May floa t around her through the [ 1 3 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

’ GO R i , ose, unto my heart s des re, Perchance her love for yo u may frame A dream Of Cupids in a choir All n cha ting lyrics to her name .

And when the dream shall end at last, A S priceless gift hall be your fee, TO feel her kisses falling fast

Upon your lips for love of me .

TO A DA ISY

EE F e , little rimless wheel of at , S With silver pokes and hub of yellow,

What gentle girl, in accents mellow, Has sought your aid to find a mate ?

sna t S Who p your slender pokes apart, Each one some dear acquaintance naming? A nd who was he the loved one, claiming The choicest chamber in her heart ?

O tiny hub of golden hue, ’ he Kissed by r fingers tender pressing, ’ She S Still yet, methinks , vainly guessing

If what you prophesied were true .

fin er- You died between her g tips, Sweet gypsy maid of wisdom magic ;

Pray, is it worth a death so tragic To hear the music of her lips ? [ 14 ] TO A DANDELION

ON SOME BUTTERCUPS

L L E C n ITT way below her hi , C ’ aught in her bosom s snowy hem ,

Some buttercups are fastened in, Ah ! , how I envy them

They do not miss their meadow place, Nor are they conscious that the ir skies

A re not the heavens but her face,

Her hair and tender eyes .

There, in the downy meshes pinned , e Such sweet illusions haunt th ir rest , hi They t nk her breath the fragrant wind, A nd tremble on her breast;

A S if, close to her heart , they heard A a c ptive secret slip its cell, A nd with desire were sudden stirred To find a voice and tell !

TO A DA NDEL ION

ITTLE mimic of the sun, n Hidi g in the fragrant grass, Have you any kisses won F rom the pretty maids who pass ? When the sun S lips down the west [ 15 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

Some fair girl shall come in quest Of the secret which you lock In your tiny golden breast a You shall he r an airy knock, ’ A nd a question : What o clock ?

Ah , you dainty, snowy ghost, See what bliss your wisdom brings !

Tell me, pray, what angels boast Such a zephyr for their wings ? t Jus because the hour you tell,

She repays your magic well, Wafts you off to paradise ; Sounds for you a gentle knell ; Lights your journey with her eyes Would that I were half so wise !

A PPL E BL OSSOMS

HE soft wind whispered secrets to the apple tree, Caressed her in his arms and would not let her go Until the rosy blossoms came triumphantly To tell the one ' sweet message that he wished to

know .

A timid maiden with her lover lingered there

S In ilence, clasping hands amid the leaves that fell, Till one bold blossom drifting down the perfumed air

Just touched her rounded cheek, and bade the

blushes tell . 16 l

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

PA NSIES FOR THOUGHTS

OR you these tiny flowers are cut,

- These slender stemmed, rich purple pa nsies A thousand thoughts and tender fancies e S Within th ir little hearts are hut . Sweet memories of happy hours e We sp nt together, dear romances, L C ’ ike love in one of upid s glances, s Hide in the fragrance of these flower .

NOBI L ITY

HE sturdy wind that fills the ship ’ s white sail

A nd - s turns the mighty mill wheel when it blow ,

O b - nce reathed the love song of the nightingale , A nd wafted him the perfume of the rose .

Let him who seeks a god-like man to find

Think of the wind, and seek its counterpart ’ The tempest s strength , matched by a noble mind, The zephyr by a pure and gentle heart !

A BUNCH OF QUATRA INS

A Q U ATRAIN

A RK at the lips of this pink whorl Of shell ’ A nd you Shall hear the ocean s surge and roar ’ S O l in the quatrain s measure, written wel , A thousand lines shall all be sung in four ! [ 1 8 ] BACCHUS

A RED ROSE

’ NCE a , long ago, in some sweet g rden s hush ,

A - : lover gave you, snow white , to his love And sa w , lifted to her lips, you her blush A nd blushed to match her damask cheek above .

APRIL

’ ea s S any child, this baby of the y r i e Made glad with toys , forgets imag ned wo s A a Thus comes young pril smiling through her te rs,

a . Her toys the flowers, her grief the v nished snows

BA CCHUS

E IST N to the tawny thief, i a Hid beh nd the waxen le f,

Growling at his fairy host, Bidding her with angry boast Fill his cup with wine distilled From the dew the dawn has spilled Stored away in golden ca sks

Is the precious draught he asks .

— Who, who makes this mimic

In this mimic meadow inn,

Sings in such a drowsy note, Wears a golden-belted coa t ; [ I 9 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

L oiters in the dainty room Of this tavern of perfume Dares to linger at the cup Till the yellow sun is up ?

It is Bacchus come again To the busy haunts of men ; Ga rlanded and gayly dressed, Bands of gold about his breast ; Straying from his paradise;

n - Having pinions, a gel wise, ’ T - s is the honey bee , who goe Reveling within a rose !

A L YRIC

L R C Y I is a tiny bird,

Gay lover of the garden blooms, Whose little heart is ever stirred

By colors and perfumes .

Its flights are near the lowly things, ’ Not to the eagle- epic s Skies : It is content to flash its wings ’ Beneath my loved one s eyes .

Go then , my song, you have the chart

To guide you to a gentle clime, GO t build your nest, and thrill her hear With flutterings of rhyme 20 I A CATCH

A CATCH

F any grace

To me belong,

In song, Know then your face Has been to me A key ; F or pitched in this D elicious tone, ’ I ve known I could not miss What music slips

Your lips .

If faults be found In any line Of mine, To mar the sound Of notes that try To vie

With yours , my Sweet,

Then, always true, D O you

The words repeat, A nd make sublime My rhyme MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

A SNA RE

OVE I locked upon a time

In the fetters of my rhyme, Bound his feet and fixed his ha nds

F - e irm in fancy forg d bands, Fastened with a dainty twist

C - ouplet gyves around his wrist . a Se led his lips and left him dumb,

Prisoner till She should come .

Then I said unto my H eart

By this magic, by this art, You S hall learn if She be kind

To your constancy, or blind L ike the rhyme your chains are stout C D aptive in the dungeon oubt, There you languish at the door

Praying freedom evermore .

L ’ If She pity ove s distress, If r , with maiden tende ness,

” his S She bands and fetters lip, Murmuring with trembling lip L e ink d music of my song,

Be of cheer ; for then, erelong, A t ’11 your bars her face you see, Then the lock S hall feel the key — Turn its rusty round, and then, Love know liberty again ! [ 22 ] A MADRI GAL

A MADRIGAL

L L the world is bright, All my heart is merry,

Violets and roses red, S parkling in the dew ’ Brow the lily s white ; — Lip the crimson berry ; a Hark, I hear a lightsome tre d, Ah ’ t ! , my love, is you

Wing to me , birds , and sing to me ; None so happy as I Onl y the merriest melodies bring to me

When my beloved is by .

All the air is sweet, A ll a my he rt is quiet, Fleecy clouds on breezes warm Floating far above Eye where soft lights meet Cheek where roses riot ; L ook, I see a gracious form , Ah ’ t ! , is you, my love

a nd S Wing to her, birds, ing to her ; None S O happy as she ! O n nly the merriest melodies bri g to her, Only this message from me ! [ 23 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

A BETROTHA L

LO VE you, he whispered low,

In joy, for a moment bold ; A nd suddenly, white as snow,

The warm little hand grew cold .

I love you, again he said, A nd touched the soft finger -tips ;

But shyly she bent her head, TO hide the two trembling lips .

— e I love you, she turned her fac . His heart overfill ed with fea r ; 10 e When , on her cheek the trac Of one tiny passion-tear !

I love you, he gently spoke,

A nd - kissed her, sweet, tearful eyed ; The rose-blossom fetters broke : ”

ou . I love y , too, they replied

A PERSIAN DANCING GIRL

AS MINES tangled in her hair E bon hair that loosely hangs, L ooped with silver serpent fangs,

Swa ying in the scented air . [ 24 ]

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

A nd w love like a bird carols one soft ord, a Sweethe rt, to the sapphire skies ; And floating aloft comes an echo soft Sweetheart ” your eyes !

a t Sweethe rt, the year is swee With fragrance of the rose That bends before your feet A S to the gale that blows . And love like a bird quavers one low word, : Sweetheart, to the garden place And across the glow comes an echo low Sweetheart your face !

a Sweethe rt, the year grows old ; Upon the meadows brown And forests, waving gold,

The stars look, trembling, down . And love like a bird whispers one pure word, t Sweetheart, o the cooling air ; A nd the breezes sure wa ft an echo pure Sweetheart —your hair

Sweetheart; the year wanes fast ; The summer birds have flown From winter ’ s spiteful blast

- Unto a sun bound zone . And love like a bird warbles one clear word,

Sweetheart, to the balmy south ; A nd back to my ear comes an echo clea r Sweetheart your mouth ! 26 l — THE BOOK HUNTER

e Sw etheart , the year is gone ; L ean closer to my heart ! Time only weighs upon

The loves that dwell apart . A nd d love like a bird with his whole soul stirre , S weethea rt Shall carol his glee ; A nd to you I ll Cling while the echoes ring Sweetheart for me

THE BOOK—HUNTER

CU P f of co fee, eggs , and rolls, S usta in him in his morning strolls

-b Unconscious of the passers y, He trudges on with downcast eye ; a r tieer a He we s a q old hat and co t, S uggestive of a style remote ; n d His man er is preoccupie , A S a h mbling gait , from side to side .

F or S - n him the leek, bright wi dowed shop

Is all in vain, he does not stop . His thoughts are fixed on dusty S helves

Where musty volumes hide themselves , R a nd are prints of poetry prose,

And n o quai tly lettered f lios , r Perchance a parchment manusc ipt, e In some forgotten corner slipp d, Or monk-illumined missal bound In vellum With brass Clasps around ; [ 27 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES These are the pictured things that throng

His mind the while he walks along .

A a dingy street, a cell r dim,

- ffi With book lined walls , su ces him . The dust is white upon his S leeves ;

- s He turns the yellow, dog eared leave With just the same religious look

That priests give to the Holy Book . He does not heed the stifling air

If so he find a treasure there .

He knows rare books , like precious wines, ’ A re hidden where the sun ne er shines ; For him delicious flavors dwell In books as in old Muscatel ; He finds in features of the type

A clew to prove the grape was ripe . A nd when he leaves this dismal place, ! Behold, a smile lights up his face

Upon his cheeks a genial glow, n Withi his hand Boccaccio, A first edition worn with age,

- Firenz e on the title page .

A T THE D OOR

HAT time the night-bird to the rose

Sings of his love, I seek her garden-plot where grows A blossom-laden vine that throws It s arms above, 28 l A REMINISCENCE

A nd S a c les the weary stretch of stone , Until at length C It lasps her lattice open thrown, And sees the sweet face of my own, A nd finds new strength .

How often I have strived to climb L ove ’ s barrier wall Upon the ladder of my rhyme A little way, yet, time on time,

I faint and fall .

Methinks if once I could but rise

Up to the bars , A nd gather courage from those eyes — To speak S O close unto the S kies Unto the stars

A ! las, my fancy goes no more Perhaps ’ t would be

A s if, with weary feet and sore, I came to Heaven ’ s closed door

Without a key .

A REMINISCENCE

ERE H was a time, fond girl, Were partial to caresses ; Before your graceful figure grew TOO tall for ankle-dresses ; [ 29 ] MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

” W the hen Keys and Pillows , and Of sentimental pastimes, W ere thought to be the very best

A - s musement out of class time .

You wore your nut-brown hair i n curls

That reached beyond your bodice, in e Quite the styl of other girls, But you I thought a goddess !

S I wrote you letters , long and hort, ’ How many there s no telling ! Imagination was my forte z I can ’ t say that of spelling !

W e - shared our sticks of chewing gum, Our precious bits of candy ;

Together solved the knotty sum, A nd learned the a rs a ma ndi ’ Whene er you wept , a woeful lump ! Stuck in my throat, delayed there My sympathetic heart would jump I wondered how it stayed the re !

o ! We meet t day, we meet, alas With salutation formal ; ’ m I in the college senior class, You study at the Normal ; And as we part I think again, A nd sadly wonder whether we You wish, as I , loved as when We sat at school together ! [ 30 ] LOVE’S SEASONS LOVE ’ S SEA SONS

W A S spring when I first found it out ' T was autumn when I told it ;

The gloomy winter made me doubt, And summer scarce could hold it ” She loves, the mating robins sang

In sweet, delicious trebles, And through the brooks the echo ra ng ’ In music o er the pebbles .

The fresh air, filled with fragrant scent Of blossoms, softly hinted ’ The self-same song ; where er I went I found the message printed

On Sk bud and leaf, on earth and y ;

Through sun and rain it glistened, A nd though I never reasoned why,

I always read or listened .

The summer dawned, and still the birds

- Sang in their tree top glory, A nd something seemed to make their words A sequel to my story ” You love, they twittered in the trees ’ Whene er the light wind stirred them, Distracting words on every breeze

They fluttered, and I heard them .

At last the mellow autumn came, And all the leaves were turning, [ 3 1 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

The fields and forests were a fla me In golden sunli ght burning ; The parting birds sang out aga in A sentimental message ; ” Go tell her, whispered they, and then ’ t ’ I thought was love s first presage .

O - - timid hearted twenty four,

To faint and lose your courage, Or half-reluctantly implore A pretty girl at her age ! ’ For d when I stammered what they sung, And all their secrets told her,

She said the birds were right, and hung S Her head upon my houlder .

AN AVOWA L

RE ’ S HE a word in my heart, dare I A : dangerous, wonderful word

It calls, and I hush it and quell it ; It flutters and calls like a bird f n Made captive rom out its dark priso , A nd begs for a glimmer of light ;

Up, up to my throat it is risen, A nd poises for flight .

S Her eyes are like stars softly hining, Ea ch one has a sparkle within ; [ 32 ]

MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

One — word ah , my darling, you know it ; The long captive songster has flown ! — — L ove love is the burden ; the poet Loves you you alone !

IN PA RENTHESIS

R AD C E the verses from my opy, A bunch of fancies culled from Keats , A rhyme of rose and drowsy poppy, Of maiden, song, and other sweets e The lines so patiently I p nned them , Without one sable blot or blur I knew had music to commend them A nd all their secret thoughts to her .

a i n She he rd the rhythm cal roma za, A nd made a comment there and here ;

I read on to the final stanza,

Where timid love had made me fear . A long parenthesis the metre

Went lamely on without a foot, Because the sentiment was sweeter

Than love emboldened me to put .

A las , I tried to fill the bracket ; The truant thought refused to come !

The point, to think the rhyme should lack

My wakeful conscience struck me dumb . [ 34 ] TO MY MESSAGE

S he took the little leaf a minute, Ah wa s ! , what a happy time this

The bracket soon had something in it,

I kissed her in parenthesis .

TO MY MES S A GE

HEN in her lap you lie, L ittle note, L ook upward to your sky A tender, mild blue eye ,

A - round, rose colored throat, A n exquisite white chin With one star-dimple in L ook upward from her lap’ s

Soft pillow, and perhaps You may see

Her think of me .

A nd if by happy chance, L etter mine, You see her blue eyes glance A cross your smooth expanse,

' Or fixed upon the line Which rhymes with all the love R eflected there above, Grieve not that you are dumb But think that I shall come O nce again , m Your spokes an then . 35 l MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

Ah ! me would I , like you, S Missive light,

Might watch those clear eyes blue,

That throat and white chin, too, A nd read them all aright, Might feel the red lips touch ’ d My own, I give how much

Just once to take your place, My paradise her face A nd a part Of her dear heart .

A CIGA R

LONE I puff soft wreaths of blue That frame a most delightful View ; A little library with two Together S itting

A youth and girl . Upon her knees ’ A novel with a hero ; he S A ghostly circumstance to t hese ’ Sh S Quaint wraps e knitting .

The lover holds the worsted, and Just touches one fair pinky hand How well her bright eyes understand !

F or soon, unbidden, Two scarlet lips begi n to move A Conversation in that groove [ 36 ] A CIGAR W here chosen words quite clearly prove

‘ The subject hidden .

’ A nd then the kni tting S laid as ide ; ’ The needle s dropped ; and some sweet guide Leads both his hands to haply hide Two others whiter .

I listen , and a mellow note S lips through the rosy, rounded throat I hear the happy lover quote ’ The novel s writer .

The writer, ah , what kind fates come To keep ha rsh criticism from ’ His little book : perhaps t is some Such S ituation

A S m a picture i il r to this , i Portraying a brief spell of bl ss, A nd punctuated with a kiss

Interrogation .

I see the faces slowly meet,

A nd Sh l y , uncertain g ances greet ’ The knitting S fallen to her feet A nd on his shoulder

in o Her head g lden glory lies ,

While , fathoming her lovely eyes ,

He reads the tenderest replies,

Love gron bolder .

[ 37 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

But, while I dream in idleness, A nd wonder whether She will bless

! His hearing with a whispered yes, With drooping lashes ; The picture fades from S ight afar A S pales at morn a silver star ; C I seek the light of my igar, A nd find but ashes .

A BUNDLE OF L ETTERS

TRA NGE how much sentiment Clings like a fragrant scent To these love-letters pent In their pink covers Day after day they came ’ Feeding love 5 fickle flame

She Now, has changed her name,

Then we were lovers .

L oosen the S ilken band

Round the square bundle , See what a dainty hand S cribbled to fill it Full facetious chat ; Fancy how long she sat Moulding the bullets that Came with each billet !

Ah , I remember still Time that I used to kill [ 38 ] A B UNDLE OF LETTERS

’ ai h W ting the postman s s rill,

- n Heart stirri g whistle, C alling vague doubts to mind, Whether or no I ’ d find That he had left behind

One sweet epistle . Seconds become an age A t this exciting stage Two eager eyes the page S can for a minute ; ’ Then, with true lover s art, S tudy it part by part, Until they know by hea r t E h veryt ing in it .

What is it all about ? D ashes for words left out, Pronouns beyond a doubt

Very devoted . ’ Howells she s just begun ; D obson her heart has won ; L ocker and Tennyson F requently quoted .

C - riss cross the reading goes, R apturous rhyme and prose, Words which I don ’ t suppose L ook very large in Books on the ologies ’ Then there S a tiny frieze [ 39 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

F ull of sweets in a squeeze,

Worked on the margin .

L ’ ! astly, don t pause to laugh That is her autograph Signing this truce for half ’ Her heart s surrender ;

- Post scriptum , one and two, ’ D s ! esserts, the dinner through Linking the I ” and You ”

In longings tender . Such is the type of all

Save one, and let me call Brief notice to this small Note neatly written ’ T is but a card , you see, Gently informing me That it can never be ! This is the mitten !

A RHYME FOR PRISCILLA

EA R Priscflla , quaint, and very L ike a modern Puritan,

Is a modest, literary, Merry young A merican

Horace she has read , and Bion I S her favorite in Greek ; Shakspere is a mighty [ ion In whose den she dares but peek ; 40 l

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

u He co ld write in catching measure, Setting all the heart astir ! A nd to Aldrich what a pleasure

It would be to sing of her, won He, whose perfect songs have her L ips to quote them day by day . She repeats the rhymes of Bunner

In a fascinating way, ’ A nd you ll often find her lost in She has reveries at times Some delightful one of A ustin D ’ obson s rhymes .

O . Priscilla, sweet Priscilla ak Writing of you m es me think, A s I burn my brown Manila, A nd immortalize my ink, How well satisfied these poets O ught to be with what they do, ’ s When, especially, they know it Read by such a girl as you I who S ing of you would ~ma rry

Just the kind of girl you are, ’ One who does n t care to carry too Her poetic taste far, One whose fancy is a bright one, W ho o is fond of p ems fine, A nd appreciates a light one

Such as mine .

[ 42 ] HER GUITAR

A PERSIA N NOCTU RNE

NIGHTINGA L E among the leaves s in est Who g to the blushing rose,

Thy liquid, mellow music cleaves The garden ’ s fragrance where it goes ! Who taught thy feathered slender throat

This strange, delicious , limpid note, Which soaring S kyward through the dark

In swift, melodious pursuit,

Tempts all the trembling stars to hark, A nd all the rustling leaves be mute ?

0 Teach me thy song, happy bird, ’ That, neath the window of my love, My lips may speak some honeyed word With wings to waft it up above A nd when She comes her starry eyes Shall S hame their rivals in the Skies — Her cheeks shall mock the rose and thou,

Beholding what thou thinkest thine,

Perched lightly on the lofty bough , S ! Shalt leave thy rose, and ing to mine

HE R GUITA R Y the fire that loves to tint her C heeks the color of a rose, While the wanton winds of winter L ose the landscape in the snows, [ 43 ] MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

While the air grows keen and bitter, A nd the Clean-cut S ilver stars Tremble in the cold and glitter ’ Through the twilight s dusky bars, In a cozy room where lingers

Happy Time on folded Wings, I am watching five white fingers Float across S ix S lender strings Of an old guitar, held lightly, C aptivated while she sets, five Here and there, others tightly On the frets .

Lost in loving contemplation Of Sh the fair, y, girlish face C onscious of no admiration, Posed with such a charming grace ’ O er this instrument some Spanish Serenader used to keep Hidden till the sun would vanish And the birds were fast asleep ; ’ Who, below his loved one s casement, With the mellow southern moon Through a leafy interlacement

Shining softly, thrummed a tune Did w ? she answer it, I onder Did S he frame a sweet reply ? Did she grant the wish made under Such a Sky ? THE MUSE

She This I know, if had listened ’ ve To the melody I heard, Mute confessions must have glistened In her eyes at every word A nd the very stars above her

Must have whispered, one by one , Something sentimental of her

When the serenade was done . F or this music has but ended, A nd I leave my dreams to find With the notes a resomehow blended [ Like confessions of my mind ; And the gentle girl who guesses

What these broken secrets are, Is the one whose arm caresses

This guitar .

THE MUSE

OR f months I had su fered derision , A S iege of poetical blues ; The fair mythological vision Familiarly known as the Muse

Had vanished and left me deserted, ’ The frozen rhyme-rills would n t run She C While , Miss alliope, flirted

With some other son . The ink which I penned every word of O — it nce put upon paper, froze ; 4s 1 MADRIGAL S AND CATCHES Presto ! — transformation unheard of !

The poetry turned into prose . ’ T was clear that the rhymes were not running

In pairs simultaneous then, ’ T wa s n clear that my hand had lost cun ing,

A nd k e n li ewise my p .

I conquered some mental depression In this philosophi cal grief r The Muse may repent her transg ession, — I reasoned , and turn a new leaf, A nd e some happy day, unexp cted , Return and do penance a time By having her manners corrected

In trivial rhyme .

A las for the rhyme with the reason , Those two incompatible words ! I had as well dreamed of a season f O snow with its roses and birds . ’ C d ha d alliope , I enough of, Here S hakspere ’ s remark came to aid — ’ My brain with a trope z She s the stuff of

Which visions are made .

a Then sudden, with never a w rning, A voice at my side bade me write, A S if out of darkness the morning Had flooded the la ndscape with l ight ; I 46 1 F R SA TE VALE T E HIS DA E O YN N YN , Y The rhymes came again like the verdure

Which lifts to the heavens above, ’ Ah S t ' , weetheart, was then that I heard your Lips murmuring love !

FOR SAYNTE VA LENTYNE A , HIS D YE

OE l ittl e t me , y , greete Her, t G oe thinke , tell Her y I Things infinitely sweeter Y! I maie putt in Inke ; Y e Musick of ye metre Shal linger on ye Aire Y e whiles S he turns ye Leaves learns e Y S ecrett hidden there .

F L lye, little eafe of Paper,

F - lye, merrie hearted Bird , lett your Fancie Shape Her Some dear simple Word ’ ’ S weete S Soe it ha n t escape Her, if a Bl ushe you see

Steale upp chase across Her face, R ! eturn 81 counsel me .

God ! Haste, little I send Her, S MS Bye You, y , W ch hopeful! L ove has penned Withe quill in Honie dipt ; 47 l MADRIGALS AND CATCHES Haste ! bidd Her Heart be tender Unto y e lightsome Line Where I in maske have come to aske To be Her Va l entyne !

TO C D FE R A R 1 UPI , B U Y 4

U PID , goe to Her in haste, Saye my Hea rte is hOpefull ; Of e t y Songes y She has graced, ’ s E Here an nvelope full . Kiss Her once y8 be your Fee ; Kiss Her twice for mine ! ee Kiss Her thrice three times thr , Telle Her you have come to be Her Va l entyne !

C Her upid, goe in haste to , Saye my Hea rte is lonely ; rettie Hasten, p Messenger, Bring Her to me onl y Kiss Her once ys be your Fee ; Kiss Her twice for mine ! S e I hall kiss Her three times thre , When you bring Her back to be My Va l entyne !

MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

? wh My engagement Queer, y stupid People peddle little lies ! e n C H re, beside us, cunni g upid Shot his arrows from her eyes In my heart a twinge and flutter F ollowed fast each dart he dealt, A nd my tongue tried hard to utter

What I felt .

a St nding near the polished newel, e With the gas turn d very low, C C onscience seemed to whisper, ruel , Tell the truth before you go ! S O my courage, getting firmer, Set her do ubtings all aright ;

Tiny hands came with the murmur,

- Now, good night

’ T was the same delicious lisp heard — A t the dance a merry strain !

True the voice now softly whispered, True she let her hands remain own o n In my , as if in t ke Of some wish in sweet eclipse, C herished lovingly, unspoken

By her lips .

L - n ong lashed eyelids gently droopi g, F f ace su fused with scarlet flush,

Told the secret, as I , stooping, Kissed the rose-leaf of her blush [ 5 0 ] A LYRIC

L ike some happy, sunny island In a sea of joy was I ;

Quick she turned her face to smile, and S aid Good -by !

When we met the morning after, Blithe as any bird wa s She ; m Music ingled with her laughter,

E o very w rd was love to me . G So the genial Mrs . rundy,

Seeing how our hearts are caged, Tells the truth at church next S unday ’ ! They re engaged !

A LYRIC

A D Y , at your lattice I Launch this lyric to the sky On the fragrant tides of musk Dewy blooms exale at dusk ; L L ove its pilot, only ove L eft to haven it above, L eft to guide it through the bars Of the twilight to the stars ; A nd these sentinels who keep Careful vigils o ’ er your sleep S hall to your soft S lumber bring This love lyric which I S ing ; Thus throughout the summer night Melody shall make delight [ 5 1 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

e Mingle with your dr ams, and be L ’ ove s petitioners for me, E S Till the ast hall hint of day, A nd the stars S hall sail away Making music-billows break On your lids and whisper : Wake ! Till I S ee your curtain drawn A nd your rosy face the Dawn !

AN UNTUTORED MIND

EN wa s I but a lad of eight,

A nd D wa s orothy turning seven, My life seemed spent close by the gate Of what I had imagined Heaven ; D So sweet was orothy, and mild,

To every fault of mine so tender, I grew to love her as a child

Accustomed always to befriend her .

s Through school hours I observed her dres . Plain calico to me wa s satin ; The habit often cost recess L A nd many weary lines of atin .

r She ve y seldom turned her face, R eplete with roses , fair and ruddy ; She seemed to think the school a place

F or strict deportment and for study .

In a ll the classes She was first ;

- She graduated, went to college, [ 5 2 ] THE VI LLAGE SCHOOL Returned most wonderfully versed

of In every branch and twig knowledge . ’ A las ! I wear no savant s ca p ! My brain is not a book-condenser ! ’ No doubt she 11 marry that young chap I hear her call Dear Herbert S pencer !

THE VIL LA G E S CHOOL

TIL L on the corner stands the school

Where my first steps were taken,

The butt of public ridicule, D eserted and forsaken ; The belfry no more boasts the be ll Whose tumult used to measure ’ i My boyhood s hour, and r ng the knell

To every prank and pleasure .

The town has Shifted foot by foot

A s tem ore muta ntu r p , ’ And wisdom s wine to-da y is put Into a new decanter Whose bright exterior seems to hold A vital essence cheery, Yet just this morning I was told ’ T was dull within and dreary . The boy is father of the man He lives and thinks as I did

S e When , in hort trousers , I b gan

To have my joys divided . [ 5 3 ] MADRI GALS AND CATCHES He took me back to this old place

So with my youth connected, ’ A nd looking in the youngster s face wa s This picture reflected .

Out from the pages of my book,

Too pictureless for study, I sometimes used to steal a look A t one face, round and ruddy ;

’ ’ T t wa s was wrong I knew, very wrong, A nd cost me much derision When I was laboring with L ong O r L D ! , ve y ong ivision

My copy-book with faultless lines Of precept for each letter Was scribbled over with Be mine A phrase which I wrote better Than any admonition there It somehow seemed to nourish My jaded heart to read it where ’ I d penned it with a floun sh .

how n No matter I strived to lear ,

u No matter how I st died, Once give my head the proper turn A nd then my eyes were flooded ; F or there across the room sat she Who balked my brain ’ s endeavor [ 5 4 ] THE VILLAGE SCHOOL

’ l l Thought I , one day I whisper Be ’ A nd 11 be she mine forever .

Old school among the summer morns’ ’ And afternoons long dozes Those hours of mingled menta l thorns You put some minute-roses ; One — one you put to me the best,

The sweet face of my story,

Who budded, bloomed, then , like the rest, D ied in her fullest glory .

Ah me , the children you have known,

- The girl with bird like laughter, The boy whose penitential moan

Pierced to your topmost rafter, d Who hears to ay the voice of mirth, ’ Or ! sorrow s peal, I wonder How many yet are on the earth ? A ! las , how many under

Fit emblem of the change of time, ’ - Minerva s palace ruin, i ’ Take this, a pup l s idle rhyme With love and me and you in ; A nd may the boy whose school-hours seem

- To day so dull and gloomy, G rown up, inherit such a dream

A S you have pictured to me .

[ 5 5 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

A COLONIA L MISSIVE

Y Dorothy in Cambridge town This letter quaint wa s written To some young chap in cap and gown

wa s Whose happy heart smitten, L ong years ago when stately dames f Were pu fed and powdered Madams, A nd these were frequent college names, A Ware, Eliot, and dams .

The college yard was larger then, The roll of students only C ould muster up a hundred men,

now-a - ! Think, days , how lonely Yet almost every one of those A Who won an B . honor Has left a name whose glory throws

The laurels thick upon her .

D ear Harvard ! It is hard to S ing Of this un-A nnexed maiden Without forgetting everything m a S ave you . My ind is l den With memories of by-gone days When I was wont to travel To lectures and the triumph blaze

Across the paths of gravel . [ 5 6 ]

MADRI GALS AND CATCHES A wrinkle wreathes its inky smile

A nd - hides the comma dimple, A nd makes it S eem severe in style

Which is severely simple .

Ah C D , ambridge orothy, I know A s long as you were living

A - rose face framed in locks of snow, His love had no misgiving ;

A nd - d this love letter which you penne , F ast deepening to yellow,

: L ike me Fri end Seems thus to whisper , , L et l ove ma ke thy l ife mel l ow

GOOD—NIGHT

HE white stars blossom in the skies, Like daisies strewn in azure aisles ; — I miss but two, the gentle eyes h i T at greet me with your sm les .

L ove ’ s small astronomy is mine Who missing these miss all the rest I hate these rival lights that shine

To mock my lonely quest .

- Good night, and may the angels keep ’ Their faithful watches o er each lid, e Behind whose fringes, bath d in sleep, A Sk turquoise y is hid . A PACIFIC DAW N

SON NETS

BREE! ES OF MORNING

NCE , when the doors of night were open thrown ,

- D — who I saw the pink robed awn, as one sees

A - S rose bud opening by low degrees , O Step from the rient, a golden zone

A : o bout her waist then, sudden, s ftly blown

On m- fragile blosso bugles by the breeze, — I heard the fragrant roll call of the bees A nd saw them troop responsive to the tone .

A nd of as I watched them drain their cups dew, A nd saw them dart and flash their saffron stripes

In all the opal radiance of dawn,

The mythic age seemed merged into the new, A nd Pan once more upon his slender pipes

Called to the dance the nimble nymph and faun .

A PA CIFIC DAWN

HEN S pale elene, in her crescent boat, S ails down unto the margin of the West

S Through hoals of stars that twinkle in unrest, ’ In fancy s bark I follow her, and float ’ O er sapphire seas to dreamy realms remote, A nd at my side there goes a feathered guest [ 5 9 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

S a ir Who ings to cheer me, and the is blest

With melody responsive to his note .

On r , on I journey in the star y wake, A nd all about me is the purple dark Whence blow the winds by which my bark is borne ; And suddenly the poppy fetters break,

The moon is gone, and in the field a lark

Pays tribute to the faint Pacific morn .

A BUTTERF LY IN WA L L STREET

NGED wanderer from clover meadows sweet , Where all day long beneath a smiling Sky ’ You drained the wild-flowers cups of honey dry A nd heard the drowsy winds their love repeat,

What idle zephyr, whispering deceit, Captured your heart and tempted you to fly Unto this noisy town and vainly pry Into the secrets of this busy street ?

To me your unexpected presence brings A thought of fragrant pastures, buds and flowers ,

A nd o sleepy br oks , and cattle in the fold ; Or , watching as you soar on trembling wings, I think for those wh o toil through weary hours You are a type of their uncertain gold !

60 ] STRATEGY

THE DANCING GYPSY

PON - a mottled, tawny leopard skin S pread in the sunshine on the dusty ground ,

—a Stood she , gypsy girl ; and, circled round, S a t dusky youths wh o made a merry din

With wild, barbaric drums , while she, within, A graceful figure, by no garments bound, D ’ anced to the tambourine s discordant sound, ’ A nd S mocked the instrument s delirious pin .

O A utside the ring were grouped some rab boys,

Who chattered glibly in the golden sun , And sang weird strains of song by fits and starts ;

They seemed unconscious of the swelling noise, wa s so — Yet he alone , her chosen one

For u on‘ their ! all the rest, she danced p hearts

STRATEGY

U S E r S S , g ant me some new imile to ing

Her matchless grace and loveliness, and tell ’ S a What words hall fit the lyric s me sure well, What metre smooth unto her lips to bring Then Shall my song be like an antique ring

In whose small circlet precious jewels dwell, Each line a gem to bribe the sentinel L ’ That guards her heart against ove s eager king . 6 1 l MAD RI GALS AND CATCHES

Then as She lends her eyes to read my song Perchance her heart its portals wide will throw ’ A nd L give admittance to ove s messenger, ’ n n Who, summoni g his king s impatie t throng,

Shall capture it, and come to let me know

How easily he won a truce from her .

RE—AWA KENING

ITHIN S a spot where slept the ilent dead, I wandered once when spring ha d kissed

earth, A nd set around its breast an emerald girth Of i grass , entangl ng roses white and red ; Among the leafy branches overhead

The mating robins twittered in their mirth, All nature seemed rejoicing in new birth Beneath the canopy the blue skies spread

A nd as I sat beside one mossy stone

r S Kissed by a hundred suns of summe kies, A sudden joy came to my heart, alone

A S mong those graves , to think the dead hall In God ’ s eternal spring when sounds are blown ’ On angels instruments in Paradise !

[ 62 ] A NEW YEAR ’ S MASQUE

MIS S THOMA S ’ S ! A NEW YEAR ’ S MA S QU E

HE com a monshi finds p p in field and wood , A friendly face in every pa th and nook ; The skies for her wea r no uncertain look ; S he comprehends the mystery and mood ’ Of winds and waves and Heaven s sta rry brood S he knows the message of the bird and brook ; F or O her all Nature is an pen book, A nd a ea o i solit ry m ns not s l tude .

With this small volume as your talisman,

S When all the world is hrouded in the snows , Sit down and rea d these music-making words ’ And winter s blasts S hall seem the winds that fan w a Your face in June s eet with the bre th of rose, A nd tremulous with twitterings of birds FRENCH FO LL I ES

CO E PAN AND M , , PIPE

OME , Pan, and pipe upon the reed, A nd make the mellow music bleed ,

A S once it did in days of yore, ’ A - long the brook s leaf tangled shore,

Through sylvan shade and fragrant mead .

On Hybla honey come and feed, To tempt the Fauns in dance to lead D The ryads on the mossy floor, C ! ome, Pan, and pipe

- G e To day the ghosts old, Gain, and Gre d, The world pursues with savage S peed F orgotten is your magic lore . Oh n ! , bri g it back to us once more F or : simple, rustic song we plead C Pa n i ! ome, , and p pe

WHEN TWIL IGHT COMES

HEN twilight comes, and nature stills

The hum that haunts the dales and hills ,

Dim S hadows deepen and combine, A nd Heaven with its crystal wine

The cups of thirsty roses fills . [ 64 ]

MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

BEHIND HER FAN

B D f HIN her fan of downy flu f, S a ff ff ewed on soft s ron satin stu ,

- With peacock feathers, purple eyed, C S aught daintily on either ide, The gay coquette displays a puff

Two blue eyes peep above the buff ! Two pinky pouting lips, enough That cough means surely come and hide

Behind her fan .

The barque of Hope is trim and tough, S O out I venture on the rough,

Uncertain sea of girlish pride . A ! breeze I tack against the tide, C f apture a kiss and catch a cu f,

Behind her fan .

HER CHINA CUP

ER china cup is white and thin ; A thousand times her h eart has Made merry at its scalloped brink ; A nd in the bottom , painted pink, A dragon greets her with a grin .

The brim her kisses loves to W i n

The handle is a manikin, [ 66 ] TO CUPID

W ho spies the foes tha t chip or Chink

Her china cup .

S in Muse, tell me if it be a I watch her lift it past her chin U p to the sca rlet lips and drink S The Oolong draught . omehow I think I ’d like to be the dragon in Her china cup !

TO CUPID

U PID n , tell me how to twi e i Words like roses in a l ne, ’ Fit a my l dy s eyes to greet, F or her red lips to repeat

That her heart may fathom mine .

How to make ea ch sentence Shine L ove with modest S peech combine How to set her heart a -beat C ! upid, tell me

S Tell me, may I dare to ign All the love and fancies fine All the thoughts and secrets sweet, That I lay before her feet ? Does she love her Valentine ? C ! upid, tell me 67 l MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

I

AW A AW A ! ” KE, KE

A E O W K , awake, gracious heart, ’ S some one knocking at The chilling breezes make him sma rt ;

His little feet are tired and sore .

A i r se, and welcome him before A down his cheeks the big tears sta rt Aw O ake, awake, gracious heart, ’ There s some one knocking at the door !

’ T is Cupid come with lovingart

To honor, worship, and implore ; And lest, unwelcomed , he depart

W ith all his wise, mysterious lore, A O wake, awake, gracious heart, ’ There s some one knocking at the

TO MY LOVE

U TS IDE , the blasts of winter blow Across the city clad in white ; Each flake of madly driven snow A demon seems , with teeth that bite ;

The windows rattle as with fright, A nd winds the chimney whistle through

A - lone with memory, to night, ’

m . I happy, thinking, love, of you i 68 l VALENTINE TO AN ANONYMOUS MI SS W ithin, I watch the embers glow ; The slender flames in sudden flight L eap from the crackling logs, and throw A round the room a golden light ; R omantic tales their tongues recite, A nd a s mellow songs, if they knew,

A t to- lone wi h memory, night, ’ m I happy, thinking, love , of you .

From Dreamland all my fancies flow ;

My friendly books, with faces bright, R a S eturn my listless g ze, and how S S No ign of sorrow at the light . Hark ! from the steeple ’ s dizzy height The bells the air with echoes strew ! A - lone with memory, to night, ’ m I happy, thinking, love, of you .

E nvoy L ove, let this song of mine invite c too Your sweeter voi e to echo,

A - lone with memory, to night, ’ m ! I happy, thinking, love, of you

VALENTINE TO AN ANONYMOUS MISS

L DEN locks in cunning curl ; Eyes like jewels set in rings ;

Teeth , a row of polished pearl ; L ips two rosy blossomings ; [ 69 1 MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

S pryly to my S ide he Springs ? Pray, who is this fairy fine A t my feet he coyly flings Will you be my Valentine ?

Ah , my brain is in a whirl, Thinking on such dainty things ! ’ T is young Cupid see him furl A t his back two tiny wings !

Just between, a quiver swings, ’ Dipt in love s delicious wine, To each dart the flavor clings W ill you be my Valentine

Watching, I shall see him hurl Recklessly these sugared stings ; Shaped like lips of some swee t girl Is the bow his shoulder slings

Silken hair twined for the strings . — Snap What ails this heart of mine, Clamoring with questionings Will you be my Valenti ne

who s Muse , unto the maid sing

F or my ears this teasing line, This reply the echo brings ” Will y ou be my Valentine ?

[ 70 ] A COQUETTE

A CO . QUETTE

a HE we rs a most bewitching bang, Gold curls made captive in a net ; Her dresses with precision hang ; Her hat observes the stylish set ; S he l has a pood e for a pet, A nd drives a dashing drag and pony ; ’ Ve I know it , though we never met, ’ I ve seen her picture by S arony .

Her phrases all are fraught with slang, The very latest she can get ; S Sa She ings the songs that Patience ng, ” Ca n O v whistle airs from li ette, A nd m , in the waltz, perhaps , ight let

° You squeeze her hand, with gems all stony ’ I know it, though we ve never met, ’ S I ve een her picture by Sarony .

’ Her heart has never felt love s pang, Nor known a momentary fret Want never wounds her with his fang ; S he likes to run Papa in debt ; ’ She l l smoke a S lender cigarette Sub rosa with a favored crony : ’ w ve I kno it, though we never met, We I seen her picture by Sarony . [ 7 1 ] MADRIGALS AND CATCHES

a a ! Princess, bew re this g y coquette She has no thoughts of matrimony ’ ve I know it, though we never met, ’ ve e I se n her picture by Sarony.

A SW ELL

IS forehead he fringes and decks With carefully cut Montagues ;

hi s -X He angles arms semi , And dresses in delicate hues ; His haunts are the rich avenues ; Staccato is somewhat his gait ; It takes but a wink to amuse a His sadly impoverished p te .

His costumes are covered with checks ; He travels in taper-toed shoes F Through Vanity air, there to vex The silly young heart that he wooe s ; - ’ S sa nd He clever with card with cues , A nd banters with Fortune and Fate A las , that the lad cannot lose His sadly impoverished pate !

’ He S fond of the frivolous sex ; His light conversation he strews ” f - With to fy, aught else would perplex The topic his fancy pursues [ 72 ]

MADRI GALS AND CATCHES

n When by your side, with graceful swi g,

- Some fair faced, gentle girl has strayed, Willing and glad to have you bring Your claims for love and get them pa id

In kisses, smiles, and words that aid The bells of bliss to better chime C ’ When upid s rules are first obeyed, ’ How easy t is to write a rhyme !

R eader, forgive me, man or maid, Against Calliope this cri me ; A nd let this brief ballade persuade How easy ’ t is to write a rhyme !

TO AUSTIN DOBSON

ROM Fr e the sunny climes of anc , F lying to the west, C nce ame a flock of birds by cha , There to sing and rest f tiest O some secrets deep in q ,

Justice for their wrongs,

Seeking one to shield their breast,

One to write their songs .

a Melodies of old rom nce,

Joy and gentle jest, Notes that made the dull da nce W ith a merry zest [ 74 1 TO AUSTIN DOBSON

Maids in matchless beauty drest, Youths in happy throngs These they sang to tempt and test w One to rite their songs .

In old L ondon ’ s wide expanse

Built each feathered guest, ’ l n Man s small p easure to enha ce,

Singing him to rest, C ame, and tenderly confessed,

Perched on leafy prongs , Life were sweet if they possessed One to write their songs .

E nvoy A ustin, it was you they blest Fame to you belongs !

’ - Time has proven you re the best n O e to write their songs .

LY R ICS FOR A L UTE

TO FANCY

ROM what mystery of space C ! ome you, miracle of grace Lighting up the realm of dream With a transitory gleam Phantom of the poet ’ s brain From what Shadowy domain C ome you secretly, unsought,

Making music of his thought, Bringing him the gift of rhyme A t an unexpected time ? IS there any magic lure That will win you quick and sure ? Is there any fetter strong ? That will hold you, soul of song F Tell me, ancy, so that I May not let you S lip me by !

THE HARBOR OF DREAMS

NLY a whispering gale Flutters the wings of the boat ; Only a bird in the vale L ends to the S ilence a note

Mellow, subdued, and remote [ 79 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

a This is the twilight of pe ce,

This is the hour of release , F ree of all worry and fret, C e a l an of all c re and regret, W in hen, like a bird its nest, F n a cy lies folded to rest .

This is the margin of sleep ; Here let the anchor be cast ; e e H r in forgetfulness deep,

Now that the journey is past, L s ower the ails from the mast .

Here is the bay of content, Heaven and earth interblent ; Here IS the heaven that lies Close to the ga tes of surprise ; k Here all li e Paradise seems, ms Here is the harbor of drea .

BREATH OF SONG

’ ROM s or - the minster gan loft, F loating down the shadowed nave, C omes a strain of music soft, Falling as a weary wave F alls upon the beach of sand,

Murmurous and sweet and bland, Bearing from the mighty sea

Messages of melody . 80 1

LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

Odors from these poem-flowers Seedlings of the later hours

Blossoming the fields along,

Breathing the sweet breath of song .

' T Na ishapII r his ashes lie ’ ’ O ersha dowed by the mosque s blue dome There folded in his tent of sky

s S The star of Per ia leeps at home .

The Rose her buried Nightinga le R emembers , faithful all these years ; Around his grave the winds exhale

The fragrant sorrow of her tears .

Sultans and slaves in caravans

Since Malik Shah have gone their way, A nd ridges in the K ubbersta ns

A -d a re their memorials to y .

’ ‘ But from the dust in Oma r S tomb A F R akir has revived a ose, m Perchance the old, ancestral bloo Of that one by the mosque which blows ;

A nd from its petals he has caught O The inspiration mar knew,

Who from the stars his wisdom brought, A R Persian ose that drank the dew . 8 2 l REVERY The Fakir now in dust lies low With Omar of the Orient ;

F S we NO itzgerald, hall call him ’ T wa s Omar in the Occident !

C . S .

IVE me my happy poet ’ s book A nd let me find a sylvan nook, Fa r from the noisy world apart, ’ A nd near enough to Nature s heart

To hear it throb and feel it thrill, ’ Ye t l t wonder why is all so sti l .

b There, thick with leaves , the ranches spread ’ o o erhea d Their can py of green , Through which in sudden wind- torn rifts The sun its dusty Copper S ifts ; A nd m there a drea y brook runs by,

A S S k lender strip of twilight y, S tarred with its ripples , and its moon A lily lying in a swoon

Upon its bosom, wan and white A S that pale wanderer of night .

Birds in the arching boughs above Fluting their melodies of love ; [ 83 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE Bees in the distance humming where ’ The blossom s honey scents the air ;

A nd -flowe rs C , where the wild luster, hosts Of Psyches hovering like ghosts A round the fragrant, curtained glooms, C e louding the air with wing d blooms .

fla on l There with my book, a g fil ed With wine of song the poet S pilled From cups of love ’ s sweet overflow l In happy riot, ong ago,

- With Herrick, from whose well tuned lute F irst grew the lyric bud and fruit, S There, in the shifting sun and hade,

S m In fancy, I hall see that aid

To whom his songs, each one of them C lean cut and finished as a gem,

He sang, until her every grace

F 3. ound in his limped verse place, That She with him might live as long A s man is moved by love and song !

Oh too who , that we, , touch the string

- To day and set it quivering, Whose hearts have caught one little spark Of rhyme in this prosaic dark, Unto our verses might but give

That subtile touch to make them live, L ’ ! ike Herrick s , after we are gone That all our lines might linger on [ 84 ]

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

In ecstasy the fields lie mute, Spelled by the magic of his lute ; The trees are hushed the while to hea r The cadence falling liquid-clear

The winds hold in their breath, lest they Cheat of one dulcet note the day ; A nd through the meadow, lisping low,

- The naiads silver sandaled go, Or s drowsy grown beside the stream , ’ Lie drinking music s wine of dreams ; A nd I , enraptured, in the dell

Is ra fel Pause , listening to O blivious of all beside, e Dreaming, I drift upon the tid Of melody until my eyes

Picture him there in Paradise,

10 When , there comes a sudden hush ; ’ T a — h ! is e rth, and yonder soars a t rush

BACKLOG DREAMS

- BOVE the glowingembers I hear the backlog S ing The music it remembers Of some remembered Spring ; Back to the branch forsaken Return its jocund choir A nd in the chimney waken A melody of fire . 86 l BACKLOG DREAMS

’ The S pa rks red blossoms glisten A nd flash their glances brief A t me who lean and listen A nd dream I hear the leaf, On some May morning sunny, L ow lisping in the tree, Or , in his haunt of honey, A bloom-enamored bee

’ Or t is the soft wind blowing s Its weetness from the South, A fra gra ntt kis s bestowing ’ Upon the rose s mouth ; A nd ere the spell is broken, ’ Or darkness o er it slips , I see the scarlet token f O love upon her lips .

Without, the storm is bitter, The snowflakes fill the night ;

Within, the embers glitter A nd gild the room with light ; A nd in the fire-place gleaming

S The backlog ings away, A nd mingles all my dreaming

With birds and blooms and May .

[ 87 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

SORCERY

RO SE on a spray where a brown bird sang, L ooked down, with a blush on her lovely face, A nd saw, lying coiled in the fragrant place, A e green little snake with a fork d fang .

Then swift from her cheek fled the crimson blush ; ’ NO longer she dreamed of the bird s sweet song ;

But trembled with fear, lest the poisoned prong

Should strike and the lyric forever hush .

A nd 10 l , when the serpent had s ipped away, A nd vanished the bird in the blue above, Two maids in the morning of new-found love Bent over the bloom on the S lender spray !

A nd one in her heart felt a strange delight, A thought of the bird made the rose blush red ! A nd one in her heart felt a sudden dread, A thought of the snake made the r ose blanch white !

MOTHS

O e H STS of departed wing d things, What memories are those That tempt you with your damask wings Here where my candle glows ? 88 l

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

For drea ming while his fingers went A round this slender neck of mine, The form of her he loved wa s blent

With every matchless curve and line . Her loveliness to me he gave a e t Who g v unto herself his hear , That love a nd bea uty from the grave ” s a nd Might ri e live again in art .

A nd hea ring from thy lips this tale Of s love and kill, of art and grace, ’ Thou seem st to me no more the frail Memento of an older race ; But in thy form divinely wrought ’ A nd figured o er with fret and scroll,

I dream, by happy chance was caught, ’ A nd dwelleth now that maiden s soul .

MOODS

PON - mm a mountain su it high, A trysting place of earth and sky,

Three friends once stood in silent awe,

Each contemplating what he saw .

One gazing on the landscape found In changing features only sound : To him it was a memory

Of some majestic symphony . [ 90 1 FULFILMENT A nother in the vastness caught, ’ The essence of a poet s thought, The mea sures of a noble rhyme

Enduring as eternal time .

— a n The third, stra ger to those arts ’ a That moved and thrilled his comrades he rts, Remembered with a nameless drea d

a The face of one whom he saw de d .

FULFILMENT

N the hush of the night he hea rd A ! voice, and his heart said, Hark And the song of a distant bird

Went quavering through the dark .

L ike a lost little child it sobbed A S far as the purple hill, And the valley with music throbbed A moment , then all was still .

Then the heart in his bosom cried, ! A ’ t las, is a grievous wrong That the multitude be denied The sweetness of such a song

T were a poet ’ s divinest art The words of that song to write ! So he wrote for the eager heart

The song of the bird at night . [ 9 1 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

’ A nd it went like the night-bird s voice Out into a world of gloom ; A nd a his heart had its de rest choice, ’ A nd slept in a poe t s tomb !

MNEMOSYNE ’S MIRROR

HEN Summer comes and brings the rose, ’ My glass the winter s landscape S hows S The pectral wood and shrouded field, ’ S e The garden s lips in ilence seal d, ’ The north- Wind s icy bitter breath ’ A S t were the stirrup-cup of death ;

The pulseless brook, the absent song,

The sunlight brief and shadows long .

’ D da But comes ecember s y, and then My mirror S hows me June again ’ The garden s million lips of bloom Speaking their language of perfume ; The lyric quavers of the thrush h Shot, arrow like, across the ush ;

The laughing brook, the lisping leaf,

The sunlight long and shadows brief .

Grant me, Mnemosyne, when old,

This magic mirror still to hold, Transforming Time in such a way ’ Tha t I Shall see Youth s yesterda y 92 l

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

Not by any magic feat Comes the sta tue forth complete O nly patient labor, long, Ca n create the perfect song ; Only love that does not tire Ca n attain its high desire, L ove that deems no gift of time S O Wasted, it win the rhyme One elusive word to start L ’ ife within the lyric s heart . Still the Parthenon for us Jewel of Pentelicus Fashioned centuries ago Shines with undiminished glow ;

Still the resurrected bust,

Buried ages in the dust, Holds to-day its honored place By the marvel of its grace ; ’ So the poet s song shall shine F or the jewel of one line ; So his lyric S hall endure u Be the carven marble p re . Toil he must if he would win ’ Heaven s gate and enter in ; Labor of a life-time give That the sculptured verse shall live !

[ 94 ] PERPETUITY

ALLAH ’S HOUSE

A AC N , the faithful, pausing once to pray, F rom holy Mecca turned his face away .

A e Moslem priest, who chanced to see him ther F orgetful of the attitude in prayer,

C d ! rie , Infidel, how durst thou turn thy feet Toward Allah ’ s house — the sacred temple ’ s seat ?

To whom the pious Nanao thus replied ’ ’ K now st G ? thou od s house is, as the world is , wide

Thou, turn them if thou canst toward any spot ’ Where mighty Allah s awful house is not

PERPETUITY

HEARD a sweet voice singing in the night

A - o tender love s ng written years ago, ’ To ea se a poet s heart of that deep woe Born of long absence from its clea r delight ; And as the music like a bird took flight A cross the shadowed world and vanished so, who — I thought of him wrote it , did he know How Time would keep his jewel-lyric bright ? [ 9s ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

- S O Poet of to day, whose heart would ing

Some simple song of love, and sweet words give

To mate the melody that thrills the lute,

Sing on, nor heed what lips are murmuring To scorn your art : one perfect song shall live F or love a nd you long after they are mute !

LYRICS FOR ‘ A LUTE

W INTER’S BEGGAR

ERE heedless winds around e The Tree, a tatter d beggar, And rea ches out his empty hands To a t the s the snow c ch ilver of .

CONTRAST

her i ea N dark ha r a lustrous jewel gl ms, A single star upon the edge of night : l Dazzling it is, and yet how du l it seems — ’ s e her d m n . Be id face, rowne, d in the orni g s light

AND OO SUN M N. Y day in Allah ’ s azure urn n The sun, a fire, is made to bur A nd from its ashes there by night

The a i W . moon, l ly, blossoms hite

SURF MUSIC

YING beside the margin of the deep, I hear the music of mysterious streams Sung by the waves like voices heard in drea ms

Moving along the shadowed Shore of sleep . [ 98 ] LYRI CS

LYRICS

’ N Nature s Open book A n epic is the sea, A lyric is the brook Lyrics for me ! LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

LOVE

AN OLD SONG

FTENTIMES there come to Scraps of music- memory

That have slept, alas, how long !

In the quiet night of song .

I can mark the measured time,

I can catch the notes that rhyme, Till it seems I almost hear Whispered words within my ea r ;

Yet, for all I listen so

To them as they come and go, Shreds of only one refrain

In my memory remain .

L ong ago the song was sung, L ong ago, when I was young, A nd my heart in time would beat s With the music soft and weet . There was something that would start t Glad emotions in my hear , Something in the words which made

Joy grow bright and sorrow fade, Something in the notes of joy Giving courage to the boy L ong ago, ere he began D reaming of the present man . 100 l

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

r - How often to this treasu e box, ’ Tears in her eyes soft fringes, o She came with key and turned the l cks , A nd on its brazen hinges li'd Swung back the quaintly figured , A nd raised a sandal cover, D isclosing, under trinkets hid, h T is message from her lover .

’ t Then lifting it as were a child, Her hand awhile caressed it Ere to the lips that sadly smiled Time and again S he pressed it ; Then drew the small inclosure out A nd smoothed the wrinkled paper, Lest any line S hould leave a doubt

r O any word escape her .

S till held the olden charm its place Amid the tender phrases ; Time seemed unwilling to efface The love-pervaded praises A nd though a thousand lovers might a ll Have matched them for passion, A poet were inspired to write

In their unstudied fashion .

F D r n o rom a li g sl wly , word by word, She rea d the tear-stained treasure 102 l PEPITA The mists by which her eyes were blurred Grew out of pain and pleasure ; But when s he reached that cherished name

A nd - a saw the last leave t king,

The mist a storm of grief became, Her very hea rt was breaking !

t Old - e I put it back, his time not , ’ se e Which ems like sorrow s l aven, ’ F or r e she who read, and he who w ot , God a re Please , now in heaven . If lovers of to-da y could win

Such love as won this letter, The world abo ut us would begin

To gl adden and grow better .

P in her ba lcony wher e Vines through the la ttices run i air Spill ng a scent on the , S etting a screen to the sun, F air as the morning is fair, e Sweet as a blossom is swe t, Dwells in her rosy retreat

Pepita .

O a ften glimpse of her face, When the wind rustles the vine a Parting the leaves for a sp ce, Gladdens this window of mine ; ' [ 103 1 LYRICS FOR A LUTE

in Pink its leafy embrace,

mornm Is Pink as the g pink , Sweet as a blossom I think

’ Pepita . I who dwell over the way

Watch where Pepita is hid, a S fe from the glare of the day, Like an eye under its lid : Over and over I say

Name like the song of a bird,

Melody shut in a word, ” Pepita .

Look where the little leaves stir ! L a ! ook, the green curtains are dr wn There in a blossomy blur Brea ks a diminutive dawn Dawn and the pink face of her ! l s h Name like a isp of the out , Fit ’ for a rose s small mouth, Pepita !

HER SMIL E HIS SUNLIGHT

W EETHEA RT , when rhymes I For your dear sake, You bring Into your face a smile To cheer me while I sing I 1 04 l

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

Nor may their nightfall come Till both are dumb In dea th !

0 R e , os , and in her golden hair You Shall forget the garden soon The sunshine is a captive there A nd n n crow s her with a consta t noon .

A nd O es when your spicy dor go , A nd a of om fades the be uty your blo , 0 R s Think what a lovely hand, o e, Shall place your body in the tomb !

UNDER HER BALCONY

S i P , lender v ne, your love is mine ; a I w tch you as you go, A lyric budding line on line With blossom rhymes a -row !

l - S Up, up, unti her window ill, ’ L S ike Heaven s gate in ight, Makes all your heart with hope to fill A nd bloom with its del ight ! 1 06 l AD ASTRA

’ A nd when her eyes soft twilight lies U pon you nestled there,

o When all ab ut you is surprise , A nd all below, despair, m S Then to y weet , my love repeat ;

Yield her one perfect bloom,

Which , though it perish at her feet,

May, ghostlike, haunt her room .

But if her mind and heart be kind, A nd ra g nt you gracious rest, A nd for this gift a pillow find,

A nd o f ld it to her breast, ! Up, up I burn my fate to learn From her wh o waits above ;

L et to . ea rth but a leaf return , Her answer a nd her love !

AD ASTRA

LO O a SS M , little st rs , and The garden of the sky ; Drops of wine that you distil a Upon the gr sses lie .

Every thirsty blade holds up A n blessi g to the blue, Every thirsty flower its cup ’ F a dew ills with the he ven s . [ 107 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

Blossom , little stars of love , ’ In my beloved s heart ;

Blossom like the stars above, A nd into gladness start .

Fa r beneath you there is one Who dares a cup to raise He ha s thirsted in the sun

These many dreary days .

t bl os som a nd Blossom , soon, bring ’ L ove s gladness and the wine To revive the hopes that spring

Up in this heart of mine .

RL GI to love , a pipe to smoke, Enough to eat and drink ; A friend with whom to crack a joke, A nd one to make me think ; A S book or two of imple prose, A thousand more of rhyme

No matter then how fast Time goes, I take no heed of Time

The little wife inspires my thought W ith serious intent ; She cheers me with her wisdom fraught With love and sentiment

1 08

LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

S a y, even so The blossom of my love Looks from its land of doubt below

To her above, Waiting one word to slip

Her scarlet lip .

Then if you feel

Her heart with joy beat fast, Or if with one sweet kiss She sea l

Your lips at last, A nd leave you stricken dumb Until I come

Seeing you there

Upon her bosom, I Shall know what answer to my pra yer

She makes , and lie s Beside you dumb with blis ,

Sealed by her kiss .

VALENTINES

OVE u C a s , at your door yo ng upid st nd A nd knocks for yoti to come

The frost is in his feet and hands, a re His lips with cold numb .

I I o VALENTINES G rant him admittance, sweetheart A nd by your cheering fire His lips Shall loosen as with wine A nd speak forth my desire .

He left me not an hour ago, A nd when the rascal went

Barefooted out into the snow,

I asked him whither bent . Quoth he : To her whose face is like A garden full of flowers To her whose smiles like sunlight strike A ” cross the winter hours .

No more he said, nor need of more n Had I to k ow . I knew His path lay straight unto your door That face belongs to you ! ” - her God speed, I cried, and give this , When you her face shall see A nd on his lips I set a kiss, A valenti ne from me !

I care not that the snow lies deep Upon the world about

The hidden flowers, they lie asleep A nd dream , and never doubt But S prIng shall come aga in and set The rubies on the vine :

1 1 I The faithful Year shall not forget i Her valent ne .

I care not that a thousand miles a Keep me and mine ap rt, For when upon this page she smiles A nd gladdens in her heart, L m ike Spring, the sun returns to e A nd cheers these eyes of mine : My sweetheart promises to be

My valentine .

s Be still, my heart, and like the flower A b sleep eneath the snow, D a nd s ream on, soon the sunny hour Shall wake you dreaming S O ’ A nd when the S ummer s stars above n Drip with their dewy wi e, t The flowers shall come, and with hem, A nd valentine !

ON A CLOCK

O EL N Y once, my love away, To this slave of Time I cried

F our ‘ ourne aster on y j y glide, L et your feet no second stay ; Speed the dreary night and day

He , all heedless , obstinate, a i Never quickened in his g t .

1 1 2

LYRICS FOR A LUTE All these awake a The wish I m ke, W Good inter, just for her .

L She My ove, a blossom fair is ; L ithe as a lily stem Her voice and words ’ 5 0 like the birds

Will make you think of them .

Good Winter, keep her safe for me, L eave to her face its smile, A nd to her heart Of love that part Which makes my wish worth while !

HIS STARL IGHT

OU sit who at my elbow ,

By whose eyes my lines are lit, How shall any poet ’ s pen G o amiss or falter when S tars like these S hine out above Beacons kindled there by L ove Lighting up the paths below

Where he wanders to and fro .

Is it strange the rhymes should kiss Under such a spell as this ?

They but mimic those, my Sweet,

Who of old were wont to meet, [ 1 14 ] UNSPOKEN

Meet and linger at the bars , Making love benea th the stars We ourselves were happy rhymes

a . In those de r, betrothal times

Take this lyric : every line But reflects the stars that S hine ’ O er my shoulder, telling me Of my sweetheart’ s constancy ! A nd if any word appea r

: Here Vague or needless, say you

W ent a cl oud a cross his s ki es

This is where i ts sha dow l i es .

But Should any turn of phrase

Win your lips to speak its praise, Know you then the happy thought From your eyes the poet caught : A ll the graces of his song

To those constant stars belong, To those tender eyes that brim F ull with love to gladden him .

UNSPOKEN

OVE we , when parted, you and I ,

Who had been friends so many years, How many times a last good -by R ose to the surface of my tears [ 1 1 5 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE There never once to it you cast °A hO e strand of p its life to save,

a r But w tched it to the ve y last, A nd saw it sink into its grave .

A nd now to you, away so far, The W IngIng of that spirit-word A s futile seems as to a star The flight of some enamored bird !

SONG

ONG like a rose Should be ; Each rhyme a petal sweet ;

F or fragrance, melody , That when her lips repeat The words her heart may know What S ecret makes them S O

L ove on L ove , ly

G o , then , my song, a rose Fashioned of love and rhyme ; Unto her heart disclose

That secret old as time, Old new ! , yet forever r Go, then , and tell her t ue

[ 1 1 6 ]

LYRICS FOR A LUTE Tokens these blossoms seem S pea king of her pure life Petals tha t fall like dream on dream

Into a world of strife .

MEMORIES

ON She G time sat, yet never touched a string,

Her thoughts were all of one far, far away, One dearly loved, whose face to her could bring D esire to play .

— S he a nd The tune ah, well knew it the words

So full of tenderness , unsung so long, Hung on her parted lips a flock of birds

Without a song .

A fin er- non, the music to her g tips

In swift pulsations from her glad heart went , Then quavered to the song upon her lips

The instrument .

F or suddenly across the strings She swept 10 Her slender hand, and , there came at last The melody which had in silence S lept The whole year past !

F aintly at first, with every touch it grew e More sweet, and filled the charm d air around, A nd sang within her ears until She knew ’ T S he was joy found .

1 1 8 DIRGE

And m there, alone, she held the graceful for ’ A nd t sang to it as were a babe at rest,

Singing itself to sleep, and growing warm A gainst her breast.

S O she , happy in the melody wrought old uita r Upon the g in her embrace, r e t Her eyes grew heavy, clos d, and slumber brough D reams of his face .

DIRGE

ET a song be softly sung L et ' a prayer be said ; a solemn bell be rung L ove is dead ! With the early buds he came When the snows were fl ed ; Lightly lisped the leaves his name Overhead :

Sang the birds a sweeter strain ; Troops of roses red Followed in a laughing train Where he led

Brighter beamed the stars above, A nd the soft ga les sped W hispering the secret : L ove

S oon s ha l l wed

l 1 19 l LYRICS FOR ’A LUTE

Rang the bells in merry chime When the promise spread : Poets strung with beads of rhyme F ’ d ancy s threa .

Fragrant petals lightly fell

! Where his feet might ticad Blossoms that he loved S O well bed Were his .

a There he slumbers, p le and cold L et a tear be shed ; L et a - solemn bell be tolled ; L ove is dead !

NOCTURNE

OVE to' , throw thy lattice open the night, A nd shame the moon , that doth so sadly shine . ! Upon the world , with that glad face of thine Look down upon me with thine eyes more bright Than those of angels from yon dizzy height Of heaven peering o ut ; and be it mine

TO feel uplifted to thee , like a vine L ed up the trellis ladder by the light !

u S Then, while the earth in p rple hadows deep n Lies hushed, and , dreami g, slumber all the birds, A nd not a whisper wakes the leaves above,

1 20

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

NAT U R E

A GREETING FOR SPRING

ET us go forth and meet her A s she comes through the ea ste rn L et us away to greet her Whom the lover-like land awaits

In a rapturous mood to bless, All impatient for her caress ; L et us mount up the purple slopes That are murmurous with their hopes ; A nd the winds speeding on before In their haste to be first S hall S ing Of ’ the earth s wide floor, That is dotted o’ er

With the emerald steps of Spring .

Moses upon the mountains S trikes his rod on the marble snow, Freeing the crystal fountains ; A nd the streams through the pla ins below

A re w her couriers s ift, who run In the glow of the golden sun

Through the fields on their twinkling feet, t With the gladdening promise swee , She is coming with laughing eyes

1 22 A GREETING FOR SPRING

’ F O - a rom the rient s sun wrapped l nd, From the land that lies Under tranquil skies L A ’ ike an opal in llah s hand .

Up at the dawn ’ s first waking From her dreams in the night’ s long gloom ! Up when the east is breaking Like a rose into scarlet bloom

When the buds in the branches shine, A nd the blood of the S lender vine From the tip of each tiny stem O ozes out and becomes a gem, Till the world like a queen is drest For a carnival glad and gay, A nd awaits her guest In the curtained west At the odorous doors of da ys

Hark ! on the breeze a rally A nd a rustle of wings is heard ! Over the misty valley

Soars a heavenly singing bird , L ike a sapphire that burns with song ;

A nd to it drops the earth erelong, Where it kindles a mighty choir Into flames of lyric fire A nd the jewel that falls to earth

sod In the silvery is set, A nd it marks the birth [ 1 23 1 LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

’ O ut of winter s dearth Of a delicate violet .

L et us go forth and linger A t the gates with the sunrise bars ; Watch for her rosy finger

A s she slips off its ring of stars, A nd her ra diant face which gleams ’ With the joy of the year s sweet dreams, A nd her eyes like the morning dews , A nd her cheeks with the wild-flower hues L et us watch till the east grows bright With her glorious robe that falls L ike a wave of light n O the shore of night, d A n the bird to the valley calls .

Oh , for the fragrant presage Of the goddess divinely fair !

Oh - , for the flute like message, Making melody float mid -a ir ! ’ F or the flash of the blu e- bird s wings ! F or the gush of the woodland springs !

F or - the buds in the vine clad bowers, A nd the breath of the gentle flowers !

S w We hall kno them at morning, when All the shadows of night are furled ;

We shall know them then, S It is pring again , A nd her smile is upon the world ! I 1 24 I

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

— THE SKY SHIP

s N the soft wind that blow , Yon cloud-ship of the sky Sprea ds a white sail and throws A a sh dow where I lie .

A nd with my dream is blent A breath of spice and gums Out of the Orient

Betraying whence she comes .

Unto a land remote To fill its rich ba zaars Sails this A rabian boat A mid the island stars .

A nd in yon harbor calm Of ’ Heaven s ocean blue, E mpties her freight of balm, The twilight’ s fragrant dew !

A W OODLAND SPRING

ENEATH the trees whose lisping brood

With every breath of summer wake,

’ A nd in the grove s green solitude

Soft music make,

1 26 A W OODLAND SPRING A sylvan deity her pool Of crystal water deep has hid,

Perpetually fresh and cool,

The rocks amid .

G ray, like a carpet, lies the moss , To Shield from ragged stones her feet ; A nd for a roof the bra nches cross

Above and meet .

e Birds in these rafters build and mat ,

A nd - rear their lyric hearted throng, And teach them well to imitate

Her happy song .

Hither came I upon a time

To rest me in the tranquil shade , Led by a brook whose limpid rhyme

Its source betrayed .

I watched these minstrels , pair by pair, Come to the fountain ’ s pebbly brink A nd , pausing first as if in prayer, Di p down and drink .

They seemed to know the goddess who ’ Presided o er this woodla nd spring A nd who I , longed to know her too,

Bade them to sing . [ 1 27 ] LYRICS FOR A LUTE

Then , as they sang, awhile I knelt In worship at her sylvan shrine ; A nd even as I prayed I felt Her lips touch mine !

THE NAIAD ’S CUP

’ HIS is a nai ad s drinking cup ’ The water s tireless arm held up ;

In it no drops of wine remain,

Its chaste lip wears no crimson stain .

’ NO footprint by the water s edge Betrays to whom S he drank the pledge ; Only this empty cup whose lip

Speaks naught of its companionship . Who knows but for this chalice white A star was stolen from the night, F rom whose clear jewel-grape was drawn The dew of some Parnassian dawn ;

A nd as the precious wine distilled, One drop into the water spilled, Pervading all the purple deep Wherein this naiad lay asleep !

Such potency that flavor knew, Her dream told where this lily grew ;

One a s S he t te , and awoke, and then Her eyes saw A rcady again !

1 2 8

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

NO rut remains of wagon- road ; The gateway has no gate to span it ; Only the bat and bulging toad D are venture past the posts of granite .

One dreams , so silent is the place

With all its life and light departed,

That Time has finished here the race, And now Eternity has started !

STORM

HE sun sank red in the dull gray west Like a glowing coal in a bed of ashes ; The river writhed in a mad u nrest ’ A s it felt the scourge of the Wind s keen lashes ’ NO star outshone on the Night s dark breast ’ Scarred with livid lines of the lightning s flashes ; And he came with a voice of thunder ’ O er iInder the mountains that trembled , A nd a sudden thrill

Ra n from hill to hill,

And the valley was dumb with wonder .

Then all night long on the tangled strings Of the tempest ’ s lute did the wind awaken

Discordant notes from their slumberings,

A nd the forest cried like a soul forsaken . The storm-bird fluttered his dismal wings And the rain-wrapt land like a leaf was shaken ! 1 30 l IN THE CLOVER

A nd he called in a voice of thunder ’ O er the mountains that rumbled under, A nd the hosts of flame F rom the heavens came ,

A nd the valley was filled with wonder .

10 But, , dawn smiles , and the misty world Like a pearl is plucked from its ocean dreaming ; The storm ’ s dark pinions at last are furled ’ r In the f agrant hush of the sun s bright gleaming, A nd where the arrows of fire were hurled, L o ! , the face of Heaven with gladness beaming God has silenced the voice of thunder ’ er O the mountains that echoed under, ’ A nd the bird s sweet song w In the air gro s strong, And the valley is hushed with wonder !

IN THE CLOVER

N the pasture ’ s cl over deep

a nd There I love to lie sleep, O ver me the placid sky, Blue save where his golden eye ’ Out of Heaven s window looks

In the mirrors of the brooks, That Apollo may behold How like me he too grows old ; 1 3 1 l LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

Al l about me billows blown, ’ E r O me ald as cean s own ,

By the drowsy dales that blow, C atching fragrance as they go .

C C rusoe of that lover isle,

There I come to dream awhile,

Fa r from worry, strife, or din,

Shut my island home within . Deep-drawn breaths of winy air A re the nectar I drink there ; Hebe ne ’ er her draughts served up Brimming such a sapphire cup ! Thessaly ne ’ er grew a Vine l Yielding such a spark ing wine, D rinking which ’ t is mine to feel Blissful languor o ’ er me steal !

' Give me then that Clover bed

With its blue roof overhead, There to lie and dream away

A ll the tedious hours of day .

S Pan hall cheer me with his reed,

F S auns hall dance across the mead , D aphnis tend his snowy herds , A nd Theocritus make words Mingle in soft melody In my slumber- S icily

Set the clover sea amid, A S in olden days he did ! [ 1 32 ]

LYRICS FOR A LUTE

NTO his parching lips a cup

Brimming with wine the hills hold up, F resh with the breath of bud and bloom,

In Cooled the caves of purple gloom . One long, deep draught he takes, and then

Into his saddle leaps again,

Scatters the gold coins left and right, A nd speeds beyond the gates of night ! The Years are at his heels, away

u The S n still leads them by a day . ASPIRATION

B OO KS

ASPIRATION THIN the meadow of Time ’ s book L et my song be the laughing brook That sings along its silver wa y ’ A S t were a dryad gone astray, S eeking by music ’ s balm to bless

The hunger of its loneliness . L et all my lines like ripples run Forever mirroring the sun ; Ga y as the light lisp of a leaf, Unmarred by any gust of grief ; S weet as the soft south wind that blows

- Its tender love song to the rose . S O be , later, if my rhymes read

By maid or youth , it may be said No mel a ncholy s tra in he knew

His s ki es were a l wa s br i ht a nd bl ue y g . L if e seemed f or him to s l ip a l ong

As s mooth a s his l im id son ly p g ,

W hic i n its ra ce a nd s im l e a rt h , g p ,

Echoes the l a dness i n his hea rt g .

[ 1 35 ] LYRICS FOR A L UTE

THE FLY—LEAF TO THE READER

RIEND , stay your steps awhile before You pass within the open door ; Bethink you in what manner you a ! Sh ll greet the host ; consider, too, How to a feast of all his best

The author here invites his guest,

To taste his meat and drink his wine, n O every dish to freely dine .

A nd o , mind you, when you c me to sit Before the board whereon his wit A nd wisdom are all spread to make A ’ ’ meal for your mind s stomach s sake, To bear yourself with dignity A nd treat your host with courtesy .

If any dish before you placed f By any chance o fend your taste, Or if the food seem wanting aught f O . proper seasoning, say naught Ea t quietly, and when you go F orget not gratitude to Show ; A nd , being gone, if you repent

The precious time that you have spent, Or think that you have poorly fared

o Upon the fo d and drink prepared, Curse not this book the wine and meat

S O kindly offered you to eat . [ 1 36 ]

LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

Not much, but just enough to light

The room up when the fire is bright . The volumes on this wall should be All prose and all philosophy, From Plato down to those who a re The dim reflections of that star ; A nd these tomes all should serve to Show — How much we write how little know ; For since the problem first was set

No one has ever solved it yet . Upon the S helves along the west The scientific books shall rest ;

Beside them, History ; above, R —hO e eligion, p , and faith, and love L astly, the southern wall should hold

- The story tellers, new and old ; a l Ra who Haroun schid, was truth A nd happiness to all my youth , Shall have the honored place of all That dwell upon the sunny wall ; A nd with him there shall stand a throng Of those who help mankind along More by their fascinating lies

Than all the learning of the wise .

Such be the library ; and take This motto of a Latin make To grace the door through which I pass

Hic ha kita t Fel icita s

[ 138 ] FORGOTTEN BOOKS

FORGOTTEN BOOKS

F books I sing, but not of those

- Which any book collector knows ,

The priceless, rare editions , not, But volumes which the World forgot A nd who with them those wrote, as well, Before they had a chance to sell Ephemerals that find themselves

With the Immortals on my shelves .

S I name no names, for if I hould

None would recall them now, nor could A word of mine bring any one

ut v O of its long Obli ion . The ink on many fly- leaves still L ooks quite as fresh as when the quill ’ On each inscribed an author s name, A nd signed his title there to Fame Without one solitary fear A bout its being proven clear .

One has its pages still uncut, C lean , kept ironically shut By him whose name therein is penned

Above : From his d evoted Fri end . But not infrequently I come A m cross the i print of a thumb , Or in the paragraphs I find A n pleasi g sentence underlined, [ 1 39 ] LYRI CS FOR A LUTE

Or neatly on the margin set A compliment in epithet E ’ m ach one of these, I satisfied,

Was read before its author died .

A nd there is one among them all,

- - Morocco bound, gilt edged, and small , Filled with the amatory rhymes

Of - ante Tennysonian times, Stiff in their phraseology A nd rather rough in melody . ’ T is D edica ted u nto Her

B Her Unworth W ors hi er y y pp .

A nd Thes e just below is written ,

Ma n a nd l ea s i n Mel odies y p g , w i i ’ D ea r W m. r t n 8 9 ,

” Me did Dedica te 65 unto .

wa s This one read and read again, A nd annotated by her pen : ’ A nd A this fulfilled the uthor s hopes,

R o epaid the t il of all his tropes, A nd had, at least his span of life ,

' n in h is O e constant reader wife .

TO HIS B OOKS

0 , little book with heart of rhyme This is our last leave- taking time For you the journey stretches long, With naught to cheer you save a song ; [ 140 ]

L ITTL FOL K LYRI CS

LITT LE—FOLK LYRICS

’ F or F you to string on ancy s line,

To be your joy as they were mine,

To be your joy, and so to bless Your hearts with song and happiness !

BLOSSOMS

UT of my window I could see

But yesterday, upon the tree,

The blossoms white, like tufts of snow

That had forgotten when to go .

A nd h while I looked out at them, t ey

Seemed like small butterflies at play, F or in the breeze their flutterings

Made me imagine them with wings .

I must have fancied well, for now ’ s There not a blossom on the bough, ’ A nd t out of doors is raining fast, A d n n gusts of wind are whistli g past .

With butterflies ’ t is etiquette

To keep their wings from getting wet, wa s a So, when they knew the storm ne r,

They thought it best to disappear . DAI SIES

ANEMONE

C L OR S un S U PT is the , I know, Whose shining marble is the snow A ll da through the winter, day by y, He with his golden chisel-ray Toils patiently that he may bring A statue forth to honor S pring ; A nd e when she com s , behold it there , A blossom in the gentle air, A c m form of gra ious sym etry, A fragile white anemone !

DAISIES T evening when I go to bed I see the stars shine overhead ; They are the little daisies white a Th t dot the meadow of the Night .

’ A nd m often while I dreaming so, A cross the sky the Moon will go ;

It is a lady, sweet and fair,

Who comes to gather daisies there .

F or , when at morning I arise , ’ There s not a star left in the skies ; ’ S he S picked them all and dropped them down

Into the meadows of the town . [ 147 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

SPRING ’ S COMING HE woodland brooks that murmur as they go In S ilver ripples through the fringing grass A re harp-strings touched by God the winds that blow ’ A re Spring s gay children, singing as they pass .

A nd where the sod is trodden by their feet, E ’ The arth , all gladdened by youth s warmer blood, Puts forth her fragile urns of odors sweet r The violet and frag ant crocus bud .

GOLDEN—ROD

R P ING is the morning of the year, A nd summer is the noontide bright ; The autumn is the evening clear ’ i That comes before the winter s n ght .

A nd in the evening, everywhere A a long the ro dside, up and down , I see the golden torches flare

- w Like lighted street lamps in the to n .

I think the butterfly and bee, F a a rom dist nt meadows coming b ck, Are quite contented when they see

These lamps along the homeward track . [ 1 48 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

FEBRUARY

EBRU A RY , fortnights two,

Briefest of the months are you, Of ’ the winter s children last . Why do you go by so fast ? Is it not a little strange O nce in four years you should change , That the sun should shine and give You another day to live ? May be this is only done Since you are the smallest one ; S O I make the Shortest rhyme

F or : you, as befits your time ’ re a You the b by of the year, ’ A nd re to me you very dear, r Just because you b ing the line, Wi l l y ou be my Va l entine ?

MARCH

A RC ! H and all the winds cry, March ’ A S they sweep the heavens arch, Polishing the stars that gem E ’ arth s resplendent diadem , Setting all the waters free ’ F C rom the winter s hancery, Sending down an avalanche ’ - From the tree s snow covered branch . [ 1 5 0 ] APRIL March makes clear the frosty track That the birds may hasten back On their northward flight and bring S Jocund carols for the pring .

r March is mer y, March is mad,

March is gay, and March is sad Every humor we may know

If we list the winds that blow . Have you heard the bugle-call Gathering the soldiers all S ’ March is pring s own trumpeter,

Hailing us to welcome her .

APRIL

UTDOORS the white rain coming down

Made rivers of the streets in town, A nd where the snow in pa tche?lay ’ It washed the Winter s signs away . How fast it fell ! How wa rm it felt ! The icicles began to melt A silver needle seemed each one Thrust in the furnace of the Sun

The Vulcan Sun who forged them all,

In raindrops, crystals round and small . The air was filled with tiny ropes On A which were strung these pril hopes, White water-beads that searched the ground

Until the thirsty seeds were found . [ 1 5 1 1 LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

Then came blue sky ; the streets were clean, A nd in the garden spots of green n Were glisteni g in golden light, The grass and Spring —almost in sight ! A bluebird sang its song near by ; Oh S is , happy pring come, thought I

When all at once the air grew chill, A gain the snow- fla ke s fell until r wa s s The g ound covered , and the tree

Stood in the drifts up to their knees .

I think this bird who dared to sing S Was premature about the pring,

Or else he joked in manner cool ,

A nd A ril Fool ! caroled lightly, p

MAY

AY Shall make the world anew ;

S Golden sun and ilver dew,

S k Money minted in the y, ’ Shall the earth s new garments buy . May shall make the orchards bloom ; ’ A nd the blossoms fine perfume Shall set all the honey-bees

Murmuring among the trees . May shall make the bud appear L ike a jewel, crystal clear, ’ Mid the leaves upon the limb

Where the robin lilts his hymn . [ 1 5 2 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

A S if the mellow notes of mirth

Were wafted to them from the earth . 0 ! June such music haunts your name, ’ With you the summer s chorus came .

JULY

U LY , for you the songs are sung By birds the leafy trees among ; With merry carolings they wake ’ The meadows at the morning s break, A nd through the day the lisping breeze Is woven with their tree- top glees :

F or o you the prattling, pebbly bro ks A re full of tales like story-books : F or you a fragrant incense burns ’ Within the garden s blossom urns, Which tempts the bees to hasten home

With honey for their honeycomb .

n - The river, like a looki g glass , R fleec eflects the y clouds that pass , Until it makes us almost doubt ’ n t a If earth and sky are ch nged about .

July, for you, in silence deep ,

The world seems fallen fast asleep,

Save on one glorious holiday, we When all our books put away, A nd every little maid and man I A S proud to be merican . [ 1 5 4 ] SEPTEMB ER

AUGUST

U GU S T , month when summer

Sleeping under sapphire skies . O o pen all the wind ws wide, D ’ rink the orchard s fragrant tide, Breath of grass at morning mown Through the leafy Vistas blown ;

Hear the swishing of the scythe, S ound mellifluent and blithe A ugust, month when everywhere Music floats upon the air F of a rom the harp minstrel g les , Playing down the hills and dales

A S ugust, month when leepy cows S S eek the shade of preading boughs , Where the birds alight to S ing A nd the fruit hangs ripening A ugust , month of twilights, when D a y half goes, and comes again ; A ugust days are guards who keep

Watch while Summer lies asleep .

SEPTEMBER

ERE ’ S a lyric for September, Best of all months to remember ; Month ~when summer breezes tell

What has happened wood and dell, 15 5 1 LITTLE- FOLK LYRI CS

Of the joy the year has brought, A nd the changes she has wrought . She has turned the verdure red ;

In the blue sky overhead,

She the harvest moon has hung, L ike a silver boat among

S et Shoals of stars, bright jewels ’ In the earth s blue coronet ;

’ She has brought the orchard s fruit To repay the robin ’ s flute Which has gladdened half the year C With a music , liquid lear ; A nd she makes the meadow grass C atch the sunbeams as they pass, Till the autumn’ s floor is rolled

With a fragrant cloth of gold.

OCTOBER

CTOB ER is the month that seems All woven with midsummer dreams ; She brings for us the golden days That fill the air with smoky haze ;

She brings for us the lisping breeze, A nd wakes the gossips in the trees , Who whisper near the vacant nest

Forsaken by its feathered guest .

Now half the birds forget to sing, And half of them have taken wing, [ 1 5 6 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

Or , perhaps they all depart ’ To the forest s frozen heart , There to tell the barren trees ’ Of fireside s the mysteries, How they saw some other elves Just as funny as themselves !

DECEMBER

ECEMB ER ’ S come, and with her brought A world in whitest marble wrought ; The trees and fence and all the posts

Stand motionless and white as ghosts, A nd all the paths we used to know

A re hidden in the drifts of snow . D ecember brings the longest night,

A nd cheats the day of half its light . NO song-bird breaks the perfect hush ; NO meadow-brook with liquid gush Runs telling tales in babbling rhyme f O liberty and summer time, But frozen in its icy cell

Awaits the sun to break the spell .

Breathe once upon the window glass , A nd see the mimic mists that pass, Fantastic shapes that go and come

Forever silvery and dumb .

S C December anta laus shall bring, Of happy children happy king, [ 1 5 8 ] KING BELL

Who with his S leigh and reindeer stops A t ’ all good people s chimney tops .

o Then let the h lly red be hung, A nd all the sweetest carols sung, While we with joy remember them

The journeyers to Bethlehem ,

Who followed, trusting from afar The guidance of that happy star Which marked the spot where Christ was L C ! ong years ago, one hristmas morn

KING BELL

ONG years ago there lived a A mighty man and bold, D D Who had two sons, named ong and ing, f O whom this tale is told .

D wa s Prince ing clear of voice, and tall, A Prince in every line

D wa s Prince ong, his voice very small , A d n he but four feet nine .

Now both these sons were very dear

To Bell, the mighty King . They always hastened to appear

When he for them would ring . [ 1 5 9 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

D be ing never failed the first to , But D f ong, he ollowed well, A nd at the second summons he R l esponded to King Be l .

This promptness of each royal Prince

Is all of them we know, Except that all their kindred since n Have do e exactly so .

A nd if you chance to know a King L ike this one of the song, Just listen once and there is Ding A ! D gain and there is ong .

IN THE MEADOW

HE meadow is a battle-field ’ Where Summer s army comes,

Each soldier with a clover shield,

’ - The honey bees with drums .

- ! m s Boom , rat ta they arch, and pas The captain tree who stands Saluting with a sword of grass A nd giving them commands .

’ T is only when the breezes blow A cross the woody hills,

S They houlder arms, and, to and fro,

- March in their full dress drills . [ 160 ]

’ a E ch drop is so much like a gem,

I think the fairy gathers them, And leaning over as you pass L ets millions fall upon the grass .

THE FOUR W INDS

N winter,when the m ud I hear know the Clouds will disappear ; ’ For t is the wind who sweeps the sky And e h piles the snow in ridg s hig .

S In pring, when stirs the wind, I know That soon the crocus buds will S how ’ For t is the wind who bids them wake

And into pretty blossoms break .

s In ummer when it softly blows,

Soon red I know will be the rose, ’ For t who is the wind to her speaks, A d s n brings the blushes to her cheek .

In autumn, when the wind is up, ’ I know the acorn s out its cup ; ’ F or t is the Wind who takes it out, A nd plants an oak somewhere about . HUMMING—BIRD SONG

HUMMING—BIRD SONG

U MMING— R BI D, Not a word D o you sa y ; Has your throat No sweet note To repay Honest debts It begets When you go On the wing Pilfering To and fro ?

May be you Whisper to Bloom and lea f On the vine Secrets fine In your brief C alls on them, e Wing d gem . Not a word You reply ! Ofl you fly, H umming-bird

[ 163 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

PEBBLES UT of a pellucid brook Pebbles round and smooth I took L ike a jewel, every one C aught a color from the sun, R uby red and sapphire blue, E merald and onyx too, D iamond and amethyst, Not a precious stone I missed Gems I held from every land

a n In the hollow of my h d . Workman Water these had made ;

Patiently through sun and shade, With the ripples of the rill

He had polished them until,

Smooth, symmetrical and bright, Each one sparkling in the light Showed within its burning heart ’ All the lapidary s art ; A nd the brook seemed thus to S ing P a tience conquers every thing

IN THE ORCHARD

RO - BIN in the cherry tree,

I hear you caroling your glee . The platform where you lightly tread

Is lighted up with cherries red, [ 1 64 1

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

’ A nd d the shoes, you find are such A s no boy would care for much . In a broken bed you ’ d see

Some one just about like me, Dreaming of the pretty toys

Which you bring to other boys, A nd to him a Christmas seems

r Me ry only in his dreams .

All m S C he drea s then, anta laus, uff i St the stock ng with , because ’ W hen it s filled up to the brim I ’ll be Santa Claus to him

CHERRIES

R L P I brought the blossoms out,

May winds scattered them about, Till the grassy floor below Whitened with their fragrant snow ;

Then came June with golden sun, Of all months the fairest one, Smiling on the trees and brooks

- L ike a child with picture books .

In the green leaves overhead Little lights were burning red ; L ooking up, it seemed that I Saw the stars in fairy Sky

1 66 CHERRIES

s Gli tening the leaves among, Lanterns by the pixies hung ; But I hea rd a song-bird pipe Cherry ripe ! and Cherry ripe !

He who S ings of cherries best Wears their colors on his breast ;

’ is a nd He their poet , he

Makes his dwelling in their tree .

’ T is not strange his song is sweet Think the cherries he can eat ! Busy with his feathered wits

He makes bare the cherry pits .

Bring the basket, little maid ;

L et us lend S ir Robin aid . I will climb among the boughs

Where he has his tiny house, A nd if I can find him there I will ask him please to spare Of his tempting cherry feast

One small basketful at least . I will tell him how in spring

When you first had heard him sing, All upon the garden ground You the bread- crumbs threw around ’ s Then, if he the bird I think,

He will answer in a wink, ’ C : d ertainly I help you pick, If their stems were not so thick ! ” 167 1 LITTLE- FOLK LYRICS

OFTEN S it and wish that I C Sk ould be a kite up in the y, A nd ride upon the breeze, and go

Whatever way it chanced to blow .

Then I could look beyond the town, A nd see the river winding down, A nd follow all the ships that sail L ike me before the merry gale, Until at last with them I came m To some place with a foreign na e .

KRISS KRINGLE

W A Y with mela ncholy ! is for delight ; When mistletoe and holly In wreaths and garlands bright A re hung above the ingle, A nd joyous voices mingle

To welcome in Kriss Kringle, Who comes clad all in white !

Green spray and crimson berry A crown for him shall be ; Gay catch and carol merry e Shall fill his heart with gle ,

1 68

Dressed in finest kinds of lace ’ T r is a pictu e , on a space

Scarcely larger than the hand, Of i a t ny Switzerland, Which the wizard Frost has drawn ’ ni n Twixt the ghtfall and the daw . Quick ! and see what he has done ’ E t is re stolen by the Sun .

THE JUGGLER

ROM these downy fla kes of snow

Winter scatters everywhere, Fra grant violets shall gr ow In the springtime ’ s balmy

Every snowdrop on the numb Branches of the barren tree Shal l a ruby bud become

r e When the wa m sun sets it fre .

A nd the icicles that shine Dagger-like and crystal-clea r

In the fingers of the Vine, li e r Tremb ng leaves shall then app a .

We shal l know when comes this strange

A who a r Juggler pril , sh ll b ing

! Out - r h n ! of snow d ifts , Presto, c a ge Birds a nd blossoms of the S pring ! [ 1 7 0 ] A FAIRY STORY

A FAIRY STORY

HIS is what a fairy heard ; L istening beside a stream , i Water talk ng in its dream .

That is what I call absurd .

This is what the water said ’ W hen I row u bi I l l be g p g,

L ike the r i ver or the s ea .

S And the fairy hook her head .

Then She went upon her wa y Fa r across the hills and vales A nd she heard so many tales h S e forgot the dream one day .

But, at last, spread out to view,

La o : e y the cean then , once mor , She heard water on the shore

: I remember ou Whisper y .

Once I wa s a tiny drop

D rea min i n a mea dow- brook g .

I wa s l i ttl e then but look ,

’ Now I ve g rown enough to s top I

[ 17 1 ] LITTLE- FOLK LYRICS

THE SHADOW S

LL up and down in shadow-town The S hadow children go ; ’ In every street you re sure to meet

Them running to and fro .

They move around without a sound,

- - They play at hide and seek, But no one yet that I have met

Has ever heard them speak .

Benea th the tree you often see

Them dancing in and out, ’ A nd in the sun there s always one

To follow you about .

Go where you will, he follows still, Or sometimes runs before , ’ A nd t , home at last, you ll find him fas

Beside you at the door .

A faithful friend is he to lend His presence everywhere ; Blow out the light to bed at night Your shadow-mate is there ! Then he will call the shadows all

Into your room to leap, And ! such a pack they make it black, A nd fill your eyes with sleep ! [ 1 72 1

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

THE ARCHER

IS home is yonder in the Sky ’ There, when the chase is o er, He hangs his gorgeous bow on high A bove the Open door .

A nd sitting down he looks around

r The g een fields wide and far, Where prostrate lying on the ground

His many Victims are .

h ll Strong is his arm , he k ows it we , A nd sure his steady aim ;

F or him the missing arrows tell v

The number of the game .

C ! is one ome out, come out the hunt d ; No danger shall we know ; For yonder see beneath the sun His promise and his bow !

A FUNNY FELLOW

H ERE is a funny fellow Who goes by every day

When sad his voice is mellow, a But shrill when he is g y .

D espite of my endeavor ’ ve To see him , though we met [ 1 74 ] SPINNING TOP I must confess I never

Have seen his features yet . I know he pulls the thistles

That grow along the lane, And i i whi s es pr cks h mself, and tl

A nd when the snow is falling a So f st I may not see, I Often hear hi m calling

to A cross the fields me .

a nl n He cert i y is fu ny,

F or ca n , when I go out, If it is warm and sunny m He seldo is about .

S me m He ings to , and akes me A S leepy child at ni ght ;

S n a a a nd He i gs g in, wakes me,

o At ea rly m rning bright .

SPINNI NG TOP

EN I Spin round without a stop

( 1 m a keep y b lance like the top, I find tha t soon the floor wi ll swim e m a nd B fore y eyes then, like him, I li e all dizzy on the floor n i Until I feel like spi n ng more . [ 1 7 5 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

SMILES AND TEARS

LE S un s SMI , and then the come ’ He hides away whene er I pout ; He seems a very funny sun

To do whatever he sees done .

A nd when it rains he disappears L ’ s . ike me , he can t see through the tear ’ Now is n t that the reason why I ought to smile and never cry ?

In more than this is he like me ; F or every evening after tea

He closes up his eyelids tight, ’ A nd opens them at morning s light .

THE CANARY

P in your cage of gold, i Sing ng us all awake,

What, if it might be told , ’ What is the wish you d make ?

! ’ d Is it, I like to be

ut O O in the pen air,

Out e of this cage, and fre , Free to go anywhere ? [ 1 76 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS I watch them hurry on until

The blue is clear and deep, A nd dream that far beyond the hill

S The hepherds fold their sheep .

Then in the sky the trembling stars L ike little flowers shine out ,

While Night puts up the shadow bars , A nd darkness falls about . ’ I hear the shepherd wind s good-night

G - ! ood night, and happy sleep A nd dream that in the east, all white,

S Slumber the clouds , the heep .

LEAVES AT PLAY

CA ER MP , little leaves , about In the autumn sun ;

I can hear the old Wind shout, L aughing as you run , ’ A nd I have n t any doubt

That he likes the fun .

’ ve When you run a month or so, ’ Very tired you ll get ;

Ol d But the same Wind , I know, Will be laughing yet When he tucks you in your snow D owny coverlet . [ 1 78 ] SHADOW PICTURES

S O , run on and have your play, Romp with all your might

D n ro m a ce ac ss the autu n day,

r While the sun is b ight . ’ o Soon y u ll hear the old Wind say,

L G d - ! ittle leaves , oo night

SHADOW PICTURES

N the day or night, l When the amps are bright, ’ Fa r up in the sky s blue dome, Every kin d of tree

me Is a child like ,

A musing himself at home .

On the gro und below In the brilliant glow

Of a o st rs , or of m on or sun, There the Shadows fall On w the grassy all, A nd over the garden run .

There are cats and kings ,

r There are bi ds with wings , A nd curious kin ds of men ; A nd they dan ce and pla y

In a funny way, A nd ai vanish, and come ag n . [ 1 79 1 LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

Oh , I wish I knew How their fingers do Such tricks with the S hadows Then I ’ d make the birds And the beasts in herds,

To go in a shadow ark .

A nd the flood should come,

A S it once did, from The lamp on the parlor S helf ; A nd my shadow boat On the wall should float,

A nd S Noah hould be myself .

GHOST FAIRIES

HEN the open fire is lit,

In the evening after tea, Then I like to come and sit

the Where fire can talk to me .

F r ai y stories it can tell,

o Tales of a f rgotten race, Of the fairy ghosts that dwell

In the ancient chimney place . They are quite the strangest folk

A o nyb dy ever knew, Shapes of shadow and of smoke

L iving in the chimney flue .

1 80

LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

Then come, and we may find the E Wherein the squimau is shut, Or see the polar bear whose fur

Makes fun of the thermometer .

L et us who want our muscles tough

orsa ke ff the tippet and the mu .

The keen fresh wind will do no harm,

S The leaping blood hall keep us warm, A Spin upon our arctic main n Shall drive the clouds from out the brai , A nd for our studies we at night

Shall have a better appetite .

A DEW DROP

ITTL E Of drop dew, L ike a gem you are I believe that you

Must have been a star.

When the day is bright, On the grass you lie ;

Tell me then, at night A re you in the sky ? JE STER BEE

JESTER BEE

HE ga rden is a royal court

Whose jester is the bee, A nd with his wit and merry sport

He fills the place with glee .

He S ings love ditties to the Rose Who is the queen of all ; To princess Lily up he goes A nd whispers She is tall ;

He pulls prince Pansy by the ear ; He does all sorts of things That are ridiculous and queer

But all the while he sings .

He does not seem to think‘ it wr ong S uch liberties to take A nd they wh o love his happy song F orgive him for its sake .

A nd when at last the royal clown ’ Off Takes his jester s mask, He seriously sits him down

Before his honey task .

Then to himself he sings away, ’ A nd here s the burden true Oh , sweet are all my hours of play, A nd ! sweet my honey, too [ 1 83 ] LITTLE- FOLK LYRICS

SNOW FLAKES UT of the sky they come a ir Wandering down the , Some to the roofs and some Whiten the branches bare ;

Some in the empty nest,

Some on the ground below, Until the world is dressed All in a gown of snow .

Dressed in a fleecy gown Out of the snowflakes spun ; n n Weari g a golden crow , Over her head the sun

Out of the S ky again Ghosts of the flowers that died

Visit the earth , and then

Under the white drifts hide .

DREAMS

HO e can tell us whence they com , t mysterious region from ? In what fairy country lies

That strange city of surprise, [ 184 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

MAY—CHIL DREN

APTIVES ’ i to winter s cruel k ng, In gloomy dungeons cast

The merry children of the spring ,

L a n y bou d in fetters fast .

i i They heard the w nd, the r surly guard,

His angry summons roar, A nd trembled when the sleet fell hard A gainst their prison door .

w The wild flo er whispered to the grass, What hope have we to live ? A But answer none made he . las ! hO e He had no p to give .

5 0 in the darkness sad they wept,

Nor any comfort won, Save when into their sleep there crept

D reams of the gentle sun .

But once while they were dreaming so, C A ’ ame pril s soldier rains,

Who burst their prison bars of snow, d Of A n freed them their chains .

Then forth they went into the world, ’ S rl n s a nd p g children bright gay, A nd to the fragrant breeze unfurled

Their banner blooms of May .

1 86 SOLDIERS OF THE SUN

ROBIN ’ S APOLOGY

NE m orning in the garden

’ I hea rd the robin s song I really beg your pardon F or ta rrying so long ;

A nd u a this is j st the re son,

a flew Wh tever way I ,

a o I met a b ckward seas n , w t Which kept me back ard oo .

SOLDIERS OF THE SUN

L ONG the margin of the world They march with their bright banners

furled, l i Unti , in l ne of battle drawn ,

o o They reach the b undaries f dawn .

They cross the seas and rivers deep ,

C m n hi e They li b the mountai s gh and st ep, A nd hurry on until in S ight Of their black enemy, the Night ; Then madly rush into the fray

D a The armies of the Night and y . Swiftly the S hining arrows go ; n w w ni The bugli g inds their ar ngs blow . S w l trive as he i l , the Night is pressed

Farther and farther down the west . [ 1 87 1 LITTLE—FOLK LYRI CS

With golden S pear and gleaming lance

Da The cohorts of the y advance, Until the Victory is won S By his brave oldiers of the Sun .

SNOW SONG

VER valley, over hill,

Hark, the shepherd piping shrill ! Driving all the white flocks forth F rom the far folds of the North .

Blow, Wind , blow ;

o Weird mel dies you play, Following your flocks that go

A - cross the world to day .

How they hurry, how they crowd When they hear the music loud ! Grove and lane and meadow full

Sparkle with their shining wool .

o Blow, Wind, bl w Until the forests ring

Teach the eaves the tunes you know, A nd make the chimney sing !

Hither, thither, up and down E very highway of the town, a ll Huddling close, the white flocks ’ S Gather at the hepherd s call .

1 88 l

LITTLE- FOLK LYRICS

ELFIN LAMPS

HY all the stars in the sky are so bright, I am sure no one knows but themselves up

there . A re they the lamps which are hung out at night F or the fays and the gnomes and the elves up there ?

BIRDS ’ MUSIC

HE little leaves upon the trees ’ A re written o er with notes and The pretty madrigals and glees

Sung by the merry minstrel birds .

Their teacher is the Wind, I know ; ’ F or re while they busy at their song, He turns the music quickly so m The tune may s oothly move along .

m - e So all through sum er tim they sing, A nd make the woods and meadows sweet, And teach the brooks , soft murmuring,

Their dainty carols to repeat .

A nd w hen , at last, their lessons done,

The winter brings a frosty day,

Their teacher takes them, one by one,

Their music, too, and goes away . [ 1 90 1 SHADOW CHILDREN

SHADOW CHILDREN

HEN hi the sun s nes, then I see S ha dows undern eath the tree G m n liding errily arou d,

m a n o Never aking y s und, m Playing at their ga es , no doubt,

ow o Games I do not kn ab ut .

A ll day long together so L ’ ightly o er the ground they go,

a Meet and sep rate and meet,

S m S ca per down the hadow street,

F or an instant here, and then

n a Just as quickly go e gain .

S s When with clouds the kie are gray,

a o In their house the sh d ws stay,

- o a nd With their picture bo ks toys , L ike all other girls and boys But as soon as S hines the sun

a Out of do ors they gl dly run .

So for hours they play, until S inks the sun behi nd the hill ;

o Then, like me , they g to bed,

- r In the tree house ove head, A nd the winds their cradles swing

To the lullabies they sing . [ 1 91 ] LITTLE- FOLK LYRICS

FAIRY SHIPW RECK

NE morning when the rain A nd all the trees adrip,

a ll I found, shining in the sun ,

- A storm wrecked fairy ship .

wa s Its hull fashioned of a leaf, A tiny twig its mast, A nd high upon a green-branch reef

By winds it had been cast .

’ A S web pider s , the fragile sail,

Now flying loose and torn, Once spread itself to catch the gale

By which the ship was borne .

’ Its voyages at last were o er, A nd gone were all the crew ; A nd did they safely get ashore A ! las, I wish I knew

BEES

EES don ’ t care about the snow ’ I can tell you why that S so

Once I caught a little bee W ho wa s much too warm for me ! [ 1 92 ]

— LITTLE FOLK LYRICS

L u ! llaby, lullaby lullaby Pearls in the deep Sk Stars in the y, Dreams in our sleep ; So lul laby !

S l o Slumber, lumber, litt e one, s on The fairy will come in the S hip of the moon

The fairy will come with the pearls and the stars, And dreams will come singing through shadowy bars

L u - l ! ullaby, l llaby lul aby Pea rls in the deep

Stars in the sky, Dreams in our sleep ; 5 0 lullaby

Slumber, slumber, little one, so ;

a a - The st rs are the pearls that the dre m fairies know,

The stars are the pearls , and the bird in the nest, A dea r little fellow the fairies love best : L l ul aby, lullaby lullaby Pearls in the deep

S k Stars in the y, Dreams in our sleep ; So lullaby

W INTER’ S ACROBATS

Y night he spread his whi te rugs down Upon the highways of the town ; [ 1 94 ] W INTER ’ S ACROBATS

His po sters on the fences told

Of r m if games and pleasu es an old,

And promised every girl and boy

A da o y of undivided jy ,

Of a nd merry sport healthy fun,

a s In c e there were not any sun .

r hi s The g ay sky was spacious tent,

And nearly all the children went .

i S o a Some took the r leds, some to k their sk tes, m o s o a s . Some to k the selve , and s me their m te

o a nd Then all day long, on p nd hill , s il They slid and coa ted with a w l,

And w built sno images and forts , A nd a ll played at their jolly spo rts .

’ A nd when at last t was time to end m The happy games and ho eward wend,

n i They cried, while tossi g high the r hats, ’ Thr ee cheers for Winter s A crobats !

[ 1 95 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

VACATION SONG

HEN study and school are over,

How jolly it is to be free, A way in the fields of clover, The honey- sweet haunts of the bee !

Away in the woods to ramble

Where , merrily all day long, The birds in the bush and bramble

A re filling the summer with song .

A way in the dewy valley

To follow the murmuring brook, Or S it on its bank and dally A while with a line and a hook .

A way from the stir and bustle, The noise of the town left behind

Vacation for sport and muscle,

The winter for study and mind .

’ s There never a need to worry, ’ s There never a lesson to learn , ’ S u There never a bell to h rry, ’ There S never a duty to spurn .

5 0 play till the face grows ruddy A nd muscles grow bigger, and then Go back to the books and study ’ We 11 find it as pleasant again . [ 196 1

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS Together joined in whispered talk ’ About the fairies ball ; The slender grasses waved along

The garden path, and I Could almost hear the fairies ’ song

When blew the light wind by .

I waited there till noon to hear The el fin music sweet ; I saw the servan t bees appear In golden jackets neat ; A nd though I W Ished just once to

The happy little elves , They were so much afraid of me They never showed themselves

THE ROSE ’S CUP

W N O in a garden olden,

Just where, I do not know, A buttercup all golden Chanced nea r a rose to grow ; A nd every morning early,

Before the birds were up, A tiny dewdrop pearly

Fell in this little cup .

This was the drink of water The rose had every day ; [ 198 ] But no one yet has caught her n in While dri king this way .

Surely, it is no treason

To say she drinks so yet, F or that may be the reason wet Her lips with dew are .

THE SNOW —W EAVER ACK and forth the shuttles go F w ashioning the cloth of sno , A nd the weaver you may hear A t the wind-loom singing clear

a nd ea Slumber, little flowers, dr m

Of - the silver throated stream, Shining through the April day A s it were a music ray Bearing melody along F rom the mellow sun of song . r Slumber, little frag ant faces, Dreaming in your quiet places ; — Soon the dreams shall pass a nd You and Spring Shall wake again !

Thus the weaver at his loom ’ Sings away the winter s gloom, While he weaves the coverlet F or the dreamers who forget [ 199 1 LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

a Slumber, little flowers, and dre m Of the April ’ s golden beam Which shall come and fill your eyes With the sunlight of surprise ;

Waking, you shall hear once more ’ - Song birds at the daybreak s door .

Slumber, little fragrant faces,

Dreaming in your quiet places . Soon the dreams S hall pass and then You and Spring shall wake again ! ”

THE STORY—TELLER

HEY gather round him, one and all, A group of happy children small ;

Their mouths are Open wide ; their eyes Seem a hn ost twice their normal size ;

Some stand, some sit, and not a word F rom any one of them is heard .

Now all is ready quite, for now

- The story teller rubs his brow,

A nd questions them : ! What shall it be A fairy- tale from memory ?

Or shall I tell it in a song, A nd make up as I go along ? 200 l

— LITTLE FOLK LYRICS

’ A nd there s the palace court-yard where The Sultan walks when it is fair ;

’ And there S a funny dwarf he ha d

To cheer him up when he was sad .

Of course the robber comes to grief ; The gem was in his handkerchief

’ The parrot t is who picked it up And dropped it in his water cup

A nd then the prince the parrot bought, And found the gem the Sultan sought .

So runs for one long hour the tale, A nd finds the robber safe in jail .

The parrot has become quite tame, A nd calls the princess by her name ;

The page has had his pay increased,

Which he deserved, to say the least ;

The dwarf the Sultan ’ s merry dwarf

Has been presented with a scarf,

e Whose colors mad the Sultan vext, ’ A nd that s

Continued in the nex t.

202 THE RAINBOW

THE RAI NB OW

F E R n T the rai goes by, Curving across the Sky of Behold the bow light,

’ God s promise shi ni ng bright ! U nder this glowing arch

- o m The myriad mist f lk arch, A nd S un yonder lo, the G r listens the g ass once more ,

The birds sing at the door,

Blue the sky as before , A nd the rain is done !

Slowly the mea dow mist Melts into amethyst Slowly the rainbow fair Fades in the amber air ; Wakes in the west a breeze Whi spering through the trees

of S un The secrets the . G leams like a gem the rose,

O o pen its red d or blows ,

Thither the glad bee goes , A nd the rain is clone !

[ 203 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

THE STORY OF OMAR

ONG centuries ago, three Persian boys ,

Thinking upon their hopes of future joys, O A a Between them mar, bdul, and Hass n A a lasting comp ct made, and thus it ran

bd l a nd r d H s ei Thes th A u Oma a n a s n . e ree ,

S chool -ma tes a nd ri ends d o s ol emn a ree f , ly g

Tha t to whichever one s ucces s ma come y ,

Honor or W ea l th the ha nd o Al l a h rom , f f , This one to ea ch compa n ion d ea r sha l l ma ke ’ S ome worth o erin or Fri ends h s sa ke y f g f ip .

S The years lipped by, and when good fortune came, A It brought to bdul honor, wealth, and fame ’ S t wa s Vizier the ultan made him , and then m a He thought of O ar and Hass n again . ’ A nd t they, is said, remembering the old A greement , came, their wishes to unfold .

F a : Of O F irst spoke Hass n thee, riend, my heart Would crave of power to have some goodly part ! But Omar said to Abdul It were well O F With me , riend, if I might ever dwell

S Within the hadow of thy happiness , ’ A nd from L ife s grape the wine of Wisdom press

To ea ch wa s granted that for which he prayed

r ml s d w o e a s . The vow fulfilled, the p debt paid [ 204 ]

LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

A mong them, and the last of all, A k woolly itten, fat and small, He placed upon the moonlit floor ’ C C lose by the hamber s open door . Then up the chimney quick he Sped

A nd S jumped into his snowy led , A nd hurried back with jingling bells k Unto the ingdom where he dwells .

No sooner had he gone away

When in came Mouser, grave and gray,

A - o S a nta Cl a ws sort of cat f lk ,

Soft stepping on his velvet paws . A nd there before his very eyes

The woolly kitten, half his size He bowed politely to his friend A ” ! ! cat, thought he, let that amend

Then pausing, with a puzzled look, A survey of the stranger took,

Saw that his eyes were open wide, a His t il curled neatly at his side, his His whiskers brushed, all smooth

fur,

But could not catch his gentle purr . So Mouser deemed it wise and best

To speak, and thus his friend addressed F Ca tfolk riend of my kindred , here

A ccept my welcome and good cheer . ’ I ve been a long time in this house The sole destroyer of the mouse ; 206 l THE CHRISTMAS CAT Yet of the mice enough there be

To satisfy both you and me, And you are welcome to your sha re ” 5 0 long as there are mice to S pare .

o The wo lly kitten silent sat, hi W ch much surprised the elder cat . hi s Then Mouser bade him tell name, How old he wa s and whence he came ; And getting no response at all, His hopes began to faint and fall ; e Yet once again he spoke, his prid TOO great to let him be deni ed Of courtesy and proper grace

By any member of his race .

A re ca t you, quoth Mouser, such a

A s would be thought aristocrat, Too proud and prim to be polite ? To meet a fellow- cat at night f Hal way is what I wish to do,

But not an inch will venture you . m li Know, sir, y neage can tell ’ On S - S l mother s ide, a Tortoise hel , ’ A nd on my father s , if you please, That ancient famil y Maltese ! Our coat-oi -arms is of the best ; ’ A cat- o -nine- ta i ls is my crest ! S o peak then, if you can b ast of more,

I sta nd here ready to adore . [ 207 ] LITTLE—FOLK LYRICS

But never once the stranger stirred ,

Nor answered Mouser with a word .

S O all his friendship spurned at last, Old Mouser from the chamber passed ;

With bosom filled with discontent,

A nd u mood nhappy, out he went . We I see all sorts of cats , said he, A nd cats of every pedigree, B ut until now I We never come A cross a kitten deaf and dumb !

I pity him in this old house, He ’ 11 never hear a single mouse !

C e But when the hristmas morning brok ,

The little boy from dreams awoke, A nd first of all his gifts was this ’ Strange cat who could n t purr or siss ; He loved the woolly cat because ’ n It did t scratch him with its claws .

LYRICS OF JOY

CONFESSION

HEN I was yormg I ma de a vow To kee p youth in my hea rt as As th er e were bir ds upon the bo ugh To gladden me with so ng

e a o L m To l arn wh t less ns ife ight give,

To do my duty as I saw, e To love my friends , to laugh and liv i D e Not hold ng ath in awe.

al l r So my ly ics sing of joy, And S hall until my lips are mute ; In Old age ha ppy as the boy

To whom God gave the lute .

W ITCHE RY

UT of the purple drifts , F m S a sea ro the h dow of night, On tid es of musk a moth uplifts I a i ts w ry wings of wh te .

2 1 1 LYRI CS OF JOY

I S it a dream or ghost Of a dream that comes to me, a Here in the twilight on the co st , Blue cinctured by the sea ?

Fashioned of foam and froth A nd the dream is ended soon,

A nd 10 - e , , whence came the moon whit moth Comes now the moth-white moon !

DIES UL TIMA

S d HITE in her woven hrou , S ilent she lies , Deaf to the trumpets loud Blown through the Skies ; Never a sound can mar Her slumber long

She is a faded star, A finished song !

O ver her hangs the sun, A golden glow ; R ound her the planets run, She does not know ; F or neither gloom nor gleam Ca n reach her S ight

She is a broken dream , A dead delight ! [ 2 1 2 ]

A TEAR B OTTLE

NO voice can waken her Again to sing ; S he nevermore will stir To feel the spring ; Through the dim ether hurled

S Till Time hall tire, d She is a waste world, A frozen fire !

A TEAR BOTTLE

’ LA G l ea rs SS , wherein a reek gir s t O nce were gathered as they fell, A fter these two thousand years Is there still no tale to tell ?

Buried with her, in her mound S he ou is dust long since, but y Onl y yesterday were found

Iridescent as the dew,

F ashioned faultlessly, a form Graceful as wa s hers whose cheek Once against you made you warm

While you heard her sorrow speak .

A t your lips I listen long F or some whispered word of her, F or some ghostly strain of song In your haunted heart to stir : [ 2 13 ] LYRICS OF JOY

But your crystal lips are dumb, Hushed the music in your heart Ah , if she could only come Back again and bid it start !

L A rt L ! ong is , but ife how brief And the end seems so unjust This compa nion of her grief — ! Here to day, while she is dust

THE DAY’ 8 SHROUD

ROM sunrise to the set of sun

The Winds went to and fro, Singing the while they deftly spun

A garment white like snow .

And n in the dusk, u to the west

They bore the robe of cloud, And for the grave the dead D a y dressed

‘ Within this snowy shroud .

S Then , slowly vanishing from ight,

I heard them softly sing, A nd saw above the grave at night

The stars all blossoming .

[ 2 14 ]

oe a nd s o s P t of vines blo s m , he, Beloved of them all ; The timid leaves upon the tree

Grew bold at his glad call .

He sang the rapture of the hills , A nd from the starry height He brought the melody that fills

The meadows with delight .

And hi m s now, behold dead, ala Where he made joy so long : A bit of blue amid the grass, A tiny, broken song .

SECRET

OF L l T Y the ittle wind goes by, A whisper, nothing more ; Some message from the azure sky ’ e Brought down to earth s gre n door .

F - ragrant and fresh the wonder word, ? But what it means , who knows O nly the butterfly, the bird,

The leaf, the grass and rose .

l Theirs the divine fe icity,

The gift of wisdom rare,

The melody, the mystery,

The secret of the air .

2 16 THE CHARM

OICE of the wind, of singing brook and bird, ’ ’ i n Dawn s message wh te and mid ight s word, These secrets all belong

Unto his song .

’ For Nature to the poet s heart alone Makes her mysterious meanings known He is her voice a nd her Interpreter !

THE CHARM

LIGHT is the thing it needs to wake The embers that have slumbered long ’ W e ithin the poet s heart, and mak a Them burn ag in with song .

A rose, a star, a voice, a glance, E cho or glimpse, it is the same Some mystery of time or chance

That finds the hidden flame .

’ Embers of song and song s desire, Hushed in the singer ’ s heart they A nd softly kindle into fire

If but a dream go by . I 2 1 7 l LYRICS OF JOY

And n none may say, since none can k ow, Whence comes the vivifying spark That sends a transitory glow

Of song across the dark .

It is a secret summons , such A S comes unto the spray when spring W akens the blossoms with a touch, the ‘ oe t S in That bids p , g

HIS DESIRE

F all the threads of rhyme n Which I have spu , I shall be glad if Time

Save only one .

A nd I would have each word To joy belong A lyric like a bird

Whose soul is song. There is enough of grief To mar the years ;

Be mine a sunny leaf,

Untouched by tears,

To bring unto the heart D elight, and make All sorrows to depart, A nd joy to wake . [ 2 1 8 ]

LYRI CS OF JOY

Or one who in a shadowed place

Watches the stars agleam , A nd kn ows their beauty on his face Illumining his dream

Or one who catches from the rose A fragrant message sent

F w s rom crimson lips, and straight ay know A l l of the Orient .

L ike these am I , and all my rhymes A re but the records clear That write themselves at magic times

When she , the Muse , is near .

For could I make my own her song, Unto the world I ’ d give A lyric which should live as long A S song itself shall live !

THE INTERPRETER

OT his alone the gift divine

h ow Who understands , line by line , To re-create the dream with all Its wonder-world ethereal Something of that same gift has he

Who, reading, through the lines can see

The dream itself , the secret thing ’ That stirred the poet s heart to sing .

22 0 HARRO

HARRO

’ i s bra ve Ha rro s s tor y ,

Ha rro who wa tched the s ea

To his renown I s et i t down

As i t wa s tol d to e m .

Back from the reef-caught vessel C ’ ame Harro s comrades four,

A nd - men with them ten half perished ,

S Safe landed on the hore .

And are these all ? asked Harro . Answered the sa ilors brave

. One we die Nay lashed high left to , ” A nd find an ocean grave .

Cried Harro W h o goes with me

To rescue him , the last, Alive or dead S hall it be sai d We left one on the mast ?”

Spoke up his gra y-haired mother

Oh s on , Harro boy, my , ’ ! T sa Go not , I pray is death they y, A nd there is only one !

Father and brother Uwe

The cruel sea hath slain .

o G My last art th u . ood Harro , now ” L et me not plead in vain !

22 1 LYRI CS OF JOY

A r nswered b ave Harro Mother,

Who knows, perchance for him Under the skies a mother ’ s eyes d To ay with tears grow dim .

Farewell ! G od watches over

The fields of flying foam , A nd He shall keep us on the deep, A nd safely bring us home .

W - ild was the storm swept ocean , A nd like a fragile leaf The lifeboat tossed long ere it crossed

Unto the distant reef .

Wild was the sea, and madly E ver the tempest blew, While down the track came Harro back

With one beside the crew .

Hard to the oars his comrades Bent in the shrieking gale ;

A nd S Harro cried, when land he pied , G od we Thank , shall not fail

A nd when he saw his mother

S o Pacing the h re in tears , L oud over all the storm his call

Brought gladness to her ears .

222

LYRICS OF JOY

Drinking in the song that slips Through the shadows from the lips Of her lover in the gloom, So above the brook this bloom L eans to hear the message sweet

That her lover may repeat . L oitering beside the stream , Is it strange that I S hould dream D ream of Herrick, and of Her F or whose eyes his lyrics were ? She Julia, this lily is , ’ A nd the brook s songs all are his !

CANOE SONG

RA CEFU L EST s of buoyant thing , g but the snowy wings Of kin your , the swan, to be Queen of both the sky and sea ; the Softly down tranquil stream ,

A s ‘ through slumber glides a dream , With the current let us go

S d Where the lim ree s , row on row,

Make sweet music all day long, d A n the air is full of song .

who Silent as the red man,

Out - of birch bark fashioned you, Steal along and come upon Hosts of water- lilies wa n [ 224 1 A GARLAND S uddenly, and bring surprise TO their wonder- waking eyes ; i Then be off aga n once more,

a - a nd Sh dow like, haunt the shore, Gathering from bendi ng grass r Water sec ets as you pass .

On and on and on we drift Till the stars begin to S ift l i hi Through the twi ght and, on gh, A t her window in the S ky

’ Comes the Night s pal e bride to hark For his message through the dark ; Till at last the silver sand R a eaches down and bids us l nd , h i T en t ll dawn, farewell to you Sister of the S wan Canoe !

A GARLAND

ET me a ga rland twine

F or poets nine, Whose verse

I love best to rehearse .

a e ch a laurel leaf, One stanza brief, I make ’ memory s sweet sake . I 225 1 LYRICS OF JOY

F HE OCRIT S irst, then, T U , W hose song for us Still yields

The fragrance of the fields .

OR ACE Next, H , singing yet Of love, regret, A nd flowers R This oman rose is ours .

OMAR - F I T! ER AL G D next, Within whose text There lies win A charm to the wise .

HA ES EARE t Then S K P , by whose ligh Al l poets write

The star, W hose satellites they are !

RRIC HE K then let me name, Whose lyrics came L ike birds

a To sing his h ppy words .

E ATS Then K , whose jewel rhyme

S for hines all time , TO tell

o Of him the g ds loved well .

226

LYRICS OF JOY

A PRAYER

T is my joy in life to find At i every turn ng of the road, The strong arm of a comrade kind

To help me onward with my load .

And since I have no gold to give, A nd love alone must make amends, i My only prayer is , while I l ve, God ma ke me worthy of my f ri end s ARB UTUS

NAT U R E

THE YEAR’ S DAY

FTER the winter ’ s night F rom the world is withdrawn, Out of the darkness gleams the light, S — ’ pring and the Year s fresh dawn .

Blossom and leaf and bud, A nd the birds all in tune ;

Then in a fragrant, golden flood, ’ Summer the Year s glad noon .

C rimson the roses blow, ’ A nd the grove s breath is musk l w Then to the Year the sunset g o , A — utumn and hints of dusk .

m Gli mer the stars of frost, A nd the wind at the door Mournfully sings of something lost — Winter and night once more .

ARBUTUS

’ LONG the woods brown edge The wind goes wandering find the first pink pledge S The hint of pring . [ 229 1 LYRICS OF JOY

The withered leaves around,

She scatters every one, And gives to wintry ground A glimpse of sun .

A nd to the woodland dumb A nd desolate S O long S he calls the birds to come

With happy song .

Then the arbutus ! This o The pledge, the hint she s ught,

The blush , the breath, the kiss, Spring’ s very thought !

VIOLET

N this white world of wonder Al l S i wrapt in lence deep, Shut in her palace under The snow she lies asleep ; A nd She shall only waken When lyrics sweet and clea r Out S of the trees are haken, ’ A nd April s here .

Glimps es of grass and gleams The golden sunlight bring Visions of joy and dreams of The miracle Of S pring [ 230 1

LYRICS OF JOY

Tremble the vines and trees

With ecstasy then, Hearing the l isping breeze n a Hint of Spri g ag in .

a ir Mystery fills the , A nd melody sweet Follows the pathways where ’ Glimmer S pring s white feet .

Over the meadow ’ s floor ! She hastens, and see April is at the door

With her golden key .

MAY MORNING HAT magic flutes are these

Sweet melody at dawn , A nd stir the dewy leaves to shake Their silver on the lawn ? What miracle of music wrought In shadowed groves is this ? All ecstasy of sound upcaught, Song ’ s apotheosis

The dreamin g lilies lift their heads To listen and gr ow wise The fragrant roses from their beds In sudden beauty rise [ 232 ] HONEYSUCKLES

E nraptured, on the eastern hill, A ! moment, halts the sun Da y breaks ; and all again is still The thrushes ’ song is done !

HONEYSUCKLES

ITHIN a belfry built of bloom , Above the garden wall they swing ; A chime of bells for winds to ring, f O mingled music and perfume .

What scented syllables of song Throughout the day their tongues repeat !

- They tempt with promise, honey sweet,

The listener to linger long .

A r bit of sunset cloud ast ay, The dappled butterfly floats near, L ured by the fragrant music clear,

Trembles with joy, then fades away .

A nd thither oft, from time to time, The humming-bird and golden be e L ist, and go mad with melody,

- C The honey music of the hime .

A nd thither when the silver gleam Of moon and stars is over all, One white moth hovers near the wall , A ghost to haunt the garden ’ s dream ! [ 233 ] LYRICS OF JOY

W INTER DREAM S

B EP lies the snow on wood and field ; Gray stretches overhead the sky ; a The stre ms, their lips of laughter sealed,

In silence wander slowly by .

—wh o Earth slumbers, and her dreams, knows But they may sometimes be like ours ? Lyrics of spring in winter ’ s prose That sing of buds and leaves and flowers ;

Dreams of that day when from the south C A omes pril, as at first she came, To hold the bare twig to her mouth A nd n a blow it i to fragr nt flame .

W HITE MAGIC

HEN Winter hushes for a time

The music of the sylvan brook, And shuts its witchery of rhyme

In her white book, The world is not yet dumb ; F or in the snow-hung Vines and trees

With their cold blossoms , icy clear, Invisible the winds like bees

Swarm, and I hear

Their weird and wizard hum . [ 234 ]

LYRICS OF JOY

With music fill the nights and da ys ’ A nd end the garden s gloom .

Her face is lovely with the sun ; — ! Her voice ah, listen to it now The silence of the year is done : The bird is on the bough !

’ Spring here , by what magician s touch ’T was winter scarce an hour ago . And yet I should have guessed as much, Those footprints in the snow !

NANTUCKET

’ EA R old Nan tucket s isle of sand A n L ancient exile from the and, Free from the devastating hand Of pomp and pillage, I find it year by year with all Its white-winged fleet of cat-boats small Guarding what Fancy loves to call

The Violet Village .

f yellow cli fs, the houses white,

- wind mill with its wheel in sight,

church spire and the beacons bright, All bunched together ; [ 236 ] NANTUCKET How picturesque they are ! How A nd O , how fragrant is the air,

- With pink wild roses everywhere, And purple heather !

Half foreign seems the little town,

- The narrow streets, the tumble down A nd rotting wharves whose past renown IS linked with whalers , The roofs with L ook- outs whence they saw In bygone days the big ships draw h Homeward with oil, and watc ed with awe The sea-worn sail ors

Half foreign , but the better half Is like the flag that from the staff F lings out its welcome, starry laugh, Native completely S The hops, the schools, the zigzag lines Of S n hingled dwellings hung with vi es, And gardens wrought in quaint designs

A nd smelling sweetly . Here one may wander forth and meet Skippers of eighty years whose feet F ind youth yet in the paven street ; A nd if one hunger F or yarns of wrecks and water lore,

Pass the tobacco round once more, And hear what happened long before, W hen he was younger . [ 237 ] LYRICS OF JOY

i a Enchanting tales of w nd and w ve, a Witty, p thetic, gay and grave, ’ One lis tens in the merman s cave

a e a l s Enr ptur d, bre th e s, W e s hile from the gray, b whiskered lip Come stories of the sea and shi ps ; The ca reful skippe r never skips

e s The legends d athle s .

i Then out aga n, and let us go Where fresh and coo l the breezes blow O ver the dunes of Pocomo, W here bird and berry C onspire to lure us on until, O m i ver the gently p ng hill , il We see Wauwinet, white and st l A nd a r pe ceful ve y .

Here is the ending of the quest ;

Here , on this Island of the Blest,

I S R found at last the Port of est, R emote, romantic

A -flower land broken from the stem, And few indeed there be of them Fitted so pe rfectly to gem A The blue tlantic .

D a i re my, del cious , drowsy, dull, A poppy-is land bea utiful ; And there are poppies here to cull Until the plunder [ 238 ]

LYRICS OF JOY

LOVE

TO JUL IET

( Cu m r egna t r osa !

EED L ES S how it may fare with I send you here a rose of rhyme

Its fragrance, love ; its color, one ’ Caught from Hope s ever-constant sun ; Upon each leaf a lyric writ Your eyes alone may witness it ; A nd in its heart for you to see A nother heart the heart of me .

All roses are as fitly worn rn By you as by your sister Mo , i e S nce you, like Morn, fail not to giv N w e beauty to them while they live . If this against your bosom rest One brief, sweet hour its life were blest ;

Then, should you chance to cast it by,

It would not find it hard to die .

So take this bloom of love and song, A nd , be its life or brief or long,

Know that for you the petals part, Disclosing all its lyric heart ; F or you its fra grant breaths are drawn ; — ’ F or you its color love s glad dawn ; [ 240 ] ROSE LORE

A nd for you, too, the heart that goes Song-prisoned in this rhyme of rose !

ROSE LORE

OW since it knows S O My heart well, Would that this rose Might speak and tell !

You could not scorn

Its Winsome grace, The blush of morn

Upon its face .

Unto your own You needs must press The sweet mouth prone To tenderness ;

Then, lip to lip,

With rapture stirred, You might let S lip

The secret word,

With fragrant kiss Interpreting The dream of bliss

The rose would bring . [ 241 ] LYRICS OF JOY Then to your breast Take it to be ’ Your own heart s be st

L - u ove aug ry, A welcome guest,

To gladden me .

THE BOW ER OF CUPID

H OSO enters a t this p orta l

S ha l l nd L ove the one immo fi rta l . Green the grove that hides the grotto Over which is hung this motto ; Broidered paths of bloom and berry L ead unto the monarch merry ; Birds above on leafy branches L oosen lyric avalanches

S Bees go inging in the sunny, Blossom -builded haunts of honey ; Flutes of brooks and lutes of grasses Waken with each w md that passes ; Al l ra is frag nce, song and joy, Made for one immortal boy !

Many seek this grotto hidden ;

Welcome all , and none forbidden . Soft the air and clear as amber ; Round the gate red roses Clamber ;

D a y long, mirth and music fill it ;

Night sends moon and star to thrill it . [ 242 ]

LYRICS OF JOY

th e i Blind they call boy, in k ndness ,

Yet is theirs the only blindness . Is Vi He sure of ear and sion , Hea rts he matches with precision ; ’ That is Cupid s only duty In this bower of bliss and beauty That the end of all employ I S for one immortal boy !

MOONLIGHT AND MUSIC

Heart, do you remember s ea That summer by the , One blue night in S eptember

When you were here with me, How like a pearl uplifted

The full moon rose and drifted , A nd how the shadows S hifted Until the stars were free ?

Along the beach the breakers

Brought in their lavish store,

Gathered from ocean acres , A nd strewed the curving shore ;

Grasses that gleamed and glistened, F lowers that the sea had christened , Shells at whose lips you listened

- To learn their wonder lore . [ 244 ] MOONLI GHT AND MUSIC Softly the breeze blew over F m ro groves and gardens fair, S pilling a scen t of clover Into the balmy air ;

of The breath pines around us, Fragrant it came and found us Just as the moonlight crowned us

‘ A nd L o a ve at last c me there .

What music ha iled our rapture ! What singers on the sand ’ Were they whose hearts coul d ca pture Our joy a nd understand ?

O a Wind and W ve , they guessed it,

o d They sang it and c nfesse it,

Their love and ours, and blessed it There on the moonlit st rand !

Dear Heart , still sweet the story, F or all the years gone by : Still floods the moon wi th glory The a l nd , the sea, the sky ; A nd still the night-moth hovers A round us and discovers

The same devoted lovers,

Wind, Wave, and You and I .

[ 245 ] LYRICS OF JOY

IN ABSENCE

T matters not how far I fare,

Or in what land I bide,

Your voice sings ever on the air, S Your face hines at my side .

For me each crimson flower that slips Its velvet Sheath of green Yields the remembrance of your lips

W ith all their sweets between .

Your hair is in the dusk that lies

’ Around me when I rest ;

My only stars are your dear eyes , L ’ ove s own and loveliest .

Happy am I , though far apart From all that makes life dear L m ove dwells contented in y heart,

Exiled yet always near .

Then take my message, Sweet, and know How far your love has flown

To cheer and bless your lover, so l Lone y, but not alone

I send it from the drowsy South , A dream of my delight, A message to your rosebud mouth

A -n ! kiss, and a good ight

LYRICS OF JOY

be Her eyes my beacons ,

Her lips my rosy guides , A nd in her heart a melody F or every word abides .

Be brave, be brave, my song, Nor falter in the quest : L ove in her heart has waited long TO greet the singing guest .

A nd be it yours to know The latch lift on the door ; O nce in her heart Go, lyric, go Be hers for evermore !

MY APRIL

W EETHEA RT , comes laughing now ’ To right the Winter s wrong ; A nd back to the forsaken bough The bluebird comes with song A nd v , ri als of the stars above, Stars in the grass you see ; A L So, like your namesake, pril, ove

A m to me ! My pril, co e

She brings the blossom to the vine, A token fresh and new ;

She fills the crocus cup with wine, A pledge that S he is true ; [ 248 ] A MAY MADRI GAL

She sends the sunshine after rain, A golden augury : ? Sweetheart, and must I plead in vain A ! My pril, come to me

Oh , Winter lies upon my heart A dreariness and woe : It needs but your dear smile to start The buds of hope to blow ; It needs but your sweet lips to bring The message that S hall be L A ’ ike pril s own, all love and Spring A ! My pril, come to me

A MAY MADRIGAL

W EETHEA RT , the buds are on

The birds are back once more, A nd with their songs they call to me To Open wide my door R 5 0 wide shall stand the door to-day Because my heart is true

To bud and bird, to mirth and May, A nd ! , most of all, to You

S S weetheart, the leaves begin to how,

The grass is green again, A nd on the breeze sweet odors blow From wild flowers in the glen : w r The o ld is glad with voice and wing, A nd all the skies are blue ; 249 l LYRI CS OF JOY

The scent, the song, the soul of Spring, I find them all in You !

a nd Sweetheart , the snows have gone, now

It is the mating time .

Hark to the lover on the bough, What melody sublime !

What ecstasy of passion, pride, A nd ! love and rapture, too So door and heart stand Open wide To welcome May and You !

NOCTURNE

BOVE the sea in splendor e The new moon hangs alon , A silver crescent slender Set in a sapphire zone ; A round me breathe the tender,

Sweet zephyrs of. the south : Night will not let My heart forget

Her kisses and her mouth .

The loose sails idly swinging, ’ S a nd The hip lights glow gleam, ’ - ffl The bell buoys mu ed ringing, D rive all my thoughts to dream , To dream of her voice singing [ 25 0 1

LYRI CS OF JOY

A nd each remembered only A little voice oh, years, ! How long they are, and lonely Oh ! , heart, how full of tears

A SONG’ S ECHO

Y L ove is like a Winter rose

That sweetly blooms alone,

That has of rivals none , and knows

A a ll beauty her own .

My Love is like a tender tune

That wakens tender words, A nd D fills ecember full of June, A nd brings again the birds .

s un Her smile , my ; her voice, my song ;

Her face, my flower of bliss ; Oh who , could find the Winter long With such a L ove as this !

W ITH ROSES

ERE are roses red, F or their fragrance love When you bend your head

Tenderly above them,

To your own lips , sweet, Lift them up and hold them [ 25 2 ] TW O SONGS

While their lips repeat

W r hat my hea t has told them .

G rant them of your grace,

With your beauty bless them, F old them to your face,

Kiss them, and caress them . S O Brief their day, and O nly gladness give them, Yours the joy to know L ove tha t shall outlive them

TW O SONGS

ER greeting is a dulcet bell ’ L ove s daybreak and delight ;

Her smile is noon , and her farewell L eads in the stars at night . She is the sunrise and the gleam Of dew upon the rose, t The vision hat evokes the dream, The song in slumber ’ s prosel

Roses are the rhymes I wreathe

Take them, every one ; L — ove the fragrance that you breathe, And your smile their sun . LYRICS OF JOY

When the petals fall apart,

Then in melody, ’ a You shall read a rose s he rt ,

A nd the heart of me .

LYRICS OF JOY

I hear the tales of mariners of yore, Of S w hips gone do n , of tempests blowing free ;

I hear the mast, remembering the tree,

a l l Grieve for the grove and its leaves once more .

But when night comes and in the deep blue Sky

Gather the stars above the fields of foam ,

The music changes , and in fancy I Again the old familiar forests roam

’ And hear the mast s companions as they cry W n ! Blow, i d, and bring our captive brother home 0

TO A MOCKING BIRD

HOU feathered minstrel perched in yonder

- - Thou bird magician in a blue gray coat,

Trickster of tune , thou canst repeat by rote ’ Thy rivals songs and win their loves to thee !

- wh o Song sorcerer, canst with melody L ure us to listen ; thou whose S lender throat

I S u e f ll of magic , bubbling not by note ; ! Mimic of music, sing thou on to me

C hatter of blackbird, warble of the wren,

Joy of the jay, and passion of the thrush, A nd every trill that ever bird has known

I heard him jesting for a while ; and then, Softly upon the morning in a gush

Of lyric love I heard him call his own . [ 25 6 ] THE SHOW ER

MUSIC

N vain the quest : no mortal eyes may know The secret haunt wherein by day and night S he shapes her dreams of audible delight A nd sends them forth to wander to and fro :

Spirits of Sound, invisible they go To fill the world with wonder in their flight ;

C r elestial voices , from whose sta ry height w S trange hints of song steal do n to earth below .

L isten and hear the rhythmic echoes fall, The winds and waves and leaves and bees and

birds ,

The blended harmony of reeds and strings , C horus and orchestra, the voice and all

o ds The miracle of mel dy and wor , Music herself it is who dreams and sings !

THE SHOW ER

OU R after hour relentlessly the sun Shriveled the leaves and parched the meadow grass The sky wa s yellow and like molten brass

wa s The heat poured down until the day done . Red the round moon arose, and one by one Blossomed the stars and in the river ’ s glass ! Beheld their beauty, but the breeze, alas R web efused to break the the spider spun . [ 25 7 ] LYRICS OF JOY

But with the dawn a little cloud drew near, L a e ding a host forth on the azure plain . A distant rumble , then a forest cheer, A nd then a gust that whirled the weather- vane ; A nd O ! then, at last, melody most dear

The soft alliteration of the rain .

THE W INTER POOL

B EP in the woods , amid the giant trees

O It lies alone within an pen space,

Beloved in summer by the sylvan race . ’ Of God s best poets birds and golden bees ; ’ D n o ia a s mirror, full of mem ries Of all the nameless wonder of her face, A nd of the myriad jewel- stars that grace ’ Orion s glory and the Pleiades .

Behold it now, all ghostly white and still,

Shut in the shadow of the ice and snow, A solitary, sad, forsaken thing ;

‘ ’ a rid da rk l Bereft of beauty, marred until Diana comes again and looks to know Her luring smile the loveliness of Spring !

HE RE came a day in winter when the sun Reached down and swept the world all Clean of snow ; W hen captive streams long hushed in icy woe [ 25 8 ]

LYRI CS OF JOY

THE CATHEDRAL BELLS

l d S a ni s h a thedra l S t. A u usti ne Fl or i ( O p C , g , da !

IGH a in the old c thedral tower they hung, F our ancient bells, the bronze arpeggio

That called to prayer the gray monks long ago, A nd marked the hour while mass was said and sung . Over a land of fragrant flowers they flung Petals of musIc that were wont to blow Out we of the rose of Time, whereof know

Naught save how sweet it is and ever young .

L ! n isten across the mid ight comes their call, Twelve in succession sound the bell-notes clear A day has gone ; another day, begun . A wake, I hear them saying as they fall

Va l e H is a nia Da S ! , p y of hadows drear

Ave America 1 Da ! , y of joy and sun Q UATRAI NS

DAW N

a UT of the sc bbard of the night, G ’ By od s hand drawn, F lashes his shining sword of light, A nd 10 ! , the dawn

STORM the black jungle of the sky now wakes’ ’ L i wr The ightn ng s ithing brood of fiery snakes, And lion Thunder from his lair of cloud l Startles the dusky world with cha lenge loud .

DUSK

P from the underworld the shadows crowd A nd ply with noiseless fingers at the loom Whereon they weave the sta r-embroidered cloud ’ D - That screens the door of ay s new builded tomb .

VER r the rim, a fie y ball, ’ God s hand the golden sun lets fall ; Then from the blue deeps of the Skies r l The my iad white bubb es rise .

261 LYRICS OF JOY

A SEA FANCY

HE bugling winds their solemn dirges blow

A - cross a dreary waste of foam white waves .

. L O Here is the ocean cemetery . , The phantom head- stones of the myriad graves !

MASTERY

TROL L ING along the granite coast I caught From lips invisible this message clear ’ Wi thout m s tren th the ocea n s ra e were na u ht y g g g , And I a m bu t the whisper in thine ea r

DERELICT

R in the distance looms a ship ’ s dark A imlessly tossing on an angry sea ; And ar , circling round, one solit y gull, W hite ponderer of this black mystery !

FOG N agony of death throughout the night The frenzied monarch tossed upon his bed

Whence rose at dawn, mysterious and white, — A . ghost, the spectre of the mighty dead

262

LYRICS OF JOY

IN A GARDEN

ROU GHOU T the long, enchanted summer

hours ,

trea surl es - In of honey wealth untold, Here in their bright metropolis of flowers

thel r The banker bees are busy with gold .

PON the walls the graceful Ivy climbs A nd wraps with green the ancient ruin gray R omance it is , and these her leafy rhymes

Writ on the granite page of yesterday .

GRASS

ERE is the cloth whereon the dew and sun Fashion their bright embroideries of bloom ;

For dreams a pillow, and , when dreams are done,

A fragrant cover for the dreamless tomb .

ROSE

CREENING her face of loveliness ’ The garden s leafy curtain, waits F or the enamored Nightingale to find

A lyric hidden in his book of prose . [ 264 ] W RIT IN W ATER

DAY DREAM

NTO the slumber of the Da y there came

The vision of a spirit winged with flame, A nd down the fragrant air one butterfly — Her golden dream sailed indolently by .

FIRE FANCIES

EEP in the ashes one live ember L ingers two similes to S how D June in the arms of old ecember,

A red rose in a drift of snow .

CITY SPARROW S

ITHIN the stone Sahara of the Town A gr een oasis l ies the Open Square

Hark to the noisy caravans of brown, A ! Intrepid Sparrows , rabs of the air

W RIT IN W ATER

R IVE or sea, the voice is still the same,

E - ach curving water lip the word repeats, F ’ orever rumoring the poet s name,

A nd K ea ts murmuring melodiously . [ 265 ] LYRICS OF JOY

CONTRAST

A UGHT in a crevice of the marble tomb, A i frag le plant uplifts its hand of bloom , A nd poised thereon a butterfly takes breath : Fantastic fellowship of Life and Death

A W ISH

’ HIS be my wish : let all my lines A cross the pages run like vines ;

words, their shining blossoms be ;

book, a field of melody .

UNCOL LECTED POEMS

THE LOOM OF SONG

A RES S ED by balmy gales that gently blow

’ O er tropic seas and fields of fragrant bloom ,

She sits before the quaint, ancestral loom A nd weaves the fabric faultlessly and slow Amid the threads like flowers her fingers go Until she almost breathes the faint perfume Distilled in A raby in twilight ’ s gloom

In gardens where the sweetest roses grow .

L W So, on the oom of Song, the poet eaves New fabrics from the threads of old romance A nd n fashio s fancies into figured rhyme, A nd all about him scattered shreds he leaves To be another’ s bright inheritance

Thus, ever, Song goes hand in hand with Time

ECHO

OMELES S She is , forever wandering Among the hills and in the solitudes Of forests where no voice of man intrudes , In whose deep stillness birds forget to sing [ 269 ] UNCOLLECTED POEMS

She haunts the waterfalls, a hidden thing

That in the clouds of mist above them broods , A nd she it is whose dreamy interludes n Murmur the secret of the woodla d spring .

Sister to Silence ! S hadow of a sound ! Mirage of music ! Soul of melody Escaped and ever seeking realms of rest ! Mimic of brook-songs ! Ghosts of the profound And awe-inspiring ocean harmony ! E — A ! cho las, she mocks me in my quest

THE BROOK ACCOMPANIMENT

HAT joy to rest beside the brook that goes Singing along through grass and tangled

brush , A ’ strain of music in the meadow s hush, A ’ lyric gladdening the woodland s prose, A voice that burdens every breeze that blows With mellow melody or gleeful rush Of rhythmic rapture stolen from the thrush, ! Nymph of the woods, whose every note she knows

- s n Here on the moss, leaf sheltered from the u ,

Where I can breathe the fragrance of the trees, I come to sit and read my poet ’ s book

To read and listen to the water run, Matching the poet ’ s words with melodies Fantastic obligatos of the brook ! [ 270 ]

UNCOLLECTED POEMS A long the ramparts now the lizards crawl, Or lazily lie basking in the sun ; Beyond the moat the sea-tides lift and fall ; A nd while I dream of battles lost and won ! — Sudden a voice and then I see him, small, A Yankee bugler on a Spanish gun !

THE FAMILIAR MELODY

C OES H of song, ethereal they are ; Across the stillness of the summer night S ome spirit of sweet melody takes flight A nd brings to earth the message of a star :

S O - liS s faint the fairy notes , the leaf p mar

The whispered dream of this enamored sprite . O ! Softly, once more, murmur of delight O breathed bl iss of muS l C from afar !

In through my window comes the wanderer, A nd memories that have been sleeping long In the obl l v10n of bygone years A wake, and I am listening to her Whose voice made all my boyhood glad with song ; A lmost I see her through the welling tears .

TW I LIGHT

HE sunset fades, and once again the hills A gainst the sky, majestic and supreme, L n oom spectrally and half u real seem , And mystery the misty valley fills . [ 272 ] ROMANCE

Melodiously now the mountain rills ,

Unheard by day, take up their lyric theme Of k ecstasy, li e voices heard in dream,

A n Obligato to the whippoorwills .

Invisible, the spirits of the dusk Ply the swift S huttles on their S hadow loom A nd weave the wonder-fabric of the night

The wind is but a whisper, sweet with musk

x E haled from fragrant lips of bud and bloom, — A whisper and the One word is Delight !

ROMANCE

S S N quiet plendor fell the outhern night, A nd t wrapt in dusk the little ci y lay, D rowsing, and dreaming of another day W D hen awn should bring again its joy and light . A ’ bove it hung the new moon s crescent bright, ’ A nd myriad stars along the Sky s blue wa y

Gathered to wonder at their rivals gay, ’ ’ That twinkled o er the Plaza s pavements white .

Idly I sauntered in the fragrant gloom ,

”

Under the lisping palms , and found the street

- Where hung the balcony, cage like, above . ’ Behind those bars I saw a girl s face bloom , A nd heard another Juliet repeat R To me, her omeo, her words of love . [ 273 ] UNCOLLECTED POEMS

BROADW AY AT MIDNIGHT

HE theaters are out, and on Broadway A ssembles now the midnight ’ s motley show A moving panorama in the glow Of myriad lamps that make a mimic day . Here Wea lth and Poverty together stray ;

Here Virtue walks with Vice, and does not know ; A nd ever up and down the pavements go a The tireless ctors of an endless play .

Serene above this busy whirl of life,

This human comedy, this rush and roar A nd Of turmoil interminable cars, Li ke mute spectators of our mortal strife, From their blue balconies forevermore L ook down in beauty the immortal stars !

’ HAT fires are kindled in the autumn s urn !

With leaping flames of purple, red and gold b The mountains trem le, and the frost fires cold

In multitudinous meadow lanterns burn . D ’ ust is the rose s heart . The birds return ’ Southward with song . The summer s tale is told ;

And S Old in the ilence now the Year, grown , n A waits contentedly the end to lear . [ 274 ]

ON A BRON! E MEDAL OF LINCOLN

C OR BY VI T D . B RENNER L ’ o HIS bronze our incoln s n ble head doth bear.

Behold the strength and splendor of that face,

S O - a homely be utiful, with just a trace Of humor lightening its look of care !

hi s With bronze indeed memory doth share, Thi s martyr wh o found freedom for a Race ; Both shall endure beyond the time and place r That knew them first, and brighter g ow with wear .

Happy must be the geni us here that wr ought These features of the great A merican Whose fame lends so much glory to our past Happy to know the inspiration caught From this most human and heroic man L him Art a ives here to honor while shall l st .

FOR POPPIES

HEY have the scarlet of her l ips Who ga thered them for me ; pink of her fair finger-tips

Upon their leaves I see .

hi Wit n their hearts, so it is said, I S hidden that which brings lid The drooping , the drowsy head, And hi such somnolent t ngs . [ 2 76 ] GYPSY

D S ear flowers of leep, if this be so, Grant me one joy supreme In S lumber her sweet face to kn ow A poppy, and a dream

GYPSY

A GA O D l V B N , I roam at wi l, Where fancy leads I follow ;

Now with the stars upon the hill, A nd now compan ion of the rill

That murmurs in the hollow .

All roads are mine , all paths I take, With staff and scrip beside me ; On bed the green moss my _I make, ’ A nd at the bird s first call I wake, S Before the sun has pied me .

The friend of sylvan folk am I The leaves and ferns and grasses

To all my questions make reply, ’ A nd there s no winged thing too shy

To greet me as it passes .

S Sunshine or hower, I little care A bout the Skies above me My gypsy mood makes all things

I am too gay to court despair, Since all earth ’ s creatures love [ 277 ] UNCOLLECTED POEMS A vagabond, I leave the throng Of i c ties far behind me, Seeking the joy for which I long In haunts of happiness and song An nl d o y song can find me .

EXPERIENCE

HEN - I set free my Golden wing, S O traight to the pen fields he flew, But never once I heard him sing n The songs which in his cage he k ew .

I followed him and left behind The narrow room Where came to me The dreams which I wa s wont to bind

In sheaves of song and melody .

Alas ! the happy dreams no more Would turn to music on my lute

Gone was the joy I knew before,

A nd li berty had made me mute .

So now my Golden-wing and I Come gladly back to cage and den To hear the dreams go singing by

A nd find life full of song again .

[ 278 1

UNCOLLECTED POEMS So these lovely leaves I lay

r d In my book, all gold and e ; Embers for a winter ’ s day A ’ When the utumn s fire is dead .

THE TREE TAVERN

N the Tavern of the Tree, L isten to the revelry !

Mark the merry minstrel there,

Seated in his leafy chair, A t his cups the whole day long,

Paying toll with silvery song . Every draught he takes is drawn From the cellars of the Dawn ; F ragrant dew from flowery flasks, A mber air from fairy casks A t Brought from raby, and brigh ’ With the Orient 5 golden light ; S picery Of buds and Vines Flavors his delicious wines ; Is it strange his lyrics hold So much of the summer ’ s gold ? R apture of the roses caught, Into music deftly wrought Run and ripple of the rills A ll translated in his trills ;

E a very sweet, ench nted thing

In his gladness made to sing .

280 NOCTURNE

Ah ki - on , my moc ng bird, drink Till the happy day is gone ; Till the pal e moon rising up D rops the stars down in your cup ; n Then to dreams once more, and the All the world grows still again !

NOCTURNE

HE s hif ting s ha dows hide me

L ove l et the cu rta ins a rt , p , And l ight the s ta rs to g u ide me

You r e es S weetlwa rt 1 y ,

She heard the music, note by note, ’ A cross the garden s fragrance float ; F aintly, at first, it came as though

’ W It were the ind s voice, soft and low A ghost of song that breathed upon

S wa s The ilence once, and then gone . But soon it grew more clear and sweet ; A nd soon her heart began to beat m With joy, and mark the easured time Of married melody and rhyme

’ e Then, through the curtains folds of lac , ’ She looked and saw her lover s face .

The vi nes ha ve s worn to chea t me

L ove s ea k the word to s , p ta rt The ros e f rom d rea ms to g reet me

You r l i s S weethea rt p ,

28 1 UNCOLLECTED POEMS She threw the lattice open wide A golden ray upon the tide

Of a ll darkness fell ; and there, still,

- -S il Moon white above the window l,

L She ike some strange flower of snow, seemed a e To blossom while the garden dre m d .

Fa r down, she saw him, rapt and mute The lover with hi s lyric lute

Then , from her bosom , something white And w t fragrant dropped do n through the nigh .

Quickly, she threw the rose, and then

The air grew sweet with song again .

The bright s ta r bri ng s i ts token

d other ha rt I nee no c .

’ The ros e s l ips ha ve sp oken

Good ni ht S weethea rt g ,

A FIRST EDITION

l ’ HENEVER 1 go S troll ing down

A b - n bookish y way in the tow , It is my great delight to stop ’ B a S Within the ookm n s cosy hop, Where temptingly spread out to View

A re books of all kinds , old and new,

Editions curious and rare, A nd bindings rich beyond compare, A nd many of them priced so high

One seldom can afford to buy.

28 2

UNCOLLECTED POEMS L Both vagabonds , both Poets ook Two Thousand D ollars for a Book !

THE HOUSE OF DREAMS

O b s H USE not built y mortal , In summer days is mine : Wide Open stand its portals All sweet with flower and vine .

C s omplete it is , capaciou

Each airy hall and room, And welcome ever gracious

Breathes from its walls of bloom .

We I music made by fountains, By brooks and birds and gales ;

My epics are the mountains,

My lyrics are the vales .

Frescos on every ceiling Mom Painted by and Night, A nd every niche revealing

Some treasure of delight.

Wine that is clear and sunny

My grassy cellars hold, A nd jars heaped full of honey

A nd cups of fragrant gold . [ 284 ] THE IMMORTAL FLOW ER

Many a leafy pennant A bove my slumber str eams I am God ’ s happy tenant

In this dear house of dreams .

LIMITATION

ROM the smooth bea ch I took one gr ain of sand What countless myriads of them must be Piled up to make the islands that wi thstand The mighty onslaught Of the surgin g sea ! And I a as pondered c me the thought to me, How this grea t world of water and of land To G od is but a tiny grain whi ch He

Holds in the hollow of His open hand .

THE IMMORTAL FLOW ER

OR D , in whose hands I am but dus t

Make Thou of me a vessel whole, Worthy to guard the precious soul e u Thou giv st me in tr st .

Keep me unmarred by strife an d sin Thr oughout my little spa n of years ; ’ Le t Joy s bright sun and Sorrow’ s tears

Keep pure the flower therein . Grant if Thou wilt mine eyes to see a It grow to be uty at Thy feet, To find at last the blossoms sweet Of Immortality . [ 2 85 ] UNCOLLECTED POEMS

A nd when this body that is mine,

This mortal shape which Thou hast made,

I S - dust and with the earth dust laid, L ! ord , take the flower for Thine

THE END

I ND EX OF FI RST LI NES

f fi ee n o 2 A cu o co e s a d s . p , gg , r ll , 7

A of eme a the a e dim 2 1 . cup r ld , v ll y, , 7

A i to o e a i e to smo e 1 0 8 . g rl l v , p p k , no mo a s 28 A o se t i . h u bu lt by rt l , 4

A i e wa e ow her in 1 . l ttl y b l ch , 5

A i is a in i 20 . lyr c t y b rd, A ose on a s a w e e a own i sa n 8 r pr y h r br b rd g, 8 .

A s o is the Sun I now 1 . culpt r , k , 47 i A in fir e w in is ose 1 . t y th th r , 3

A a a on I oa m a t wi 2 . v g b d, r ll , 7 7

A o e a ome of a e ow 8 . b v d gr y ; b l , win e 8 A o e the o m e s 6 . b v gl g b r ,

A o e the sea in s en o 2 0 . b v pl d r, 5

A oss the i ow mea ow a sses . cr b ll y d gr , 7

- A oss the e e mea ow a n . cr l v l d l d, 4

A e the a in oes 20 . ft r r g by , 3

A e the i en e on 2 1 . ft r S l c l g , 3 ’ A e the win e s ni 2 2 . ft r t r ght , 9

All da I ea a on th e sa n s o e 2 . y h r l g dy h r , 5 5 All ni I ea a on the oa s 21 2 ght h rd l g c t, 5 h o i i 2 All t e w s . rld br ght , 3 All a nd own in a ow- own 1 2 up d Sh d t , 7

A one I ff so w ea s of e 6. l pu ft r th blu , 3

A on the ma in of the wo 1 8 . l g rg rld, 7 ’ A on the woo s own e e 2 2 . l g d br dg , 9 1 April 0 .

A i o the ossoms out 1 66. pr l br ught bl , ’ As a n i is a of the ea s 1 . y ch ld , th b by y r , 9

AS Lo e a nd I wen wa in 2 1 . v t lk g , 5 As ee wi in her ma e oom she ies 2 l p th rbl r l , 5 9:

At e enin w en I o to bed 1 . v g h g , 47 ’ At Na isha ll r his a s es lie 8 2 . p h ,

A s mon w en summe i es 1 . ugu t , th h r l , 5 5 wa e a wa e a i o A O s ea 68 . k , k , gr c u h rt , a e o Aw y W ith m la nch ly ! 1 68 .

B a k a nd o the es o 1 . c f rth Shuttl g , 99 ’ B ees on a e a o the snow 1 2. d t c r b ut , 9 [ 289 1 I NDEX OF FIRST LINES

in her a n of own flufl B e f 66. h d d y , n a th e w o is in o B e e e es se o 1 26. th tr h l p g br d, B ooms in the ea s w e a n n ess o es . l t h d rk g , 97 B om i e n 1 oss s a s a d 0 . l , l ttl t r , fill , 7 B ow wi n o f a a nd in l , d M rch , S g , 9 . ’ B da in A a s a z u e urn 8 . y y ll h r , 9 m i o B D o o in Ca e wn 6. y r thy br dg t , 5 B ni he s ea s his W hi e a s own 1 y ght pr d t r y d , 94 .

B the fir e a o es to in her . y th t l v t t , 43

’

Ca i es to wi n e s e in 1 86 . pt v t r cru l k g , a m a a en ow 2 Ca esse es 6 . r d by b l y g l th t g tly bl , 9 e h ma e om 2 66 Ca in a i e of t e . ught cr v c rbl t b ,

C ose the ma in s of a ss 1 2 . l by rg tuft gr ,

Come Pa n a nd i e on the ee 6 . , , p p up r d, 4

C ee s for the e o s a s for me 26 . r d cr dul u ; but , 3

C i oe to Her in a s e 8 . up d , g h t , 4

C i e l me h ow to wi ne 6 . up d , t l t , 7

Da to m ea 1 2 1 . y y h rt ,

Dea Hea do ou emem e 2 . r rt , y r b r , 44 ’ l e 2 D ea o d a n e s is of sa n 6 . r N tuck t l d , 3

D ea P is i a a in a nd e 0 . r r c ll , qu t , v ry , 4 D ea Rose w a o mes it wo nee to o r , h t v lu uld d h ld , ’ D e em e ome a nd wi her o I 8 s . c b r c th br ught , 5 m 26 D ee in the a s es one i e e e . p h l v b r, 5 o a mi he ia n e 2 Dee in the wo s t es 8 . p d , d g t tr , 5

Dee i es the snow on woo a nd e 2 . p l d fi ld, 34 i e a en li D in s 8 . v ly h p cup , thy p , 9

Down in a a en o en 1 8 . g rd ld , 9

E oes of son e e ea e a re 2 2 . ch g , th r l th y , 7

’ Fa r in the di s a n e ooms a shi s a k u t c l p d r h ll ,

Fe a o ni s two 1 0 . bru ry , f rt ght , 5

F owe a nd ea o f ine a nd ee 2 . l r l f v tr , 79

For a ll P il oso ma ea 26 . h phy y t ch , 3

For mon s I ha d s ffe e e ision . th u r d d r , 45

For ou ese in flowe s a re 1 8 . y th t y r cut ,

F ien s a o s e s a w i e e o e 1 6. r d , t y y ur t p h l b f r , 3

F om P a a i se w a so wi wi n s 8 . r r d h t ul th g , 5

F om s n ise to the set of sun 2 1 . r u r , 4

F om the ma e of hi s o . r rbl th ught, 93 [ 290 ]

INDEX OF FIRST LINES

In a on of ea hr o o the ni 262 g y d th t ugh ut ght, . In her a a i a s ous ewe ea ms 8 . d rk h r lu tr j l gl , 9 ’ In Na e s o en oo tur p b k , 99 . In i e s en o e the So e n ni 2 qu t pl d r f ll uth r ght , 73 . In the a n e of the k ow s n wa es 261 . bl ck ju gl y k , In the a r ni 1 d o . y ght, 79 I n the een woo s is the oo 2 2 gr d br k , 3 . In the s of the ni he ea 1 hu h ght h rd, 9 . ’ In the a s e s o e ee 1 1 p tur cl v r d p , 3 . I he o a o 2 n t s win ws 1 6 . ft d th t bl , In the a e of he e 28 T n t T e 0 . v r r , w i f 2 In hi s e wo o won e 0 . t h t rld d r, 3 In a in the es : no mo a e es ma know 2 v qu t rt l y y , 5 7 .

In W i n e w en the wi n I ea 1 62 . t r , h d h r , In o the s um e of the D a e e a me 26 t l b r y th r c , 5 . I t i o if o find 2 2 s m in e t 8 . y jy l ,

It ma e s not how fa r I a e 2 6 . tt r f r , 4

It wa s the mi e of the ni 20 . ddl ght , 5

a n a ea a nd ea 1 . J u ry , bl k dr r , 49

a smines a n ed in her a i 2 . J t gl h r , 4

for ou the son s a re s n 1 . July, y g u g , 5 4

La a t o a i e I 1 . dy , y ur l tt c , 5

La n e in the a ness on a n nknown sea 26 . u ch d d rk u , 3

Let a son be so s n 1 1 . g ftly u g , 9

et me a a a n wine 2 2 . L g rl d t , 5

Let us o o a nd mee her 1 2 2; g f rth t ,

Li the oa s a nd l et u s o . . ft r g , 3

Li e mimi me eo s th e snow . k c t r , 9

Lis en to th e a wn ie 1 . t t y th f , 9

Li e drO of dew 1 8 2 . ttl p ,

Li e mimi of the sun 1 . ttl c , 5

Lone on e m o e a wa 1 1 2 . ly c , y l v y ,

Lon en ies a o ose Pe sia n o s 20 . g c tur g , th r b y , 4

Lon ime she sa t et ne e o e a s rin 1 1 8 . g t , y v r t uch d t g ,

Lon ea s a o e e i e a Kin 1 . g y r g th r l v d g, 5 9

Lon ea s wi in its se e 1 0 1 . g y r th pulchr ,

Lo in wh o se a n s I a m but s 28 . rd, h d du t , 5

Lo e a t o oo o n C i s a n s 1 1 0 . v , y ur d r y u g up d t d ,

Lo e how I mi ss ou i is i e oom ! 2 . v , y n th l ttl r 75

Lo e I o e on a ime 2 2 . v l ck d up t ,

Lo throw a i e o en to the ni 1 20 . ve, thy l tt c p ght,

[ 292 ] INDEX OF FIRST LINES

Lo e w en we a e ou a nd I 1 1 v , h p rt d, y , 5 . L in esi e the ma in of the ee 8 y g b d rg d p , 9 .

i a a s a nd a es a 2 . M dr g l c tch c ught , a ! a nd a ll the win s a ! 1 0 . M rch d cry , M rch 5 Ma s a ma e the wo a ne 1 2 w . y h ll k rld , 5 ea ow in o f i s os s o m s 6 . M d l t cl ud t , se a n me some new sirnil e to sin 61 Mu , gr t g , . e the m si of the e Mut u c fiddl , 49 . ea wa s W in e - b o n n i 2 My h rt t r u d u t l , 47 . Lo e is i e a in o 2 a se 2 . My v l k W t r r , 5 ’ son s a re a ll for her 2 My g , 47

Nanac the a i a sin on e to a , f thful , p u g c pr y , 95 . No ea i s i in in h ee 2 s t e t 1 . l f t rr g r , 5 No hi a one h i i 2 t s t e ine 20 . l g ft d v , Now i h e t e flowe s enea the snow 1 . h d r b th , 73 Now in e i 2 s t nows 1 . c k , 4 Now win e s the wo wi snow 1 8 1 t r fill rld th ,

0 ne ! e i io s mon of ne 1 Ju d l c u th Ju , 5 3 . O ni in a e a mon he t ea es . ght g l g l v , 43 i the e - e 1 6 O o in n e . r b ch rry tr , 4 0 w i e moon sa i in own the 1 61 h t l g d Sky , h e mon ee O o e is t a s ms 1 6 . ct b r th th t , 5 Of a ll the ea s of e 2 1 m 8 . thr d rhy ,

Of oo s I sin not of ose 1 . b k g , but th , 39 me e e o e e O en i s m to m 1 0 0 . ft t th r c , h w e h e e 1 On e in t e mo nin n t e e z . c r g h br , 97 ’ On e on a o in some wee a en s s c , l g g , S t g rd hu h , On e w en the oo s -Of ni we e o en own c , h d r ght r p thr ,

One mo nin in the a en 1 8 . r g g rd , 7

One mo nin w en the a in wa s one 1 2 . r g h r d , 9 hi e in a e On a w s . ly p r g g l , 79

Out of a e e om the ese sa n s 2 . p bbl fr d rt d , 79

Out of a e i oo 1 6 . p lluc d br k , 4

Out of m win ow I o see 1 6. y d c uld , 4 f he 2 Out o t e i s 1 1 . purpl dr ft ,

Out of the s a a of the ni 261 . c bb rd ght ,

Out of the sk e ome 1 8 . y th y c , 4

O oo s the w i e a in omin own 1 1 . utd r h t r c g d , 5 O si e the a s s of win e ow ut d , bl t t r bl , he O e t on en wa 1 1 . v r c v t ll, 7 [ 293 ] INDEX OF FIRST LINES

e im a e a 2 1 O e th r 6 . v r , fi ry b ll ,

O e a e o e i 1 88 . v r v ll y , v r h ll ,

Ri e or ea the oi e is s il he me 2 s t sa 6 . v r , v c t l , 5

- Rose in the a en C ose I . g rd l , 7 Ros a r the m I w ea 2 es e es e . rhy r th , 5 3

for Sa n a C a s I a n ou 1 6 . t l u , h g y , 5

S a m e i e ea es a o 1 8 . c p r, l ttl l v , b ut , 7 S eenin h er a e of o e iness ehi n 26 cr g f c l v l b d, 4 . e r owe 8 S ee on e the . , y d r , b lf y t r, 5 h Sera glio of t e Sulta n B ee ! 97 .

She n s om a ni onshi in e a nd woo 6 . fi d c p p fi ld d, 3 h w a mos ewi in a n S e ea s 1 . r t b tch g b g , 7

S en e s i s o f imson . l d r tr p cr Sky , 4

S i is the i n it nee s to wa e 2 1 . l ght th g d k , 7 S m e m e i e one now 1 s . lu b r , lu b r, l ttl , , 93 So th e i e wi n oe 2 1 6 s . ftly l ttl d g by ,

Son li e a ose o be 1 1 6 . g k r Sh uld , S in is the mo ni n of the ea 1 8 . pr g r g y r , 4 S i on the o ne s a n s the s oo t ll c r r t d ch l , 5 3 .

S a n e how m sen imen 8 . tr g uch t t , 3 S o in a on the a ni e oa s I a 262 tr ll g l g gr t c t c ught, .

Swee ea omes a i n A i now 2 8 . th rt , c l ugh g pr l , 4 Swee ea th e s a re on th e ee 2 th rt , bud tr , 49 . h i o n 2 Swee ea t e ea s . th rt , y r y u g , 5 w e a w en me I ma e 1 0 S e e s . th rt , h rhy k , 4

’ T w i n w en I fo n i ou 1 as s t t . Spr g h fir t u d , 3 k Th e a ir i s een the s is ea 1 . k , y cl r, 33

The in win s ei so emn di es ow 262. bugl g d th r l rg bl , he a o e T s m . d y c , 93 Th e e on ei e i i o 2 e n s e s wn 1 . f c th r d d , 9 h a o T e en is a a o 1 8 . g rd r y l c urt , 3 The i e ea e on h e ee 1 s t s 0 . l ttl l v up tr , 9

The w i a e- e 1 6 mea o s a h 0 . d b ttl ld ,

The i in a ows i e me 28 1 . Sh ft g Sh d h d ,

- The sk is of o s to da 1 . y full cl ud y , 7 7 The so win w is e e se e s to the a e ee 1 6 ft d h p r d cr t ppl tr , .

The son s I ma e e a re not mine 2 1 . g k , th y , 9 ’ win a s th e s i W i e The s s sa i 1 8 . turdy d th t fill h p h t l, he red th e a w 1 T sun sa n in es 0 . k dull gr y t , 3

The s nse a es a nd o n e a a in the il s 2 2. u t f d , c g h l , 7

[ 294 ]

INDEX OF FIRST LINES

en in her l a ou lie Wh p y , 35 . - f— en out o oo s is ll of a in 1 8 . Wh d r fu r , 9 en a e Se ene in her es en oa Wh p l l , cr c t b t , 5 9. e d oo n s a n s a re o e 1 6 . Wh tudy ch l v r, 9

en Summe omes a nd rin s the ose as Wh r c b g r , g e o e fire en th n is li t 1 80 . Wh p , he un hin e 1 en t s s es n I see 1 . Wh , th , 9 e wili omes a nd na e i n s t s 6 . Wh t ght c , tur ll , 4 e in for a ime 2 n e s es . Wh W t r hu h t , 34 w 2 2 ene e I o s o lin o n 8 . Wh v r g tr l g d ,

ere ee ess win s a o n him ow 8 . Wh h dl d r u d bl , 9

i e in her wo en s o 2 1 2 . Wh t v hr ud, e om W ho ca n e us w en e e 1 8 . t ll h c th y c , 4

W ho s a sin to ea o em e 1 . h ll g bl k N v b r, 5 7

oso en e s a t is o a 2 2 . Wh t r th p rt l , 4

a ll the s a s in the sk a re so i 1 0 . Why t r y br ght , 9

in e wa n e e om o e mea ows swee 60 . W g d d r r fr cl v r d t,

i in a e i o f oom 2 . W th b lfry bu lt bl , 33 i in a s o w e e s e the si en ea 62 W th p t h r l pt l t d d, . ’ i i n th e mea ow of Time s oo 1 . W th d b k , 35

i in th e s one Sa a a of the Town 26 . W th t h r , 5

i hi n is si en a a e of the i . W t th l t p l c N ght, 97

on o s in s a e ome to a ss 1 6 . W dr u th g h v c p , 9

o n is the win e ru of w i e 2 . W r t r g h t , 35

i 1 You who a t m e ow s t 1 , y lb , 4 I N D EX O F T ITLES

Ad As a 1 0 . Ca na The 1 6 . tr , 7 ry, , 7 ’ A a s Ho se Ca noe Son 22 . ll h u , 95 g, 4

Anemone 1 . Ca A 2 1 . , 47 tch, ,

A e B ossoms 1 6 . Ca e ral B e s The 260 . ppl l , th d ll , ,

A i 1 . C a m The 2 1 . pr l, 9 h r , , 7 C er i es 1 66 . h r ,

Chris ma s Ca t The 20 . t , , 5

A i Ca ro An 1 0 . Ci a A 6 . prl l, , g r, , 3

A s 2 2 . Ci S a ows 26 rbutu , 9 ty p rr , 5

A er The 1 . C o On a 1 1 2 . rch , , 74 l ck , ,

C o s 1 . l ud , 77

Co oni a issi e A 6 . l l M v , , 5

At the oo 28 . Come Pa n a nd i e 6 . D r, , , P p , 4

A tai nmen . Confession 2 1 1 . t t, 93 ,

A st 1 . Con entmen 1 08 . ugu , 5 5 t t,

A umn Lea es 2 . Con ra s 8 . ut v , 79 t t, 9

A owa An 2 . Cont a s 266 . v l , , 3 r t, ! Awa e Awa e 68 . Co e e A 1 . k , k , qu tt , , 7 — C i TO O . up d, , 7

B a h s 1 . C i Fe a r 1 To 8 . cc u , 9 up d, bru y 4 , , 4

B a o ea ms 86 . ckl g Dr ,

B ees 1 2 . a isies 1 , 9 D , 47 .

B ehi n her Fa n 66 . a is To a 1 . d , D y, , 4

he 61 . B e ra a 2 8 . a n in s T t y l, 5 D c g Gyp y, ,

B e ro a A 2 . a n e ion To a 1 t th l, , 4 D d l , , 5 ’

Bir 2 1 a wn 261 . d s e A . El gy, , 5 D , ’ 1 wn d s . Bir s si 0 . a a n d Mu c, 9 D Du k, 4

B ossoms 1 6 . Da ea m 2 6 . l , 4 y Dr , 5 ’ - B oo Hun er The 2 . a s S o The 21 . k t , , 7 D y hr ud, , 4 B oo s 1 . a ea 1 . k , 35 D ybr k , 34

B s 1 0 . oo To hi e em e 1 8 . k, , 4 D c b r, 5

B owe of C i The 2 2 . e e i t 262 . r up d, , 4 D r l c ,

B ea of Son 8 0 . ewdro A 1 8 2 . r th g, D p, ,

B eez es of o ni n . ies Ul ima 2 1 2 . r M r g, 5 9 D t , B i 2 . i oa wa a t i n e 1 1 . r d y M d ght, 74 D rg , 9

B onz e eda l of Lin o n i o o son A s in To . r M c l by V ct r D b , u t , , 74

nn On a 2 6 . ea ms 1 . B e e 8 . D r r, , 7 Dr , 4 m a nimen Th 2 0 s 6 B oo A o e . 2 1 . r k cc p t, , 7 Du k,

B n h of a t ai ns A 1 8 . u c Qu r , ,

B ndl e of Lette s A 8 . o 26 . u r , , 3 Ech , 9

m s 1 . B e s On some I . fin La 0 utt rcup , , 5 El p , 9

B erfl in a S ee A 60 . End of A mn The 2 . utt y W ll tr t, , utu , , 74 [ 297 ] INDEX OF TITLES

n a e . Hi s es ire 2 1 8 E g g d, 49 D , .

e ni La ne 1 2 . His S 1 a r i 1 . Et r ty , 9 t l ght, 4

x i n e 2 8 . Ho l e e o A . E p r c , 7 l yh ck, , 97

Hone s es 2 . y uckl , 33 ’ Fa i ies a n e The 1 . Ho se of ea ms The 2 8 r D c , , 97 u Dr , , 4 .

- ai w s 1 61 . F e e H mmin i Son 1 6 . ry J l , u g b rd g , 3

Fai Shi w e 1 2 . ry p r ck, 9

- i A 1 1 . Fa S o I ce i soner The 8 . ry t ry, , 7 Pr , ,

Fami ia el o The 2 2 . I i 1 1 l r M dy, , 7 dyll c, .

Fa n . Immo ta F owe The 28 . cy, 3 r l l r, , 5

In a a en 26 . G rd , 4

Fa n To In A sen e 2 6 . cy, , 79 b c , 4

Fe a . In a n Ol d a en 1 2 . bru ry, 9 G rd ,

Fe a 1 0 . In a en esi s . bru ry, 5 P r th , 34

Fi e Fa n i es 26 In the C o e 1 1 . r c , 5 l v r, 3

Fi s di ion A 28 2 . In the ea ow 1 60 . r t E t , , M d ,

- Fl Lea to the Rea e The 1 6 . In the O ha r 1 6 . y f d r , 3 rc d, 4

i 1 . F in e 68 India n S mme . ly g K t , u r, 7

Fo 262 . In e e e The 220 . g, t rpr t r, ,

w 2 . r Foo rin s in the Sno I s a fel 8 . tp t , 35 , 5

For si 2 . Iv 26 . Mu c, 47 y , 4

For o ies 2 6 . P pp , 7

For Sa nte Va l ent ne hi s a e . a n a 1 y y , D y , 47 J u ry, 49

Fo o en B oo s 1 . es e B ee 1 8 . rg tt k , 39 J t r , 3

Fo t ess of Sa n a r o The 2 1 . e The 1 0 . r r M c , , 7 Juggl r, , 7

Fo in s The 1 62 . ulie To 2 0 . ur W d , , J t, , 4

F en Fo i es 6 . 111 1 . r ch ll , 4 J V. 5 4

F fi men 1 . ne 1 . ul l t, 9 Ju , 5 3

F nn Fel ow A 1 . u y l , , 74

i n B e 1 . K g ll , 5 9

a r a n A 22 . now e e 26 . G l d, , 5 K l dg , 3

os Fa i ies 1 80 . i ss rin e 1 68 . Gh t r , Kr K gl , - ow orm A 1 2 . Gl W , ,

La o Omni a in i 2 . b r V c t, 79

- o en Rod 1 8 . La s Le e The 1 01 . G ld , 4 t tt r, ,

- oo i 8 . Lea es a t a 1 8 . G d N ght, 5 v Pl y, 7

a s s 26 . Li a The 1 . Gr , 4 br ry, , 37

ee a se On a 8 . Li e 2 6 . Gr k V , , 9 f , 3

eetin for S in A 1 22 . Limi a i on 28 . Gr g pr g , , t t , 5

s 2 Lin o n On a B onz e e al of 2 6. Gyp y, 77 . c l , r M d , 7 - LITTLE F LK LY IC 1 . O R S , 43

Ha o of ea ms The Lone Room The 2 . rb r Dr , , 79 . ly , , 75

m The 26 . Ha o 22 1 . Loo of Son rr , g, , 9

i 1 0 E 1 00 2 0 . He o o e . L V l tr p , 9 O , , 4 ’ Her C i na Cu 66 Lo e s S ea sons 1 . h p , . v , 3 ’ i Lo e s in i e 2 . Her ta . S Gu r, 43 v pr gt d , 47

Her mi hi L a 1 . S e s S n i 1 0 . l u l ght, 4 ull by, 93 ! He i i i i s a i n i i 22 . L A: A rr ck, W th, 3 yr c, lyr c t y b rd, Hi e- - a nd See 1 . d k, 73

INDEX OF TITLES

To a Rose 1 06 . ose 2 . , Sai nt R , 5 5

n . en ne his Da e For . To A sti n o so , 74 Sa ynte Val ty , y , , 47 u D b

To C i 6 . n A 262 . , 7 Sea Fa cy, , up d

To C i Fe a 1 8 . Sea os A 21 5 . p , b y 4 , 4 Gh t, , u d ru r

TO Fa n . Se e 21 6 . cy, 79 cr t,

To Her 2 . S ep emb e 1 . , 47 t r, 5 5

To hi s B oo 1 0 . ren 1 1 . , 4 Sha dow Child , 9 k

To m Fa e 2 . y th r,

o Lo e 68 . T my v , i - To m es sa e . h The 1 26 . y g , 35 Sk S , M y p ,

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