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 Copviight N° ^'7 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
PORTINIA 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES CALVIN HOOPER 
 
 ^t.*-:?£.< 
 
 BOSTON: RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO,, LIMITED 
 
Copyright, 1914, by James Calvin Hooper 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 .0 5 V 
 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A, 
 
 JAN -2 1915 
 
 ©CU393032 
 4*0 / 
 
Inscribed to the memory 
 
 of 
 
 All my friends, 
 
 Those who condone 
 
 my faults, and magnify 
 
 my virtues. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 IT IS with great diffidence that I submit this 
 poem to a generous and beauty-loving public. 
 Not that I fear the criticisms of those with 
 eyes alert to spy and detect errors in my vain 
 and feverish endeavors to consort with the divine 
 Muses of poesy, and soar into heights sublime, on 
 the semi-callow wings of my poetic imagination. 
 My greatest regret is, that I have not more artfully 
 developed my plot, a rich and delicate fabric (I 
 have made the fabric more beautiful than the gar- 
 ment). My setting or cast, therefore, I consider 
 exquisitely unique in many of its aspects. This 
 poetic romance might be compared to a strong theme 
 in a musical symphony. Not satisfactorily devel- 
 oped in detail and counter-point, "Portinia," to those 
 in consonance with the higher and diviner spirit of 
 love and beauty, is a poem possessing the elements 
 of a true soul. 
 
 While it may be fraught with many technical 
 weaknesses, nevertheless, dear reader, the king of 
 day, the sun, from the hands of God, has spots upon 
 it, — and the queen of night, the moon, oft has horns 
 and a bad complexion, when beheld from certain 
 points of view. It has been said — "The highest 
 
PREFACE 
 
 poetry is the most open to prosaic ridicule." I am 
 glad some one said that; I am not trying to fore- 
 stall or circumvent criticism, but I truly hope none 
 may read this story, without finding something in it 
 sufficiently beautiful and elevating, to recompense 
 him for his time and effort; and I trust further- 
 more that all readers of this humble tribute to love 
 and beauty, may first look for and find the flowers, 
 before they cast about for the thorns. 
 Dallas, June 25, 1914. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Book i — Portinia 13 
 
 Don Zeno to Portinia 19 
 
 Book 2 — Portinia to Don Zeno 85 
 
 Portinia's Prayer 115 
 
 Book 3 — Don Zeno to Portinia 118 
 
 The Skylark 143 
 
 A Pegasus Strayed to Earth 145 
 
 To a Nightingale 148 
 
 The Mocking Bird 151 
 
 If Love Like a Violet Grew 153 
 
 To Browning 155 
 
 To the Daisy 157 
 
 Ode to J. T. Johnson 159 
 
 Hymn 161 
 
 Thanksgiving 162 
 
 Looking Backward 164 
 
 To My Cigar 165 
 
 To Kathryn 167 
 
 Love 168 
 
 Have You Seen Flora Yet? 169 
 
 To K. 171 
 
 To the Moon 172 
 
 Ode to Winter 1 74 
 
 Ode to Hesperus 177 
 
 The Dying Year 178 
 
 My Star 180 
 
 To Rosalee 182 
 
 To Lucile 185 
 
 The Hand of God 186 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Twilight 187 
 
 To Shakespeare 189 
 
 The Inspiration of Friendship 190 
 
 A Mistletoe Kiss 192 
 
 To My Violin 193 
 
 To Music 197 
 
 Death 200 
 
 The Temple of Nature 201 
 
 To the Nine Muses 205 
 
 Building Air Castles 21 1 
 
 To Estelle 212 
 
 To Josephine 215 
 
 To My Schoolmates 218 
 
 Humility 222 
 
 The Poets 224 
 
 My Dream 226 
 
 The Soul 229 
 
 The 'Possum Hunt 231 
 
 Stanzas 233 
 
 The Creation 235 
 
 To Keats 241 
 
 I Carved My Name in a Young Beech Tree 243 
 
 The Church Bell 244 
 
 Processional 246 
 
 Eventide 247 
 
 I Love a Sweet Lass Too Young 249 
 
 Providence in Nature 252 
 
 The Old Miller and the Mill 254 
 
 A Pessimist's Conversion 257 
 
 The Ship at Sea 261 
 
 Is Vesuvius a Fallen Star 262 
 
 Love's Hope Forlorn 263 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Serenade 264 
 
 The Rosebud 265 
 
 The Bloom's Voice 266 
 
 Nocturne 267 
 
 Ode to the Tennessee River 268 
 
 The Dew to the Rose 271 
 
 The Heart's Soliloquy 273 
 
 To Phoebe 274 
 
 Christmas Eve 277 
 
 Questions 281 
 
 To Mary Goose 282 
 
 In Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, 
 
 Mass 284 
 
 The Garden of Gethsemane 286 
 
 To Spring 288 
 
 Farewell to Boston 291 
 
 Ode to a Rose 293 
 
 . To the "Lone Star" State 295 
 
 The Human Heart 296 
 
 If We Could But Live On This Earth Again 297 
 
 Sleepy Hollow Cemetery 299 
 
PORTINIA 
 An Epic Romance 
 
Book I 
 
 PORTINIA 
 
 A memory's fair beauty never dies; 
 But its soul serene immortal will rise, 
 Glorious to hearts imbued with love, 
 Flying onward as time's winged dove 
 Into eternity: there it magnifies 
 Emotions graven or radiant skies 
 By passion's burnished flames of sacred fire. 
 Such flowering mind will ever inspire; 
 And in the crucible of sighing years, 
 Beauty's mirrored phantom ever appears, 
 Bounteously giving back love's sweet grace, 
 Commemorating some immaculate face 
 Which, in the spirit, we hope to see, 
 Parting never in Heaven's eternity; 
 Worshiping there at its golden shrine, 
 Feasting grateful eyes on things divine, 
 Yet loving still mortal memory sweet, 
 While casting honors at beauty's feet. 
 
 Where angels with argent wings' dulcet sounds, 
 With empurpled robes and celestial crowns, 
 Flit through ambient air, as the Heavens adore, 
 While seraphim reign on love's throne evermore. 
 Then memory's lips with ecstatic tongue 
 Will sing of this beauty as 'twas ne'er sung, 
 In glory refulgent that will impregn 
 The budding heart with florescence serene. 
 Where beauty unfurls its soul to diffuse 
 That immortal essence and passioned muse 
 Into each dawning life, with roseate pride, 
 From whence the stifled sighs,— love darts to guide, 
 In search of florid sweets and violets, 
 Wreathing them into chaplet coronets 
 With which to garland beauty's queenly head, 
 Then embower in fennels' fragment bed, 
 13 
 
i 4 PORTINIA 
 
 'Neath the myrtles' and aspens' quivering leaves. 
 Where sing the zephyrs in full-toned semibreves 
 The song of love, — cadenced in tranquil fusion, 
 Where it reigns full-fledged, there's no contusion 
 Of happiness, — nor ominous foreboding, 
 Nor fevered dreams, and pledges corroding. 
 Where memory's pensive soul inspiring 
 Lingers 'neath the shadow of seraph's wing, 
 From which exhaled incense up-fllls the air, 
 Then refuge takes in its orient hair. 
 To the fair goddess, Beauty, love doth cede 
 Every vantage to which its vows agreed; 
 Neglecting not that Heaven-enrolled grace 
 Sealed by the ardent heart's burning trace, 
 Whose impassioned beat, like a silver pipe 
 Blown by exulting Nymph, — whose heart is ripe 
 For Cupid's flame and gold-footed joys to spin 
 Into silken skeins of love, then to win 
 The son of Jupiter and by him crowned. 
 But in my Heaven-dewed goddess, I've found 
 My blossoming soul, enravished by a trance, 
 And in the haze of Indian summer I'll chance 
 My fate to her rose-canopied bower 
 And ere the autumn's promised seedtime's hour 
 Of bounteous harvest, — this new-born love 
 Will have, by strange journeyings as the dove, 
 Come to the full fruition of its bloom; 
 And in the plenitude of this bliss, a groom 
 To enchanting bride I pray may be my prize; 
 I see my Venus now — what soulful eyes! 
 
 The heroine of this poem, Portinia, 
 
 Enrapts my very soul — my fair Urania! 
 
 I'll descant her charms, and her harp-strings kiss, 
 
 Made of her golden tresses; — ah, what bliss 
 
 To ride on the muse of Poesy divine 
 
 And sniff the wafted balm of love benign; 
 
 That quickens a zeal, its sweetness imbues, 
 
PORTINIA 15 
 
 Then by it opiated, like hemlock ooze, 
 
 Into a dreaming temple, of fancy's turn, 
 
 Where sweet music lingers, as if to burn, 
 
 In self-sacrifice; then its spirit's fire 
 
 Rises on lucent wings to the heaven's choir. 
 
 "Poetry is the bloom, fragrance, and fruit 
 
 Of all language," — said a bard who fingered its 
 
 lute 
 And trod its swaying measures soft and sweet, 
 By rhythmic heart, head and nimble feet. 
 Now I dare presume with faulty throat 
 To sing where this poet soared on silver note 
 To the lustrous gates of Phoebus' flaming pyre, 
 Where he stood on the galaxy to admire 
 The Heaven's iris hues, and translucent eyes; 
 Then to Orion's throne, seeking paradise: 
 Finding it not, thence to Queen Cynthia went, 
 Leaping from star to star, thwart the firmament. 
 Hence these sky-born muses I would implore, 
 And on fleeting Pegasus I mean to soar: 
 Least-wise 'mong the cumulus clouds to sing, 
 While I pick the floss from their fleecy wing. 
 And if by chance to the moon I shall wend, 
 Round her crescent horns a lasso I'll send; 
 In her bosom I'll whiz through azure space 
 To list for melodies of sweeter grace, 
 Or yoke the golden eagle's sweeping flight; 
 Then wing for regions of eternal light. 
 And if my volant steed doth jade forlorn, 
 I'll then bestride the flying unicorn, 
 Or mount huge dragon, if one I fetch to bay, 
 And direct I'll scud for the milky way. 
 My aeolian lyre there I'll put to tune, 
 To the pitch of Apollo's choir; — then croon 
 A love ditty, to vibrate the heaven's expanse, 
 Or cantata to animate love's romance, 
 Which subsists on crystal tears of joy it brings 
 To votive eyes, the soul's pure limpid springs. 
 
1 6 PORTINIA 
 
 In musing thus, my will's pinions betake 
 Me to the meadow's verdure beside the lake 
 Of my occult spirit, that doth uplift 
 Visions bright, engrossing my mind to sift 
 Sunbeams from the dawning flush of loveliness ; 
 For I hear many lyric themes that press 
 An inroad to the lute-stops of my heart. 
 Oft in my dreams I wake with a start, 
 For their webs sometimes mimic the facts, 
 And in my trellised brain nothing lacks 
 To bring me nearer the luring gleams 
 Of my pearl-dewed fairy, who then beseems 
 Love's breathing co-inheritor sweet and fair; 
 Who smiles, and then kisses, as if to dare: 
 When I wake therefore I oft repine, 
 For reality could be no more divine. 
 
 The Ozark Mountains, whose sparkling waters flow 
 
 Where pungent mint, fern, and calamus grow, 
 
 Or Sicilian groves, that feed the flocks of Pan 
 
 That graze in solitude, unseen by man, 
 
 But odiously compare with the delights 
 
 Of outpoured Nature, wherein the wights, 
 
 The dancing faun, and frolicsome nymphs abound ; 
 
 Where Portinia and I shall tread the virent ground 
 
 And scale the bowldered mounts of childhood's joy. 
 
 Its music then did mine ears sweetly cloy, 
 
 And filled my being with spring or autumn's love, 
 
 Where enchanting wonderment, cogent to move, 
 
 Transports with ravishing fantasies 
 
 The blisses of memory's visual eyes. — 
 
 This pathless Eden to sopiting dreams 
 
 Yet lures me, — the plumed dryads sing and Nature 
 
 quemes : 
 And we bless the beauty that's seen and felt, 
 Whose kindred elements have power to melt 
 The bosom's discord, and tears dissipate 
 Into rainbow tints, as the sun's rays sate 
 
PORTINIA 17 
 
 On virgin sighs and immaculate dews, 
 
 And balm melancholy into vernate hues; 
 
 Kissing the glittering rheum from eyes shed, 
 
 To reanimate a soul that once was dead : 
 
 Or when gentle Luna's queenly smile 
 
 Plays on sorrow's lurid darkness a while, 
 
 Then its gloom distills, or vaporizes away, 
 
 Such the celestial glint of her silver ray, 
 
 Peeking through hawthorn, beechen shades, and 
 
 oaks ; 
 Where the day's tinkling bells, and dismal croaks 
 From raven, rook, or the ebon crow's throat, 
 Heard in mingled echoes, from glens remote, 
 And warbling lays of wood lyrists' strains, 
 Or shepherds yodling their happy refrains; 
 Where Virgil might indite inspiring verse, 
 If with Portinia he could rehearse, 
 With her charms to set the muses leaping, 
 Her eyes like the blue bell's blush out-peeping, 
 Enough to engender in a heart of stone 
 A blazing love the immortal gods condone. 
 Be he mortal or god of power high, 
 He could not resist her sweet majesty, 
 Nor eloign that strange amative desire 
 From the day his heart caught Cupid's fire, 
 Whose lucid flame consumed all former aches; 
 The day of all days, when love thus makes 
 A man more manly, all surely agree; 
 Attunes his soul to heaven's minstrelsy. 
 
 I'd say much more, but Portinia is dight 
 For our ramble into the sylvan height 
 Where hours of youthful joy did by me creep 
 When a shambling boy, herding timid sheep, 
 In deep shades' drowsy thrall, — by rills that sing 
 As they rush head-long from the bubbling spring. 
 
 My very being tinged in these rustic shades, 
 Some blissful hours gone, flavored in yon glades, 
 
1 8 PORTINIA 
 
 Where I mused 'mong vernant phlox in the mead ; 
 The winged moments little then did I heed, 
 And the timorous birds ceased in their alarm — 
 Some gayly sang, seeing I meant no harm. 
 I then never knew the heart's propitious sigh, 
 Nor saw the twinkling endearment of an eye, 
 As now I see it, and hear the voice of love, 
 While in mind I stroll 'mong wild rose and fox- 
 glove ; 
 Where the bowing sweetgums flirt with the gale 
 And summer clouds o'er all serenely sail. 
 There the morn's golden breath dispels all pain, 
 While memory drinks from melodious vein; 
 And through azure space the vivid planets roll, 
 And countless stars the sovran heavens control. 
 Nor do they in trackless orbits confound, 
 For a God in ken fixed their destiny's bound — 
 To Him their specific grandeur and weight 
 But as mewed feathers the winds lightly freight. 
 Round my Portinia, all radiance supreme, 
 With lambent purity, her gracious smiles redeem. 
 Her majestic mien, every eye doth light, 
 Every pulse springs jubilant at her sight, 
 And mellow sounds on silent breezes play 
 Dainty harmony on her tresses gay. 
 Each ringlet curl festoons her ivory neck, 
 And her graces magnify, as they more bedeck 
 Her alabaster shoulders, throat and breast, 
 Like tall Easter Lily, rising to be blest; 
 Whose noble fragrance lurks in silence round, 
 Then ascends in spirit waves, without a sound, 
 Which more ardently educes passion's fire 
 In all famished hearts, whose love doth conspire 
 To entice smiles of this true goddess fair, 
 Whose soothing beauty like poppy's ooze to bear: 
 And with countenance bright as sprightly gems, 
 Glowing with richness like royal diadems! — 
 
PORTINIA 19 
 
 Such the inwards of my heart's zealous beat 
 Now, the angel of my rhapsody I greet. — 
 
 DON ZENO TO PORTINIA 
 
 Portinia, memory linked in thy gracious charms 
 
 With beauty, lives in fair immortal arms; 
 
 And ever flying on time's plumed wings 
 
 Love to beauty like shadow to substance clings. 
 
 O sweet beauty, who in virtue's kingdom shines, 
 
 Thy Heaven goddess adores thee and pines 
 
 In silence; over again and ever 
 
 Recalling scenes and emotions that never 
 
 Fade from the soul into fathomless ocean, 
 
 But bind it to earth's sweet devotion, 
 
 While beauty's incense e'er burns in fires bright 
 
 In Dian's temple, a symbol of light 
 
 To the gods whose realms in sea, earth, and sky 
 
 Love beauty too well, to let its mem'ry die. 
 
 Ah, so dear to my heart these scenes sublime 
 
 Of cliffs grand and trees old, where ivy climb! 
 
 A memorial to God's art so great 
 
 The human artists' brush can scarcely imitate; 
 
 Nor sophist eye see grandeur by Nature made 
 
 But mere jungle wild, of no worth in trade. 
 
 Such minds, but fit to brew discordant strife, 
 
 Not knowing they're dead, while dormant life 
 
 Still lingers in their soul's wizen sight, 
 
 But blind and dead to earth's munif'cence bright. 
 
 Portinia, let's visit "Red Ghosts' " haunted cave, 
 Where 'tis said spirits of bad Indians rave, 
 Holding war dances, as mortals they did, 
 Pronouncing curses invidious to rid 
 This land of white faces they had cause to hate — 
 God knows the red man deserved better fate — 
 
20 PORTINIA 
 
 Those ciphers carved on that vaulted cavern 
 Perhaps a thousand years ; this their tavern, 
 Their grand rendezvous, for matters of state, 
 Ovations of big chiefs to celebrate; 
 This room, a bridal chamber, where brides slept 
 In arms of Morpheus, and dreaming, wept 
 For joy, being honored with princess' minions, 
 And by the Great Spirit, whose gilded pinions 
 Wafted sacred meed, a sweet blessing given, 
 Crowning the brides, with bridal wreaths from 
 
 heaven. 
 In this grot many heroes of the chase 
 Have been gayly festooned with tribal grace, 
 Whose hilarity continued through the night, 
 Till the East was aglow with Aurora's light 
 And the song birds all in blithesome glee 
 Regaled their consorts with ecstacy. 
 
 In life and in Nature's coves dense 
 
 Are many melodies that recompense 
 
 And woo our being, as we play or dream, 
 
 In the witching arms of a golden beam 
 
 Floating on the breath of music's soothing chords, 
 
 That's heard and felt, more eloquent than words. 
 
 All-pervading spell, in ocean, air, and sky, 
 
 Hark! — the musing echoes, a planet's sigh, 
 
 That to its mate sings harmonies divine, 
 
 As it rides the blue waves on rhythms supine, 
 
 And round the beckoning sun's magic orb flies, 
 
 As the dazed moth round a candle's flame tries 
 
 To extricate itself from the dazzling fire; 
 
 But, alas, cremated, by the flaming pyre — 
 
 Hence this allegory; hail to powers that be! 
 
 Mortal cannot elude his destiny — 
 
 It's vain to try: every soul has its cage; 
 
 Naught gained beating the bars, with wings of rage. 
 
 If we could but revert the effect of cause, 
 
PORTINIA 21 
 
 We then could subvert the sins 'gainst divine laws. 
 
 What right has the clay to grumble a whit 
 
 At the potter who formed its very spirit 
 
 Or who so temerous, with God discuss, 
 
 Saying, "Why hast Thou made me thus or thus?" 
 
 We're His vassals, what do we amount? 
 
 He's our Creator, to whom we account. 
 
 The vanity of man is lack of sense, 
 
 Which he serves slave-like without recompense. 
 
 'Tis well enough to be decently proud 
 
 And display good breeding in ev'ry crowd. 
 
 The eye, — the soul's barometer we see, 
 
 Is tempered by the heart's charactery. 
 
 That is, the eye for each heart doth display 
 
 Its temperament as the sun the day. 
 
 Therefore if this orb is sordid and cowed 
 
 'Twould prove obscurity, as the sun a cloud. 
 
 Portinia, thine eyes bespeak a soul so true 
 
 They refract the glory of Heaven's blue, 
 
 And tell of a lineage beautiful: 
 
 To look into them, my spirit doth lull. 
 
 Soon we'll go where glide bowered streams away, 
 
 Where the lush stalks and vernal blooms display 
 
 Nature's bounties, and teeming sweets out-fling 
 
 Where the feathered chucklers so gleesome sing, 
 
 And where argent fishes with glistening eyes 
 
 Dream on amber sands — what a paradise! 
 
 Yes, my sunbeam, we'll fly to yon copse shade 
 
 And ramble up and down the virescent glade. 
 
 List to the sweet descants of poet's lark, 
 
 Tenderly singing to nesting mate; but hark! 
 
 The squirrels are cutting nuts in yon tree. 
 
 Come to me, — hear them chewing so busily; 
 
 See them venture on the limbs so slender 
 
 For the hickory nut green and tender. 
 
22 PORTINIA 
 
 In this cool solitude, chasing blissful hours, 
 Meditating mid these woodland flowers, 
 Here we'll plight our love with fervor anew, 
 Sealing it with soulful kiss fore'er true — 
 Why dost thou hide thy face in blushing fear? 
 Cans't not yet my fervent wooing for-bear? 
 And alas, is thy heart for me no more 
 And now recant that fickle vow you swore? 
 My sweet Narcissus bud, do tell me why 
 Thou didst erstwhile bless me, and here deny, 
 And from me turn thy smileless lips unkist? 
 Oh why demur? — Mine eyes a clabbered mist 
 Now see — as I weave grim shadows that glow — 
 Thou fairest bloom that Heaven can bestow, 
 Shall my redolent joys so soon decay 
 And sniff not the vernal buds of love's sweet day ? 
 While silvery carols upfill the air 
 And merry birds consort ev'rywhere, 
 Must I at the game of hearts lose and die — 
 No connubial balm my hopes supply ? — 
 Dearest Portinia, — thy former self resume, 
 Make happiness for me, where now is gloom, 
 By pledging here to be my faithful mate, 
 Thus redeeming my life's drooping fate. 
 Wilt thou, dear lotus, by yon sparkling rill, 
 Swear to love me and forever fulfill 
 That plighted promise, so ardently made, 
 Before we go from this enchanting shade? 
 Portinia! see round us the blooming landscape 
 And scent the passionate fragrance of wild grape. 
 All nature is one symphonic cadence; 
 Dost thy hesitation mean impenitence? 
 O, fill not thine eyes with tears — painful darts! 
 I'd beshrew the prince, that wrings thy heart of 
 
 hearts, 
 And be it doubly more in troth for shame, 
 Anywise, how canst thou dearest be to blame? — 
 
PORTINIA it 
 
 Love should be the rudder on life's deep sea, 
 Stirring the heart to its port of destiny. 
 Hence, thou then, to thine own affinity go, 
 And the star of thy good fortune will show 
 Thy sacred feet the path in which to tread: 
 E'en honor and broken vows let conscience shed. 
 
 Now dearest, dry those bright cerulean eyes, 
 Which reflect the blue glory of the skies, — 
 And we'll talk on things at random, pleasing, 
 Of nature's God, which is upon me seizing 
 And holding me with a mesmeric spell. 
 Yon murmuring stream in the distant dell 
 Bids us come and loiter on its mossy banks 
 As it ripples and laughs, returning thanks 
 To Great Neptune, who gave it ebbing life, 
 Riding on its pebbly bed in restless strife, 
 Kissing each bud and leaf which chance to dip 
 Into its lucid bosom for cooling sip, 
 To quench and bathe the heads and famished brows, 
 As the wind sways their nodding stems and boughs. 
 
 That smooth and sinuous pathway yonder 
 Leads to cressy banks where fishermen ponder, 
 And smoke narcotic pipes, in dreamy pride, 
 Thinking of lusty perch when caught and fried 
 In pan of sizzling grease from bacon bought, 
 Eating their hopeful catch ere they are caught, 
 Engendering appetites with greedy will. 
 A fisherman's luck rarely e'er doth fill, 
 Yet a martyr's patience have they undaunted, 
 Dozing 'neath boughs by dark shadows haunted; 
 With no encouragement except by sucker 
 Nibbling the bait with mouth in a pucker, 
 As if it cared naught for meal so rude, 
 Having been reared on better food: 
 But wishing to keep the lazy angler awake, 
 From his sharp hook the red worms would take, 
 
24 PORTINIA 
 
 Being a small fry and prying spectator, 
 
 Thus amused, teasing the luckless piscator. 
 
 But like truants on land, the human kind, 
 
 This poor aimless sucker, though small, did find 
 
 A barbed fang in his gill, below one eye, 
 
 Then was cast upon the glaring sands to die, 
 
 There devoured by some carnivorous craw. 
 
 Alas, this seems to be nature's grim law, 
 
 That each kind shall prey and glut on another, 
 
 Little caring if it be a brother. 
 
 While observing such, we should pause to think 
 
 We're all standing near eternity's brink. — 
 
 Portinia, — why such tears so vainly shed? 
 
 Though our destiny hangs on spider's thread, 
 
 And Jehovah's door stands yawning ajar, 
 
 As we shudder under our fateful star, 
 
 Looking toward fair portals by prophets told, 
 
 Let's do our duty unfaltering, bold, 
 
 While this orb sublunary we roam 
 
 Ere we are called to our celestial home. 
 
 Portinia, so azure and true are thine eyes, 
 
 In them I see seraph's flame that ne'er dies. 
 
 Thou, the most spiritualized and true, 
 
 The dearest and fairest I ever knew, 
 
 I feel my love not remorselessly spurned, 
 
 And thou seemest to regard my heart that's burned 
 
 For thee, with sweet incense divinely pure. 
 
 O, be not contumacious, my zeal endure; 
 
 For Cupid with chagrin seeming changes, 
 
 When finding his sweet Venus deranges 
 
 His honeyed arrows, which go wide the mark, 
 
 Falling vainly, as if aimed in the dark. 
 
 But I'm still clinging to kind Providence, 
 
 So long as fond hope's slender evidence 
 
 Hangs o'ercast, in thy soul's quivering scale. 
 
 A fair Nymph, by honor won, shall ne'er fail. 
 
PORTINIA 25 
 
 How dear these scenes, noble, shall ever be 
 To memories sacred, through eternity, 
 Doubly hallowed by thy blessed feet, 
 So lightly treading upon flowers sweet; 
 Which instantly rise with benign faces bright, 
 Feeling honored, touching thy slippers white 
 Whilst thou saunterst in this enchanting dell 
 With one whose aching breast doth heave and swell 
 For thy magic charms which shall ever haunt 
 Future scenes; a sting to each roving jaunt, 
 No matter what fair princess in the crowd 
 Walks, in coming years, with spirit so proud 
 Along this crystal streamlet by my side, 
 Wishing haply betimes to re-open wide 
 And balm this deep wound, so incurable. 
 Love is not lost, e'en most un-endurable — 
 And while mournful lips may never confess 
 To a broken heart, the which none would guess, 
 Judging by outward mien and garish gloat: 
 Yet condemning not, but removing the moat 
 From our eyes, whose sight unfocused and dim, 
 Ere we become doctors, wanting to trim 
 The beamlets from benighted eyes and hearts 
 Of those whom we decry with venomed darts 
 By outraging tongue, with vicious sting, 
 And cankerous vitriol, sharp to fling, 
 Into the pure fountain of virtues chaste — 
 Slander; a green eyed serpent, itself disgraced; 
 With sinuous body it drags repin'd, 
 Vibrates evil tongue, with ebon mind, — 
 Making a deep wound time will never heal, 
 Nor can the heart such wickedness conceal. 
 
 Portinia! since mine eyes on thee have dined, 
 
 No flowers so prim as thy face refined; 
 
 Thou art in form, a wondrous paragon — 
 
 A feast to my soul, just to look upon: 
 
 Such angel curves, and thy cheeks, so ripe-peached, 
 
2 6 PORTINIA 
 
 And thy neck, swan-like, as if blanched, bleached. 
 Thine orbs heaven's own shade of divine blue, 
 And rose-curved lips emit nectarous dew, 
 To heal my aching heart, to restful dreams. 
 Thy teeth are pearls, like Dian's jeweled gleams, 
 Thy mouth more beautiful than Juno's pink rose, 
 In dawning spring time: no flower that grows, 
 Whose charms but would suffer to compare 
 With thy matchless grace, and mien debonair. 
 Thy nimble figure, like agile gazelle, 
 Thy breath, sweet as dreaming sighs of asphodel ! 
 Thou art goddess of my inspiring muse! 
 Thy smiles rejuvenate; my soul enthuse 
 With potence, and joyous visions benign. 
 Withal, to lose thee, I must droop and pine — 
 Thy dulcet voice, lyric, as nightingale's tune. 
 I long for that ambrosial honeymoon. 
 Thy gracile waist zoned with chain of lambent 
 
 gems, 
 And thy golden tresses like cernuous stems 
 Wave in ringlet curls, the bland zephyrs kiss 
 As they flit in search of amorous bliss. 
 Then, they in ecstatic delight uprise, 
 On wings imbued in thy sweet sacrifice, 
 Burned in chaliced cup, holy incense pure. 
 Sweet Portinia, how long must I endure 
 Such immortal fire, that doth flame and smoke 
 And ravish in silence, all passions choke? — 
 Thine ankles turned in lathe, by rhythms of love, 
 And polished in sweet fragrance, that rove 
 In breathing themes that haunt thy gracious mien 
 With dalliance, that lurk 'neath blooms unseen. 
 Thy hose of swan white silk, so pliant-thin, 
 Those iv'ry limbs can be admired within; 
 Begarbed in princess gown, organdie, white, 
 Beseeming divine — a sweet fairy sprite. 
 Thy form slight, with gentle curved lines of elf, 
 
PORTINIA 27 
 
 A dynamic power to charm — myself 
 
 Not merely charmed, but in a trancing spasm, 
 
 My life oozing from me, a tinkling chasm. 
 
 Thy back is graced, a female flower sublime 
 
 With shoulders poised, like Mars at warring-time. 
 
 Those hands, lily white, and truly divine, 
 
 Too divine for earth, yet to press them I pine: 
 
 Such feet, never meant this dank earth to tread, 
 
 Unless damasked by violets' blue and red. 
 
 Thou hast a spirit, dulcified as sweet 
 
 As honey-comb from bees of Pan, with fleet 
 
 Wings, and yellow girds round each little waist, 
 
 Buzzing mid blooms of eglantine so chaste. 
 
 O, for harp of poet, to descant thy praises, 
 
 Extol thy virtues, more pure than daisies, 
 
 And to more elevate and magnify 
 
 Thy enrapt beauty, that sates mortal eye. 
 
 Those ears like unto a conch shell, pinked high, 
 
 Tinted by the true hand of destiny; 
 
 Thy nose, so chiseled, a feminine grace 
 
 Regally adorns thy heavenly face. 
 
 Looking now, dear, as I musingly do 
 
 Into thy soft eyes of ethereal blue 
 
 Now more enchanting to my hungry gaze 
 
 By the fragrant wilds and beauteous maze 
 
 Of this witching dell, vibrant with sweet sounds, 
 
 My soul e'er linked to its echoing bounds — 
 
 'Twill ever remind my impassioned heart 
 
 Of blisses bosomed that time, space, nor art 
 
 Can unravel, the hank of memory 
 
 Therein woven, by love's shuttle too fine to see — 
 
 In this vast grandeur and primeval wood 
 Where one hears the mild voice of solitude 
 Calling, e'er calling in aeolian tones 
 That hang o'er the dingles like luting moans 
 Of a love-enfamished heart — lingering 
 About enflowered groves on gauzy wing — 
 
28 PORTINIA 
 
 Where the owlets at eve-tide break the spell 
 
 By untuned hootings, thwart the leafy dell — 
 
 But, Portinia, have no prescient fear — 
 
 What ill could beset one so sweet and dear, 
 
 And leagued with celestial glories divine, 
 
 On whom the Nymphs out-pour nectarean wine. 
 
 And a breeze of Heavenly essences pure 
 
 Beseems to fan thy tresses. — Who can endure 
 
 Such feminine beauty so magnetic? 
 
 Oh fair immortal, that mak'st my heart sick 
 
 With resonant throbbings of holy joys, 
 
 That so enravish my soul, which up-cloys 
 
 To satiety — my Heaven-born desires 
 
 Thus enkindled by the engend'ring fires 
 
 Of thy most gracious feminality blest, 
 
 Oozing into the realm of my secretest 
 
 Concealments, and diamond porticoes, 
 
 Refracting the lucent beams of thy glows, 
 
 That radiate like the pure golden rays 
 
 Of Apollo's fire, with which I'm endued, 
 
 I feel as if a pervading gloom pursued 
 
 And hung about the chords of my lone heart, 
 
 Which beats out of tune such themes that dispart, 
 
 As if to disavow my good intent. 
 
 O Portinia! I'm in the redolent 
 
 Maze of divine love! Calm this surging sea 
 
 No mortal on earth, can appease but thee ! 
 
 Thou alone canst assuage my breast of pain. 
 
 O sing to my soul some siren refrain, 
 
 That I may die in ecstatic delight, 
 
 Or else feast my hungry spirit aright. 
 
 Ere the going down of yon blazing sun 
 
 Give me thy promise! O let's be as one, 
 
 And flee Lethe-ward on daedal pinions 
 
 Of hymeneal bliss, and pluck the minions 
 
 Of this vernal and fragrant luxury. — 
 
 O Dian! let me vaporize or fly 
 
 To some fairy land, where enthroned beauty 
 
PORTINIA 29 
 
 Is fed by love's divinest votary, 
 
 And where sweet and gentle ravishments beam 
 
 From beauty's soul — ah, what a trancing dream ! 
 
 Though too well awake am I not to see 
 
 Thy benign grace and matchless regality, 
 
 The which spurs me on to exalted heights, 
 
 Inspires yearnings toward blissful delights, 
 
 That now come to me and foment my pulse. 
 
 Thou pacific swan, thy white breast exults 
 
 My amative heart. — Dost thou not discern 
 
 Its audacious beats? Impassioned to learn 
 
 Of such dawning love, while so out of grasp, 
 
 Ah what entanglements! though gladly I'd clasp 
 
 Its delicate wings, and sip the honey dew 
 
 Of its divine exhalations, and thus woo 
 
 By all the magic arts known to the wiles 
 
 Of crafty Cupid's archery and guiles. — 
 
 Thou forsooth sweeter than the wild roses' soul 
 
 That's born under Flora's jealous control 
 
 And which o'er canopies her empurpled shrine — i 
 
 Yea, thou art sweeter than breath of woodbine 
 
 Or all of mid-May's bursting florescence 
 
 Commingled in one vial of incense — 
 
 More beautiful than queen of butterflies 
 
 Hatched by the sun's golden rays, 'neath turquoise 
 
 skies, 
 Or more subtle and graciously serene 
 Than ministrant angels, who should crown the 
 
 queen 
 Of the Sylvan Nymphs and woodland flowers. 
 Portinia, my life would seem but a few hours 
 If it were all spent in thy sweet presence. 
 Ah! such thoughts of happiness, — get thee hence, 
 I must not dare to hope for such a boon 
 Nor entertain such a fantastic tune. — 
 Oft ambition is the father of grief, 
 And decoys beyond merit, and like a thief 
 
30 PORTINIA 
 
 Filches from us our well-garnered substance, 
 
 Then leaves us wounded and without a chance 
 
 To retrieve our vanquished pride or goal see, 
 
 Which once held out long arms invitingly. 
 
 But divine muses will ne'er impute 
 
 To impotent judgment, so to confute 
 
 The heart's laudatory and noble aims, 
 
 Tho' choked by the tongue of remorseless flames. 
 
 Thou hast so noted mine artless musing 
 
 I feel thy bland love to me transfusing 
 
 While yet tears distream down thy damask cheek : — 
 
 Dost thou count my vows a vagarious freak, 
 
 And my lips still forbid to articulate 
 
 Themes immortal that no tongue can narrate? 
 
 Be it tipped with eloquence divine 
 
 It sings not those cadences so benign 
 
 As lips redolent of nectarean dews 
 
 Or as fond eyes lambent with starry hues, 
 
 Nor ooze so athirst into pulsing vein, 
 
 Requiring it as the blooms' ovules the rain. 
 
 O! Portinia, sweet goddess of my fate, 
 
 Give me that promised kiss, inviolate. 
 
 O! divine star; how cans't thou be my bane? 
 
 I'd trust thee with all my blisses and pain. 
 
 O, sacred Phoebus, know'st thou my desire? 
 
 Thou, Apollo, give me thy magic fire, 
 
 That magnetic power, that glowing flame, 
 
 That dynamic force, resistless and game. 
 
 Dear, thou art wavering; with tear-welled eyes, 
 
 Why not give me thy heart without premise? 
 
 It's plain to discern, dear, thou art faltering. 
 
 Would I could give thy soul love's potent sting! 
 
 I am thy votary, and most insane, 
 
 But Cupid is willing to grant refrain, 
 
 And being a most skillful archer true, 
 
 Honey tips his arrows, aimed at you ; 
 
 Meanwhile, scanning in silent anthems sweet, 
 
 And sometimes in thy embowered retreat; 
 
PORTINIA 31 
 
 Yet, soon he flits upon thy breathing sighs, 
 Enchanted by thy dreaming soliloquies, 
 Like a siren melody on love's wings waft'd, 
 Its memory visualized, in the heart graft'd. — 
 
 Here the leafy boughs that obscure the light 
 Shall hide us from lurking eyes' spying sight. 
 Thy hair saffron gild, sunshine's golden thread. 
 Ah, dear, I'll hallow the day that we're wed; 
 But if thy frozen sense still says no, no, 
 Then I prithee, let my lovelorn heart go. 
 For thou, evasive, seem'st to shun the gist 
 Of my pondering muse, I see a mist 
 Dark and ominous to be-shrew my soul, 
 And all things sad over my conscience roll. — 
 
 I would by votive lips seal this smoldered blast, 
 
 Now bound by thy remorseless fetters fast, 
 
 My reason benighted — I heave a sigh, — 
 
 Like summer clouds benight the azure sky. 
 
 Yet unlike the sky, for the clouds roll on, 
 
 I would this heaviness like clouds be gone; 
 
 And over-brimmed clouds give the rose and pink, 
 
 Refreshing rains, and the kine sweet drink, 
 
 While my deep sorrow gives naught but fears 
 
 Good for nothing but engendering tears, 
 
 And curdles the milk of love's condiment 
 
 Conducive to life's cynicism, shent. 
 
 Portinia, I divine thy bosom's pain, ^ 
 
 Like the clouds so fraught with copious rain, 
 
 But we must learn pain's lesson soon or late, 
 
 Learn to know God, ere that interdicted fate 
 
 Intercept our plans, and then call our souls 
 
 To account for sins uncondoned on the scrolls. 
 
 Prithee, dearest, — who holds the magic key 
 
 That keeps thy heart locked, and hidden from me? 
 
 Which, like unto barring against thieves bold, 
 
 Why thus lock against me, thy life's pure gold? 
 
32 PORTINIA 
 
 Glittering gold that so in the light shines 
 Like aching sighs, so wooing, that on love dines. 
 And virgin gold, to flash, must have ray's light, 
 Love gems like gold, sparkle at beauty's sight; 
 Which radiate the soul to its very fill, 
 O'erflowing its jeweled banks so tranquil; 
 Where the flowers divine so fragrant grow, 
 Commingling all seraphic sweets that blow. 
 
 Yes my love, Phoebus now, his zenith crost, 
 To me, I deign to think this day is lost 
 To my burnished zeal, engendered so pure, 
 For thee, for whom my aching sighs demure — 
 Yet by thy charms I'm enrapt, and thy lyre, 
 Whose tonality hath set my muse on fire, 
 By its sweet enchantments my heart doth ring: 
 I'm a victim to thy feminine sting, 
 The dearest thing that Heaven can bestow 
 To reanimate a soul that's tasted woe. 
 Now, the day is half gone, but fondly spent; 
 Into sealed eternity flying it went, 
 There to record earth's vainglorious laugh. 
 Who knows but all our words on phonograph, 
 Shall echo in our ears with blatant rage, 
 And sinful deeds rehearsed on picture's stage? 
 
 O, sweet Portinia! on whom I tenderly prate, 
 I bless the day my eyes fell inviolate 
 On thy seraphic face, so visioned bright, — 
 I long to keep thy charms e'er in my sight, 
 Feasting my visual ray and fervent breast 
 Upon thy matchless beauty, — and then rest 
 From this weary muse, and e'er rambling quest 
 For winning words, — if I have won at last, 
 And then my life's prize hold, in arm's grip fast 
 My aims exalted, like twinkling star's ray 
 Of first magnitude, peeking from milky-way, 
 Watching love's drama, so enchanting set, 
 
PORTINIA 33 
 
 As a contriving fowler's luring net. 
 
 Love, like subtle spider's web unespied, 
 
 And by its coy, may win a peerless bride, 
 
 Or as the nocturnal zephyr's silent grace, 
 
 Coming unawares like an angel's face, 
 
 Stealing fairy-footed into the heart, 
 
 Where once enthroned, it seldom will depart. 
 
 Yes dear, under you larch we'll pause to eat 
 
 Our repast of wild strawberries lush and sweet. 
 
 Ah! here where the larkspur's blue pendent bloom 
 
 Fills the balmy air with its sweet perfume, 
 
 Here the honey bee, roving, comes to find 
 
 Sweets for his social hive, a home refined ; 
 
 Four gauzy wings, gracile waist, and dusky eyes, 
 
 With golden cerago upon his thighs, 
 
 Model economic thus to emulate, — 
 
 Working from rosy dawn till night's frowns freight 
 
 The nether world with a black mantling gloom, 
 
 Then more buds advene, into fragrant bloom. 
 
 And here where the thrush so divinely sings 
 
 Its carols melodious, on rising wings, 
 
 Where dear nature's unction in golden sleep 
 
 Soothes the lorn breast, that may in silence weep 
 
 For things more noble, yet beyond its reach 
 
 As it reclines on this temporal beach, — 
 
 This marble altar, Juno's musing shrine — 
 
 On it, Portinia, will thou vow to be mine? 
 
 Then my drooping heart and trembling soul take, 
 
 O, queen of Nymphs! my despairing life make 
 
 As the sun's kiss makes the budding flowers 
 
 Controlling the heavenly bodies, and ours ; 
 
 While we this mundane orb most humbly tread 
 
 Ere hence we go, and by sweet manna fed, 
 
 And there quaff from Dian's fount love's pure 
 
 drink, 
 Pouring endless from the heaven's sacred brink. 
 
34 PORTINIA 
 
 I understand not God's blessings in scenery's art 
 Nor grasp that enigma, a woman's heart. 
 Of all alluring riddles, thine the prize. 
 But thou art my Sylvan, so winsome, wise, 
 Thine eyes so gentle, as of mourning dove, 
 Making my soul mourn for thy gracious love, 
 Which shall never like mutable moon change — 
 True love elevates to higher range! 
 And for thee, dear, it's as blood from heart's vein 
 While I love thee so, I'm living life twain; 
 For 'tis true, that they who love the strongest, 
 Surely are they who shall live the longest. 
 Yes, dear, things are soberly mysterious; 
 That's a prime reason to take life serious. 
 It should be prized as sacramental wine, 
 Heaven's most precious gift, truly divine. 
 The fruition of life is after death 
 The last unction, on pious incense breath. 
 How blessed then it would beseem to die 
 Offering our last breath as rosary, 
 Returning to Heaven that which it gave — 
 The soul of a body, that's sent to its grave, 
 Thej-e to be resolved to constituent earth, 
 As 'twas, mysterious, before its birth. 
 And how sacred, too, must be the holy dead, 
 When mortality shall have again been wed 
 Unto the soul, which at death took its flight, 
 On viewless wings, to that region of light — 
 That light which was before God made the sun, 
 Irradiating the calm, where life begun. 
 Thus in eternal justice all things bring 
 Us nearer the great and omniscient king, 
 Where the spirit of full blown beauty reigns 
 Upon the altar of love, which maintains 
 Forever its heaven-born goddess pure. 
 Love, therefore, is fair beauty's connoisseur; 
 Both love and beauty seem wholly divine, 
 Heaven's integral elements enshrine. 
 
PORTINIA 35 
 
 These sacred principles upfill the skies, 
 Whose blooms are fragrant with breath of para- 
 dise. 
 Yes, Portinia, thy beauty is my pride, 
 Since in thy heart no vanities reside. 
 From thy gleaming blue eyes flash love's power; 
 They bespeak a soul's divinest flower. 
 And thy pure golden hair with ringlet curls 
 Refracts genial light, like dewdrop pearls. 
 Thy beauty shall with Dian's touch entwine 
 The allspice, pungence of love, with kindred vine. 
 Here prime youth and age meet on sacred ground. 
 Forsooth, age has been by fair beauty bound, 
 And by enchangement has felt a new birth: 
 Then beauty charms age into vernated mirth, 
 That by Vesta's magic they so do blend, 
 Rising on vernal joys, in bliss transcend 
 Realms fantastic, co-equal and sublime, 
 Descanting sweet music's melodious rhyme, 
 Amid the stars whose pinions whir through space, 
 In tuneful lays to a diviner race — 
 Each planet with a glory superb on high, 
 Casting scintillations athwart the sky 
 To its affinity, whichever it is, 
 While rolling through the blue with mighty whiz; 
 And each disports a celestial sheen, its own, 
 As it spurs around some polarized throne. 
 So 'tis truly with ev'ry immortal soul — 
 Each has a separate kingdom whole; 
 No two sunsets alike since Phoebus begun, 
 Nor two hearts that beat in tempo's unison, 
 Nor two lovers with the same tempered zeal, 
 Whose heaving bosoms ache with the same feel, 
 Nor two fairy blooms since the earth was made 
 That wore the same maiden like blush and shade ; 
 No two dew-drops, whose hues would coincide 
 With each other's sparks but that would elide 
 Some prismatic ray, which with pearly pride 
 
36 PORTINIA 
 
 Returns Aurora's kiss, like modest bride. 
 
 Truly, no two eyes ever see just the same, 
 
 Though alert and keen, full of wisdom's flame, 
 
 Nor were there two ligules of grass that e'er grew 
 
 In field or glen with the same emerald hue; 
 
 As thus it is in Nature's verdant mind, 
 
 So 'tis with Nature's God, in every kind. 
 
 The study and observance of her laws 
 
 Seem the first principle of the divine cause, 
 
 Not only the prime, but the best withal: 
 
 Who can muse on nature, and hear not her call, 
 
 And not be minded of things as glorious 
 
 As if he read Isaiah or Leviticus? 
 
 Thus deified beauty shall reign as heart's queen, 
 
 Where mortal memory holds her demesne 
 
 And where love's beating heart with trembling bliss 
 
 Stoops to immortal beauty with a kiss: 
 
 Such a charming nymph to mortal fire, 
 
 With glorious mien and luring attire — 
 
 Eternal blessings shall festoon her breast; 
 
 No gloomy turmoil shall her soul infest, 
 
 Nor shall time deface her angel form, 
 
 For beauty shall endure and weather the storm 
 
 Of earth's strife and tawdry artifice vain, 
 
 And thou, dear Portinia, as queen shall reign; 
 
 And primrose blooms in heaven's dew embalmed 
 
 Shall garland thy brow with honor up-qualmed. 
 
 My love not alone in this heart immured, 
 
 But courses through my veins that have endured 
 
 The fires of those elements that combine 
 
 To consume my spirit by flames repine; 
 
 And that love for thee, as the fixed stars so high, 
 
 Rhythmic as the lays of their minstrelsy, 
 
 As they promenade the ambient skies — 
 
 Who knows what star is Heaven's paradise? 
 
 Which one indeed, that empyrean gem? 
 
 Or who will say, God's throne is not one 'f them? 
 
PORTINIA 37 
 
 Radiant from the azure vault serene, 
 Upon earth smiles, a holy celestial sheen? 
 Thus the plenitude of interstellar light 
 Furnishes mortal an immortal sight, 
 And the seven stars, daughters of Atlas 
 And Pleione — the Pleiades — embright the dewy 
 grass. 
 
 Under this ledge from the city's roaring din 
 My hope pictures, dear, we're coming again, 
 And in this lonely nook such blooming beds 
 Of tuneful hues, and poppies' vermeil heads 
 Like rainbows coloring, concentric blends; 
 Springing forth with magic's enchanting trends, 
 From earth's bosom, romantic, beautiful. 
 
 Dear, — recline on this leafy couch; I'll pull 
 
 The fairies of the glen, and will wreathe them 
 
 For thy glory crown, by each fuzzy stem, — 
 
 This, my votive, I entreat thee ever keep 
 
 In memory of a passion as deep 
 
 And fixed as yon gaping canyon's abyss; 
 
 Moreover as ardent as Adonis' kiss 
 
 For Venus, on the eve of their espouse, 
 
 That glimmered reflected joys, from his brows, 
 
 Most befitting when receiving such plight, 
 
 From goddess, of love and beauty so dight — 
 
 Yes, on this smiling bunch of wild flowers 
 Breathe thy sweet breath, and these rocky bowers 
 Shall echo to thy muses inviolate; 
 As secret rite all Nature will imitate 
 Thy charming grace in ev'ry bloom and vine, 
 And emit sweetest fragrance truly divine. 
 'Twill sing thy glory throughout eternity, 
 And the sylvan nymphets will e'er bless thee; 
 Sweet Dian's face benign will then look glad, 
 For a supernal being may oft be sad 
 
38 PORTINIA 
 
 O'er things terrestrial as those of sky, 
 When she, alas! sees true love ebbing by; 
 And so remorseless, by maiden spurned, 
 Knowing a throbbing heart that hath e'er yearned 
 By its rhythmic lashing and constant beat 
 For thee, dear Portinia, — for thee so sweet — 
 This nosegay then I beseech take and bind, 
 And to recurring reminiscence find 
 A fount of ambrosia so sweet and clear 
 Flowing from my immortal spirit, dear — 
 
 This, thy dimpled hand, in honor I kiss. 
 Thank heaven — it's really come to this; 
 But, if with this day's sun we must e'er part, 
 May Venus help to heal this riven heart! 
 I shall bless thee too, thou my star of hope, 
 My lost love, a sacred boon whilst I grope 
 Mid festive mirth — emmantled in silent gloom, 
 Rejoicing e'er in memory's loving bloom, 
 For all the world love's a lover's devotion. 
 Divine inheritance, — heaven's lotion, — 
 Portinia, — these scenes of my dawning childhood, 
 Re-edge my visual sight, but understood 
 Not, till this day, seeing them by thy side, 
 Which has outspread beauty's soul blooming wide. 
 Visions uplifting I see, dreamland's bright days, 
 Sparkling around my occult alley-ways, 
 Making a love bower, like this viny grove 
 By eyes mortal unseen, a secret cove, 
 Cooling to my passion, in which it laves, 
 In rhythmic harmony, as quiet as the graves 
 Of the entombed Saints so divinely blest, 
 Whose winged souls long flown to Heaven's rest. 
 Wherefore the grave's hollow mounds nothing hold 
 Except elements given, which were mold; 
 Hence earth takes naught from us it didn't give; 
 The spirits disembodied go where spirits live 
 On daedal pinions, gemmed without dearth, 
 
PORTINIA 39 
 
 Gravitating Heavenward, as matter to earth. 
 The law which brings substance terrestrial — 
 That same law sends the spirit celestial. 
 Therefore, Earth to Earth, God's very own truth, 
 Spirit to Spirit, then must be forsooth. 
 
 Thus with reverent eye we ever behold 
 Things divine which Dame Nature doth unfold, 
 For Nature is God's primordial thews 
 Through which He dispends ambrosial dews. 
 
 Thwart my vision flaunt goblins to and fro, 
 Dark visages, prescient of some dismal woe 
 Beyond the veil of mortal eye to see — 
 But who durst unlock his hidden decree? 
 A pall I feel o'er my heart desolate; 
 I've pondered deep upon life's destined fate, 
 Though incomprehensible, as that of love, 
 Emerging from the swan-white throne above: 
 And that fanged dragon, Death, with ebon wings 
 Coming as thief, like hissing serpent stings 
 Our carnal bodies, and enwraps in gloom; 
 Then sends us to a cold, merciless tomb. — 
 
 But as sweet flowers in gay, verdant spring 
 Come forth at the sun's wizard conjuring, 
 Likewise a force on resurrection morn 
 Will rouse our sleep, Gabriel's golden horn, 
 With resonant echoes and vibrant tone 
 Shall make the earth quake, tremble, and groan, 
 And disgorge its bosom of human control, 
 Giving back what it took from every soul. 
 
 Ah, here is my tiny boat! now we'll glide 
 O'er this river's rippling waves, with its tide: 
 Let thy fingers trail in the waters blue; 
 We'll gently drift, — I'll feast my eyes on you. 
 I revere this stream, I know it so well, 
 
40 PORTINIA 
 
 Its confluence beyond that sylvan dell; 
 
 Its murmur dear as mother's tender call 
 
 In hoar winter, chiming spring or tinted fall. 
 
 And such too the sparkling drink from our spring, 
 
 On the farm, under beech boughs we'd sing, 
 
 Yet, from the cedar pail in mind I drink, 
 
 And lazily recline; in deep musing think 
 
 Of that sweet water pure, not needing ice, 
 
 Quaffing it from nature's crude chalice, twice. 
 
 Yon foot-bridge spanning the river's rocky banks, 
 
 When a boy rude, dauntless, I crost, playing pranks 
 
 On festive schoolgirls; yet I never hurt 
 
 The dear urchins, but was prone to tease, and flirt 
 
 With those who had beaming eyes and pink lips; 
 
 For such I had sweet smiles, and dreaming sips. 
 
 Oft red apples in my pockets I'd stuff, 
 
 Till my trousers were deformed, and enough 
 
 Out of plumb to make me look painfully green ; 
 
 They wabbled till the creases were not seen. 
 
 But those odorant apples I'd each day 
 
 Take to little bright eyes, brown, blue, or gray. 
 
 'Twas an important mission, so gallant, 
 
 Yet jealous darts by other boys rampant, 
 
 Who had also fragrant apples to bring, 
 
 Oft to my swelling heart brought a mighty sting — 
 
 Their apples, vermeil, striped, saffron, and green. 
 
 But I held the favor of my youthful queen; 
 
 I'd loan her my penknife to pick sweet gum, 
 
 Her smiles to my life hilarious rum. 
 
 Now, dear, as the boat with the stream smoothly 
 
 drifts, 
 I wish thee to consider these grand cliffs. 
 Yon topmost, towering crag, looking west, 
 A guarded rookery, where eagles nest, 
 And on its pinnacle beyond gun's reach, 
 This king-bird plumes, while its callow young bleach 
 
PORTINIA 41 
 
 In the sun's piercing rays, under the summer sky, 
 Insolating beaks, feathers, and wings to fly, — 
 Into the abysmal deep, on viewless light 
 Defying gravity, they seem so pight. 
 Here the sportive lambkin without warning word 
 Has been snatched from its frolicsome herd 
 By this monster's talons, then soaring high 
 Out of shepherd's range, who heard the lamb's cry. 
 Then the glutting eaglets sated on lamb; 
 Their stomach's ears heard not the crying dam. 
 Below the mighty summit's proud head so great 
 Owls, crows, and the feathered kingdom hibernate, 
 And in the spring they raise their happy brood 
 In this Eden of luring solitude. 
 When in summer's early morn, ere the sun 
 His beacon glint hath fringed with gold but one 
 Of those upper peaks which pierce the vaulted blue, 
 All warblers have joined nature's symphony true; 
 Each pouring love's soulful strains to its mate, 
 In rhythmic cadenzas at presto gait. 
 I hear those birds in memory's ear o'er, 
 And in mind's eye see them gracefully soar. 
 The sly fox and raccoon drowsily sleep 
 In the grotto's gloom, and cunningly keep 
 Inscrutible dens beyond tooth of hound, 
 As they pry and forage the marshes round, 
 For crawfish, birds, and cotton-tail rabbit, 
 Farmer's ducks and geese, they take by habit, 
 Levying toll on the valley and hills, 
 Aye, they so love the forest gulch and rills 
 On whose banks the wild thyme in bounty grows 
 And the sweet-faced nodding violet blows; 
 Canopied with ivy and clinging woodbine. 
 Hard by the hawthorn's bloom with eglantine 
 Commingled. Here the deer drank and dozed o'er 
 night 
 
42 PORTINIA 
 
 'Mid myrtle bowers in cooling delight. 
 
 Blame me not, Portinia, for loving these haunts. 
 
 Mother first brought me here on playful jaunts 
 
 And oft related tragic scenes now fled 
 
 Enacted in this forest, where blood was shed, 
 
 In days gone, between Indians bent on spoil 
 
 And honest tillers of a virgin soil. 
 
 When older, alone I came in verdant spring 
 
 To hear the lark, thrush, and mocking birds sing, 
 
 And many other song rhymers of sweet notes 
 
 That spent their summers here to improve their 
 
 throats, 
 And in these beautiful groves raised their brood, 
 Contiguous to nature's bounteous food. 
 Into many a tiny nest I've peered 
 To see speckled eggs, or the young, half-reared, 
 With edacious maws and mouths open wide 
 The busy parent birds sparingly supplied. 
 Along the streams the hollow-toned curlew's nest 
 I have found — and the kingfisher, in quest 
 Of a scant dinner, would above me fly, 
 And would care not a whit if I were nigh. 
 Those were witching bowers along this scene, 
 And hours of sweet solitude amidst the green 
 Of these glens I squandered un-repining, 
 On the papaw and May apple dining, 
 And mused supine, without ambition's goal 
 To disturb my aimless and blissful soul. 
 I was then as care free as the lapwing, 
 Or as the butterfly's soft zephyring. 
 On those rock ledges and embowered slopes, 
 As bare-foot urchin with dawning hopes 
 I picked lush berries in childish glee. 
 Oft sharp fangs would prod my sun-brown knee, 
 In my reach through twisted vines along the fens 
 Snakes I've spied, in their hermitical dens: 
 Out they'd lick a forked vicious tongue, 
 As if by electric battery 'twere swung. 
 
PORTINIA 43 
 
 Serpents know fear with all their cunning: 
 A black racer can do some fair running: 
 No legs, nor any kind of little feet 
 Has it, but a shadow's glimpse in retreat. 
 Oft a pied rattler in the creviced rock 
 I've discovered, that would give me a shock, 
 Rousing my fevered nerves, fearless strung, 
 As this satanic reptile vibrantly sung 
 His sullen mezzo — tail's defiant phrase; 
 Gruesome sound! I hear it still, and that gaze 
 Of piercing impudence, indicative of fight, 
 At its victim stares, with grim, evil sight. 
 Not a wink nor an eye's bat made to foil 
 When mad, in sinuous curves it 'gins to coil. 
 In summer this snake his spotted skin sheds, 
 Witching enough for fairies' enchanted beds. 
 
 Here the river so swelled by many flows 
 Bubbling from the mountain's feet, hurrying goes 
 Onward, teasing the pungent mint that grows 
 Bathed in waters, distilled from winter snows. 
 Round the river's bend we'll be gliding soon, 
 Reflecting sun's rays like a silver moon 
 From its placid bosom, at the bluff's base. 
 From yon heights, a platinic ribbon's trace 
 She appears, in her majestic delight 
 By the full moon, a shimmering wight, 
 So fraught with legendary lore, imbued, 
 And phantasms spun by superstitions crude. 
 On the cliff's shaggy brows a panther's growl 
 In days agone was heard, as he would scowl, 
 While crunching the life from a soft-eyed doe, 
 Couched in lair, under the sky's starry glow. 
 Vicious wolves too in these picturesque wilds 
 Preyed on the lambkins, by night's shrouded guiles. 
 Thus haunted by beasts, birds, and ghostly fears; 
 Since, — baptized in human blood and tears. 
 
44 PORTINIA 
 
 Portinia, — see yon cave's grim mouth snarling, 
 
 Called, "The cave of the lost child ;" my darling, 
 
 Once in time's dismal past, in sombre yore, 
 
 Perhaps a thousand years, or many more, 
 
 A huge dragon-bird with fascinating charms 
 
 Snatched Desrina, a babe, from its mother's arms— 
 
 A tender bloom, with Heaven's crooning voice 
 
 Berobed in beauty — 'twas from beauty's choice. 
 
 This garish bird — a giant, — came here in quest 
 
 Of shelter, and in this cave to manifest 
 
 Its love for Desrina, and train her wit 
 
 For heights above, to lovingly interknit 
 
 Her mortal beauty with a spirit's truth; 
 
 Beginning betimes, while the primal youth 
 
 Yet in its morning tints; a budding pink 
 
 Whose rosebud lips had ne'er a sinning drink. 
 
 The child's cries, at first, from this cavern heard 
 
 By Indians, who mortally feared this bird, 
 
 Its wails continued, many weary days, 
 
 But no human knew this bird's ghostly maze, 
 
 Nor fathomed such being, feared as foul brute. 
 
 Yet it loved the child; fed her honey and fruit, 
 
 And beseemed full of a supernal pride, 
 
 With fidelity so self-satisfied. — 
 
 This dragon, — an Ajax, — for good or woe, 
 
 Easily vanquished any combatant foe, 
 
 A powerful jaw its enemy's lament, 
 
 When a vise-like grip took; a beak it sent 
 
 Into its prey, sharp as glittering lance. 
 
 No mercy for its adversary, nor slightest chance 
 
 To come out second best; when its vicious eye, 
 
 Garish, turned reddish green, it's foe must die. 
 
 Notwithstanding, it had love for Desrina, 
 
 As Latona's for her daughter Diana, 
 
 And in the silent night it oft would soar 
 
 Desrina bestride its loins; its wings four, 
 
 Like burnished gold, with meteoric speed, 
 
 Lightly flying as whirlwind moves a reed. 
 
PORTINIA 45 
 
 And to the moon 'twould shoot, as on wings of 
 
 light; 
 They even saw the gentle orb's gleams bright, 
 Refracted from its pinions, as shining gold. 
 Desrina quite enthused, not seeming cold 
 While the mighty dragon, his wings unspent, 
 Would sweep as a thought across the firmament. 
 This beauty prize, at such gorgeous display, 
 Sharpened a desire to mount the milky-way; 
 Nor at these strange flights was she surprised, 
 But oft in a nectared mist was baptized 
 With heaven's dews, — and laughed in childish glee: 
 The bird did its bidding with amity. — 
 
 Thus, this winged monster at every mid-night 
 Would Desrina take on a dizzy flight, 
 Into regions ethereal of the skies, 
 With alacrity, as humming-bird flies, 
 'Mid garden flowers and the budding sweets 
 Kissing each face, with flirty little greets. 
 
 The mother's heart, rent by the child's piteous voice, 
 Like ring-dove heard, alas! in sorrow's choice, 
 Echoing in tones of lost spirit damned, 
 Her mind went, she could not be calmed; 
 Yet with memory infinite, sweet and mild, 
 E'er seeing and hearing her screaming child. 
 For months she came to this cavern, to mourn 
 And weep as a mother knows grief; heart torn 
 Beyond human skill to mend or repair, 
 She wore a strange look, a woe-be-gone stare. 
 To her 'twas the death angel's pitiless dart 
 That had wrested Desrina from her heart. 
 Alas! one hapless day she to this Cave 
 Came, (Indian folk say,) ; this bird her grave 
 Dug, and alive entombed : 'twas cruelty's bane. 
 This monster, void of conscience and pity's refrain! 
 Reviling groans, till this day, — evil taunts 
 
46 PORTINIA 
 
 Raging, — yet are heard at times; ghostly haunts, 
 
 That make Indians shudder, as they roam, 
 
 In darkness that shrouds this grim cave's dome. 
 
 This Ajax bird continued to cavort 
 
 In night's spacious gloom, this cave its resort. 
 
 The sweet cherub, beautiful more, ever grew; 
 
 Her cheeks even took on a supernal hue; 
 
 Her eyes then sparkled as little nymphs do. 
 
 The Indians this primrose beauty scarcely knew, 
 
 Her perfect poise so unmortal they said 
 
 That her mother's winged soul perchance had sped 
 
 By and unrecognized its dear own child, 
 
 For her sweet visage kept growing more mild 
 
 And seraphic, from day to day, the while 
 
 The orange-eyed bird she could most beguile. 
 
 Thus by magic force changed to a goddess, 
 
 The Indians in awe, and by fears' duress, 
 
 In their daily abulent devotions 
 
 Oft chanted to Desrina, and oceans 
 
 Of tears shed, in water's consecration, 
 
 Making sure to elude hell's damnation. 
 
 In damask royal blue this earth-bloom dressed, 
 Her little gown always so neatly pressed ; 
 Her long silken tresses of sunbeam's tone 
 Flowed below her hips; her vanity to condone 
 None there was, except the powerful bird, 
 But it gave Desrina ne'er one cross word, 
 Nor onimous frown from his gorgon brow 
 To this foster fairy, if knowing how. 
 
 Her saffron-tinted ringlet curls bespangled 
 With butterflies' flecked wings, that so dangled 
 In all known magic and witching figures, 
 The which being swung on golden triggers, 
 In dazzling wonderment would ope and close 
 As if vivid life were in them — who knows? 
 
PORTINIA 47 
 
 Such rhythmic colors, harmonious blends 
 
 To earth's flowery kingdom, a poet lends. 
 
 Her tiny slippers were seeming pure gold, 
 
 Studded with diamonds that would unfold, 
 
 And with myriad sparkles that did entwine 
 
 With the glimmerings of new moon supine. 
 
 Her little hose of finest spider's silk, 
 
 Azure tone, displayed ankles white as milk. 
 
 A cincture — a begemmed cestus- — a waist 
 
 Encompassed, the which was forming in haste 
 
 The mold of a perfectly heavenly Venus, 
 
 Suited soon to bless the love god, Eros, 
 
 Him to cherish and divinely espouse 
 
 In his regal soul, human passion rouse; 
 
 And on the dream waves, where beauty conduces 
 
 To his begodded realm — and infuses 
 
 The charms of blissful joy in his fervent heart, 
 
 Giving mortal love a diviner part, 
 
 Where the spirits of the elements embrace 
 
 To amplify earth love and impart more grace 
 
 Divine — for Desrina beseemed the linked imps 
 
 'Tween seraph and the empress of beauty nymphs, 
 
 Who sip from the fount of sweet youth sublime, 
 
 With such roseate tints her soul did rhyme. 
 
 The mystery unfolding, 'twas plain to see 
 Cosmic grace changed her into deity 
 With inimitable charms, a pearl so fair, 
 Fitting consort for some love god — an heir 
 Of Hesperus, or son of Apollo, grand — 
 On reaching majority's years, she to stand 
 In regions exalt a queen of great power. 
 Ruling her subjects from love's sweet bower. — 
 
 Her mouth, like the pansy's curving lips, 
 Or carnation born under night's oozing drips, 
 With lips, a rosebud pink, bathed in dews 
 
48 PORTINIA 
 
 Ambrosial, from bloom's breath and hues 
 
 Resplendent — distilled in the rainbow's 
 
 Parting kiss, that budding spring knows; 
 
 Her face and form at fourteen years withal 
 
 Divine as if created by God's own call. 
 
 At sixteen years of her tragic life's age 
 
 This dragon bird then left earth's mortal stage 
 
 With Desrina, never to return more. 
 
 In pillowy cloud as of fire, a roar 
 
 Mighty was heard for many leagues round ; 
 
 Indians say it verily shook the ground. 
 
 The little girl on the bird's golden back 
 
 In perfect poise stood, seeming not alack 
 
 At leaving the scenes of a strange youth, 
 
 But a goddess beautiful now being forsooth; 
 
 And knowing she could come and go at will, 
 
 Slaked heart's pain, that memories might fill 
 
 For earth, at thus parting from finite scenes. 
 
 Meanwhile knowing she was one of the queens 
 
 Of a realm in the heaven's peerless blue, 
 
 Her temporal cares for a time withdrew, 
 
 And o'erjoyed at her Thalian-like grace, 
 
 Knowing her immortal life must interlace 
 
 With the eternal beauties by mortal unknown; 
 
 That jasmine wreaths and magnolias were bestrown 
 
 In her divine abodes and paths above — 
 
 All the which prove the power of love. 
 
 That heaven's beings in spirit ever sigh 
 
 O'er sin's depravity, none will deny, 
 
 And in very hell are many vain prayers 
 
 Said for the miseries of man, but unawares 
 
 To Him; for orisons there offered avail naught, 
 
 Simply reflex moans of remorse uncaught 
 
 By the divine ear of God, who heeds not 
 
 Petitions from Hades' wailing grot! 
 
 This goddess, with sweet virgin grace and eyes, 
 On the bird's brazen back to Venus flies, — . 
 
PORTINIA 49 
 
 Blessed there by all the love gods in air 
 
 For her charming beauty divinely fair; 
 
 There espoused in holy matrimony 
 
 To the love god Eros. Now she feasts on honey 
 
 And wild locust, and nectars pure she drinks, 
 
 Distilled juleps from heaven's sacred brinks. 
 
 Desrina now graces an immortal throne, 
 
 Young as when just sixteen, none to disown, 
 
 With princess' minion, co-equal with Erato, 
 
 And Eros, the god of love, loving her so; 
 
 Yea, much, Portinia, dear, like I dote on thee: 
 
 But this is human life, that's eternity; 
 
 Earth love but the spurious dross of moonshine 
 
 To its platonic quintessence divine. 
 
 But woe is my days, if I've so in vain 
 
 Loved thee — but still I some found hopes retain ; 
 
 Yea, a strong comforting faith still abides. 
 
 Honest is my heart — what ill then betides 
 
 My destiny God-given, that potently draws 
 
 My burning devotion to thee? For this cause 
 
 I'm pight — hence thrice-armed in my noble fight 
 
 For thy heart and hand, I'm strong — and I'm 
 
 right— 
 And right, my indomitable rudder to guide 
 Me o'er the tumultuous sea of love wide — 
 Into the clear harbor of tuneful shades 
 Where its bark may moor in the everglades 
 Of a translucent and heaven-brewed desire, 
 And where the passion may taste its lucent fire. 
 It thus shall graciously restore my soul ; 
 'Twill sing like birds of Elysium's wold ; 
 My cup shall bubble up, and quite o'erflow ; 
 My sorrows and troubles I'll then outgrow. 
 Yes, everything calm as a spirit rill, 
 Oozing from the fount of ambrosia's hill — 
 Such crystal draughts my enfamishments crave, 
 
5 o PORTINIA 
 
 In its limpid bosom my heart would lave. 
 There ablution's wash would heal the scars 
 Made by sins satanic, — and the loadstars 
 Would e'er their benign rays gently incline; 
 And in the rainbow's arc, dearest, will shine 
 Thy silhouette of pure gold, a diadem 
 Eternal, dazzling image, crowning gem! 
 
 This boat, Portinia, I see in speed 
 
 Much increased, easily moving as reed 
 
 Flying in stork's bill, as she sails westward 
 
 To some castle's mouldering tower. Yet regard 
 
 Not the swiftness with which it surely glides. 
 
 Fear not ; no harm to thee in lurking hides 
 
 In river, cliff, or wildwood supreme, — 
 
 Portinia, my idol, my soul's own dream, 
 
 Thou my sunrise, my dawn, my shrine of love, 
 
 My beauty goddess, from the argent throne of Jove, 
 
 Thou as pure as the soul of a tuberose 
 
 Blown in Flora's garden 'neath the full moon's 
 
 glows. 
 Hence my body, as but a candle's snuff 
 When thou art in great danger, it's enough 
 Honor to my life's untimely death, soon 
 To know 'twas given in love's valor — loon 
 They may decry me, — but I know why such 
 Is my heart, in the loving overmuch. 
 I rejoice in the thought of a chance to prove 
 My words, my entity, a dry reed. When love 
 Of thy sweet self for one moment reckoned, 
 I care not what goddess to me beckoned 
 To leave thee, I'd her magic grace abjure, 
 And cling to thee, Portinia, to thee, so pure — 
 I'd cringe not from hungry pard's grinning teeth, 
 Knowing death's angel would calm and bequeath 
 My soul to its reward or eternal doom ; 
 Yea, — how could I forsake such tulip bloom? 
 Thou queen of my blossoming hopes so bright, 
 
PORTINIA 5i 
 
 Sweet-scented thy breath, thy smiles f ulgid light ; 
 That lambent glow on thy cheek makes me sigh — 
 O, how glorious in thy arms to die! 
 To sleep so pleasantly, with luring dreams, 
 Thy hand, divine, on my cold brow, it seems 
 'Twould assure immortality; e'en this, 
 To my soul's boon — if nothing more, what bliss! — 
 Awaits me, and if thou wouldst tenderly look 
 Into my half-shut eyes, and like a book 
 Read love's infinite truth for thee, then close 
 Them with thy lily finger tips — my rose 
 Of fair beauty, how my sleep then divine 
 Would appease, and a virent bower twine 
 'Bout my amative soul — and thee declare 
 Thy honored love for one whose name in air 
 May be writ, by the moon's shimmering light. 
 Ah, am I sleeping? An obfuscated night 
 Came upon me. Where am I? Yes, I see- 
 Dear Portinia, we're gliding so tranquilly 
 Down this embowered stream, as a swan 
 Might a minnow chase for her plumeless, won, 
 And languid brood, hungry, waiting breakfast. 
 Ah! yes, I see the topmost crags at last! 
 How they lift their proud gray heads into the sky, 
 And seem to proclaim in silent majesty 
 A kingly dominion o'er woods and river, 
 Watching the silver ripples flowing thither. 
 
 With full-hearted respect to each sentinel 
 
 Of Nature I bend, whose high brows foretell 
 
 A glory that transcends the ambient clouds. 
 
 By the pale moon, they seem giant ghosts in shrouds 
 
 On guard day and night; so awe-inspiring 
 
 To love's soul, that to the river doth sing 
 
 In a trembling mezzo-soprano voice, 
 
 As the dreaming waters, whose ripples rejoice 
 
 In cool eddies on its moist, pebbly bed; 
 
 Where in days of legendary yore 'twere fed 
 
52 PORTINIA 
 
 By superstitions, and goblin stories old, 
 
 Which were related by the towering peaks 
 
 To the heralding winds, which in frantic squeaks 
 
 Told the story of a love long dead, in gloom, 
 
 Or quenchless burns, in a smoldering tomb. 
 
 The winds yet sigh and this saddened tale will tell 
 
 Of a fervent heart, that did heave and swell, 
 
 In vain a sylvan elf to win. Overjoyed 
 
 At his vehement wooing, then she toyed, 
 
 Off in the forest aiming to soon return, 
 
 But she was met by huge lion, we learn, 
 
 And alas! devoured at a single meal. 
 
 Of a broken heart her lover died ; I feel 
 
 It too real to say more at this time, dear, 
 
 Though 'tis merely a folk lore, have no fear. 
 
 My God! Portinia, this boat, alas, now nigh, 
 Going down tremendous rapids! I'll try 
 To avert it, — O God thy mercy disclose, 
 And deliver from these lamenting throes. 
 O great Jupiter, send thy eagles down 
 And bear my Portinia from this blasting frown 
 Of convulsed waves that o'erburden my soul, 
 Whose strident jaws, and hungry maw unfold; 
 Or send winged lions with magic power 
 Fleet as thought to save us in this dark hour. 
 This river hath my mind with gloom distraught: 
 My brain reels as 'gainst Stygian fiends I've fought. 
 O specious Heaven, give us pinions wide, 
 That we may from this flouting water glide 
 Into fulgent azure of supernal space, 
 Or catapult us into the moon's embrace, 
 Whose cavernous bosom would thus redeem 
 And shelter from dangers that now beseem 
 Frightful and vicious, — O glorious sky, 
 Take us into thy wooing arms so high, 
 
PORTINIA 53 
 
 And transport to some fuming meteor 
 
 Lawless, destined to nonentity's bar, 
 
 Whereon we could for ages grim, forlorn, 
 
 Fly through the dismal chaos yet unborn 
 
 To Heaven's luminous glory and light! 
 
 I welcome this doon to death's awful fright, 
 
 Whose furies pernicious our lives betray; 
 
 I hear the growl of its black mouth's bewray, 
 
 That now would our immortal souls beshrew, 
 
 And upon us the sordid froth of Hades spew. 
 
 Thou, Amphitrite, ocean's queen, do us keep 
 
 From this woe, thou empress of the deep! 
 
 O mortal trouble that's nearing an end, 
 
 As swift as swallows fly, O great Jove send 
 
 Blessed Venus; her legion mighty to save 
 
 Her own Portinia, from darksome water's grave, 
 
 Remorseless as the ebon jaws of hell. 
 
 Thou, Pluto! In regions infernal dwell 
 
 On thy bare stomach, if can'st deliver 
 
 And will not protect us from this river, 
 
 That did sweetly us lullaby, yea decoy, 
 
 Now 'twould rapaciously our souls destroy. 
 
 Nereid queen, bring forth thy horses! 
 
 Thou Neptune, God of founts and rivers, my 
 
 crosses, 
 Now too heavy! — draw us up from this woe; 
 Save us, Varuna, from this turbid flow: 
 
 1 will not have it so! The oar! the oar! 
 
 I'll save thee, Portinia! Hear that hellish roar? 
 
 The gods deliver those who fight and pray! 
 
 The oar, dear, the oar! It's the only way. 
 
 Now I'll guide thee from that abysm beyond. 
 
 O, for the magic of Hermes's wand, 
 
 To rescue my beloved Nymph so tender! 
 
 My God! I'm losing. How can I surrender 
 
 Thy blessed life to such a cruel death? 
 
 I hear the voice of torment. O, my breath 
 
 Is gone, — O for life of leviathan twain, 
 
54 PORTINIA 
 
 Sorrow's sacrifice! — Can I myself retain? 
 
 O, that deafening sound, voracious whirlpool! 
 
 My ears quake, my brain gordianed, a fool 
 
 I've been to lure thee with rhyming sweetness. 
 
 O darling! may thy spirit's loveliness 
 
 Rise from this surging chasm in glory bright, 
 
 While the water's venging grave, and lurid night 
 
 Seem now my inevitable decreed. 
 
 O God, shield us from this pending mis'ry, 
 
 And hurl us not into regions unknown, 
 
 So merciless into eternity thrown. 
 
 Portinia, forgive me! I pray thee, speak 
 To me, dear, and wilt thou for my soul seek 
 In the spirit world till thou dost it find? 
 Forgive me! I never meant to be unkind. 
 Heaven's mercy! — I'm sick, a mighty thirst 
 Is upon me, my heart surely will burst. — 
 Astride my back, Portinia, our fate is cast; 
 We're going down into that vortex at last. 
 Hold to me tight, let's be brave; I'm resigned. 
 That's right! I'm now quite happy I find 
 Thy embrace round my neck so firmly prest. 
 
 mighty Neptune! Do give us sweet rest; 
 In thy realm above let thy grace abound! 
 Farewell, most glorious scenes, ere we're drowned. 
 
 O, this miserable and wrathful day! 
 My awful ebon sins I'd wash away, 
 
 1 see heaven visions so interknit. 
 
 O, God! my trembling soul I now commit 
 To thy gracious mercy, so divinely free; 
 Holy One, none can deliver, none but thee. 
 Hold thy breath, Portinia, till we in gloom 
 Plunge, deep and dark, to our tragic doom, 
 To that surly bottom like fathoming lead, 
 And dreams eternal — the sleep of the dead! 
 
PORTINIA 55 
 
 Lo! I saw an angel, its sweet voice heard; 
 
 It spoke in music's most benignant word, 
 
 Reclined on violet's flowering bed 
 
 In the whirlpool's depths; to me a secret said, 
 
 Which, from my impious lips never fell 
 
 A bibbling syllable, not betrayal tell 
 
 To none, except thee dearest, — thine eyes 
 
 Saw the spirit from blooming couch rise, 
 
 The waters rebuke, its foaming wrath quell, 
 
 And softened our fall on sweet moss and asphodel. — 
 
 A royal purple, gemmed with amethyst, 
 
 Its gown — a diamond bracelet jeweled its wrist, 
 
 A coronal wreath of white gladiolus 
 
 On its golden curls wore, so beauteous, — 
 
 An ivory staff in benediction twirled, 
 
 Like huge corks; we shot to the upper world. — 
 
 Thank heaven, saved! The sky in lambent flame 
 I see, — I shall e'er bless the holy name 
 Of high Heaven, — Her destiny did save 
 Us from the whirlpit's unpitying grave. 
 With thee I'll swim to yon rock-ribbed thrones 
 Of Vulcan ; there we'll pray in grateful tones. 
 My heart now beats like drumming pheasant. 
 Now I'm glad we plunged, my Nymph; I recant 
 Those scowling words. Did I prove my love dear ? 
 My thanks to that angel we're beyond fear. 
 Under this vine-canopied ledge let's repose. 
 Thy arms, joyous thought! my neck did inclose. 
 Let me now help thy golden hair arrange. 
 Ah, thy tresses aren't wet! How passing strange! 
 Nor the least dishevelled! Can I understand 
 Such enchantment? Art thou from Heaven's 
 
 strand ? 
 Not one single drop of water to be found 
 In those slippers, as white as if the ground 
 Had they ne'er once this day upon tread! 
 
56 PORTINIA 
 
 Wilt thou, sweet queen, from the nectared clouds 
 
 shed 
 Some evolving truth on thy sojourning? 
 And why dost thou thy holy presence fling 
 'Mong mortal strife; and breathe such tender smiles 
 On sin-depraved and luciferian isles? 
 Why this hazy fantasm, true as innocence? 
 From whom this luring magic, or from whence? 
 I'm wildered — what can I say or divine? 
 Art thou immortal, from the eternal shrine? 
 Who then thy cognates? — Thee I devoutly love. 
 Comest thou from the regal courts above? 
 I'm quite thankful the fates didn't doom us to die 
 In those falls, — we're blessed in a sweet destiny. 
 Now we'll saunter up the mountain cliff high, 
 Plucking wild-bloom, in wreathed garlands tie — 
 Harkening to the myriad-voiced song-birds. 
 Such inspiring tunes! They know each other's 
 
 words. 
 Hear that lavrock! See the blue jay whet his bill! 
 The bittern's plaintive scream echoes from the hill. 
 Let's climb higher, Portinia, at the vortex take 
 A last venial view for dear Neptune's sake, 
 And then in memory we'll chaplets twine 
 Round these cooling shades of writhing woodbine — 
 A dreaming love-arbor, and the sweetest spring, 
 Whence the breath of virgin blooms inspiring 
 Cupid's young hopes, his couch of thistle down 
 Whereon all desire to muse under love's crown, 
 And lave supine, in meditation's arms 
 Whispering gentle sighs to the heart that charms 
 Fair beauty, — the symbol of heaven's bright star, 
 An immortal gem, — the soul's scimitar. 
 O how sweet to taste the pure drops of love's bliss! 
 To dissolve its frigid bosom with a kiss, 
 And smooth the plumes of a sweet feminine wing 
 Then with gold point'd arrows from Cupid's string, 
 Rouse to the merriest wedding festivity, 
 
PORTINIA 57 
 
 From dreary cave of dreamless misery, 
 
 To diamond sparks of Dian's blazing shrine. 
 
 What felicitous delight compared to mine! 
 And from the ruddy fount of benignant lips 
 Drink siren's amber ooze — what delicious sips! 
 And commune with her sweet, entrancing heart, 
 Whose medicinal lullabies, ere we depart, 
 Will give us courage dauntless, and to me thine 
 Own self, mortal or immortal to shine 
 In my quenchless soul, a bright twinkling sheen 
 Of peace, eclipsing all blandishments serene, 
 Healing this wilting and mildewing pride 
 Most incurable. But thou canst e'ermore guide 
 And transmute my sadness to golden joys, 
 That seethe in sorrow's spurious alloys — 
 And the temple of love (empty now it rings) 
 Make as lute strung with Apollo's sacred strings, 
 Tuned to thy beating chords, with honeyed tone. 
 O dear peerless one, take me as thine own, 
 And my lacerated heart fragments, bind 
 With loving unction, soothing to my mind ; 
 And this sick, grieving breast so riven, 
 Nurse back into the silken joys of heaven, 
 Whence came voluptuous swells from blissful wings 
 Imbrued with enamored juice from nectared springs. 
 Dear, warm my pulse, that's now by cold dews wet ; 
 O, blessed young angel, canst thou forget 
 My soul now on fire? It's a flaming sword 
 Of undying love, and matchless its word 
 To this mortal being, its earthly shrine, 
 Its habitation, by decree divine. 
 
 A glory superb, Portinia, this wood, 
 So bowered and supreme, — that gorge hewed 
 By Time's own chisel keen, in Nature's hand, 
 To such, a blessing. Who can understand 
 Her hidden grace, even in a bloom's voice? 
 
58 PORTINIA 
 
 Its eloquence though silent, we'll rejoice 
 
 In its kind emblem, not in words alloyed — 
 
 Air vibrants, mere words! But these children un- 
 
 cloyed 
 To us come, with heaven's own breath and hues 
 Blended in the iris of translucent dews. 
 They bring us sweet sounds unheard from above, 
 E'er in smiles proclaiming eternal love; 
 Music's concord in their fragrance they bring, 
 A magic balm in their tunes, as they sing. 
 
 A four-leaf clover standing there so meek, 
 Desolate and alone, to it I'll speak, — 
 A dear blessed semblance, empty of care, 
 To us bespeaking good fortune and cheer. 
 "Thou young forest child, innocent from blame 
 Thy head defenseless, ne'er bowed in shame; 
 If I could thy life understand, my brother, 
 Mine own would be understood, and further 
 Into the opaque I could delve, e'en death 
 Which seems divided from life, just a breath; 
 Could fathom the infinite, which untrod 
 Has man mortal, and is holy unto God." 
 
 Portinia, everything in nature agrees. 
 
 Dreaming or awake, her crown fits with ease. 
 
 She spreads a merry feast, for our sole gain 
 
 Her caverns and groves, once our sacred fane. 
 
 In love's diligence she gives bounty's feast, 
 
 A blessed mother to all, and high priest 
 
 To him who will worship at her bowered shrine, 
 
 Observing her virtues and laws benign. 
 
 Tenderly her voice allures, and she speaks 
 
 To all; in music's harmony she seeks 
 
 Our desires, and pampers, heals, and cajoles 
 
 As lover the poet's deep muse, that controls 
 
 His destiny; she's inspiration's fount 
 
 To him who will incline his heart and mount 
 
PORTINIA 59 
 
 Her high tide, with mind contrite, un-beguiled. 
 Then her all-pervading spirit, that smiled 
 On old Triton, when foaming conch at sea 
 He blew, dear this day, smiles on you and me, 
 And on all God's creatures; humble and high. 
 Hence, we should love the leaf's bud, whose destiny 
 We unknown, but a foster child, it's bloom 
 Our joys; oft in sorrow's cadence to the tomb 
 In mourning goes, — there bows its heavenly face 
 In benediction's beneficent embrace, 
 For a soul immortal, ransomed and blest, 
 Winged to fields Elysian, — redeemed guest. 
 O dear Nature, O wise and gentle queen, 
 Thy visage so congruent and serene, — 
 And more sanctified than a mortal heart, 
 Thy cogent force; unseen powers impart, 
 Matchless and wondrous. Who would not repose 
 In thy sopiting arms? — The dew-teared rose, 
 Thy educt'd spirit, is cradled to sleep 
 By thy enchanting croons ; and in the deep, 
 Mellow shadows of thy plumed wings, we brood, 
 As the ring-dove cherishes and procures food 
 For her weak-eyed young, in their solitude. 
 Thou emblem divine, thou hast so endued 
 All with the needs of life, so full-hearted, sweet. 
 None dost thou cloy, deny refuge, nor retreat 
 From the gravity of thy momentous grace. 
 Joys hold sway, — not as mere temporal trace 
 Of thy sweet rewards, — but with sylphid touch 
 By hands out-stretched, and a soul up-filled, much. 
 Thou hast empearled nooks and crested peaks un- 
 told 
 To all who muse or browse within thy fold. 
 Whose tears have not imbued thy sacred lap? 
 Thou dost cloister the genius of none; nor wrap 
 In subservient labyrinths of sorrow 
 Thy recompense sweet, in the dawn's morrow ; 
 Thy throne, earth, sea, and air exalted high, 
 
60 PORTINIA 
 
 And thy majesty supreme in lucent sky, 
 The manifest spirit, beauteous, free, 
 From our Creator, who eternally 
 Beckons from heights of empyrean fire, 
 Offering pure drink to sate mortal desire. — 
 
 Portinia, I've heralded thy beauty; hence 
 I'd thy purveyor be, — its recompense: 
 A pleasure, soft-luted, it would beseem, 
 Delightful as drifting down this bowered stream 
 Where the brooklimes in swaying profusion smile, 
 And the brookmints dream of julep's guile. — 
 In lush thrift the grapes in purple clusters cling 
 To the oscillating vines, while cernuous they swing 
 'Bove the water's mirrored sheen like silvery glass, 
 Where the moon shadows linger, like requiem mass 
 In dumb Niobe's sorrow riven heart; 
 Where the soul's pride pines, and with pungent 
 
 smart 
 Commingles sacred thoughts, that onward fly 
 To that realm immortal, where harmony 
 Reigns dove-like, in the kingdom of eminence, 
 Or is throned with love's pure sentiments. — 
 How we sing of this something we call love, 
 Which is so potent our lone hearts to move, 
 Whose components were never analyzed, 
 And since time began 'twas ne'er alchemized. — 
 O, love, sweet love, I hear thy rustling wings! 
 Why engender acetic pain and stings, 
 Like tarantula's bite? — Thy songs do cure. 
 Ah love, how we dote on thee, and endure 
 Many privations, most withering, that grieve 
 To the quick marrow of each bone, and leave 
 Our hearts still with twinklings to consecrate. — 
 Long I've sought thy unction to mitigate, 
 And make less rigorous what the fates imbrue. 
 Now at thy seeming dawn I must bid adieu. 
 'Tis true thy temple is a sovran shrine, 
 
PORTINIA 61 
 
 The spring of youth thy sweet virtues refine. 
 Thy crepuscule portends a bright sunrise, 
 With radiance dight, and luminous skies; 
 Thy zenith up-swelling with rhythmic chimes 
 Conducive to the muse of sweetest rhymes. 
 Yet, why hast thou stinging fangs like the rose, 
 And dost oft in the arms of Bacchus repose, 
 That handsome son of Jupiter? For thee, 
 Thy plumes too delicate for such company. 
 And, why dost thou oft begroan in sorrow 
 Then other times, bid wisdom good morrow? — 
 Let me drink thy pure vintage without ruse 
 Or else fly away, and leave not rheum's ooze 
 From those dazzling orbs, and corneas bright, 
 Reflecting all objects like mirror's light. 
 Then, O Pallas, give me Nepenthe's ease; 
 This gaunt, lingering gloom, I must surcease. 
 Since I am love's recreant by foul decree, 
 I see no way to o'erleap its destiny. 
 Then let the penitent shower come full blast, — 
 I yet have hopes, and shall look for the mast 
 Of my towering ship, in love's tempest 
 Riding the spooming waves high to East or West ; 
 Yet, I'd swallow woe to its dregs at once! 
 Of me love hath made a ludicrous dunce. 
 But what is love, — ah, what is love ? — the echo. 
 To the great Tajmahal of India go, 
 In its corridors with voice uptuned high 
 Ask, — your words will return with empty sigh. 
 Did love build that titanic mausoleum? 
 Nay, haughty pride, and glory's blatant strum. 
 Love's incense is not the fruit of tyrants, 
 Nor does its spirit dwell in arrogance ; 
 Not always in palaces indigenous, 
 Might starve to death in house of the sumptuous: 
 While in the hovel its blooms may be seen, 
 That emit a breath sweet as saccharine. 
 Yea, Portinia, I would I could thee tell 
 
62 PORTINIA 
 
 What's this power that makes the heart swell. 
 Ah! — Love is love, — it's nothing more, 
 Ministrant to God, since the dawn of yore, 
 And shall e'er be, the angel of His heart. 
 Woe is mortal, if he from this grace depart. 
 Now in fantasies crude I'll disport a while 
 On this mooted subject, that some beguile: 
 Love, my dear, is a decoction brewed 
 From the moist lips of a moonbeam, stewed 
 In the lush smiles of the meadow flowers, 
 Born to earth, under night's dreamy bowers; 
 The echo of Nature's symphony, this, 
 Awaking elements dormant, and a kiss 
 Sweet as the gladiolus' dewy sighs 
 Or breath of buds and blooms of paradise. — 
 
 It is the sunbeam's soft-footed passion 
 
 For teasing the glade's tints, hues of fashion, 
 
 Myriad colors and incense fragrant 
 
 Like inflorescence, that opes the heart that can't 
 
 Close more ; then for love it beats a lyric tune, 
 
 Singing of poppy beds and honey moon; 
 
 In its arms a soothing joy, that doth fill 
 
 A hungry breast, and sweetness memory's rill. 
 
 Yea, love lurks in every waving bough, 
 
 And is indelibly writ on nature's brow. 
 
 Every leaf falls in love with its mate; 
 
 Every blade of grass muses to meet its fate. 
 
 The cricket's chirp is love's sweet fiddling, 
 
 And the grasshopper spends his days twiddling 
 
 On the sublimity of love untold 
 
 In accents easing, but fearless and bold. 
 
 Love, a germ of immortality given 
 
 To mortal, lighting his path to Heaven, 
 
 And to that inheritance divinely pure, 
 
 Whose sweet unselfishness helps to endure 
 
 The keen arrows of fate's outraging cup, 
 
 Which leads through valleys darksome; but up 
 
PORTINIA 63 
 
 To heights of ideal's glorious blending: 
 
 There communes with beauty's essence ne'er ending 
 
 In regions of the ultra-cerulean skies 
 
 Beyond the stars, into Heaven's harmonies. 
 
 Love, — sweeter than Apollo's tuneful wing 
 
 Wooing Venus to dream's delights, inspiring, 
 
 Reclined on mossy bed of rainbow hues 
 
 'Mid sparkling tints, of enchanting dews, 
 
 While round her hang ripe fruits of contentment, 
 
 Whose sweetness like tune of magic lute blent 
 
 And commingled with her tresses' auburn curls, 
 
 While the moon's twining beam lovingly twirls 
 
 Like dreamy music's harmonious bliss 
 
 Jealously lingering near, for a parting kiss. 
 
 Love, — more subtle than muses' witching art, 
 To sanctify the mildewed, drooping heart, 
 Like South-wind's listless, communing prayer 
 It comes to our souls from whence or where. 
 A thread of destiny, fine as spider's skein, 
 Coming through raging tempest or rain 
 And showering sweetest blooms at the feet 
 Of her whose anxious eyes tenderly greet ; 
 Reflecting its votary's cherished hope 
 And vaunting not, but in silence will grope 
 Its pathway through adversity's vicious maw 
 To snatch its prize from limbo's fiery jaw. 
 
 Love is graven on the arch of Heaven ; 
 
 It is life itself, and its pure leaven; 
 
 'Tis the longing desire of mortal breast 
 
 For happiness, by which it thrives as the guest: 
 
 But misused, it militates 'gainst heart-cares, 
 
 And then, alas! is merged in bitter tears 
 
 Bubbling from eye's springs, that forerun a tide 
 
 Raging, which will ebb and flow, and misguide 
 
 Its mission on this terrestrial bark; 
 
 Then will founder beneath muddy sloughs dark, 
 
64 PORTINIA 
 
 And drift into the quagmire of discontent 
 
 Where the heart without love goes, evil bent — 
 
 'Twill ne'er bloom nor exhale breath of roses 
 
 In the garden of dewy bliss and posies. 
 
 It's the cordial and the sparkling wine, 
 
 A discaged principle, that doth refine 
 
 The soul, that feeds on such native ingredient 
 
 And sympathy, its kindred element. 
 
 'Tis the twin soul of Venus^ who feels 
 
 Such fragrant delights: thus each sigh reveals 
 
 This all-pervading passion's inherent fire: 
 
 It's the primordial song of Heaven's choir. 
 
 Portinia, — love is a divine loadstar 
 
 Of the soul, — a magnet from the lucent spar 
 
 Of Zion's dome, to consecrate and bless life 
 
 Mortal, — to purify 'gainst satanic strife. 
 
 It rides on ev'ry star's glittering beam, 
 
 And upon the lightning-bug's mellow gleam. 
 
 Indeed, thy heart is surcharged with its thrill; 
 
 For me, yea, even me, 'tis flowering still. 
 
 Earthly love is akin to that in skies — 
 
 Which I truly glean from thy lucid eyes, 
 
 Cupid's exponent of luscious influence, 
 
 Melting my once gelid soul. Ah, from whence 
 
 Such pure radiance of the mind enchanting? 
 
 Full of golden dawn, and charms entrancing, — 
 
 O thou sweet spirit of a hidden source! 
 
 Gentle enchantress ! with such potent force ! 
 
 Thy bloom and fruitage emit fulgent light, 
 
 With eclipsing brilliance, that will ne'er blight 
 
 The fairest hopes of its devoted thews, 
 
 Nor will it recant when honor adieus, 
 
 But in sorrow's age like Apollo's lyre 
 
 Grows sweeter by the tuneful touch of rhythmic fire. 
 
 Subjective love high as Heaven's summit, 
 Its element pure and somewhat interknit 
 With the infinitude of space, beyond grasp. 
 
PORTINIA 65 
 
 Our minds cannot comprehend, though we gasp 
 
 For breath, and stretch our brain as if tensile 
 
 Strength it has, then we muse and ponder till 
 
 In imagination we pass sign-posts 
 
 As specters on the highway, towering ghosts, 
 
 Set each one million billion miles apart — 
 
 One billion pass, then no nearer than the start. — 
 
 Dear love, may thy goddess' spirit descend! 
 Yea, sweet Vesta, tell us, and so commend 
 And balm our timorous hearts, oft bruised sore, 
 Like a furnace hot, running a molten rill 
 Of metal, rushing into chasm deep to fill. 
 Thou Diana, sweet virgin, love's twin soul, 
 Let thy voice with harmonious echoes roll, 
 Sweet as zephyrs through cherry blows in May, 
 Which bring us nearer thy translucent bay; 
 And thy diadem with such lambent gleams 
 Sheds its silver dazzle, in lucent streams. 
 We know thy fevered touch, oft bite thy hand. 
 Thy bud, bloom, and fruit, we see and understand 
 In part, when spread before our vision wide. 
 Alas! we've seen the want of this elixir betide; 
 Yes, we've seen its brightest drops of purest gold 
 Debauched, as wizard song, discordant, cold. 
 None can diagnose this passion made to join 
 Heaven and earth, nor can we our minds eloign 
 From its spirit, which fills us with zeal, 
 Softens bosom adamant, imparts the feel 
 Of sugar, to the most dejected flower 
 That its dew e'er wet, in cheerless bower — 
 
 The angels' plumed wings imbued in its wine 
 When they whir by, Aurora's light outshine, 
 Filling the air labyrinths, — a honeyed breath falls 
 On memory, which hears a voice that calls 
 In lute tones, sweet as sighs of dreaming bride 
 
66 PORTINIA 
 
 Couched on lavender blooms, where Cupid spied 
 Her magic beauty, in the mellow dawn. 
 And in her half-waked sleep, a kiss was drawn 
 From her dewy, rosebud lips. Then he quaffed 
 His day's hungry fill, and hying, he laughed 
 When leaving his spouse with eyes so brim-welled 
 With tears; and while he teased, his heart-orb 
 
 swelled, 
 But morn's duty minded him of Hymen's oath. 
 Hence, he sips bee-like, then earns bread for both. 
 That is true love, sweetly exemplified, 
 And such the meed, by tribulations tried, 
 To bind us firmly, with concord gentle, 
 Springing forth free, as sweet pods of lentil. 
 
 What can be the supervening power 
 
 Which bottles thy heart like virgin flower? 
 
 Did not I in that poppy bed impregn 
 
 Thy breast with love's pure unction? And that 
 
 sheen 
 Of light told me many strange, wondrous things. 
 But now all my hopes have grown lurid wings, 
 And outflown, as if vile recreant I am, 
 Without pre-eminence to soothe and calm 
 My languid lassitude, which now has gulped 
 Up the wine of human longings, and pulped 
 My brain into conglomerate globules, 
 Swollen by pains, fears, dark, like demon ghouls, 
 Coagulated and full of drifting weeds. 
 Dear Juno, enfranchise my mind, that heeds 
 The mesmeric force, in feminine charms 
 Cogent in thy daughter Portinia; my arms 
 Tingle to infold her form, warm with bliss: 
 I'm dying for that felicitous kiss. 
 As the blossoms pant for night's pearly dew, 
 Likewise my life, enfamished, dear, for you, 
 Pleached in thy meshes like pining eagle 
 Half deplumed, and ensnared, an unregal 
 
PORTINIA 67 
 
 Aspect for bard and dauntless lover brave, 
 
 Aiming high to soar, and mount the crested wave 
 
 Of immortality, so mortal it seemed 
 
 To me, yet out of zone to reach — who deemed 
 
 Me a derelict wooer? I shall fight 
 
 Like old Hector, gloating, with sword and might 
 
 In a gaily combat; for my Portinia, 
 
 The goddess of my being, I'll continue 
 
 To sue, despite of adverse destiny. 
 
 And the wicked eyes of doom I yet decry, 
 
 And to the bitter end I shall deprecate; 
 
 Then challenge all devils, — inviolate 
 
 My honor to heaven and carnal ties, 
 
 Yet in meekness of soul, I undisguise 
 
 My good offices, which inspire so mute 
 
 Such eloquent love, an inciting lute, 
 
 Sweet as the singing birds in full-throated cadence, 
 
 That sluggishly lull into comatose the sense, 
 
 As they warble, from key to key, in unison, 
 
 In flexible melody's modulation. 
 
 To raptures lost, in Elysian shades, hove, 
 
 Dreaming of thee, dear — as the daughter of Jove — 
 
 E'en the birds, the dryads of the forest, 
 
 Sing melodious tunes, the very truest 
 
 To thee, Portinia, to thee, my sweet linnet, 
 
 Their songs to thee, as soft as spinet 
 
 Tones; they chuckle on the glory of those eyes, 
 
 Pearly loadstars, with twinkling majesties 
 
 Giving forth light inspiring e'en to the birds, 
 
 That sing by day or by the moon's silver chords 
 
 To their callow-born, soft-hearted playing, 
 
 And to the dear mates, their soul's outlaying, 
 
 As if the warm delight of some lost songs 
 
 Have come upon them, which to Heaven belongs. 
 
 On joyous wings the new strains seem to spread 
 
 Through the sylvan wilds o'er flowers blue and red, 
 
 With a nativeness benign, so passing strange; 
 
 But the heavenly rhythm seems to fit the range 
 
68 PORTINIA 
 
 Of each tuneful throat, and the delicate airs 
 
 Now caught up by all voices unawares. 
 
 The lazy insects set their pipes in tune 
 
 To chirp these new-born songs from sun or moon, 
 
 And scatter upon the breezes' pure flow 
 
 Harmony serene. Such were ne'er heard below — 
 
 Soft foot'd cantations of mouth and buzzing wings, 
 
 And sweet inarticulate, humming things, 
 
 Enough to lull mortal breast to quietude, 
 
 E'en who hath here journeyed for spirit food. 
 
 And when they come upon these glittering spars, 
 
 These throned promontories, rock-ribbed bars, 
 
 They are filled with nature's buoyance divine, 
 
 Their souls surcease; but memory still may pine 
 
 For candied sweets, fled, leaving the thorny stem 
 
 To prod the conscience, and oft-times condemn ; 
 
 While the savage night-winds may be sweeping 
 
 Through the shrine of love's own temple, weeping 
 
 For its rightful heritage and sweet tide 
 
 Of inherent desires, that ever guide 
 
 To a higher and more orient plane, 
 
 Yea, we're all worshipers at beauty's fane. — 
 
 Nor to earth alone does this homage belong — 
 
 'Tis the archangels' melodious song; 
 
 And too, the spheres are entuned to this theme, 
 
 Singing to each other in holy esteem, 
 
 Plighting sacred vows and golden thrones bright 
 
 To some affinity of eternal light. 
 
 Ah, beauty's the archetype of Heaven, 
 
 And to earth through divine Nature given 
 
 To teach in a measure spiritual things, 
 
 That altruistic charm with which true beauty rings; 
 
 To which love e'er keys its fluttering breast 
 
 And longs to be its most worshipful guest. 
 
 Exalted muse-goddess! Lend me thy bright wing! 
 Let me drink deep of the Pierian spring! 
 Dear heavenly nymph, wilt thou my heart raise 
 
PORTINIA 69 
 
 To high honors, that I may win fame and praise? 
 
 Let me be the legatee of love's grace, 
 
 That I may enchant its bud, and embrace 
 
 Its Elysian flower: I do aspire 
 
 To taste its fruits, my immortal desire. 
 
 Portinia, I see ev'ry good virtue 
 
 Embodied and exalt in thee so true. 
 
 Ah! I know in scorn 'tis said love is blind; 
 
 It forsooth may be the purest kind. 
 
 Yet for thee, if I had eyes, ninety-nine, 
 
 And each sharp as python's gaze, thy divine 
 
 Beauty, sparkling, and graces I'd only see 
 
 In thy beaming eyes and queenly majesty 
 
 Brightly shining, as purest gold refined. 
 
 Surely thou art God's paragon, His mind 
 
 Contained since life was, aye e'en when sea ghosts 
 
 Cavorted in wan shrouds, the grisly hosts 
 
 Of a formless chaos, in times undawned 
 
 Epicycle, that befogged chasm, which yawned 
 
 Vehement, when aroused by the power 
 
 That made all things, beginning at some hour 
 
 Specific — for 'tis hard to realize 
 
 That e'en things divine were always — who tries 
 
 To sound the deep infinite? Yet we think 
 
 And know we're standing on shadowy brink. 
 
 God gave us a thinking mentality 
 
 And the bird wings to fly, and eyes to see: 
 
 Hence thoughts are quite real and personal, 
 
 Having weight, stature; and oft would appall 
 
 Our friends if they were to see them, or touch 
 
 Such vile Valkyrias, seeking lives to smutch. 
 
 Portinia, when I consider thy inherent grace 
 
 And wondrous poise, I fall in a trance, and chase 
 
 Phantasms through dizzy space with venerate awe, 
 
 My pen too unskilled to tell what I saw. 
 
 E'en if 'twere things mortal to which I mean, 
 
 I could not even then tell what I've seen 
 
 In my wondering mind volant, unchained, 
 
10 PORTINIA 
 
 Which goes on many wistful jaunts — has reigned 
 
 As king in fairylands, flowering climes, 
 
 And too has groped in danky caves and mines 
 
 For thee, Portinia, long before my rage 
 
 E'er fell on thy scintillating visage. 
 
 And in my tender years I longed for thee: 
 
 The palpable hand of kind destiny 
 
 Led my roving footsteps in thy pathway, 
 
 From which, O Heaven, let me never stray, 
 
 But let starry themes glorious infuse 
 
 My bosom with epodes, and each divine muse 
 
 Spread her daedal wings o'er my drooping head 
 
 To endue courage, and inspiration shed. — 
 
 And let all seemlied blisses round me smile; 
 
 Yea, soothe my lorn madness, and underlie 
 
 My heart, which is rife with fermentation, 
 
 And pulsing out of tune, no love has won, — 
 
 My metric wooing woefully discordant. 
 
 But my vain attempts I shall ne'er recant, 
 
 Though I have lost my fervent hope and suit; 
 
 But its pungence to my soul shall bring fruit 
 
 Sweet, and mindful of reflex destinies, 
 
 Lest my fated bark founder in sluggish seas, 
 
 Or drift upon the ocean of distress, 
 
 And to sordid sins my mind acquiesce. 
 
 Yea, to some there's an infixed destiny 
 Inexorable, which frowns or smiles as we 
 Grope along, yet not rudderless as some think; 
 Our star is e'er watching us, and doth twink 
 Anxiously for our weal or blighting woe. 
 I would each fate or fury were not so 
 Demonstrative in its approving eye, 
 Or so wrathful in its vicious treachery. 
 
 I oft see visions and hear wondrous sounds 
 
 And oft the problem of life my brain confounds. 
 
 Then I try to spy into the misty veil 
 
 Of coming years, but no finite eye can trail 
 
PORTINIA 71 
 
 The hidden path that's sealed to mortal view; 
 
 Nor can the mortal reason well construe 
 
 Many things it beholds as plain as day 
 
 Till the vision acquires some spirit ray 
 
 Conduced by occult psychic science. 
 
 Can any look into the future hence? 
 
 We can in general the future judge 
 
 By the past, as on life's highway we trudge, 
 
 And the more we love, the more spirit feel 
 
 As the more virtue, the more we reveal. — 
 
 In the cobwebs of memory that twine 
 
 The horoscope's zodiac, which did enshrine 
 
 My birth chart — the goddess of this epic song 
 
 So kind, tender, and true, did then unthong 
 
 My muse — so posed in the attitude of queen. 
 
 I now see the face I saw that halloween. 
 
 I did not know then 'twas thine, but it grew 
 
 In my heart, and bloomed with roseate hue, 
 
 And besprent my pathway with fragrant bliss; 
 
 And the honey-dew of that dreaming kiss 
 
 Yet bears a nectarous flavor eminent 
 
 Of the spice of love, — ah, the wonderment 
 
 Enskied in that necromancy psychic, 
 
 Or enshrouded in mystic elements thick, 
 
 With beauteous foliage, and the shadow 
 
 Of fleeting time's wing! With empurple glow 
 
 That did eclipsingly dazzle the plain 
 
 Of my pensive mind, thus I did retain 
 
 A vision of this spirituous elf 
 
 In the bosom of my immortal self. 
 
 Hence, through dawning years as hopeful lover 
 
 That face flew with me like winged plover. 
 
 I beheld it oft in my feverish sleep, 
 
 And loved it in my impassioned soul deep. 
 
 My dreams were blissful to see that face shine. 
 
 Like an angel's grace 'twould wooingly twine 
 
 Its tendrils about my timorous heart; 
 
72 PORTINIA 
 
 And the kernel of my joys did impart 
 
 A new magnificence, with tonings high. 
 
 Then my prescient blisses I'd amplify, 
 
 As my vivid imagination strayed 
 
 Into the fulgent light and fragrant shade 
 
 Of a sweet foreknowledge, — a lucent day 
 
 That would chase all recreant fears away. 
 
 'Twas a witching enchantment to my mind. 
 
 I yet see that regal comport refined, 
 
 Whose modest charms, enough to make a bard 
 
 Of an untutored swain — the heavens guard 
 
 And guide love and beauty to an exalt'd end ! 
 
 Both these degrees to earth; Heaven did lend, 
 
 As were wisdom and art in Nature's scenes, 
 
 So also the scintillating patens 
 
 Commingle their engilding smiles of gold ; 
 
 Thus to mortal, immortal eyes unfold, 
 
 Giving us a shadow of the divine 
 
 Emblazoning the path to portals fine. 
 
 That face — I know 'twas thine — thoF.e eye-darts 
 
 bright, 
 And soft tresses golden, source of delight 
 When peering through winged time's backward lens, 
 Counting here and there those departed friends 
 Who have looked on death's grisly face, hell's vice, 
 And venom's gaze, like the serpent — cockatrice — 
 That basilisk whose eye doth mortal blight, 
 Whose breath, fatal, without his evil sight. 
 Though I meant not to speak of dismal pain, 
 But leave it in its grimy, prison, bane, 
 Where many wounded hearts did break in twain — 
 Where in tenderness loving hands have lain 
 Those friends, one by one. Dark then seems the 
 
 way; 
 The earth's promise holds no hope or smiles gay: 
 But there is joy immortal, dear and sweet, 
 Where fruitage ripens eterne we shall eat 
 When we walk high Heaven's bejeweled strand 
 
PORTINIA 73 
 
 Or march authentic in redemption's band, 
 To sweet strains as from Euterpe's soft lute 
 Played by Cherubim whose rhythms will commute 
 The soul's penitence, by pure love's decree — 
 And in retrospection of earth-memory 
 Our true hearts will rejoice forevermore. 
 
 0, what a glory to see the angels soar 
 On dazzling wings all brilliance surpass, 
 Reminding of sun's rays on burnished brass! 
 Forgive me, dearest Portinia, my rose 
 
 Of hope, I meant not to thoughtlessly doze 
 
 In a revery, of sadness supine, 
 
 Or to fling grim shadows in the sunshine 
 
 Of nature's heart, truly faithful as skylark 
 
 Training its fledgling young, from day till dark. 
 
 How the full accomplishment of its wing 
 
 Doth lead to dizzy planes, from which to sing! 
 
 1, in my gladness, therefore, wandered 
 Into sadness, aimless and undeterred, 
 And from the path of thy detergent love, 
 My capacious mind, infinite, did rove 
 Into the realms of lofty dominions, 
 
 Or waft wearily on viewless pinions 
 Into deep caverns of gloom — and there shed 
 Tears of sadness; from heart of gladness fed. 
 For sadness oft treads on hoof of gladness, 
 And gladness may dream on pillow's sadness 
 Things repugnant and ponderous to bear, 
 Coming unplumed, and from whence unaware. 
 
 Yes, sweet lotus, with voice like lute-strains caught 
 From woodland echoes, where in silent thought 
 One may retire to commune in covert cove 
 With his inward soul, where mute phantasms hove 
 Like winged spirits above gravity's law — 
 There dream in serenity, as if one saw 
 Maidens with rougish eyes, bedecked in blooms 
 Of immortal amaranth — near the tombs 
 
74 PORTINIA 
 
 Of Indian chiefs: and these elves in glee 
 
 Are marching to the pipes of Pan's company, 
 
 And singing melodies of shepherd's rhyme 
 
 Step-wise to a marble altar, keeping time 
 
 With head and foot, while twinks bright the stars' 
 
 glow 
 Upon each countenance; refulgent so 
 Truly magic, that one wakes ere the dream 
 Ends, leaving him rudderless in a stream 
 Of wonderment, to divine a meaning. 
 If such things they hold, except a leaning 
 To a pre-conceived mind, or sick digestion 
 Over worked, and its heavy tax among 
 Vitals intricate, not made of sword-steel. 
 A dream is the moving film we see and feel 
 Out-spun by caprice, thrown on the optic 
 Nerve canvas, by feverish mind's trick, 
 When dancing satyrs, with frolicsome ways 
 Delight or distress as fantasy plays. 
 
 Dearest Portinia, wilt thou for me invoke 
 Some heavenly muse, and then help unyoke 
 My pleached spirit perplexed, that would not falter 
 At grim idols upon a stupid altar? 
 
 SOLILOQUY 
 
 "O loveliest muse, hear my weeping prayer! 
 Yea, dear, come to me, thou angel so fair! 
 Entune my weazen soul and it inspire 
 Once again — play to me on golden lyre 
 Midst wildwood blossoms on this mountain side, 
 Where green foliage and clinging vines shall hide 
 Us from the curious and spying eyes. 
 Yes, divine muse, that I may exalted rise 
 Buoyant, as the bobolink's spring lay 
 Happily beautiful in month of May! 
 Venus, thou deity, come and gambol 
 In yon virent dingle; then we'll ramble 
 
PORTINIA 75 
 
 'Mong the cowslips, and from their bloom brew win* 
 To convive our souls: then thou transfuse thine 
 Into my tuneless heart, and make it sing 
 In melodies soothing as Cupid's spring 
 And love's sweet summer, its glorious fall, 
 Its golden virtues and fragrant deeds withal ; 
 Whose amorous themes with music's pure grace 
 Mount the azure summits and then embrace 
 The vibrant form of some celestial muse 
 Dreaming some soulful pathos, midst Heaven 
 
 dews — 
 Some Impassioned strains, some romantic lay 
 Of divine love, where beauty rules the day. 
 
 Ah yes, divinest muses, thou me crown, 
 That I may woo Portinia; and fair renown 
 Let me pluck for her, so to better greet 
 When casting sacred hyacinths at her feet! 
 Thou sovran spirits of poesy divine 
 In this damask shade and peeking sunshine, 
 My angels, descend, and love's wisdom pour 
 Into my saddened breast bruised and sore! 
 Sweet fount of passion's fire, inflame my blood 
 With thy magic eloquence and rhythmic flood, 
 That my ardent zeal may gently consume 
 All distraughting doubts, yea fore'er entomb 
 My impotent vices — imbathe my spirit 
 With nectar balm from Heaven or near it. 
 And with supernal grace wilt thou up-fill 
 My soul lamenting like the whippoorwill ? 
 So plaintive seems in her ominous sadness 
 Inwoven by superstitious madness, 
 A fabric of heathenism indistinct, 
 7ut oft in mysticism the heart is linked." 
 
 Lo, Portinia, how truly the life of buds 
 Correlate ours (we're groping mortal spuds). 
 They advene in a faith most confident, 
 
76 PORTINIA 
 
 Flowering in youth's dawning cloyment; 
 They exhale their incense at nature's call, 
 And alas, cringe at the gelid breath of fall. 
 They repine in winter's icy embrace, 
 They droop and return to clay. Then urn or vase 
 By fires molten process, might next be made 
 From petal's mold, whose sprite outflown to aid 
 The lorn-hearted, weary, poor, void of gold, 
 Whose elements soon resolve into mold. 
 Yea, 'tis plain to discern death's mortal sting 
 A sword of sorrow, a two-edged thing 
 Severing love and hearts with pernicious tool 
 Which heals never while sweet memories rule 
 The soul's passions, essence immortal refined. 
 Alas, we'll e'er have bruised aches to mind 
 While yet in the mantle of flesh and clay 
 Groping on earth in a time-serving way, 
 Wherefore the pangs of death so misapplied ; 
 Hence without demise we're unglorified. 
 
 for a draught of Lethe's silent flow, 
 Oblivion's hidden river here below, 
 
 To make me forget my sorrowing tear, 
 And sink to the lurid plane of my bier! 
 My love is forespent: I hear saddened lays. 
 They'll be my songs hence-forward, — in the maze, 
 When the nightmare's hideous dreams conspire 
 To haunt my mind with ribald's low desire. 
 Portinia, hast thou then thus ravaged my heart 
 And withheld the richest and divinest part? 
 
 Within the painful confines of my soul's gloom 
 
 1 yet hear love's dying moans, though its bloom 
 Is nipped by the tooth of chilly fate: 
 
 Its lips have kissed the vernal dew, too late. 
 Now in the dark sepulchre of recreant pride, 
 Where the ghosts of lost opportunities chide 
 My humble spirit and vanquished eyes, 
 There I'll repair to nurse my miseries. 
 
PORTINIA 77 
 
 Yes, forever, my grief I will begrave, 
 
 Assume heroic front most blatant and brave; 
 
 Then, innocently I'll toy with life's dream, 
 
 Nor shall one lucid pearl from eyes distream 
 
 Or flow again, o'er the horrid bygones. 
 
 The cycle of earth's joys too brief, on green lawns 
 
 Or in shady nooks, on moss banks supine, 
 
 To take up arms 'gainst fate, which doth entwine 
 
 The neck of ev'ry soldier of fortune, 
 
 Nor can we escape its thralldom — jejune 
 
 And vile, as cymbal's timorous echoes 
 
 On the highway of death, mid icy floes. 
 
 Portinia, I've kissed the black angel's hand. — 
 
 My lips bear its sable soot! Her ebon wand 
 
 Has marked my head, as axman marks a tree. 
 
 I'm drifting to shoreless nonentity. 
 
 I welcome its darkened doom — what a change! 
 
 My soul may then come into better range 
 
 And blissful beatitudes — a galaxy 
 
 Of stars, ministrant, may compensate; they 
 
 May add sweetness and genuine pleasure 
 
 To my ill timed sleep — yea, dear, leisure. 
 
 Then I'll each day paint thy picture anew 
 
 In mind's fancy, and thy grace I'll construe, 
 
 And magnify thy beauty magnificent. 
 
 Thou art rich, and full of hope's enchantment. 
 
 I mean not the wealth of temporal things — 
 
 I contemn venal and parasitic fawnings 
 
 To gold, an idol, a false god, lucre! 
 
 It's a sordid lust, pernicious to defer 
 
 The needs of the soul, so freely given 
 
 To the meek in heart, aiming for Heaven. 
 
 My love for thee like Apollo's for Daphne, 
 And if an aromatic laurel tree 
 Thou shouldst become, I'd wither 'neath thy leaves. 
 Thy branches then would heal up all my grieves ; 
 But my love is now a morbid disease, 
 
78 PORTINIA 
 
 Railing sighs — moping echoes, naught to appease. 
 By my wooing I have so vainly run, 
 Now a sparrow's shadow bedims the sun, 
 And the moon shines with a sardonic grin, 
 Or rather with cynic smile; seems glad within 
 Her soul that I have played a losing game. 
 Thou brazen-faced gorgon, with borrowed flame 
 I'll fling thee into the Sahara dune — 
 Make thee Earth's Limbo, thou fickle poltroon! 
 Thou cheese-skin vassal of the shrouded night, 
 Roaming through the heavens such a pallid wight, 
 Spying on cheerless Cupids with Luna's sight, 
 The lovelorn need not a stepdame's weazen light! 
 You only look good when your horns are keen. 
 Ah, then we know you cannot long be seen. 
 But my lily hopes I've at last un-wed 
 From Hymen's bliss — now water-soaked blooms, 
 
 dead, 
 Bound to my sensitive nose — putrid smell 
 Of villainous odor, that decadence tell 
 Of gone pride, now couched in wounded folly, 
 Whose wan, limp heads, droop so melancholy. 
 The flowers seem sorry and bow in shame 
 Their sweet faces, as if they were to blame. 
 How well they feel a lover's passionate fire! 
 They'll weep from eve till morn, with longing desire 
 Over mortal wounds, made to fill the grave 
 Of the lorn-hearted wooer. I'll be brave — 
 In the wide ocean are many kinds of fish, 
 Some good, others unfit to smear a dish, 
 But an edible fish cannot by its looks 
 Be judged, nor can the pure in heart by the books 
 They read ; likewise the love that some expend 
 On false ideals, versute, wherefore the shend 
 Of mind and body, a pernicious maw, 
 With forked tongue of evil, and hellish jaw. 
 Now, dear Portinia, in stammering word 
 Much I've told thee; it's time that thou be heard. 
 
PORTINIA 79 
 
 Forsooth, I believe thou knowest my aim, 
 
 Nor do I feel wildered, my sovran dame. 
 
 My life hast thou softened, though in silence, 
 
 As regards thy pledge, but its recompense, 
 
 Mortal or spirit — upon it I'll not brood; 
 
 I want thy love, dear, it's supernal food, 
 
 To life and to memory's lassitude. 
 
 Yes, Portinia, my happiness doth exude 
 
 From the volcanic fire in my up-pent 
 
 Soul — mind's emanant volition, that went 
 
 Out to thee, as gold, inexorable, pure 
 
 Its passion, untransmutable, as sure 
 
 As heaven. O God of grace divine, why 
 
 Am I here in flesh, blood and sorrow? I 
 
 Would I had to this orb a primrose evolved, 
 
 My being then e'er beneficent, solved, 
 
 My bloom of sighing love would have perfumed 
 
 Thy heaving bosom so silken groomed; 
 
 Then my fuzzy buds could thy cheeks teasel pink; 
 
 My fragrant breath I'd emit for thee to drink; 
 
 Thy educing grace then I'd fondly bless, 
 
 And my love in sweet-scented prayers confess. 
 
 Thou then wouldst not my flame expugn; 
 
 My flowering spirit to thy beauty would croon 
 
 In cadences so ravishing and benign, 
 
 Ere its evolving odor fade and pine. 
 
 Dear Portinia, if I could but speak heart's desire 
 
 As poets, whose souls no more on fire 
 
 Than mine consuming at this hour — thou'd spurn 
 
 A seat on sweet Juno's throne, that doth burn 
 
 With empyreal glow, truly supreme. 
 
 Thou then wouldst know and my love queme, 
 
 And bind tenacious to thy dormant heart, 
 
 Nor one sigh more, thy heaving breast depart. 
 
 But tears of gladness thou wouldst truly shed 
 
 O'er immortal love by mortal so fed. 
 
 Will the sagacious eye of love give no light 
 
80 PORTINIA 
 
 To my mind? Am I to be its eremite? 
 And its crystal drops pure, like the mountain lake 
 Taste not. — Does its herald my heart forsake, 
 And ope not its blooms at my wooing call? 
 Now the shadow of its wing my heart doth pall. 
 
 Dearest Portinia — I've poured out my love 
 
 In waste most lavish, though vain it may prove, 
 
 When in spirit's penitent path I'll pine 
 
 In silence — my soul mewed in sorrow's brine. 
 
 But my mind by thy beauty balmed, will keep 
 
 In meditation's dark, empty chasm, deep 
 
 As hell's fuming pit: there in slow grieving 
 
 My reverb recollection will be weaving 
 
 Sweet chaplets with which thy fair brow to crown. 
 
 O! how can I better woo thee, what renown 
 
 May I deign to cast at thy seraph feet? 
 
 Thou enchantress of my dreams, wilt thou greet 
 
 Mo with love's prime kiss? Sweet as the tube 
 
 rose, 
 As pure as the concentrical rainbow's 
 Refracted smiles, to mind us of covenant 
 By our Creator made, that the world shan't 
 More be deluged by vehement flood. 
 But alas! oft since 'twas drenched in blood 
 Innocent as a lamb! O world impious, 
 God will garner thee, at thy seed-time. Thus 
 His covenanted promise shall e'er remind, 
 For 'twas writ in Heaven, and there designed. 
 
 Portinia, I can't extricate my labored eyes 
 From thy beauteous grace, which so doth rise 
 Supreme in my fevered brain's passioned fire, 
 And inflames that smoldered and famished desire. — 
 My dear Nymph, be pitiful to my woe 
 So sorrowing; let thy charms on me glow, 
 And sing to me in voice of siren sprite: 
 Then let me die in ecstatic delight. 
 
PORTINIA 8 1 
 
 Ah! how happy I'd be in such demise! 
 
 Even in death's jaws my zeal I'd disguise 
 
 Not — nor shall it in eternity wane, 
 
 But shall magnify and bloom by sacred fane, 
 
 Where limpid waters spark 'neath pearly banks, 
 
 Delighting goldfishes, that disport their thanks 
 
 As if enchanted by Dian serene, 
 
 Blessing the fishes, sweet Oread — queen 
 
 Of the lone forest and sequestered wood, 
 
 Where Flora's virgin blooms sigh in solitude, 
 
 And passion's poesy, that engendering fire 
 
 Fed by sunset's grandeur, a golden pyre — 
 
 And deeper into the rustic dreamland went; 
 
 The mind roving and fantasy distent 
 
 Where the herds of Pan browse in shady glens 
 
 Unfooted by man, save shepherd whose voice sends 
 
 Silvery echoes to the inmost ivy nooks, 
 
 Moistened each night by heaven's dew that looks 
 
 A pure diamond lucid in the sun's 
 
 Morning burst — Apollo pompous — who runs 
 
 A winning race for goddess' hand so fair, 
 
 Most like thee Portinia with beauty rare. 
 
 Yes, dear, Nature's music my ears hath sated 
 With harmony sweet, my soul for thee freighted 
 And choked by passion's fire, smouldering, lorn, 
 Pent in my languid bosom, and un-born 
 That bloom of Cupid's beacon, thus failing 
 To enflower the mind's impotent wing; 
 Like unchild widow, poor and dejected, 
 Whose grim destiny, dispiteous, wed 
 To adversity's chain of fated links, 
 Begirding deep gloom with ominous clinks — 
 Ever reminding of that fettered plight 
 Rising to mock and taunt as infernal wight. 
 
 Alas! Portinia, such mv dismal crown 
 
 Of scorpion tails with venom stingers brown, 
 
82 PORTINIA 
 
 Goading memory's fair vision infixed 
 In thee — my doleful brain so intermixed 
 With occult images of spirit land 
 And mirrored fantasies — my mind hath spanned 
 The horoscope of my birth — on its scroll 
 Is writ thy name in letters gilt — my soul! 
 It's an illusion to move my fancy snare 
 Into the throes of life's eventide bare, 
 Except reflex by-gones, like barnacles to ship's 
 Bottom tenaciously cling. Thus time slips 
 Feather-footed as winter's snow, ghost-white, 
 Swirling earthward in lurid hush of night, 
 And vernal glories from mortal life flee. 
 Leaving but broken idols to see — 
 Or love blighted by frosted wings of fate 
 And imbittered by its remorseful state. 
 
 My blood, life's cordial, to vinegar 
 Acetous, hath turned. I've seen hope's dog-star 
 Flaunt a shimmering light in sterile floe 
 Of my brain, but alas! I shall forego 
 My star: that fuming comet hath hellward 
 Gone, — to Gehenna's swampy and foul sward 
 Of croaking frogs, goggle-eyed, green, and black. 
 Other habitues, amphibia, grunt alack; 
 And many slimy reptiles, with organs dumb, 
 Wiggling in seething mud, in silence glum. 
 I've heard the voice of death to my soul sung 
 In sepulchral chants, whose poison stung 
 Like the adder, but its sting may bear bloom. 
 My sobs shall surcease, and joy I'll resume, 
 And hurl death into charnel pit, when caught, 
 Ere its blighting fangs my mind hath distraught. 
 
 Alas, why is love my regal mistress, 
 To fill my heart with recreant distress, 
 And monitor me to the couch of fear? 
 Ere I felt love's wing I had blissful cheer, 
 
PORTINIA 83 
 
 O for a venomed draught to ever abate 
 This aguish chill, that grips with icy fate ! 
 O for a goblet of forgetfulness 
 To stultify my brain and e'er caress 
 My soul into impotent nonentity! 
 There let it linger in silence, or die 
 Senseless, or wail 'mong witches and demons, 
 Or lament with idiotic vagabonds. 
 
 Portinia, soon I'll say my last good-bye. 
 
 These tear-scalded eyes, O dear nymph, decry 
 
 N t — but bless me in this woe, pale and gaunt 
 
 In sorrow's throes! Naught but remorse to flaunt 
 
 All my coming years, with no golden eve 
 
 To beckon me hence, nor vow to retrieve 
 
 This melancholy plight, when I bid adieu: 
 
 No glowing sunset of iridescent hue 
 
 Can I down the alley of time's vista see, 
 
 Nor does Vesper's orient majesty 
 
 Shed its twinkling sheen into future lens 
 
 Of my visual ray. Alas, who mends 
 
 Broken hearts? But this soul shall 'gain up-rise 
 
 And yet balm love's wing, and brighten beauty's 
 
 eyes; 
 And the nightingale's merry song perchance 
 May yet cheer my dispirit'd countenance. 
 Oh ! that some fair angel would minister 
 Unto my hopes, or kill this love that doth deter 
 And expunge all bright rays I once did nurse, 
 That now flicker and taunt as with a curse. 
 My soul drifts upon a mirky neap-tide; 
 The ocean and Neptune seem to deride 
 My vanquished passions with a brackish foam. 
 I have a mind to seek some cavern home; 
 There in solitude lave my blighted fate 
 'Mong sea nymphs this heart so indurate 
 And barren in my breast, so empty, dead. 
 I fain would share leviathan's dank bed, 
 
84 PORTINIA 
 
 Or consort with sirens, and by their song 
 Exulting die: then eternity long 
 Might let me commune with joys never born 
 To me on earth, and thus eschew this forlorn 
 And dismal life, that seems but the grave's bride; 
 Darksome and full of mournful gloom untried 
 By those yet in life's mortal pale mystified. 
 My aims sapped, my glory I've now seen slain! 
 Or 'twas mirage, — and now I hear refrain 
 Of remorse's wheels, — the mill of destiny 
 Whose deep lugubrious grind makes me sigh. 
 Would that my rambling feet had never trod 
 Upon this verdant earth's flowering sod, 
 And mine eyes ne'er fell on thy sweet visage: 
 Such heavenly mien, aye, delusive rage 
 To my conscience, as like cancer gnawing, 
 Ghost of depravity, lost soul cawing 
 As black raven, metaphoric semblance 
 Of Hades convulsed, a hideous trance. 
 O God! Would I had died in yon vortex 
 Vicious, this pain spared my spirit so vexed ! 
 This moment I'd be dreaming of thy face 
 Benign ; my arms then might thy form embrace, 
 And kisses I could so clandestine steal 
 Unawares, — thou couldst not so much as feel 
 My spritely love, so wooing spiritual. 
 Who can say there's no longing supernal? 
 Ah, yes, my ardent feelings shall e'er cling 
 To memory infinite, — and sweet laurels bring 
 To crown thy beauty, with celestial blooms, 
 Such imperial joys, that heaven grooms 
 In raptures most circumspect, shall unmar 
 Thy virtue's insignia, a blazing star 
 Shall gem thy endued grace, so sanctified, 
 That hath been by empyrean fires tried. 
 
Book II 
 PORTINIA TO DON ZENO 
 
 "I well understand," Portinia replied, 
 
 As she my love-lorn face joyously spied. 
 
 But wilt thou in this wild Eden tarry 
 
 Till thou hast my consent to thee marry? 
 
 And all bland words, so eloquently rhymed, 
 
 Trying to woo and win my heart untimed? 
 
 Thou art most poetic, and so benign! 
 
 Then, thou dost truly love me, I divine. 
 
 Hadst thou learned Cupid's artful wooing, 
 
 Thou hadst been less abashed my heart pursuing ; 
 
 But more poesy than valor I plainly see. 
 
 Stranger yet am I to thy destiny. 
 
 Why spend this day in such lingering sighs 
 
 Amidst enmossed cliffs— earth's sweet paradise? 
 
 Yet I may lead thee into heights unknown; 
 
 But go on musing, there's no ill bestrown. 
 
 I now perceive thy heart o'er-brimmed with love : 
 
 Thou shalt have other days my love to prove. 
 
 Thou dost well sermonize on nature's plan ; 
 But dost mortal comprehend, its mystery span? 
 Yet, my friend, let ambition be up-perched, 
 Have thy heart's desire, gold pure, unsmirched ; 
 For such all things, in most wildering veils, 
 When viewed by eyes carnal, riddle's tales. 
 Wherefore, how foolish thus to even try 
 To understand the life of butterfly! 
 It has no pulsing blood, nor valving heart, 
 Yet in God's mighty plans it plays a part. 
 What mortal being knows life's secret bent 
 Delving into the soul's abysm up-pent? 
 Which is presuming egoism, quite vain, 
 Like perpetual motion — physic's disdain. 
 Flesh and blood, this orb, its tethered pale, 
 Never shall human peek beyond its veil, 
 
 85 
 
86 PORTINIA 
 
 Unless transfigured by power supreme 
 Or transformed into sprite's evolving gleam, 
 That begod and bless earth's human flower; 
 Such children ransomed, by heaven's dower, 
 As reward bequeathed, or as love favor, 
 To those who walk in wisdom and savor 
 Of virtue's sweet wing. Go thou not in lurid 
 Darkness; over fens and sin's murk, sordid, 
 That rust and canker, and bedeafen pride. 
 
 soul degloried, once swan-white, whose tide 
 Hath passed; gone, as fledged birds leave foul nest, 
 Returning never, but mount high the crest 
 
 Of air waves lucid, their wings to more prove. 
 The sins mortal bespot the soul, and groove 
 It in dungeon of darkness, pernicious gloom 
 Of hobgoblins satanic; woe-wrecked doom. 
 
 1 first spied thee in Amaranthine bed 
 
 In deep slumber on blossoms crimson-red. 
 
 There I admired thee, human ideal, 
 
 Thy sleep so came by power potential, 
 
 To let me study Earth's dawning manhood, 
 
 The which, untarnished by sin's venom, could 
 
 E'en in Venus' orb be devoutly loved 
 
 By nymphs, whose beauty in wonderment moved 
 
 The ardent god's sighs to jealous pining, 
 
 With appetites so dainty, and dining 
 
 On virgin purity, so innocent, 
 
 Drinking nectarous dews most pertinent, 
 
 Where death's a stranger; an alien, unknown, — 
 
 And the eternal shrine — that holy throne 
 
 Stands a begemmed memento above 
 
 In the magic fount of out flowing love. 
 
 Now, Don Zeno, in the bourn of this earth 
 
 I, for a time and times, shall dwell; my worth, 
 
 I pray, shall be manifest; likewise, those 
 
 Who have lived on this planet; a rare rose 
 
 Each should become, emitting sweetness pure 
 
 Of love and gracious deeds, that should endure. 
 
PORTINIA 87 
 
 And as the lambent gleaming of a star, 
 Though recumbent, in the azure afar 
 Gives its radiant share of brilliant light 
 To boundless space, and to moonless night, 
 Hence we too should add our oozing fragrance 
 To finite buds and sprigs; dame Nature's chance 
 Given, to less favored, by the fate's decreed 
 To ride the rampant waves of salient greed, — 
 That sordid lust for Mammon's wolfish grip, 
 On impotence to more oppress, and whip 
 The weak, under a serf bondage, more bold, 
 Whose destinies circumscribed as a sheepfold, 
 Such cruel burdens on mind and spirit. — 
 Herein lies man's inhumanity, so knit 
 With self and unsated gluttony, that imbrutes, 
 Perverting plans celestial, blighting its fruits. — 
 Therefore I am commissioned, a joy task, 
 To do the which I'll tell later; my mask 
 Betimes I will offcast, as snake its skin. 
 My guise, Don Zeno, is patent within 
 My heart, and in due season, my good man 
 Thou shalt the lily truth know, or great Pan 
 Will from this craggy cliff bear me unseen 
 From this Eagle perch, high, with angry spleen; 
 And by Nemesis, that goddess of vengeance, 
 Would punish me eternally, — whose glance 
 Is to purity what winter's fangy frost 
 Is to the least of these delicate blooms, lost 
 Fore'er. Happiness from me then would fly, 
 Alas; my beauty and youth would deny 
 Me, ever they knew; for beauty, truth's blow, 
 Remains not in the hulk of falsehood low, 
 Which, as green vicious sore, comes o'er all. 
 Beauty leaves sin, like the soul flies with pall 
 From the mortal dead, cadaverous, cold. 
 Therefore, this axiom, truth I unfold: 
 For thee, dear friend, of this wondrous fate 
 I desire thy soul pure inviolate, 
 
88 PORTINIA 
 
 And unpolluted, as this dear lone iris, 
 
 Like an angel, this sweet fleur-de-lis, 
 
 Bespeaking in signs most benevolent 
 
 Its smiles, fulgent echoes of God, who sent 
 
 It to earth; and by its life didactic 
 
 Thou shouldst learn wisdom, and beauty's magic. 
 
 Visions auspicious thou too may yet see, 
 
 If thy mind be fully in tune with piety; 
 
 And thy passions burnished, by tongues of fire 
 
 Guide thee gently, up pinnacles higher, 
 
 And thou prove worthy of the glory crown, 
 
 Of which there is no fear, and thy renown 
 
 The vain pride of thy kindred, shall be great, 
 
 Seeing thy lofty mount in man's estate. 
 
 Which is thy honor's due, a diadem 
 
 Befitting to thine honest brow, a gem 
 
 Of gentility shalt thy coat of arms 
 
 Be, — and wanton eyes will covet thy charms, 
 
 Yet thou shalt walk in paths of rectitude. 
 
 Thy countenance will proclaim thy spirit food, 
 
 Which indicates the mind's trend, where-e'er found. 
 
 As sure as the hoof of night's treading bound 
 
 Trips on the heels of mortal day, ill spent, 
 
 Whose memory, conscience-prod, incontinent. 
 
 Come with me, Don Zeno, deep down the glen 
 
 Where birds build their tiny nests, and the wren 
 
 Will recite for us a legend story, 
 
 And the red-wing will chuckle in glory 
 
 To hear the magpie in its noisy clatter; 
 
 Then the whole feathered kingdom will chatter; 
 
 In grand chorus they'll join in joyous glee — 
 
 'Tis Nature's symphonic poem so free, 
 
 To make a leaden heart, which being rent 
 
 By some deep wound, in memory up-pent 
 
 Forget its reminiscent o'erhanging gloom 
 
 Mid diversions found, where Nature is groom. 
 
 This dame mother, a healer most divine, 
 
PORTINIA 89 
 
 Her sweet balm floats on breath of eglantine. 
 
 Yes, an eye through her the hand of God sees, 
 
 Unless blinded by some mighty disease, 
 
 A soul malady unyielding, stubborn, 
 
 And most pitiful in mortal forlorn 
 
 Having eyes, and seeing not, and ears plugged, 
 
 Heart ossified, and by venom drugged. 
 
 Those enmossed stones, color's toning rest 
 
 Becooling to languid mind, giving zest 
 
 To soul incarcerated, out-peeping, 
 
 Or romantic dreams, in fancy leaping. — 
 
 Yon begonia with odd brilliant leaves — 
 
 How dear in this Eden, in oozed crevices. 
 
 The prickly datura, with leaf dentated, 
 
 Here thrives, with poisonous pods satiated, 
 
 With narcotic juice, sleep-engendering; 
 
 And the cloven-hoofed satyrs dancing 
 
 By moon's pale streaks through foliage sifting 
 
 Awe inspiring, and grim shadows shifting. 
 
 Hark, the ring-dove is cooing so plaintive! 
 
 His mate is nesting her eggs genitive. 
 
 Oh, dear Nature, how lovely are thy ways, 
 
 And how melodious thy tuneful maze. 
 
 Thy dulcet muse, upon my heart doth fall 
 
 So gentle; and how I hear thy voice call 
 
 In clarion tones tender: thou dost speak 
 
 Imperial, — yet so cheering to the weak! 
 
 And then, how soothing thy matchless glory ! 
 
 Thy visage bespeaks thy heart, — head hoary, 
 
 Revered for maternity's gen'rous deeds — 
 
 God's mediation, through flower and weeds, — 
 
 His exalted ways do uplift so grand 
 
 Each Zephyr, that nods a leaf, at His command. 
 
 In amazing wonderment the ripe fruit 
 
 Comes so be-seasoned sweet as Dian's lute. — 
 
 Don Zeno, wilt thou give me cooling drink 
 
 From that limpid fount, overflowing brink? 
 
go PORTINIA 
 
 Thanks indeed, — how very kind and gallant! 
 
 Thou art a fine chaperon, so constant. 
 
 I love this picturesque cove so bland, 
 
 Which doth reflect that inimitable hand 
 
 Who made the earth, seas, stars, and blazing sun, 
 
 All things small and great, that swim, fly, or run. 
 
 The glinting blooms come forth at His loving, 
 
 Winter's blast cowers at His reproving; 
 
 Here's nothing to disturb our quiet rest, 
 
 Nor is there aught up-risen in my breast 
 
 To mar this sweet day so divine indeed; 
 
 I feel in my lone heart that I need 
 
 Thee, as the buds need the sun's teasing kiss. 
 
 Mortal happiness should not go amiss; 
 
 We should learn of birds and vine-clad bowers, 
 
 And harmony's reign in tiny flowers, 
 
 Indigenous here so ideal, sweet, 
 
 Lavishly out-strewn, broadcast, at our feet. 
 
 Thus the cycle of things so onward glides, 
 
 Each star in the heavens blue, joyous rides 
 
 Its Pegasus, — snorting horse, — at whizzing gait, 
 
 Mayhap shouting a halloo to jealous mate, 
 
 As it wings graceful curves, on foaming steed 
 
 In trackless space, kisses thrown — sighs do heed. 
 
 Our neighbor, the moon, peeks o'er the back fence, 
 
 When she's full of hilarious mirth, hence 
 
 As mellow and plump as pumpkin ; so huge 
 
 Up-mounts the sky, a mirage, in subterfuge. 
 
 Strange, Don Zeno, the moon is always full; 
 
 She's e'er a crescent, sharp as horns of bull, 
 
 And she's newborn every day, my dear; 
 
 She's on her last quarter each day in the year. 
 
 This may seem a riddle, but it's the truth: 
 
 Ask an astronomer, dear reader, youth. 
 
 Therefore few things seldom are what they seem, 
 
 But that does not make them false, nor a dream 
 
 Less real because we know it's mind's fancy. 
 
 Oft we speak of things subjective, tangibly. 
 
PORTINIA 91 
 
 We say sky; that's not exactly what's meant 
 
 Than saying "I thought" for dream's consequent. 
 
 My thoughts now are up-buoying, full-orbed : 
 
 I'm beginning to feel things; I'm absorbed 
 
 In deep philosophies, which come unaware. 
 
 Thy morning rhymes, and mien so debonair 
 
 Still ring in memory, as linnet's notes, 
 
 My soul so full, up-brimmed ; and it floats 
 
 In a shoreless sea, in a rudderless bark. 
 
 My obscure sight sees fleeing shadows dark. 
 
 Ah, yes, I see it all now, lucid, plain. 
 
 My mind clear, my good feelings I regain. 
 
 Joyous days like this may never come soon 
 
 To me; I'll thee tell in due season — the moon 
 
 Supine, and Hesperus, bear me witness 
 
 When I outvent my secret — canst thou guess 
 
 Thy destiny? — Ah, never fear; silence 
 
 Is oft golden indeed, and penitence 
 
 May kiss the feet of virtue; yea, its lips 
 
 Warm and sweet. Her tenacious arm grips 
 
 Virtue's virgin spirit; and unsmutched, 
 
 For penitence, is virtue's sister, touched 
 
 By conscience; that manifest anxiety 
 
 Comes to all, who listen to piety. 
 
 Dost thou, Don Zeno, hear the desert swells 
 
 Neptune's voice in potent rills ; where pebble shells 
 
 Gleam, pearly, from bottom, a virgin pink; 
 
 And golden fishes, whose eyes never wink, 
 
 Lave sportive, over bright sands, opal tints 
 
 Giving dalliance charming, rose pale glints, — 
 
 Offering gems royal, and ruby reds 
 
 Which beckon to us from their oozing beds? 
 
 Yea, these silent gorges may yet betimes 
 
 Give gold more lavish than Solomon's mines; 
 
 And, too, mayhap, rich in sapphires blue; 
 
 Also large eyed diamonds, glittering new: 
 
 Yes, and stones of pigeon's blood, dainty art, 
 
 As red as the dove's breast; with bleeding heart. 
 
92 PORTINIA 
 
 This trancing maze so immortal doth seem, 
 Yet on earth am I, or a blissful dream 
 Hath borne me hence to fairy mountain tarn, 
 Or I see through strange eyes; woof of this yarn, 
 Which I'm thus weaving, in fancy's shuttled loom, 
 Fabrics visionary, silken purple, bloom, 
 With which to veil my prisoned identity 
 So to hide my romantic entity. 
 Meantime, be not gloomed so sad, Don Zeno. 
 My tale, forsooth, may fascinate thee so; 
 Leastwise, thou shalt know the whole story clear 
 From a pure female heart, which thou shalt hear 
 And judge, like thou wouldst judge a ripened peach 
 Sent thee from sweet Dian's orchard beach. — 
 
 Now dear, over the leas let's go hying, 
 Chasing butter-flies, by fleckled wings flying, 
 In idle fancy dipping up and down, 
 Basking in sunbeams: blue, green, gold and brown; 
 So to dry the glaucous on gauzy wings — 
 Symbol of beauty, from memory springs. 
 The faun and satyr, in revel-sporting feats 
 Rouse the dreaming hare; in hopping bounds he re- 
 treats 
 Across the fenny marsh. The frothy clouds 
 Sailing under the blue — huge ghosts in shrouds! 
 The roving stag here comes for cooling draught, 
 When eluding the yelping hounds, un-caught. 
 The wild turkey haunts these ideal woods, 
 And bellowing buffalo doze, chewing cuds, 
 In gregarious bands and browsing herds: 
 This the paradise for all singing birds — 
 Vultures, too, wing over, seeking dead game, 
 And cougar lurks for blood, for self and dame. 
 
 That bed of blue bonnets smiling serene, 
 Harbingers of spring — each flower a queen 
 Of some silent heart, to whom a fond sigh 
 Is heaved: and suave genuflections comply 
 
PORTINIA 93 
 
 With floral forms, in flowery kingdom, 
 Where all is love, and none grouchy or grum, 
 And joy reigns in each bud that heaven sends, 
 And each strives to emit breath of sweetest blends. 
 
 I love to recline 'neath the hawthorn tree; 
 
 It's amusing to watch the honey-bee, 
 
 As it wooingly sips its tiny sup 
 
 From each swaying flower and buttercup, 
 
 Carrying rich pollen to mother queen: 
 
 A more devoted son was never seen! 
 
 He toils his life away for her winter's keep, 
 
 For during cold, dark days, nothing but sleep, 
 
 And general planning by the social hive 
 
 For the next summer's task, that it may thrive ; 
 
 Hoarding sweets during the blooming season 
 
 For man to wantonly filch without reason, 
 
 Ne'er counting the arduous work and cost 
 
 In love's labor from early spring till frost. 
 
 For thou knowest a working bee's dear life 
 
 Is only six weeks of laborious strife: 
 
 That in this time's period, his wings of gauze 
 
 Are worn out in labor's honored cause, 
 
 Valiantly doing love's duty, alas! 
 
 Ere he must into eternity pass, 
 
 And thereby guard 'gainst being a disgrace 
 
 To the noble honey-gathering insect race; 
 
 Collecting for her majesty bread and meat — 
 
 None which he, himself, ever lives to eat. 
 
 Therefore like all things earthly he soon goes 
 
 On last foraging buzz, 'mid pink and rose, 
 
 Ne'er to return, but helpless falls a prey 
 
 To some hungry bird's craw, before the day 
 
 Is half flown into night's shadowy span — 
 
 Its little spirit gone to join its god Pan, 
 
 In Elysian fields of blooming rye 
 
 Where all good little bees go, when they die. 
 
 A moral lesson from this might be learnt, 
 
94 PORTINIA 
 
 Considering the time by man that's burnt, 
 Vainly seeking for honey, not bee's make, 
 Which he finds bitter — a delusive fake. 
 When deep he quaffs, with hot, feverish lips, 
 Then the dregs of remose he humbly sips. 
 
 Before Vesper's twinkling eye in the west 
 Wakes from sleepy throne, my secret shall rest 
 In thy heart, for weal or woe. It may grieve 
 Thee little, my dear, when I unweave 
 My tale in temperaments simple, slow, 
 And in poetic mood, mild, sweet, and low. 
 And deep it must sink in thy inborn soul 
 Grown somewhat limp under doubt's control. 
 But here, nature's holy visage and groves 
 Apropos — her sweet spirit, Flora, roves, 
 And from her wings ambrosial dews distill, 
 Inspiring our hearts; with nectar upfill, 
 Burnishing our prayers, brightening love's blaze 
 Of immortality, that mysterious maze. 
 Then withal, a lucid wave of joy mute 
 Comes rolling — high-crested, murmuring lute, 
 Imparting a trembling, vibrant bliss 
 To the muse of verse : to my soul a kiss, 
 Healing the wounds in mortal dominion 
 Soaring on memory's golden pinion. 
 My Don Zeno, My Adonis, liege lord, 
 Listen to my heart's palpitating word, 
 And tender soever, so brimming with care 
 Behold my self-commitment unaware. 
 It may sound mysterious at this hour, 
 Coming inspired ; my secret dower, 
 My peculiar endowment, divine, 
 Clings tenacious like tendrils of woodbine, 
 Exuding honey-dew and fragrant sweets 
 With witching magic, my bosom so beats 
 In measured rhythm, enchanting wonderment 
 Of love tones, life's savoring condiment; 
 
PORTINIA 95 
 
 Giving relish, as summer clouds give rain; 
 Oozing into my vibrant soul's refrain; 
 Uplifting and exalting to heights boundless — 
 To my mother, Desrina, I love and bless. 
 Yes, sweet Desrina of whom thou didst hear, 
 Telling me of her tragic girlhood dear, 
 Gliding down yon river! Now I unbare 
 My burden to thee I've in secret borne, 
 Upon this marble altar now be sworn. 
 Having solemnly vowed to keep as gold 
 My secret inviolate, and unfold 
 To no mortal, not even to thy mother, 
 I then create thee counselor, brother 
 Of my heart — and all things in thee confide, 
 Knowing quite full well nothing shall betide 
 Thy holy promise, to whom thou dost make 
 A faithful pledge, and sacred oaths take; 
 And with such sweet patience and manly mood 
 Thou didst hear me in prophetic solitude: 
 Did not complain, mouth, curb, gainsay, or fret, 
 Thy spirit with meek despondency beset. — 
 
 Look! Don Zeno, that stony mountain ridge, 
 Grand view of distant farms and sylvan bridge! 
 Hear the deep murmur of the swaying pines, 
 Huge giants towering into vaulted confines 
 Heavenward: they pierce the eternal blue 
 That crowns them titanic, in the mirky hue. 
 The eagles above them can scarcely fly. 
 They hoist their lordly heads into the sky, 
 Hedged hereabouts by copsewood, craig, and cliffs. 
 Some psychic power in my breast uplifts, 
 And memories sacred reach my soul's fire, 
 Enshrining love, that beckons me higher. 
 Yes, through golden screens I yet see heaven, 
 Where great hosts of white swans, in flocks driven 
 By angels, in wondrous magic's glow, 
 Shrouded in spider's linen, white as snow. 
 
96 PORTINIA 
 
 The moon supine, I see her silver horn 
 
 Cross the vacant azure; she seems new born, 
 
 Her lone orbit in the star's streaming light, 
 
 Spanning heedless above, a dizzy height, 
 
 Over the dark, billowy ocean's roar 
 
 In phenomenal flight, like eagles' soar — 
 
 Committed purblind to the eternal deep, 
 
 'Neath engulfing heaven ever to sleep 
 
 On fathomless bed of dreaming solitiude, 
 
 Her silver locks in nectar dews imbued. 
 
 This crimson glow is love, abashing my cheek. 
 
 How deep this blush! Canst thou solder heart's leak 
 
 By contiguity of thy aching breast 
 
 Or by generous balm, hope's bequest? 
 
 Sweet as the honeysuckle's yawning breath 
 
 Floating on twilight zephyrs across the heath. 
 
 How mellow the spring of this verdant zone! 
 
 Wouldst thou be happy, dear, my love to own, 
 
 And wouldst my heart ever be thy earth shrine? 
 
 My protection be to thee a charge divine? 
 
 I'm sent, Don Zeno, from the skies to earth. 
 
 I came not, my dear, by a mortal birth, 
 
 But in a golden chariot here drawn 
 
 By twelve lily-plumed swans, and a snow-white 
 
 faun 
 On the track of two parallel sunbeams 
 Piercing earthward, like pure gold from theii 
 
 gleams. 
 I've come to pay back earth, in kind, her gold, 
 For my mother was taken from this wold. 
 Yes, Desrina, dear mother, with loving eyes 
 Is watching me tenderly, blessing my sighs. 
 I love her so, and my father Eros too, 
 For they are the dearest in heaven's blue 
 Beyond. — And for the pure love I bear them 
 I consented to become a mortal gem, 
 And thus I sprang to this glorious world, 
 Or rather by grace, sumptuously hurled, 
 
PORTINIA 97 
 
 Which I so love and bless with my power, 
 
 And thee, Don Zeno, with prince's dower, 
 
 Love's minion; and Eros and Desrina bless 
 
 And glorify thee, and honor and confess 
 
 Thy name as my affianced consort, bound 
 
 By the ties of earth and sky, and thus crowned 
 
 With garlands bright from a supernal bed 
 
 Which shall ever festoon thy manly head. 
 
 Thou know'st now whence I came, and my mystic 
 
 tale : 
 Bind it to thy memory, and ne'er fail 
 To keep sacred as my e'erlasting love. 
 But I'm not the only one from above: 
 Many angels on earth, most beauteous fair — 
 I feel their radiance, in magic air. 
 As steel feels the presence of loadstone 
 My heart feels polarity of virtues strown, 
 In measures of rhythmic agitation, 
 And sweet harmony in diapason. 
 
 Don Zeno, the angel at the river's falls 
 
 In turbid flow, was Desrina; her calls 
 
 Still I hear, and ever see her sweet face 
 
 So immortal and full of divine grace. 
 
 She rose from water with swans eleven 
 
 With golden wings; returned straightway to heaven 
 
 When seeing danger from me driven. 
 
 After she ascended a flaming meteor 
 
 Crossed the sky, emitting rainbow hues afar, 
 
 Causing a deep, solemn uproaring sound, 
 
 Reminding of huge bird that shook the ground, 
 
 As told by Indian legend, years agone, 
 
 When the bird took little Desrina on 
 
 To the royal heavens, beyond pale moon, 
 
 To Eros, the god of love, who did soon 
 
 Win her admiration, and all her love. 
 
 Now Eros and Desrina, models above, 
 
 Beyond the earth's winged clouds and chilly rain, 
 
98 PORTINIA 
 
 Where Jovian thunderbolts, music's strain, 
 Sweet and melodious as Triton's horn 
 Blown from briny back of sea-unicorn. 
 
 Yes, beauty is the heritage of love 
 On her throne, but love not exalt to prove 
 That smiling beauty doth at her side pose, 
 While love's wings hover beauty's budding rose; 
 Hence sweet love and beauty go hand in hand — 
 Beauty then is her child, at love's command, 
 Because beauty is objective alone, 
 While love is intangible, on her throne. 
 The parent of beauty then is love divine, 
 Whether on regal throne or at her shrine. 
 Yea, love in rags can make beauty a star, 
 Heaven's emblem — immortal scimitar — 
 The earth refulgent, but unlike Venus, 
 Queen of all the heavenly stars. For us 
 Her silken gleams ever blend most superb, 
 She smiles upon earth sweet as blooming herb. 
 Her eyes twinkle such admirations bland, 
 For the honor of her terrestrial hand: 
 The loveliness of Venus yet untold! 
 My flattering rhymes her beauty ne'er unfold; 
 'Tis beyond my stammering tongue's flow 
 For Venus' light, heaven's immortal glow. 
 Her forests bestrown with sweetest flowers, 
 The glens and coves the leafiest bowers, 
 Her song birds sing the angels' sweetest tunes. 
 Ah! she has the brightest, most witching moons. 
 Her rills sparkle like nectar's champagne 
 Bubbling from the mountain's copious vein: 
 Her fishes of most charming colors bold — 
 Scales of amethyst, ruby, pearl, and gold, 
 Fins and eyes lucent; their bedazzling pride 
 And argent perch reposing so magnified: 
 Her cressy cliffs the dream of all fair nymphs, 
 In shady nooks. The love Cupids for a glimpse 
 
PORTINIA 99 
 
 Linger mid bright flowers and gauzy wings 
 
 Of varied butterflies, sipping things. 
 
 Thou, Don Zeno, should taste a Venus date, 
 
 Its flavor most fragrant, the palate to sate. 
 
 Yes, dear, the planet Venus is the gem 
 
 Of the bright-eyed twinklers; a diadem 
 
 In the eternal heavens is her crown 
 
 Of glory, gleaming like diamonds down, 
 
 From her dizzy throne entwining her glows 
 
 And blessing earth with her prayers; and rainbows, 
 
 Curved beyond the beauty of Jupiter's gate, 
 
 So arched and begemmed, like Dian's temple great: 
 
 Her zephyrs the delicate air, sweet incense, fraught, 
 
 With odors convivial, and sighs caught, 
 
 As sweet as the dreams of love's own minions 
 
 Flying on heart's tempest and gold pinions, 
 
 By the light of refulgent clouds blending 
 
 A memory's fair beauty ne'er ending, 
 
 But e'er rising as the ghost of lost love 
 
 From capacious heart, silent as nesting dove. 
 
 Ah! yes, on my birth planet, queen of pearl, 
 
 Youth and beauty kiss love's feet, and unfurl 
 
 Her saintly wings, and shower balmy dew 
 
 Gentle, on all, small and great. Hold this true! 
 
 I dare say, for this is no phantasy 
 
 Of the mind, to confound earth-charms, or to play 
 
 With words and odious platitudes vain ; 
 
 But earth-love a mere shadow, and beauty slain 
 
 By jealous envy, and covetous eyes; 
 
 No twinkle of love here, but that soon flies 
 
 So outraged by ravaging, wolfish time. 
 
 The flowers here bespeak its dearth — sublime 
 
 Is its power on Venus to so blend 
 
 Its divine spirit to unselfish end. 
 
 The seas of my native orb, in crystal waves 
 
 Roll, in swells of harmony and semi-quaves. 
 
 The climbing sweet grape and lush muscadine 
 
 Perfume the meadows, like breath of pure wine; 
 
ioo PORTINIA 
 
 Her ambrosial sweets so fragrant withal, 
 From myriad fruits ripe from May till fall. 
 Nimble deer, antelope, and fleet gazelle 
 Play hide and seek, on blooming asphodel. 
 No savage beasts on Venus lurk for blood, 
 Nor snake, satanic emblem, in danky mud. 
 Satan, the prince of darkness, dare not land 
 On that Star, — 'Twas ne'er smutched by red hand. 
 White plumed swan of huge size, and peacocks gay 
 Bask, in mellow sunbeams, the livelong day, 
 Beautiful nymphs e'er young and candied sweet 
 Wreathing rich garlands, the love gods to greet. 
 
 Oh, dear orb! matchless in the trackless blue! 
 I bless thee, and my mother Desrina too. 
 Thou art mine own ! I could not love thee more, 
 My heart steeped in thy pride since days of yore. 
 My prayers are my greatest comfort now. 
 I shall ne'er forget thee, nor cease to endow 
 Thee with my feeble blessings, while eloigned 
 From thy benign grace; I hope to be subjoined 
 To thy love embalmed kingdom; I shall hope 
 And be happy on earth, though I may grope 
 In dark caves, as a lost spirit pining. 
 Tut! I'm happy, I'm dreaming, I'm dining 
 On sawdust, in aberration of mind 
 Crossing raged stream on floating logs untwined. 
 Yea, all flowers, buds, weed, and every plant 
 Magnified in beauty, and so fragrant 
 With such richness, to sting the sense of smell. 
 O happy spirit-land I love so well! 
 Because it lulled my soul to sweet rest 
 So dreamy 'mong eternal beauty blest; 
 Where all is peace and pleasantness divine, 
 And naught to mar, nor sorrow to pine ; 
 Nor death to embrace, or trammel our joy; 
 Where every sound is music's sweet haut-boy, 
 Vibrating from standard pitch, high or low, 
 
PORTINIA 101 
 
 All animal voices harmonize, so 
 
 Perfectly symphonic with Nature's song: 
 
 The elephant's trumpeting, deep and long, 
 
 In sweet accord with nightingale's descant, 
 
 And the crickets evening song, vesper's chant, 
 
 In perfect octaves with lion's bass refrain, 
 
 Which in turn blends with linnet's sweet strain: 
 
 The panther's scream and the lamb's singing bleat 
 
 Conforming counterpoint, in concord's beat: 
 
 Likewise, the tints, all blending, so agree — 
 
 No discord in hues, shades, grass or leaf of tree: 
 
 The voice of nymphs one grand harmony 
 
 In prayer, song, or in frolicsome plays. 
 
 Thou then canst now divine the rhythmic lays 
 
 And feel the soothing charms, and visions see 
 
 To lure thy soul; with her heaven majesty. 
 
 Dear Venus, I soon thy celestial sheen 
 
 Can see, on thy golden throne, as young Queen, 
 
 Or as beauty bride, adorned innocent, 
 
 In sumptuous regality content 
 
 To meet her honored groom's coequal hand, 
 
 In holy wedlock, a true lover's wand. 
 
 I shall look for thy twilight kiss supreme 
 
 Emerging from pale oblivion. 'Twould seem, 
 
 As thou peepest at the earth when the sun 
 
 Is shedding its good-night benediction, 
 
 And our song birds have homeward flown to rest, 
 
 To comfort faithful mates in hatching nest. 
 
 When the tired earth begins to yawn for sleep, 
 
 Then thou emergest from the trackless deep. 
 
 Fleet as meteor through un fathomed space 
 
 Thou dost wing on thy destined journey's race, 
 
 E'er duteous to thy honored mission, 
 
 Patrolling heaven's ether, in transition. 
 
 I know thou canst my echoing prayers 
 
 Hear, so plain, — I'm thy daughter, who declares 
 
 Thy glory, and venerates thy precious youth 
 
 Eternal, — thy beauty a divine truth. 
 
162 PORTINIA 
 
 Strange to think thy golden pinions did brood 
 
 My soul; and in memory's solitude 
 
 I still gambol on thy blooming bosom, 
 
 And drink nectarean juice, so welcome, 
 
 Pouring from thy opal founts immortal, 
 
 A glittering and gleaming ritual. 
 
 In my winged fancy I muse supine 
 
 On thy Elysian lawns green and fine, 
 
 Where the daffodils and daisies' scent 
 
 Perfume the ozone in magic wonderment. 
 
 Yes, thou hast wonders the earth never knew — 
 
 Jovian-brewed love, to make all hearts true. 
 
 I long to see thy harvest's golden grain 
 
 Swaying near the rose-scented meadows and lane, 
 
 And autumn's dazzling tints and shaded hues 
 
 Blushing with conscious pride ; and lambent dews, 
 
 Nature's sacred sanctum and holy head, 
 
 Offering sweet incense from censer shed: 
 
 O, Paradise that mortal eye hath seen, 
 
 Heaven's outspread glory! — Thou begemmed queen, 
 
 Showering love on all who kneel at thy shrine, 
 
 Embalming the soul that shall cease to pine, 
 
 Engendering life; at thine own command 
 
 Immortality by thy royal hand 
 
 Given all whom thou dost bosom retreat 
 
 'Neath cool, enchanted bowers, blooming sweet — 
 
 O, thou everlasting and silent orb! 
 
 Thou dost my mind thoroughly absorb! 
 
 I shall yet pay thee some sacrificial meed: 
 
 For thy maternity I'm grateful indeed. 
 
 I'd love to know what thy dower shall be 
 
 In Heaven's non-ending eternity; 
 
 And what princely star in the firmament 
 
 Thy love can win? What Cupid's honeyed dart 
 
 rent 
 Or wounded thy sweet feminality, 
 Or what monarch of less regality 
 
PORTINIA 103 
 
 Would presume to sue for thy gracious love? 
 Hast thou sweetheart immaculate above? 
 Or thou may'st be widow of some pale globe, dead, 
 And so phlegmatic, like stoics of old. 
 Then how long since wert thou to this orb wed? 
 Dost thou yet, with tears, bathe his whited tomb 
 cold? 
 
 Don Zeno, I hope my exalting ode 
 
 To Venus did much to inwardly thy load 
 
 To loose; and happiness real, I pray 
 
 Shall lure thee into Neptune's cooling bay, 
 
 Ere we adieu at closing of this day. 
 
 For I much yet may furthermore impart: 
 
 I desire to pluck earth-sorrows from thy heart, 
 
 Placing new lute in thy grasp, with gold strings, 
 
 At thy magic sweep lyric as thrush sings. 
 
 And thy songs shall all be new, and blending 
 
 As many pure wines, with incense outsending. 
 
 And thy faith in me shall be as huge lion 
 
 For strength, and as lofty high as Orion, 
 
 Sparkling in the zenith, love's good night, 
 
 As if 'twere full golden, a piloting wight. 
 
 In the calm Heaven's awing solitude, 
 
 Deep as infinity, no mortal e'er construed, 
 
 By profound meditation of the mind, 
 
 The extravagance of space unconflned, 
 
 Beyond the bourne of finite destinies 
 
 A wondrous mystery in embosomed skies. 
 
 I feel a deep gravity upon my soul. 
 Endless immortality before me stands, 
 On which I pillow my dauntless faith whole, 
 And I beckon to its outstretched hands. 
 Dearest Don Zeno, Thou shalt be my stay; 
 I divine to lead thee mid mossy glades 
 'Mong mellow hues and ripened fruits far away, 
 Down gladdened streams, love's richest shades, 
 
io 4 PORTINIA 
 
 Where we may muse supine and build temples 
 
 grand. 
 And sweet siren music shall sate our ears. 
 In this sacred bower we'll understand 
 Nature's holy communion, and love's tears 
 Shall cease to bestain the impassioned cheek. 
 And tenderest fairies shall nurse our wants: 
 Sparkling fountains of nectars they shall seek 
 And find in excessive flows, in these haunts 
 Sublime — beyond poet's rusty pen to tell; 
 Or if tipped with pure diamond neb, 
 Dipped into poesy's enchanted dell, 
 Then 'twould trip and stammer in mazy web. 
 Yes, it beggars description, tongue, or pen, 
 Where the spirit of Nature's majesty reigns 
 In sweet love-knots ; and brings our souls in ken 
 And contiguous to its sacred fanes. 
 Now Don Zeno, my mind, like the eagle free, 
 Flying on wings of lightning's majesty, 
 My heart unfettered by dark leprous sin, 
 And my soul is fearless, the right to win. 
 It pines for Venus' emerald fields vast, 
 Whose topography by mortal un-mapped, 
 Where the goddess of youth, by beauty surpassed : 
 For the elements of youth so wrapped 
 In beauty's Hymeneal robe, tender as dreams 
 Of Neptune for Amphitrite's virgin hand, 
 Yet in convenant of her heart's own themes, 
 Whence delicatest rhythms sweet and bland. 
 
 Ah, yes, as sure as the vaulted blue so high 
 
 Doth span the earth and seas, so crowned thereby, 
 
 Verily my destiny is fixed in thine, 
 
 As true as the words of poets divine; 
 
 My terrestrial mission, by angels blest, 
 
 And Heaven's portals offer benign rest. 
 
 A rosy charm hangs about thy face; 
 
 My heart for thee grows with potent grace; 
 
PORTINIA 105 
 
 My glorious childhood the gleaming past, 
 
 Now with mortal touch, blending fervency fast, 
 
 In my blooming soul, a flaming desire 
 
 For animate love to which I aspire. 
 
 And my heaving breast, with opiate ease 
 
 Now calm, as by hemlock draught, my doubt flees 
 
 Into oblivion's dark, dismal cave 
 
 Where the winged Psyche never flies 
 
 And Phoebus glints not, through sable skies: 
 
 Where ebon clouds their rayless mantles wave, 
 
 And black spectres grope by candle's light dim ; 
 
 Dance noiseless, in sportive dalliance grim. 
 
 I now see this mortal life like pure rose 
 
 Oped. Its fragrance inspiring out-flows: 
 
 Its benign influence, balm to heart sighs. 
 
 I no more my mind artfully disguise. 
 
 Thou art dear, Don Zeno! a perfect man — 
 
 An Apollo in physique; and great Pan 
 
 Doth admire thy mien and will bless thy herds, 
 
 For he is the god of fish, beast, and birds. 
 
 O, I'm full of joyous gladness; my sun 
 
 Hath dawned; my visions true, yea, I've begun 
 
 My destiny's visitant grace. I could dance 
 
 For happiness! Who would elude romance, 
 
 Coming full orbed, where poesy doth mount 
 
 Love waves, that spring from the heart's trickling 
 
 fount ? 
 Sweeter than breath of violets exhaled, 
 I've tasted divine love, so brimful-pailed. 
 My sinless soul doth glow like molten brass; 
 I'm in the bosom of earth's sacred mass. 
 My songs shall bring thee to that golden gate 
 Whose portal opes into a richer fate, 
 Where angels sing such melodious themes, 
 That sate the nerves, and fill my heart with bright 
 
 gleams 
 Of blissful immortality that doth shine 
 
106 PORTINIA 
 
 From that supernal kingdom superfine; 
 Where the chimes of eternal love sweetly ring, 
 And with silver tongues the nightingales sing. 
 
 Though 'tis blessed to be mortal, and feel 
 
 The up-swelling of the heart; yea, the zeal 
 
 Of new-born love, that steals gentle and mute 
 
 Into the bosom, soft as magic lute: 
 
 And thereby gains a fore-smack, and a thirst 
 
 For that pure ray immortal that doth burst 
 
 Anon, upon the meek and languid breast. 
 
 This love makes angels pine; they have confest 
 
 Jealousy for mortal beauty, and lives 
 
 So full of fervent passion, in their shrives 
 
 They oft acknowledge, to that bitter end; 
 
 And many divine prayers they upsend, 
 
 In meekness of heart, for mortal life benign, 
 
 So to taste this nectarean wine — 
 
 Such ineffable relish, born above, 
 
 Crowning those betided in throes of love, 
 
 Which comes so exulting, and oft befriends 
 
 A drooping soul, that to sweet beauty bends, 
 
 So tenderly inviolate. It lures 
 
 Dreamily into green bowers, though abjures 
 
 All shades of vice, that easily uptrip 
 
 Mortal proneness, which lands in Satan's grip. 
 
 I shall soon be engulfed, Don Zeno, deep 
 Into a mystic shrine, unfathomed leap. 
 I love to stand upon this misty throne, 
 Where I can brood on things psychic alone, 
 And with vision unclouded, so peaked high, 
 My mind undaunted, I see winged bliss nigh 
 For you and me, hovering so fire-pure, 
 In beauteous plumage, my eyes can't endure 
 The suspense, or refrain from a closer view 
 Of its very self, I see things so new. 
 I desire to embrace this bliss, and quaff 
 
PORTINIA 107 
 
 My thirsty fill — I'm too happy to laugh. 
 
 I dote upon the tinting of these themes. 
 
 My hope sparkles bright like the rippling streams. 
 
 I hear sweet music's voice that sates the air, 
 
 And impounds love-tunes in the heart so fair; 
 
 And brings up sweet rosemary dream's content 
 
 To my memory that so noiseless went 
 
 O'er mossy cliffs and into winding wood 
 
 Down green slopes on that bright morn when I 
 
 stood 
 Contemplating on thee, Don Zeno dear, 
 As thou slept serene upon flowers near. 
 That memory now comes back, with a smile 
 More softly, as I meditate the while 
 On thy rhyming emotions yet bottled 
 In my heart, like picture films unmottled, 
 Moving like a great panorama grand 
 Before my vision: I behold thy hand 
 Outstretched to me, so entreating and kind. 
 Ah! seldom a mortal maid doth e'er find 
 A paragon in the image of man, 
 And pure love so paramount that great Pan 
 Blesses thy flocks and manhood, and conveys 
 To me thy sweet munificence. Yet rays 
 Of a divine glint still cling to my breast ; 
 Their soft gleams radiate my heart. A rest 
 Soothing within pervades my conscious pride 
 And opens my soul like a musk-rose wide. 
 To a golden field of ripened fruit we seek. 
 Here on earth we can do good ; full-hearted, speak 
 To the cheerless, and by our lives dispel 
 Sorrows from the tearful eye, and quell 
 The aching breast. As we onward must speed, 
 Let our minds be full of joy, and take heed 
 That in meekness we go most humble. 
 We'll bestow flowers, that none may stumble, 
 Nor the poor chide; but we'll commend and cheer 
 
io8 PORTINIA 
 
 All with whom we meet, and unfold so clear 
 Our mission pure ; like the voice of Neptune, 
 Ringing on the ocean waves, as the moon 
 Climbs out of the surging deep, full to her brim, 
 And scales the sky; while fleeting clouds bedim 
 The smile of her face and classic reverence. 
 Yea, soon, my dear, we will surely commence 
 Our fated destiny — the time is most pregnant 
 With opportunity, the blooms fragrant, 
 And our lives full of hope's vintage so sweet. 
 E'en love's memory kisses beauty's feet. 
 Beauty meanwhile seeks votaries above, 
 While her vows are made to the god of love. 
 Now most noble Don Zeno, to my tale 
 Of flowery rhyme thou didst heed: and fail 
 Not to add smiling magic's tender eyes, 
 As we linger under whispering skies: 
 While the sun paints the west a golden hue, 
 And white clouds patrolling 'neath heaven's blue, 
 Their shadows, so faint, growing more slender, 
 The distant azure now blends so tender; 
 And the nesting birds soon their evening lay, 
 That good-night vesper, to departing day 
 Chanting in many keys their songs and pipes, 
 Calling home, each, its mate. The long-billed snipes 
 Too, betimes, wend homeward, on lazy wing, 
 As the night birds wake, and begin to sing. 
 All things in life have some duty to perform: 
 Some birds take delight weathering the storm, 
 While others, like mortal cowards, with fear 
 Hide in affright, till the sky 'bove is clear. 
 Yes, dear, upon this glorious earth we've met ! 
 I'll tell thee something more soon, but not yet 
 Will I make final reply, good forever. 
 We can linger some time, ere we sever 
 To meet again on the hopeful morrow. 
 I know thou wilt disenthrall that sorrow 
 From thy manly bosom, for on this mount 
 
PORTINIA 109 
 
 I'll meet thee betimes at morn, by yon fount, 
 Or I may tell thee this day — yes, I'll tell 
 Thee true, this holy day — and thy heart quell 
 Or more rage. I have purpose in delay. 
 Thou must know, a woman's love is no play. 
 But be truly patient, and treachery 
 Will ne'er sting thy soul, nor tears well thine eye. 
 Be sure thou art true, withal, not extreme 
 With fault finding, and not ready to deem 
 Others wanton, and unworthy, before thee, 
 Though in great doubt as to their gold purity. 
 Is thy heart undefiled, — white as ethereal snow, — 
 As crystal as a dewdrop? Dost thou know? 
 Ah, dearest, be not taken by surprise! 
 Thou art near perfect, yet thou canst not rise 
 Higher than mortal; a rill, though limpid pure, 
 Cannot rise above its source. Hence be sure 
 Thy heart-fountain ripples transparent — clear: 
 Then let thy speech be golden, and all fear 
 Shall leave thee. Yet let not thy silent tongue 
 Freeze to thy palate: it's a tuneful harp 'mong 
 Thy friends for good, at the opportune time, 
 Either in prose, blank verse, or lyric rhyme. 
 
 Lo, yon clouds, like mountains in the east-sky, 
 I see great beasts at the horizon high! 
 Large and small, I behold a caravan 
 Of soldiers and generals: they now span 
 The valley and peaks, a grim phalanx bold, 
 A multitude in the heavens untold. 
 Yes, I discern the army of great Mars 
 Mustering soldiers for war, mid the stars 
 To fight against "The prince of the power 
 Of the air." Satan out of his dower 
 Roves by stealth, or in great temper flies 
 Beyond his prescribed pale: in rage he tries 
 To invade the domains of Desrina, 
 My own mother's realm, Yea, and Diana, 
 
no PORTINIA 
 
 The dear virgin-goddess of love divine, 
 Reigning from her pearl and gold-gemmed shrine, 
 Hath seen this devil, suave with brazen face 
 Flying in pomp across forbidden space. 
 But our god Mars doth make Satan quiver. 
 At the sight of truth he begins to shiver. 
 He's a cringing coward — ne'er faces the right; 
 Doing evil versute under shroud of night. 
 
 Yes, my dear, let's go up this mount higher, 
 
 Where we can behold the sunset's gold pyre. 
 
 The clouds seem in family devotion: 
 
 They pause near the sun's flaming altar. The ocean 
 
 Sends up tints of her reflected majesty glad 
 
 In good-night waves, to such a parting sad. 
 
 Leaving his throne, and his power disenthrall, 
 
 Each cloud shoots up a little silken pall. 
 
 Likewise, each has its distinct color streak 
 
 Gradating from base to towering peak — 
 
 Fitting adieu to the dethroned king of day! 
 
 And at his setting I must hie away, 
 
 By twilight's mellow and lingering glow, 
 
 Before sluggish night her black mantles throw 
 
 Athwart my lone path, as I wend unseen 
 
 My journey mid flowers and leaves so green. 
 
 Yea, Don Zeno, I know thy inmost love 
 
 For me is mortal-pure, and far above 
 
 The love, so called, from selfishness brewed, 
 
 Or that for hire, bought, and oft, alas! rued. 
 
 If its price should take heel, or evaporate, 
 
 No earth judge can this love adjudicate. 
 
 I have no dower of glittering gold 
 
 To offer at thy feet; I'll not be sold; 
 
 But in love I'm endowed beyond measure: 
 
 My wealth can not be gauged by earth-treasure. 
 
 Dear, I know of no sweeter destiny 
 
 Than what is nigh — to it my soul would fly. 
 
PORTINIA in 
 
 I'll be young forever, like a rippling spring: 
 
 To a zenith high my spirit shall cling. 
 
 My youth shall not be gnawed on by time's teeth; 
 
 My eyes shall never look upon sin's sheath, 
 
 Nor meet it 'neath the blue delicate sky. 
 
 I'm not for death — I'm too happy to die. 
 
 Death comes by sin, as sure as the night scuds 
 
 From the sun's dawn, or as sure as the buds 
 
 Are called forth by his beam's gentle breathing. 
 
 True, as in mortal life, all are wreathing 
 
 A flowery gird; some idol to gown, 
 
 Or some goal to cap with ambition's crown. 
 
 The pinions of my will now so full-fledged, 
 
 My heart is plumed, my desires firmly wedged 
 
 To this earth, and to thee, dear Don Zeno! 
 
 Yea, to thee, first of all, I came, I trow. 
 
 My boon is to be happy ; and elate, 
 
 Not selfish happiness, carnal ingrate. 
 
 My cravings for Desrina, my mother, 
 
 Are now more appeased, and sadness further 
 
 Eloigned from my new-born joys and hopes. 
 
 My mind no more takes long flights and elopes 
 
 Into the fathomless heavens, sublime, 
 
 Like carrier pigeon ; weary returns betime — 
 
 My soul up-strung like a "Strad" violin, 
 
 That awaits wizard touch. Then sweet themes 'gin, 
 
 And e'en notes more lyric than these may rise, 
 
 Enamored with all passioned melodies: 
 
 Swelling higher, and higher still, up-send 
 
 Harmonies that with angel voices blend, 
 
 Charming all beauty, like opiate sops, 
 
 Or filling its eyes, with rheum's crystal drops, 
 
 Reminding of operas gone, and scenes sped, 
 
 Without hope of returning whence they fled. 
 
 Some lurking memories that snare our muse 
 
 Oft without rhyme, our false idols diffuse 
 
 A noxious music, from poisoned lyre's throat, 
 
ii2 PORTINIA 
 
 Which haunt our wakeful nights, with dreams that 
 
 gloat 
 The eyes, and rack the brain with nightmare's daze. 
 Visionary figments; a mind's fitful maze. 
 There's many a fair maid to deception wed, 
 And her love-amperes vibrate conscience dead. 
 If our sincerity like electric volts 
 Could be tested, the heart would have less jolts. 
 The elements of beauty are divine, 
 Feeding on love's ambrosia, so benign. 
 Come then, hand in hand, with me. We'll ascend 
 The topmost pinnacle, and so transcend 
 Our minds, in region's eternal abyss. 
 No! No! — I'll not give thee my soul kiss, 
 So ill timed — 'tis with my heart thou wouldst play ! 
 But, for me pull yon lot of jonquils gay, 
 Now, upon this granite peak, enmossed green 
 The last rays of the sinking sun can be seen. 
 The Mayflowers below us are sighing 
 On every side ; they're on us spying. 
 Ah, what a happy place from which to view 
 A glorious landscape, and the sun, adieu! 
 Here we'll kneel in quiet evening prayer, 
 Remember to give thanks for day so fair. 
 I love this mount ! Let's here on the morn come. 
 O! shall we meet in love's Elysium? 
 Don Zeno, I desire thine eyes to run 
 The heavens, to left of the setting sun, 
 At this angle. I'll go yonder to pray 
 'Neath the huge o'erhanging cliffs, so to sway 
 My soul in silence, to thee, mortal prince. 
 I may be thine, let my prayer convince; 
 When thou canst the glint of my natal home 
 See with thy hazel orbs, then for me come. 
 I mean, when thou beholdst the evening star 
 Venus, from her golden throne so far, 
 Come to me; yea, dear, in haste to me fly, 
 And thy answer to thy day's colloquy 
 
PORTINIA 113 
 
 Will be in my face. If full of glory 
 
 Thou canst see, thus thou wilt know the story; 
 
 If my visage collied as opacous night, 
 
 Thou canst meekly discern the answer right, 
 
 Yes, Don Zeno, now watch whilst I pray. 
 
 My love may be for thee: why dost thou fray? 
 
 Sacred is the soul that's so confiding, 
 
 Blessed the tongue that bears a good tiding! 
 
 Truly, when thou canst Vesper's twinkling smile 
 
 Behold, I'll tell thee yea or nay: the while 
 
 Be calm, do not tremble, and so agazed. 
 
 Thou shouldst be full of trust, with faith upraised. 
 
 Do not so mournful sigh, mortal man. 
 
 Thee will I bless — thine eyes the azure span. 
 
 Would by magic wand, from this bud, could make 
 
 Fair maid for thee, like myself, than to break 
 
 Thy languorous heart, and drive to lover's death ! 
 
 Thou hast truly said there's but one thin breath 
 
 Between the dead and the happy living. 
 
 Be therefore more generous and forgiving. 
 
 I go hence to commune with those above, 
 
 And petition to graciously approve 
 
 My carnal choice, in thy manly heart; 
 
 And my dear mother will divinely impart 
 
 To my soul what I can do; I'm her child. 
 
 She will come to me in this forest wild. 
 
 Yes, my sweet mother, Desrina, will guide 
 My languid breast, and let no ill betide. 
 At her touch, my spirit buoyant will soar, 
 And she will on me elixir of life pour. 
 But no lead can fathom this human fear, 
 Yet I hear tuneful songs of birds so near, 
 Which cheer me at this grave and crucial hour, 
 And assure to me my virgin power, 
 Increasing with enchantment full blown, 
 And so intertwined my spirit hath grown. 
 O, thou throned Dian, goddess of marriage 
 
ii 4 PORTINIA 
 
 Divine! direct my lone path, and assuage 
 
 This anxiety up-pent, so mortal. 
 
 I must forget I'm from heights imperial. 
 
 Though nymph indeed, 'twere from Venus I came. 
 
 I'm like ring-dove, meek, way-worn, and wing-lame. 
 
 But on great Jove my heart I now resign; 
 
 And Neptune with beauteous eyes, that shine 
 
 With sparkling fire, and flame, lighting my fate. 
 
 They smile on my soul ; in patience I wait. 
 
 Now, Don Zeno, I hie to yon bower. 
 
 I'll pray in mind heart and spirit. The hour 
 
 Speeds nigh : the sun is now most half to bed ; 
 
 Its blinking eyes mighty golden tears shed 
 
 At parting from many beauteous scenes. 
 
 Soon indeed, my dear, the celestial sheens 
 
 Of my orb, Venus, and her lambent blend 
 
 Through heaven's blue abysm, she will out-send 
 
 Her mighty searchlight, to see if all's well, 
 
 And to earth, her sister, where few angels dwell. 
 
 Be then at thy tower — a soulful task! 
 
 Angels may serve thee, if thou art steadfast, 
 
 And pure in mind, and trusting, and forswear 
 
 Thy potent gloom, and that princely smile wear 
 
 At this bewildering hour, so intense, 
 
 In watching for a fateful ray, from thence. 
 
 The vaulted heavens I now see begemmed 
 And festooned for some honor's diademed, 
 The coronation of some beauty queen, 
 Or the celebration of some holy scene 
 Commemorating some sacred romance 
 Above — where all things imbued in fragrance 
 Of purest wine — my vision's scope so fine. 
 Don Zeno, I see things truly divine, 
 And by this unexpected glory dazed, 
 I'm so happy now, my buoyancy raised. 
 All this ethereal grandeur streaming 
 May be for our good fortune gleaming. 
 
PORTINIA 115 
 
 The firmament now full of fantastic wings, 
 
 Of butterflies huge, whose brilliancy flings 
 
 An opal dazzle, from the sun's decline. 
 
 From these flecked wings, as large as swans supine, 
 
 Or as broad as mountain eagle's pinions, 
 
 Yet more uplifted, by spirit minions — 
 
 Behold, the dome of heaven now upscreened, 
 
 In gold, silver, and ruby blends, so sheened 
 
 By these winged figures, immortal tints. 
 
 Wherefore, Don Zeno, these supernal glints? 
 
 Across the void and milky way they span; 
 
 They're drilling, an edict's floating ban, 
 
 Mayhap to interdict, and our union foil. 
 
 Heaven be praised, they gracefully recoil; 
 
 And now, fading fast from my psychic view, 
 
 Now there's no cloud of sorrow 'neath the blue. 
 
 To yonder cliff I go, the shrine of Jove, 
 
 Where bleeding hecatombs and vows for love 
 
 Have been sacrificed, to Dian's holy priests. — 
 
 Here great Pan hath celebrated many feasts. 
 
 Adieu, dear Don Zeno, till thou shalt call 
 
 For me, after the eye of Hesperus doth fall 
 
 On thy wan and cadaverous count'nance. 
 
 Be brave, be a young god, for furtherance 
 
 Of thy faith and honor, in this good cause, 
 
 So swayed by fatality's iron jaws. 
 
 Ah, well! 'Twas to be so, I knew, I knew — 
 
 It's our destiny, Don Zeno! Adieu, Adieu. — 
 
 PORTINIA'S PRAYER 
 
 "O! most gracious gods, of ocean and skies, 
 
 And the beauty-goddess of love benign — 
 
 To the queen of heaven's own paradise, 
 
 And to holy angels, with hearts divine, 
 
 To my own mother, Desrina, I bend 
 
 My humble soul, in spiritual prayer; 
 
 In adoration of love, I commend 
 
 To thee my mortal cares, and from hands fair 
 
n6 PORTINIA 
 
 I ask blessings from every throne above: 
 
 I have offended none I need to be blest. 
 
 Pour upon my earth-pilgrimage thy love! 
 
 By grace divine, give me supernal rest 
 
 And assurance of thy blessings so high. 
 
 Give me Don Zeno, and brim his soul full 
 
 Of love, wisdom, and righteousness, so I 
 
 Shall feel in him a magic force to pull 
 
 Earthward my ethereal longings felt. 
 
 Give him heart and gladness, meekness of dove. 
 
 O! thou exalted king, who hath power to melt 
 
 The ocean's ice-bergs — thou eternal Jove! 
 
 Baptize me in thy fount's pure lucid waves, 
 
 And engulf my terrestrial cares in the deep, 
 
 Or cast them into oblivion's caves. 
 
 O, give me thy immortal beauty's sleep ! 
 
 And thou, Venus, goddess of love's dower, 
 
 Deified beauty, and female passion's flame, 
 
 Calm my heart, make me earth's sweetest flower. 
 
 Give me Don Zeno, my supremest aim. — 
 
 O! gentle Muse of love, cadence my pleas. 
 
 To the most high, on thy linnet-tongued lyre, 
 
 Evoke the Siren's strains, from southern seas, 
 
 In my name; to the gods of sacred fire. 
 
 Dearest Neptune, thou sea-born god of tides 
 
 And the emerald deep, who dost billows 
 
 Cradle, in thy mighty arms — thy sweet voice guides 
 
 And lulls thy sea nymphs, on frothy pillows, 
 
 To such blissful dreams that to earth unknown — 
 
 Soothe thou my sighing breast for Don Zeno! 
 
 Command that thy sonorous conch be blown, 
 
 In my honor, that I may hear and know 
 
 By its vibrant echoes, that I am blest 
 
 To the full, in thy distilled odors sweet, 
 
 And that my mortal purpose hath found rest, — 
 
 That Don Zeno is mine ever to greet. — 
 
 Sweet Dian, of Hymen's sacred altar! 
 
 Thou dearest virgin empress of heaven, 
 
PORTINIA 117 
 
 Impregn my soul with dews from thy holy star, 
 
 As love's heritage, from thy throne given. 
 
 Now, I see sceptered hands, and hear Siren tunes; 
 
 My dull brain reels, it vibrates; a voice calls. 
 
 I see luminous figures, and peerless moons. 
 
 My soul is rising! Behold now it falls 
 
 To silent earth ; now, nymphs, and gods, in tears, 
 
 Marching to some slow rhythm, cadenced in sorrow 
 
 Like death's solemn tread, and mumbling fears. 
 
 My mind opacous I bid good-morrow 
 
 To all hope: I'm deaf, dumb, and spirit blind. 
 
 I smell the rancid breath of morbid hell: 
 
 My memory fled, my way can I find? 
 
 O Destiny, enshrine my soul ! Farewell ! 
 
 A delusion, a trance! The heavens ran 
 
 As melted wax, my inward heart by pity torn 
 
 It beseemed, by mighty leviathan 
 
 Swallowed, which then was very hell, forlorn. 
 
 'Twas a dream, a horrid dream! I lost my sense 
 
 And groped in woeful pain; hell's fanged teeth 
 
 Seized my soul in vengeance, grim recompense. — 
 
 To heaven's saints divine I now bequeath 
 
 My trembling form, and benighted spirit cold." — 
 
 Don Zeno! Don Zeno! My liege love god, 
 I'm thine — I tell thee, I'm thine! I make bold 
 To give my life and love's sceptered rod 
 In thy keeping, a warder, to fight Satan, 
 Who vainly tried to impeach my prayers. 
 Heaven be exalted, evermore; the ban 
 To our espousal now Dian declares 
 Revoked, void — I'm ensconced in thy arms. 
 Don Zeno, thou shalt be my mortal charms. 
 
Book 111 
 
 DON ZENO TO PORTINIA 
 
 Portinia! my shining star, my life's weal, 
 Do smile upon me! I'm transmuted; I feel 
 My sorrow hath like full fledged eaglets flown, 
 And tumultuous fears that I had sown 
 Now fused into love's pure educing gleams. 
 Ah, now I'll harp on harmonious themes, 
 My fondest hopes and prayers magnified. 
 My soul hath been by empyrean fires tried. 
 
 goddess! from thy sacramental cup 
 Pour into my heart's void that balmy sup, 
 From the Pierian fount of poesy divine! 
 Dearest, I'm new-born from this sacred shrine. 
 My beauty-gem sparkles for me at last: 
 
 I'm holding her in my hungry arms fast, 
 Close to my heaving bosom that vibrates 
 My diaphragm — my kiss unsatiates 
 My smouldered passion; for thee, Portinia dear, 
 I've won! Thank holy Heaven, I've no fear; 
 Thou art mine henceforth, forever I know. 
 Those cerulean orbs ne'er looked quite so 
 Perfectly heavenly to me before. 
 
 1 must anon tether my soul lest it soar 
 
 To blissful realms beyond this pale or sphere. 
 Portinia, how can love inviolate deter 
 My ardent heart's Heaven besprent desire 
 That's been by celestial flames set on fire? 
 And entuned to immortal spirits high 
 Whose exulting passions vibrate the sky, 
 And quiver my frame as an aspen leaf! 
 O think of my reward! I have slain grief, 
 The which is merely a carnal ailment, 
 Alien to the soul's platonic content. 
 Venus, thy godmother, bespeaks thy glory 
 To earth, e'en though it be in allegory — 
 
 118 
 
PORTINIA 119 
 
 Ethereal ensign, with fulgid embrace 
 Shines on mortal life with refining grace, 
 Sweet as melrose, though recumbent afar, 
 Yet with brilliance like glittering scimitar. 
 'Tis Vespers at eve-tide, to the love-lorn 
 Then a blessing benign at early morn. 
 
 Venus, dear planet, with golden beams 
 Let me kiss thy virgin and resonant themes; 
 Or a molt-feather from thy magic wing 
 Shed on me, and my lyre up-tune to sing 
 
 Thy enchanting refrains! Such rhythms divine 
 On thy redolent breath waft, benign. 
 
 1 shall e'er bless thee in memory's prayer 
 For committing Portinia, thy daughter fair — 
 And in divinest love that e'er shall live 
 
 In eternity, I'll endue and honor give, 
 
 By casting humble obeisance as I greet, 
 
 While showering heaven blooms at thy feet. 
 
 My joy, with that morbid fear un-commixed, 
 
 On thee dear, thy dower anon, I'll fix, 
 
 Bequeathing lands and cattle, rivaling 
 
 Job of old. Gold and silver I shall fling 
 
 Into thy coffer, as my faith to prove. 
 
 Would I owned the planet Jupiter above! 
 
 I would give it thee for wedding present, 
 
 And stock it with Dian's fawns to browse content, 
 
 On emerald lawns, and buds embryo, 
 
 And nibble the cliffs, that with verdance grow. 
 
 Its forests I would fill with nightingale, 
 
 With laughing thrush, bobolink, and piping quail, 
 
 And all feathered singers of heaven and earth. 
 
 Thy lily-white swans should be without dearth, 
 
 Swimming upon the lake's placid bosom, 
 
 With supreme grace — fish, gold and platinum, 
 
 With argent fins, and those with eyes of pearl, 
 
 Should lave supine, in the cool rills that swirl 
 
 And giggle over pebbles with opal 
 
 Tints, and rays refracted by prisms crystal. 
 
120 PORTINIA 
 
 And all flowers known to botany's kingdom 
 
 In Jupiter I'd brood with sweeter blossom. 
 
 The rose, the queen of heaven's own garden, 
 
 I'd magnify; and the desert and glen 
 
 For thee should diffuse an odor divine, 
 
 Alike for thy glory and honor fine. 
 
 'Bove all this, I have treasure surpassing — 
 
 A heart's pure love, that long hath been fasting 
 
 For its affinity, lo these many moons, 
 
 And hath been bottled up, so like cocoons 
 
 Which yield finest silk and damask raiment ; 
 
 Likewise my heart shall produce in wonderment, 
 
 Since I'm thy purveyor, thy soul to bless. 
 
 O happy draught of vintage, from love's press, 
 
 My brain dizzy, as though on wine 'twere drunk. 
 
 joy! 'Tis that brooding fear I have sunk. 
 
 1 now see such sparkling bliss on viewless wing, 
 Why all sounds are harmonious, and sing 
 Rhythms divine, and heaven's breath on breezes 
 Cadenced in sweet diapason, that eases 
 
 And blandishes my once tumultuous heart, 
 And to it most sacred unctions impart. 
 
 for voice of sirens, on Zephyr's throne, 
 That I might joyous sing, to thee, my own, 
 To thee, Portinia, yet in my arm's embrace, 
 While Hesperus looks on, with smiling face; 
 And sheds upon us Hymen's nectar dews, 
 That shall consecrate our love, and transfuse 
 Our spirits with virtue's grace, till we come 
 One in unison's purpose, as the hum 
 
 Of bees' gauzy wing in same hive maintain 
 A social harmony sweet and plain; 
 Thus awaiting spring buds to ope and ensue 
 With rich pollen, the bees to their thighs glue. 
 
 A buoyancy of pride dilates my soul! 
 
 1 snap my finger at sorrow's grim scroll, 
 And thou, Beelzebub, of dissonant woe! 
 
PORTINIA 121 
 
 Thy blatant majesty so false must go. 
 
 Thou Satan, thy misspent endeavors slain, 
 
 Thou ebon-faced devil with grief's refrain — 
 
 Though incarnate, thou art of wisdom scant, 
 
 But full of vanity, concomitant, 
 
 Roving the earth seeking whom to ensnare, 
 
 The pure defaming, whose virtues most fair; 
 
 Glorying in vituperations truly base, 
 
 Thy venom outflung to the human race. 
 
 Thou victim of Heaven's revenging ire, 
 
 The prophets beshrew thee with oracular fire! 
 
 Angels of grace contemn thy cunning gaze! 
 
 The celestial realm loath that fuming blaze! 
 
 A saffron tail with green blemishing flame 
 
 Marks thy flight and thy everlasting shame. 
 
 Lucifer, thou sower of dismal doom, 
 
 Thy lying words blight virtue's bud and bloom, 
 
 And thy wings begrimed from hell's misery, 
 
 Where engulfed forever thou shouldst be. 
 
 How fraught with spiteful jealousy and bane 
 
 Thy pusillanimous stealth! Ne'er again 
 
 Shalt thou be permitted joy to embrace ; 
 
 Thy cowering heart too mean to e'er face 
 
 The right, unless by perversion versute. 
 
 Thou hast the chicanery to try imbrute 
 
 The orisons of a saint, and to pry 
 
 Into very Heaven, from whence thou wert thrown, 
 
 Wherein thou didst try to set up thine own 
 
 Realm of monarchy. An imperial 
 
 Traitor thou didst aspire; therefore didst fall 
 
 To insuperable depth, — thy fuming thrall. 
 
 Thou wouldst be usurper to God's throne of grace. 
 
 Now a motley serpent without a trace 
 
 Of good in thy witching charms to deceive, 
 
 Once fully in thy power, no reprieve 
 
 Of mercy dost thou grant, nor gleam of truth 
 
 From those greenish gorgon eyes. Ah, forsooth, 
 
 The world is speedily finding thee out. 
 
122 PORTINIA 
 
 Like in Heaven, thou shalt be put to rout, — 
 
 Eternity too short for thy penance, 
 
 Thou dragon ! Hades too good for thy manse. 
 
 But get thee hence, thou demon of despoils! 
 
 Why art thou not in hell with thy turmoils? 
 
 And thus eloign thy benighted spirit 
 
 Deep into that molten, sulphuric pit. 
 
 Portinia, dear, I'm o'erbrimmed with joy's bliss; 
 
 I am only half in the body: this 
 
 Mortality is from me ebbing fast. 
 
 My life seems transmuted into realms vast, 
 
 Where I glint celestial light's cheering blaze, 
 
 From whence all gloom hath been expunged and 
 
 razed. 
 My love is now growing to its full orb, 
 Heaven's music doth so my soul absorb. 
 Forthwith my golden visions come like a sundart 
 Into the arena of my swelling heart. 
 
 loftiest muse with love's damask wing, 
 With pure gleesome joys I hear thy chanting. 
 Thy gentle rhythms grasp my being as night 
 Shadows lengthen indistinct beyond sight. 
 
 1 now hear the sun's rays kiss the flowers 
 Adieus so sweet; now the zephyr's fond hours 
 Come anon to balm each bloom with a pearl; 
 And silently other bud's eyes unfurl 
 
 To prepare for Aurora's crowning dawn, 
 
 While dallies the moon's beamlets on earth's lawn, 
 
 With argent smiles; while I dream, and now feel 
 
 Thy magnetic soul into my heart steal 
 
 Softly, as the footfall of limping hare 
 
 Upon the virgin snow in the starlit air — 
 
 What a detergent thing is divine love 
 To a wounded spirit, tender as dove 
 Cooing to nesting mate near ocean's tide, 
 To lend cheer to genitive task, and guide 
 
PORTINIA 123 
 
 Its joys to the days when their callow brood 
 
 Will engross parental ties, supplying food. 
 
 A theme transporting is love's vesper song! 
 
 How inclined it is to placate a wrong ! 
 
 How holy is its temple of devotion! 
 
 Where it reigns there is divinist lotion. 
 
 Its symptoms are self-denial, benign, 
 
 And its prayers to Heaven condign. 
 
 Yea, Portinia, I'm full of happiest pain ! 
 
 My sacred gift, thou art from Venus' fane. 
 
 For earth, I love thee most too much I fear. 
 
 My heart shall be cogent, to give thee cheer. 
 
 What Eve's were to Adam thy smiles to me, 
 
 While my joys are divine you plainly see; 
 
 And my happiness is beyond measure, 
 
 To devote life to thee my greatest pleasure. 
 
 My spirit, like swan-down light, so elate, 
 
 As from it joy did demons extirpate. 
 
 I shall give thee crown inwove with golden eyes 
 
 And amaranth flowers, from paradise, 
 
 Sacred bloom once by the tree of life flowered, 
 
 But to Heaven sent, where since it hath bowered 
 
 The throne of beauty; there blows by the fount 
 
 Of immortal love, in numbers beyond count. 
 
 What bliss to walk with thee, along the banks 
 
 Of the pure river of life, giving thanks 
 
 For the blessings we shall have enjoyed on earth, 
 
 Wherein, this crucible, we must our worth 
 
 Prove: those diseased here, with morbid sin, 
 
 Can never pass the pearly gates, within 
 
 Heaven's kingdom, impurpled with roses, 
 
 Where the streets bestrewn with violets and posies 
 
 And where the sun's rays we shall never need, 
 
 Basking on laurel shores — our divine meed, 
 
 Or dreaming meditative on bejeweled beach. 
 
 O may it be our destined fate to reach 
 
 Those Elysian shades, where the limpid rills 
 
 Sing sweet hosannas, whose music up-fills 
 
124 PORTINIA 
 
 Heaven's vaulted and regal dome so high, 
 Whose melodious raptures shall sanctify 
 Our immortal souls, blithesome and refined : 
 On memory's youthful joys we'll oft be dined. 
 
 Ah, sweet Portinia! my theme now thy reward 
 
 To nurture on this terrestrial sward; 
 
 To love thee and cherish thy desires bright, 
 
 As for her purblind chicks, day and night 
 
 The lark tenderly careth — its life doth give 
 
 To its helpless unfledged that they should live, 
 
 And soar into the expanse of heaven, 
 
 On plumed wings, by divine nature given. 
 
 The lark my emulation e'er shall be — 
 
 An emblem of enchanting liberty! 
 
 Here in the dawn we'll come list to song-birds, 
 Where morn's fragrant prayers in siren words 
 Commingle with the flowers' silent vows; 
 From whence sweet rillets bubble and arouse 
 An immortal thirst as they sparkle and spread 
 Into a serene lake, whose cool nooks wed 
 The shadows and the inverted blue sky. 
 'Bove her bosom, the boughs embrace and fly 
 Their nodding leaves in zephyr's dreaming wave. 
 Through the matted bowers the bee's wings quave 
 As they ascend to clear air's lucent flow, 
 Hiveward bound, laden with pollen's cerago, 
 Having since dappled morn been on the wing 
 Ere the nightingale his descant ceased to sing, 
 And before the lark mounted high the air, 
 His love cadenzas to sweetly declare 
 To smiling Phoebus, who, with rosy mane 
 Doth rise and wake a sleeping world again, 
 And to kiss each vernal stalk a good-morn, 
 To breathe upon magnolia and hawthorn 
 That potence of resurrection divine, 
 Likewise to honey-suckle and eglantine. 
 
PORTINIA 125 
 
 Or yet before the owl's nocturnal hoots 
 
 Have echoed faint; or the stars' golden shoots 
 
 Thwart the sky, like tentacles, have withdrawn 
 
 In due respect to Sol's salute at dawn, 
 
 As he climbs 'bove the ocean's emerald hues, 
 
 Or the lambent moon has ceased its drowsy muse. 
 
 Ah, yes, dear, the bee is early at work, 
 
 Ere dryad nymphs mid blooms cease to lurk. 
 
 Thither, dear, let's go 'round this cliff's low brow; 
 
 From thence scale the higher summit : there vow 
 
 In unison to orient Venus, 
 
 With her register our prayer, and thus 
 
 Forever immune ourselves 'gainst evil 
 
 Spirits that rove earth, like impious ghouls will 
 
 Subvert our aims as with Adam and Eve. 
 
 Alas, Satan ever tries to deceive, 
 
 And impeach all good, by delusive snare. 
 
 Begodded saints must pray and e'er beware 
 
 While that snarling Cerberus at Hell's gate 
 
 Howls in a fiendish voice the direful fate 
 
 Of each soul that is by Nemesis flung 
 
 Into that seething pool, whom sin hath stung, 
 
 Unto such a living cankerous torment, 
 
 Into the infernal Styx they'll be shent. 
 
 On this marble ledge, dear, we'll rest and think, 
 And gaze adown the wild-wood's grotesque brink 
 As the sullen twilight's dim mantle flings 
 Somber figures on the world's nether wings : 
 While dame Nature broods till the break of dawn 
 The feathered kingdom, the roe and spotted fawn. 
 
 My love for thee, Portinia, still growing 
 Stronger, as the moments flit — I'm sowing 
 The seed of love's pure blissful elements, 
 Then knit into coronals of sweet contents, 
 And with unceasing eyes on thy charms feast; 
 
126 PORTINIA 
 
 Thy beauty inwove on rays of dawning east. 
 
 Indian wampum thy likeness doth bear — 
 
 The pearly shells, eagle claws, and horns of deer, 
 
 Trophies from the chase: the coin of hope too 
 
 Shall bear the imprint of thy form so true. 
 
 Every flower's petal shall wear thy stamp 
 
 Of grace; the hues of Aurora's morn camp 
 
 On thy cheek, and the stars shall chant thy name, 
 
 And from Dian's temple extol thy fame: 
 
 The dew drops, eyes of pearl, in prism's light 
 
 Hold thy image, and wondrous beauty bright, 
 
 Each blade of grass, kissed by the beams of gold 
 
 Hath thy profile truly silhouetted, bold ; 
 
 And on the gleams of the moon recumbent 
 
 Is thy portrait in magic's wonderment, 
 
 And the watchful stars with orient darts 
 
 Stamp thy signet of love on my heart of hearts: 
 
 And on each bud, leaf, and stalk, as they advene 
 
 From hibernated matrix, by nature's queen. 
 
 Ah, indeed, thy smile shall make noon wear a veil, 
 
 A blush — thy songs shall shame the nightingale 
 
 Into a magpie chatter; those blue eyes 
 
 Make the sweet violets heave jealous sighs; 
 
 And through the chill of frozen tears, unshed, 
 
 The snowdrop, uneasy, peers its ghostly head, 
 
 And in dream's unrest, fears ambition's plans 
 
 Forever foiled, by those white, stainless hands. 
 
 Thy charms put to grief any bloom that blows 
 
 By fount, or ponders on bank's rill that flows. 
 
 Over pebbles bright, and onward leaping 
 
 Along enmossed cliffs, and willows weeping. 
 
 No cherub lips can e'er with thine compare, 
 
 And thy kiss, dearest, the Heavens declare 
 
 Shall soothe my once lorn heart, since first it 
 
 throbbed 
 And felt a longing, for which it sobbed. 
 I've sighed for thee dear, since first I saw day; 
 In my dreams of elves, I loved thee, my fay. 
 
PORTINIA 127 
 
 My crooning in mother's arms was to thee, 
 I well remember now ; and plainly see, 
 That sweet jasmine face like Venus did shine. 
 The lady's slippers fit thy feet, divine; 
 The pansies dried their eyes at thy soft tread, 
 Peering, timid, as if by angels fed 
 On entrancing love, to jealous sequence, 
 Thy charms then veiled by modest innocence. 
 
 With illumed spirits we'll soon retrace 
 
 Our joyous steps to that shadowy place 
 
 Where the delight of thy beauty flew 
 
 Into my negative soul, that did mew 
 
 As a lost cat for love's mesmeric dart, 
 
 Which thou did'st hurl into my chaotic heart; 
 
 That thenceforth I invoked all divine grace, 
 
 And sweet siren themes, to lure and to chase 
 
 Such gorgeous charms, then seeming so proud, 
 
 Into the heavens beyond lurid cloud. 
 
 For I could plainly discern from thy mien 
 
 Celestial glints like glimmering sheen, 
 
 Like Aurora's rosy hues of the morn. 
 
 Thou didst impregn my heart forlorn, 
 
 Which now glows luminous with jeweled zeal, 
 
 Signeted to thine, with co-eternal seal. 
 
 Yea, my dear, we shall soon happily tread 
 
 Upon those flowers, now with drowsy head, 
 
 That greeted thee this morn so with love's smile 
 
 And brimmed their eyes, when thou left; the while 
 
 With sad countenances; for thee all day did croon, 
 
 And that to love thee, their most sacred boon. 
 
 When we return, thou mayest bless their bowers 
 
 With supremest grace, within thy powers, 
 
 As they dreamed of thee ; — how thy benign face 
 
 Lingered in their passionate heart's embrace, 
 
 At thy rhythmic step, each reared cernuous head; 
 
 And when thou didst depart they wept and shed 
 
 Odorous tears, as if their souls were lost, 
 
128 PORTINIA 
 
 Or in the erebus jaws of venom's frost. 
 
 Yes, I'm glad the flowers hold sweet converse 
 
 Over thee, my angel of poet's verse! 
 
 May such minions betide, for thine own sake. 
 
 I divine earth's kingdom to thy honor wake 
 
 Ere many antlered moons; joy shall weep 
 
 In gladness, and in beauty's temple sleep 
 
 In wisdom's arms — on thy heaving bosom, 
 
 For thou art goddess to all Christendom; 
 
 And to me, a flaming scepter sublime 
 
 Stinging my heart, with a sweet pungent thyme ; 
 
 Cooling my vulcan soul to narcotic ease; 
 
 Quenching vile thirst; and exalts by degrees 
 
 To that immortal plane, of prophetic dreams, 
 
 Where love divine reigns, and beauty quemes: 
 
 Whose spirit with love shall tower, enthroned, 
 
 And by eternal Heaven, fore'er owned 
 
 To be supreme, by supernal fires test, 
 
 In chalice bowl, by holy angels blest, 
 
 Where love and beauty worship at one shrine, 
 
 And where the saints above for beauty pine, 
 
 And bask in memory's soul, long since fled 
 
 On time's fleet wings, and to eternity wed : 
 
 While love, a fundament of divine grace, 
 
 With beauty, her nymph, arm in arm apace, 
 
 Hearts entwined, in unison's throbbing beat — 
 
 Beauty then, love's fruition, with blooms sweet ; 
 
 And is to love, what the divinest kiss 
 
 Is to Heaven's purest immortal bliss. 
 
 Ah, dearest elf, what mortal man decries, 
 
 Or at thy lilied feet doth not heave sighs? 
 
 O, thou love! redolent with prim-rose breath, 
 
 Infinite as space, the victor of death: 
 
 Who then, shall gainsay these essences pure? 
 
 Yea, quintessences of Heaven, for sure. 
 
 What mortal can divine a sweeter sup 
 
 Than love full-brimmed, pure, from beauty's cup? 
 
 Or what fool would try to taboo the charms 
 
PORTINIA 129 
 
 That's locked in fair Venus' immortal arms ? 
 This sacred property in man is what 
 Elevates him : bove that which apes have not. 
 It enables him to walk on rays in space, 
 And crowns him joint heir to the throne of grace ; 
 It makes him commune with powers unseen: 
 He sees glory in things that to some look mean; 
 He hears melodies that never were scored ; 
 Wingless, he flies higher than lark hath soared: 
 He's a brother to things wholly divine, 
 Those elements in him which do refine — 
 Therefore, let's cling to our colors, imbued 
 With love and beauty, a posy, pink-hued. 
 
 Yes, Portinia! Those who never tasted 
 Pure drops of this elixir; vain, lives wasted, 
 Their souls ceremented, as body dead, 
 Impervious to music, to tumult wed; 
 Or like dry bulbs buried, in sorrow's cave, 
 Dark and dank, hid from the sun's golden wave. 
 Yea, eternal vigilance brings its meed 
 Where tenderness is sown, to healthful seed, 
 And in the eye of love's heart, all should melt. 
 Dead indeed is he who never has felt 
 The whisperings of passion's tender muse, 
 And who, deaf, dumb, and senseless to infuse 
 
 In due season some godly motive, grand, 
 
 Into some brother, who may understand, 
 
 And for which he would bless the powers 'bove, 
 
 From whence all good is engendered by love, 
 
 And which, verily, is the latent power 
 
 Of all things true. That God's divine dower 
 
 Is first love, — He, a world builder immense, 
 
 Himself, exercised this benevolence; 
 
 Giving it pre-eminence over death. 
 
 Death is life's metamorphic stage, when breath 
 
 Is eliminated, till love doth call: 
 
130 PORTINIA 
 
 Then death is slain; its lugubrious pall 
 
 Will have been gobbled up by love's victory. 
 
 Thus we see dimly this allegory. 
 
 Love, then, did lock the lion's grisly jaws, 
 
 And silken makes the touch of f angy paws ; 
 
 It is an alternating current high, 
 
 Coming from heaven, and must by and by 
 
 Return with grace, and many folds increased, 
 
 For it's the golden key to its own feast. 
 
 The soul's true diatonic progression, 
 
 And its sweet modulated inflection 
 
 Of voices pitched in normal diapason, 
 
 The tonic's harmonizing creation. 
 
 Yes, dearest Portinia, my love did impel 
 
 My brain to tell this, as my heart did swell 
 
 And imbibe thy smiles, as Pluto's scepter bright 
 
 Imbibes the beams of Phoebus' piercing light. 
 
 Ah, yes! love will find its way soon or late, 
 
 Whose wings oft beat the bars of cruel fate, 
 
 In seeking the joys of a sweeter day 
 
 Or climbing the heights of a starry way, 
 
 With patience dauntless, truly undismayed, 
 
 Thirsting for nectars of divinest grade, 
 
 Where love's eyes, the pearl-springs of heart's pure 
 
 fount, 
 The optic windows from which the soul can mount 
 Ethereal waves of supremest blue ; 
 And yet higher, where love's rosy avenue 
 Meanders 'long the crystal rill of bliss, 
 Whose sloping banks of fern the ripples kiss; 
 Where all blooming buds redolent of spring 
 Laden the zephyrs, giving love's heart the sting 
 Of immortality, so mortal felt 
 That in its own flames it must surely melt. 
 Such my feeble tribute to love sublime! 
 'Tis truly deserving of sweeter rhyme. 
 
PORTINIA 131 
 
 The salmon and maroon-hued clouds in the east, 
 
 Waiting the sun's last kiss, a good-night feast, 
 
 A sombre veil is hovering round the earth's face: 
 
 I now see its begloomed and creeping trace. 
 
 Let's pray to sweet Vesta for golden fire, 
 
 And to tranquil Hesperus for silver pyre, 
 
 That I may feast on thy beauty by night, 
 
 And behold those eyes radiant with light. 
 
 The fireflies now begin their lamps to snuff, 
 
 Perhaps to light our footsteps down the bluff, 
 
 Or a better view of thy face to greet, 
 
 And hear the dulcet tones of thy voice sweet. 
 
 Soon the horned owls will begin to hooi. 
 
 And heaven's twinky eyes thwart the sky will shoot. 
 
 Soon the dancing faun in frolicsome interchange, 
 
 Piping shepherds' melodies soft and strange, 
 
 May be heard in fantastic jubilation 
 
 'Neath shadowy glints of the moon's oblation. 
 
 How gentle the crown of evetide 'gins to fit — 
 
 And soon the leather-winged bats o'er will flit. 
 
 The fairies are hanging dew drops on the lip 
 
 Of ev'ry tiger-lily and cowslip, 
 
 Which in the light of the moon's glim'ring twirl 
 
 Each orby drop becomes a sparking pearl. 
 
 And when blade and bud thus imbued, serene 
 
 In early dawn, arrayed as regal queen, 
 
 And to the cooling air their spirits spread 
 
 Fragrant incense' silken breath, so seemlied— 
 
 With sylphid touch and ruminating mind 
 
 Sits impending love, upon its throne condigned, 
 
 Breathing passionate sighs, o'erswelled from the 
 
 heart. 
 Then gentle Cynthia plays a minor part, 
 And each bloom bedecked with diamond tear, 
 A lucid drop set in each orchid's ear. 
 Thus the advent of each swelling flower 
 Born under magic, and full blown power — 
 Beauteous birth — the charms of Apollo's touch, 
 
132 PORTINIA 
 
 Love's melting soul steals, trembling with such 
 Soft-eyed bliss beguided by wistful pride 
 Into the purest white foot'd realms to hide 
 From its own crimson blushes, in very truth, 
 Essence conducive to the dreams of youth. 
 The wind's sough through mumbling pines so woo- 
 ing, 
 Sounds full of romantic lore, and dove's cooing, 
 Its tones entreat the trees arms' confiding, 
 That sway so gentle, as where love is biding : 
 Like Druid priests of eld, blessing their flocks, 
 Or like Neptune's dangling and seafoamed locks, 
 Ebbing and flowing over briny caves 
 As he rides the sighing surf's swirling waves — 
 Hark, dear! I hear the ring of rhythmic bells! 
 Its resonant peals so resound the dells, 
 Perhaps the Angelus for some sky band, 
 Calling them to prayer along the strand 
 Of some ethereal empire, unknown 
 To mortal man, yet mid the azure zone, 
 Where, by power hung, cogent and sublime; 
 And there rolls, serene, since the birth of time. 
 
 The waxing moon's luminous beams fall 
 
 Softly on us, Portinia, and seem to call 
 
 Us apace! Let's hie to the Indian chief, 
 
 And there by vows of wedlock, balm love's grief. 
 
 We'll have the canopy of Heaven's blue 
 
 Bespangled with stars, and the flowers, who 
 
 Can be our invited and honored guests; 
 
 And Venus, thy planet, as her bequest 
 
 May shed upon our hearts rays sacred light; 
 
 And the North star, shall bequeath vim and pight. 
 
 All birds and animals we shall invite. 
 
 They'll delight to bless thee, with hearts contrite 
 
 And overjoyed to pay us great honor, 
 
 Thou being a true disciple and donor 
 
 Of love's bliss, through channels divine, alone. 
 
PORTINIA 133 
 
 The dumb kingdom feel man's slights, oft may 
 
 groan ; 
 Intuition tells them man's wanton design, 
 His proneness to destroy life makes them pine: 
 But all creatures for thee are full of soul, 
 Whether with wing, or hoof cloven or whole. 
 The snakes will come and lick thy hand and sing. 
 On this sacred occasion a greater thing 
 Shall they do, e'en the which was never thought, 
 Considering they've not by us been taught. 
 Each fowl and bird will a sparkling gem bring 
 In gold mounting for bracelet, brooch and ring: 
 Birth-stones each shall with fealty present — 
 Such a dazzle of refract'd rays will be sent 
 To all angles, e'en to abysmal skies. 
 Their beams will meet the orient star's eyes 
 In a maze of splendor, and glow so bright 
 That Mercury will decide 'tis not yet night, 
 And close his lids, as callow eaglets do, 
 When first the luminous sun's golden hue 
 Glints into their weak visions, too severe 
 For those pallid optics to yet appear; 
 Their tender orbs and pinions un-assayed, 
 Like lazy poltroons, for own food ne'er preyed. 
 
 Orion will triple his glimmering, 
 
 And Ursa too, with extra shimmering 
 
 Will brim the Dipper with Hymen's unction 
 
 To imbue us, and all, at this function. 
 
 Our union shall be the theme of shepherd's song; 
 
 The melody for new symphony, long; 
 
 The setting for the world's drama of love; 
 
 The coalescence of pure souls, to prove 
 
 That mortal is the true magnetic pole, 
 
 The key to Heaven, unlocking the soul, 
 
 Giving it wings to mount waves supernal, 
 
 And pluming them for regions eternal. 
 
 Old Triton shall blow his horn as ne'er blew, 
 
134 PORTINIA 
 
 Calling the nereids and sirens, who 
 
 Shall come and bring the sea-king Triton along: 
 
 Each shall sing their most enchantingest song. 
 
 A royal pigeon shall from o'er the sea 
 
 Bring a precious pearl to thy majesty, 
 
 The queen of love and beauty — and my muse 
 
 Inspiring, and to all creatures transfuse 
 
 A spirit of serenity that brings 
 
 All hearts to a truer relation of things. 
 
 The leaping, herbivorous kangaroo 
 
 A love feast shall hold with horned koodoo, 
 
 And the slothful carnivorous raccoon 
 
 Shall claim blood relation to the baboon. 
 
 The improvident and timorous cuckoo 
 
 Shall perch on prehensile tail of kinkajou; 
 
 And the cunning and artful silver fox 
 
 Will gallop in, on back of fuming ox. 
 
 The giraffe, robed in red merino coat, 
 
 Shall be accompanied by romping goat. 
 
 Then disparted clouds will let Cynthia smile 
 
 Upon the congregation, to beguile 
 
 In its armistice, for one sweet hour, 
 
 To be declared in thy good name. This bower 
 
 Shall be the most romantic, and shall live 
 
 Forever — a covert to creatures wild, 
 
 In this sylvan woodland where the elfin-child 
 
 Shall with antics hop fantastic by night, 
 
 While nature sleeps reposed in her own delight 
 
 And dreams. How fair memory shall e'er cling 
 
 Tenacious to that sacred altar, and wing 
 
 Us back to that embowered shrine, so green, 
 
 In the soul's mind pure, when I crown thee queen 
 
 Of my heart, and take thee to my home fine, 
 
 So festooned and vined with eglantine, 
 
 Mid gnarled oak, cedar and laurel that tower 
 
 Grand, by sparkling founts and crystal bower. 
 
 The eagles of the forest may perch o'er 
 
 Our heads, their wings spread, as in act to soar, 
 
PORTINIA 135 
 
 Shall be a symbol of protecting grace. 
 The wise owl shall be there, with horned face, 
 His eyes dilated, feather soft and brown; 
 Shall add solemnity and renown. 
 The redwing and nightingale the march shall sing, 
 And all the plumed kingdom that rise on wing 
 May join in the melody's refrain. 
 The peacock, with conscious pride shall maintain 
 His honor, in true urbane, southern style, 
 And the bluejay family welcomed, — while 
 All the ferocious horned and clawing beasts 
 Shall, as tame as lambs, come to Hymen's feast. 
 The vicious cougar and soft eyed gazelle 
 Shall play hide and seek with nimble squirrel, 
 And the mountain lion and gentle lamb 
 May parade cheek by cheek with stag and dam. 
 The elephant with ponderous tusks, wan, 
 Shall form the console of serpent organ. 
 His proboscis shall be the tuning pipe 
 For the instrument, improvised. The snipe 
 From marshy fens shall come to ornament 
 The occasion, with pomp and plumed content. 
 The jungle snakes, of all hues and size, 
 Green, pied and mottled skins with pearly eyes, 
 Shall comprise the reeds for this organ grand, 
 Which shall play our wedding march ; they'll de- 
 mand 
 To do it, for the love they bear thee, dear 
 Portinia! The snakes shall sing and loudly cheer, 
 And some shall rattle their tail-buttons linked, 
 At the swell's mezzo-forte; you'll hear distinct. 
 Hanging vertical above mastodon, 
 In perfect rows, the boa and python, 
 And the cobra forming the centers high. 
 Then gradually lower, each with eye 
 Shall measure its length to suit downward slope, 
 Till the upward curve like the sag of rope 
 Will then complete this organ superfine — 
 
i 3 6 PORTINIA 
 
 Each reptile's color and tint shall condign 
 So in tone gradation, of shade and hue 
 
 That shall commingle nature's pigments true: 
 And thus the tWO eyes of each snake shall gaze 
 
 Like pure amber in the sun's noontide rays. 
 The gleam shall east a rich dazzling intense 
 
 ( )n the assemblage, the voices of the serpents 
 
 Shall be pitched absolute, to F major key, 
 
 Which shall be sounded by elephants, three. 
 Meantime, the lion shall give low F roar, 
 And the bobolink will pitch high F Fore. 
 With potent wand Apollo shall tempo 
 
 Give: then the organ of snakes, soprano 
 
 followed by tenor, baritone, and bass 
 Shall sound each voice true according to race, 
 In melodic progression to the prelude. 
 At this climax, the pant chief, imbued 
 With the sublimity, yet in great pomp 
 ( )f primeval jijory, and self content, 
 Herobed in leopard skin, habiliment 
 ( )f honor and dominion, so immense 
 This regality shall be no pretence. 
 
 Thus towering seven feet above sward, 
 
 I lis massive brow zoned by brazen reward ; 
 
 And fixed thereon will be the elk's proud horns: 
 
 At his belt, a poniard like unicorn's 
 
 Fang will dangle sharp as claws of dragon — 
 
 Imperial aspect with visage saffron. 
 
 His soulful orbs (ebon-hued) shall like stars 
 
 Shine. Kingly strides suggest militant Mars; 
 
 His bejeweled ears and aquiline nose 
 
 Bespeak that ancestral blood, pure, which Hows 
 
 Hot in his haughty veins, and will bubble 
 
 Anon, should he dream of Tartar's trouble. 
 
 Hut on this occasion sacred his soul 
 
 Shall be amity, though his voice may roll 
 
 And reverberate like distant thunder 
 
PORTINIA 137 
 
 From the arsenal of Pluto's wonder. 
 The chief shall then bow low, his crown retain, 
 And address the grand conclave, though refrain 
 Not his heart. In this wise, his preamble 
 Characteristic. Many eyes wink; and shamble 
 Of hoofs, claws, and fangs, then silence will reign- 
 
 "Most beauteous Portinia, thou sweet goddess, 
 
 And my fellow brother true, Don Zeno, 
 
 And to this grand concourse of natives, that disdain 
 
 Not to do homage, with smiles that confess 
 
 Adoration for the divine — I owe 
 
 And here acknowledge, exalted honor, 
 
 Thus conferred upon myself and tribe, 
 
 A grace ministrant, to weld two pure hearts 
 
 In holy vow's sacred bond. The donor 
 
 Of this Heaven-balm, which all should imbibe, 
 
 Is the Great Spirit yonder, who imparts 
 
 To earth blessings untold. With reverence 
 
 We should bend our souls, attune the vile mouth 
 
 To ask mercy at the feet of justice. 
 
 Ye fowls of woodlands high, with wings immense, 
 
 And sweet singers, oreads of the bloomy South, 
 
 Your tuneful lives are a true sacrifice 
 
 To mankind, your cadenzas incense's rhyme. 
 
 Ye lions! Kings of jungles, with noble heads! 
 
 I bid you welcome ! Your bodies are temples 
 
 Of power; your jaws, and Saturnus locks 
 
 Are symbols of courage which defy time. 
 
 And your consorts, patient, that share your beds 
 
 In caves of marble, or frowzy hills full 
 
 Of covert retreats, and low-browed rocks — 
 
 To them I offer good fellowship tame. 
 
 Mine eyes admire thee, monstrous elephant! 
 
 Thy name proclaims thy huge size and stature. 
 
 A true benefactor to man, thy renown 
 
 Hath encompassed the earth ; thy tusks adamant 
 
i 3 8 PORTINIA 
 
 Ivory for king's palaces that endure 
 
 Forever; thy sonorous trunk a phone 
 
 And signal of impending danger near. 
 
 Thy pleasure is amidst the marshy fens 
 
 Where the grass and herbage are green and dank, 
 
 And no armed foes thy timorous heart deter. 
 
 Thou art in size the monarch of the glens : 
 
 Thy preponderance all land beasts outrank: 
 
 Thine ears ornate this organ, (whose reeds are 
 
 snakes) 
 And make sound-boards resonant soft and strange, 
 With harmonious amplitude that charms 
 The savagest heart, and sends tuneful aches 
 Into the erstwhile clashing breast, whose range 
 Hitherto hath been dissonant alarms 
 'Gainst concord which now vibrates high and sweet 
 As Apollo's own lute, by Juno played. 
 Music indeed hath power to smooth the scowls 
 From the spleen of man or brute; its magic beat 
 Since time immemorial the heart swayed 
 To joy or to sorrow's grief. Ye downy owls 
 Are true devotees of the impassioned beam. 
 You sit up nights till Aurora's morn-tide 
 Dazzle your sense of vision; then retire. 
 Or you waft home to tree or grot and dream 
 Of the many foiled concerts — birds you've eyed 
 Warbling in the glow of sun's sinking pyre — 
 
 To me, dear auditors, this is sublime! 
 
 Ye are here in love massed, like thy grandsires 
 
 In Noah's Ark. There for two moons no blood 
 
 For ravenous stomach was shed, meantime. 
 
 All were playful as fawns. Now some have desires 
 
 On innocence, since debarked from the Ark-flood: 
 
 A carnivorous thirst, with unsated rapine 
 
 Prowling for gore. Why do ye not eat mast 
 
 And grass like the comely, brown-eyed gazelle, 
 
 The yak, deer, sheep, and kine? — Such libertine 
 
PORTINIA 139 
 
 And gourmand maws rapacious, that ne'er fast, 
 
 A terror to the wilderness — make hell 
 
 Of the indented coves, and secluded glens 
 
 For fowls gregarious and browsing herds. 
 
 I pray, be gentle, girt thine appetites. 
 
 Have solic'tous regard for denizens 
 
 Within thy pale, and for nesting song birds : 
 
 Let all observe the golden rule that dights 
 
 Him for the soul's beauteous trysting ground 
 
 Beyond the Stygean pool of torment, 
 
 Midst fruits and honey, where palatine glades 
 
 Shall be the heritage of all un-bound 
 
 For our souls immortal ; then love content 
 
 Our priceless reward, in land of cool shades, 
 
 Promised the faithful and righteous of earth — 
 
 In the gracious presence of sacred beauty, 
 
 My dear natives and brothers, I offend 
 
 Not, by malicious intent. Since my birth 
 
 I've lived 'mong you. It's my aim and duty 
 
 To set a good example, and transcend 
 
 In your estimation, and my remarks, 
 
 I hope, have cumbered the patience of none. 
 
 And when this feast adjourns, then may each wend 
 
 Home in a pensive mood, through rural parks, — 
 
 May memory oft remind how love won 
 
 Beauty's grace, that shall e'er in-soul the heart 
 
 To peace and sweet dreams. Henceforth this bower 
 
 Shall be known as Portinia's shrine of love; 
 
 And love-lorn creatures this their sacred resort. 
 
 This gorge, so armed in, shall from this good hour 
 
 Be an asylum for the nesting dove, 
 
 The linnet, thrush, tomtit, and nightingale, 
 
 And stork, oriole, goldfinch, and skylark: 
 
 The chucklers of whatever tuneful lays 
 
 That sing at eve'tide, or when morn is pale, 
 
 Or those that twitter 'mong the leaves at dark 
 
 'Neath the stars' twinkling eyes and argent rays, 
 
140 PORTINIA 
 
 Each bird, fowl, and beast shall here in peace reign 
 
 And rear his brood in love's protecting grace, 
 
 'Midst sumptuous bounty of nature's store. 
 
 The forest will e'er sing her luring refrain, 
 
 And Venus by night shall lend her embrace, 
 
 Giving each scene a witching charm of lore." 
 
 Then the Saturnine chief will address us, 
 
 In a more direct manner; he will thus 
 
 Say in part: "To thee, Portinia, I make 
 
 My admiration manifest, for the sake 
 
 Of beauty. Thou art its paragon and 
 
 Divine exponent, in this rustic fane, than 
 
 Whom thy like were never seen: and the wheel 
 
 Of my heart jumped, and I did almost keel 
 
 To my knees, at the first sight ; I was dazed 
 
 As if an angel before me up-raised, — 
 
 A new soul came into my barren life, 
 
 And the warring elements ceased their strife 
 
 Within my being — I deem to love thee 
 
 Is my great meed, and a sweet compliment 
 
 To my beloved friend, thine espoused, who's lent 
 
 To earth merely for few cycles of time. 
 
 Portinia, it seems the world's full of rhyme! 
 
 As I scan divine heaven reflected 
 
 From those orby eyes, like crystal dewdrops wed 
 
 To the bloom's pouty lips, till the jealous thews 
 
 Of the sun's passionate kisses diffuse 
 
 Into odorous sighs; or like sparkling pearl's 
 
 Refulgent luster from diviner worlds. 
 
 Now we'll soon invoke Hymen to appear 
 
 And shower Nectarian vintage clear 
 
 Upon thee, and in silence I shall pray 
 
 To ancestral gods to bless and point the way 
 
 To a higher wisdom of sweet concord, 
 
 A leafy haven, with more direct word 
 
 From the world of spirits, and limpid springs 
 
 Where death's expugned, and life is on her wings." 
 
PORTINIA 141 
 
 Then the chief will pause for approval's bestow, 
 
 Which will be scant and without furbelow; 
 
 Many animals and fowls will applaud, 
 
 But many will consider him a fraud. 
 
 The leopard will see his brother's own skin, 
 
 While chief, enrob'd therewith, will preach the sin 
 
 Of shedding blood, in great fuss and fuming, 
 
 In his oration much time consuming: 
 
 The elk astound'd, his grandshire's horns to see 
 
 Poised upon the brow of his majesty, 
 
 And the dagger, at his side, death's sure wand: 
 
 The unicorn's horn suggests contraband. 
 
 The eagle didn't catch the drift complete, 
 
 Seeing his plumes and claws from crown to feet — 
 
 Symbols of war, and dire sinews of gloom, 
 
 Flaunted by chief and vassals, augur of doom. 
 
 The tiger in his own side shall feel a pain — 
 
 The wound from Indian spear — as friend did feign. 
 
 He will e'er that spear-point in his side feel: 
 
 Long since done; but the scar never will heal. 
 
 The chief, 'tis true, has had a change of heart, 
 
 But with the trophies of pillage he'll not part. 
 
 Each animal and fowl shall to thee fawn, 
 
 Portinia! Thou art their star, and primal dawn 
 
 Of love, and its all-pervading spell. 
 
 The chief will unite us ; then give tribal yell, 
 
 But will do it with rev'rence to the sky: 
 
 Then he will ask thy blessing in reply. 
 
 His excellency will ask us to rise, 
 
 Meanwhile surveying us with eagle eyes, 
 
 And when the organ ends the march begun 
 
 He'll by vows sacred tie us into one. 
 
 Thereafter, a thousand wings shall flap elate 
 
 Over our heads, thus so to consecrate 
 
 Our nuptial sacrament. The like will sheen, 
 
 Eclipse coronation of England's queen. 
 
 Then the antlered monarchs shall all be fed, 
 
 And each bird, fowl, and beast, which fly or tread. 
 
x 4 2 PORTINIA 
 
 Shall dine sumptuous, on supernal food. 
 
 All shall be sated, without loss of blood. 
 
 Then sing processional, as they depart, 
 
 Which theme shall e'er ring in each beating heart; 
 
 Reminding it, that by loving regard 
 
 Each shall be endowed by heaven's reward; 
 
 And from blooming fields redolent above 
 
 Will upon us descend ambrosial love. 
 
 Then great Jove will appear, with potent rod, 
 
 And baptize us, as the children of God. — 
 
THE SKYLARK 
 
 Entrancing as the bucolics of Virgil, 
 
 Rising from nesting mate midst bush and thorn, 
 
 He mounts exultant, the air so tranquil, 
 
 At the primal flush of Aurora's morn. 
 
 He pipes forth his light-hearted tunes of glee 
 Into the blue expanse of the universe, 
 With authentic musicianship tenderly; 
 His lyrics o'er night did in dreams rehearse. 
 
 As he flaunts his crested pride, exalt to reign, 
 Beyond the pale firmament high he soars; 
 He then with joy un-links his golden chain, 
 In sportive brilliance his soul out-pours. 
 
 Into rhapsodies romantic he'll sweep 
 Madly, through wild fantasies, still higher, 
 And melodize to the infinite deep 
 As if his themes had caught immortal fire. 
 
 In a world, to all but him an alien zone, 
 Beyond the falcon's greedy eye to see, 
 Higher still he rises, his song now flown 
 To sate the angels' ears deliciously. 
 
 His notes meanwhile empierce the earth, and fill 
 Our hearts with ripplings; for very joy's sake, 
 Beseeming too blissful for grove or hill ; 
 Naught else but heaven's glow his thirst will slake. 
 
 With throat true as the shepherd's silver pipe, 
 Whose wings entuned to his soul's poesy 
 Quiver the beams of Phoebus, gold and ripe, 
 Wherefore his divine strains and melody. 
 
 143 
 
H4 THE SKYLARK 
 
 'Thwart ethereal gulf his voice ringeth, 
 This sweet minstrel of the radiant skies. 
 In glorious harmony he singeth, 
 Regaling his mate in profuse ecstacies. 
 
 His music prescient of blooming ties, 
 Haunting like a heart-passion of true love, 
 Resounding from the threshold of paradise, 
 Or coming from the blue Heaven above. 
 
 Rejoice then to hear this triumphant bird, 
 Whose beauteous themes and transporting trills 
 Bring rapt felicity, the soul's bland word; 
 Its magic enchantment the heart up-fllls. 
 
 Emulate the poets' lark, and higher rise, 
 
 By the ennoblements of merit's praise; 
 
 Illumine the clouds before other eyes 
 
 That they see our good deeds, their hearts upraise. 
 
A PEGASUS STRAYED TO EARTH 
 
 Tired of winging the thin ether 
 'Mong the glittering stars' pathways, 
 Golden-hoofed Pegasus strayed to earth, 
 And in a rustic park did graze. 
 The curious folk, somewhat grave, 
 Scanned this palfrey with bewildered eye. 
 His flanks shone like beaten brass — 
 They ne'er bethought he could fly. 
 
 With covetous stares they admired 
 
 His glossy mane of saffron hue, 
 
 That to the breeze spread graceful waves, 
 
 His arched neck proved a lineage true, 
 
 But they couldn't say from whence he sprang; 
 
 They had read of the Arabian breed 
 
 And the feudal kings who rode thereon, 
 
 But on this horse they disagreed. 
 
 The park gates then they shut secure, 
 
 Intent to halter this strange steed; 
 
 They proceeded in luring snare 
 
 To bridle. One brave swain agreed 
 
 To ride him till his mettle broke, 
 
 And to prove to his sweet lass near 
 
 His dexterous agility grand: 
 
 Thus win a bride and the hero's cheer. 
 
 The motley throng, standing aghast, 
 With eyes dilated to double size 
 To see this circus feat performed, 
 Dreaming not the beast on wings could rise. 
 They then seized the volant equine 
 By wiles known to the farmer lords, 
 And upon his back this young knight 
 Mounted, needing no assuring words. 
 
 H5 
 
i 4 6 A PEGASUS STRAYED TO EARTH 
 
 Taking the reins with lordly poise 
 
 He cantered off at gallant gait, 
 
 Feeling he now had won his goal — 
 
 For his valor a prize did wait. 
 
 'Twas a fancy his mind had sprung — 
 
 The upswelling of a young brave. 
 
 Little did he his end surmise: 
 
 That this glebe would ne'er him be-grave. 
 
 Alas! this steed began to snort; 
 
 His eyes beseemed electric fire: 
 
 The poet's horse with fury wild 
 
 Leaped frightful bounds, but did not tire. 
 
 Round the track, wheeling swift as thought, 
 
 The young man scare the ground could see, 
 
 But was in the saddle bound fast, 
 
 Nor could extricate his majesty. 
 
 Now to his grief he found too late 
 He had bestrid a hippogriff, 
 One with mighty dynamic speed — 
 Of his boding fate he got a whiff. 
 The Pegasus, with shrieking neigh, 
 Struck the ground a terrific blow 
 With right forefoot of dazzling gold: 
 Forthwith a gushing spring did flow. 
 
 'Tis bubbling yet, from his footprint, 
 A beverage that soothes all pain; 
 'Twill like magic the muses bring, 
 But leaves upon the sand a stain. 
 He then unfurled his hidden wings; 
 Into the upper deep he shot. 
 His vanquished rider, pearl-ash pale, 
 Now 'gan to fathom his destined lot. 
 
A PEGASUS STRAYED TO EARTH 147 
 
 Beyond the azure sky he flew, 
 Till lost to the affrighted crowd, 
 Taking along the luckless swain 
 Through the dim haze of lurid cloud. 
 His rider then he flung to the moon, 
 Where yet his shaggy brow is seen; 
 Still a draught from the gold-hoof spring 
 Inspires — 'tis poets' Hippocrene. 
 
TO A NIGHTINGALE 
 
 Princess of the night, whence those happy strains 
 
 That make my heart muse, 
 And tug 'gainst prisoned walls and mortal chains? 
 
 Joyous themes profuse 
 Thou out-pourest in felicitous mood. 
 
 Singest thou of earth, 
 
 Of some green plot unravished by man's greed 
 Or high Heaven's brood, 
 
 Where thou wilt vernate into spirit's birth 
 And angels thee feed? 
 
 Strange thy melodious ditties make me sigh, 
 
 Yet they beseem gay 
 When thou warblest from sanctuary nigh 
 
 Thy golden tongue's lay, — 
 Thou an Elysian dryad, who singest 
 
 To the ears of time, 
 
 Inhaling the breath of Flora to inspire, 
 While o'er meads ringest 
 
 Thy silver-throated rhapsodies sublime 
 Keyed to Thalia's lyre. 
 
 Visual ray reach'st not that vibrant throat, 
 
 Nor behold'st the dank blooms 
 On which I tread — though I drink every note 
 
 Wafted o'er silent tombs 
 Of some prehistoric ancestry old 
 
 Whom I ne'er did know, 
 
 But whose spirits I've be-sainted since youth, 
 And revere their mold 
 
 As do I thy imparted anthems so 
 Full of divine truth. 
 
 148 
 
TO A NIGHTINGALE 149 
 
 Ah ! vain indeed is the ear without sense 
 
 Pure and delicate, 
 And hath drunken not deep of thy wine: hence 
 
 Seen beauties elate 
 The heart; but beauties heard exalt the soul; 
 
 Whose fusion transcends 
 
 To harmonize with Heaven's gilded star 
 Our virtues extol, 
 
 And her empyrean essence attends 
 When we cross life's bar. 
 
 Then pipe on, thou luting nymph or goddess 
 
 Apotheosized, 
 Or bird of a night; pipe to my sadness 
 
 Songs immortalized. 
 Bird or spirit, thy themes can never fade, 
 
 Nor such rhythms die, 
 
 But on the wings of poesy they'll rise 
 Viewless 'bove earth's shade, 
 
 And thus borne beyond the eternal sky 
 Fetch thee sacred prize. 
 
 Thou may'st be sprite of some glorified saint 
 
 From the silent bourn 
 Of the mystic world, descanting so quaint 
 
 Tonal chords that mourn 
 For the sins of us benighted mortals, 
 
 (Our sad requiems,) 
 Or symphonic poems thou may'st impart 
 From Heaven's portals — 
 
 Mayhap the spirit's melodious gems 
 To admonish the heart. 
 
150 TO A NIGHTINGALE 
 
 No marvel then that forest trees incase 
 
 Thy harmonious lore, 
 Which they imbibe with such inherent grace 
 
 Emmewed in each pore; 
 From which the roving winds incite sweet sounds, 
 
 Each bloom's iris hue 
 
 Enriched and fructified by tuneful waves 
 That its soul impounds: — 
 
 O what mysteries may linger perdue 
 In the heart's own quaves! 
 
 Ah! I can discern in a "Strad" violin 
 
 Those pensive refrains. 
 Italy's thirsty wood drinks thy pulsings in : 
 
 That's why it contains 
 A message divine from a higher sphere; 
 
 A disembodied voice, 
 
 Our way through labyrinths of gloom to guide, 
 Seemly joys to hear: 
 
 Thy specious melodies from paradise, 
 Truly sanctified. 
 
 Thy tunes then sink into the fibrous veins 
 
 As dew in the buds; 
 Unlike the dew thy rhythm e'er remains, 
 
 While dew's fragrant floods 
 Exhale, and ride the breeze thwart the dingles. 
 But thy heaving tides 
 Are matrixed in the sighing wilderness, 
 Which fore'er tingles 
 
 With thy song; though the trees may die, yet 
 bides 
 Thy lullabies to bless. 
 
THE MOCKING BIRD 
 
 Perched upon a maple tree, 
 The emissary of Spring, 
 He descants his rosary 
 In music's silvery ring. 
 
 He mimics the wren and sparrow, 
 And the Raven's militant caw; 
 Hesitates not to borrow 
 From the martin or jackdaw. 
 
 Wreathed by tendril bines and trees, 
 Of grape-blooms and fir, he mocks 
 The cat-bird, and others feaze 
 Likewise the merlin hawks. 
 
 He calls to sylvan dryads 
 
 In the woodland's drowsy glades, 
 
 And solos to the passeres 
 
 Midst the grove's dappling shades. 
 
 A plagiarist is this bird, 
 But he does it to regain 
 The many cadenzas heard; 
 He commits without disdain. 
 
 Oft his cheer to plowman given 
 As the dank glebe he up-turns, 
 Though his heart by love be riven, 
 For some bonny maid it burns. 
 
 'Twill his spirit exult to hear 
 Such vesper pipings bolden, 
 'Twill out-burst with gladdest cheer, 
 To list to themes he's stolen. 
 
 At eventide he valentines 
 To his mate true and tender, 
 
 151 
 
152 THE MOCKING BIRD 
 
 'Bove the o'ercanopying vines 
 His sweetest song will render. 
 
 Thus to her he runs the scales^ 
 High and low, in ravished glee, 
 In arpeggios; he regales 
 Her soul with rhythmic harmony. 
 
 He thus enchants her till night, 
 Unlinking amorous bliss; 
 His eternal love doth plight 
 In many a votive kiss. 
 
 With zeal they build the tufted nest 
 From budding morn till dewy eve: 
 Then his mate with prescient breast 
 Sits her eggs with genitive cleave. 
 
 He then sings divinest lays, 
 Recounts charms of motherhood, 
 Feeds her, — thus in blithsome ways 
 Proves a worthy sire, so good. 
 
 And when the dear ones advene, 
 From the chrysalis or shell, 
 'Tis truly a loving scene 
 The greedy appetites to quell. 
 
 Little time then for music 
 Till their progeny are grown, 
 Schooled in songs mimetic, 
 On wings daedalian flown. 
 
 Ah, me! what lessons this bird 
 Teaches, in love and chivalry! 
 Through divine nature is heard 
 Heaven's lyric harmony. 
 
IF LOVE LIKE A VIOLET GREW 
 
 If love like a violet grew 
 In meadows, as violets do, 
 And along the cooling brinks, 
 Like the daisies and the pinks: 
 
 How easy then to take a sup! 
 Easy as plucking a buttercup, 
 Or like sipping pearly tears 
 From the jonquil's lobed ears. 
 
 If love, like a grain of rye, 
 Would bloom by chance, hard by, 
 Or like weeds in fields of clover, 
 How sweet then to ape the lover! 
 
 Or if like barnacles that cling 
 
 To a ship's bottom, — fall or spring, — 
 
 And need no attention more, 
 
 The faint soul might reach love's core. 
 
 Love is a flower, 'tis true — 
 The amaranth bloom, e'er new; 
 But needs some nurture along, 
 To grow it thrifty and strong. 
 
 It is like a grain of rye, 
 And must be fed or 'twill die; 
 Grows like the rankest weed, 
 If you return deed for deed. 
 
 'Tis like the sturdy grape-vine, — 
 But must have strength round which to twine; 
 Or like sweet moss upon a stone — 
 Without the rock 'twould perish alone. 
 
 153 
 
154 IF LOVE LIKE A VIOLET GREW 
 
 But without moss the cliffs look bare, 
 And without love, we all despair, — 
 The lark would not rise upon the wing, 
 Had he no mate to hear him sing; 
 
 The cricket wouldn't fiddle a note, 
 If his adored were too remote; 
 Nor the frog in lily pond croak, 
 Had he no sib to hear his joke. 
 
 Yea! more tenacious than barnacle, 
 If your heart be tractable, 
 And more educing than beauty, — 
 Make love thy virtue! — love thy duty! 
 
TO BROWNING 
 
 Thy advent to earth the boon of destiny, 
 To make our hearts elate; 
 And 'twas golden Heaven's highest decree 
 To give a soul so great. 
 
 The world is blessed by having cradled thee, 
 And when thy dulcet voice 
 With lyric themes and loving philosophy 
 Needed, to make us rejoice. 
 
 Oh, if I could have seen thee, Browning! 
 Had seen thy pious eyes ; 
 With my own hands assisted in crowning 
 Thy brow with love's prize ! 
 
 For thou a poet most noble and grand ; 
 By thy works thou'rt exalt. 
 If we cannot thy wisdom understand, 
 And thy genius — whose fault? 
 
 Oft we're envious and sometimes denounce 
 Things we comprehend not, — 
 While our acts may get a blistering trounce, 
 Our labor's fruit forgot. 
 
 Blithely thou dost sing,— music is thy name, 
 Browning! That begodded soul, — 
 Which long since transcended temporal fame, 
 Such as mortals extol. 
 
 When we've learned thee better, and thy true hear' 
 We've learned a new language 
 That of Heaven forsooth, and the muse's art; 
 And new tunes our cares assuage. 
 
 155 
 
156 TO BROWNING 
 
 And thro' inspiration's glorious light 
 Shines thy specious visage, 
 And now it is our privilege and right 
 To enjoy thy tutelage. 
 
 Thy labors sedulous, — un-remitting, 
 Busy as summer bee, 
 Wherefore thy life a paramount thing; 
 We'll now emulate thee. 
 
 Brilliantly thy passions sparkle and flow, 
 And for our glory too 
 Thou hast left immortal imprints below 
 Which fade not, but e'er new. 
 
 Thy works and faith tell us where to look 
 In Heaven to find thee, 
 
 Meditating 'mong blooms and groves with book 
 The psalms of eternity. 
 
TO THE DAISY 
 
 Hail to thee, my fair little friend, 
 Glad to see thy innocence lend 
 To chilly spring; thy grace 
 Sweet and happy; with gentle mien 
 Posing here like a fairy queen, 
 Dreaming of golden days serene 
 And dewy eve's embrace. 
 
 Hearest thou the throstle's echoes 
 From budding thorn and climbing rose, 
 And martins' quaint chat'trings, 
 As they forage the straw for nest, 
 Which they build at great Pan's behest, 
 Working till astral eyes rest 
 Upon night's somber wings? 
 
 Beweep not, sweetest April child. 
 Blooming precocious and un-beguiled ! 
 Thy bewitchful sisters proud 
 Will soon advene in fragrant glory, 
 When lingering frost with hoary 
 Robe, dissolved by sun's genial ray 
 Into a summer's cloud. 
 
 Soon will blossom the eglantine 
 
 Its wonderous sweetness so divine: 
 
 Evolving vicissitudes 
 
 Bring the spring-time's chirping refrains, 
 
 And all nature's bounteous trains, 
 
 And the robin's full hearted strains 
 
 Out-poured in pulsing moods. 
 
 157 
 
158 TO THE DAISY 
 
 Be not so timid, little dear. 
 I know thou art as welcome here 
 As Mid-May's children vast, 
 For this is Flora's opening day. 
 Indeed I see her footprints gay, 
 And all around the plaining jay, 
 With shrillness un-surpassed. 
 
 All nature is reviving hope. 
 
 The birds with mates do here elope, 
 
 Coming from winter's clime 
 
 To this Eden or "Gretna-Green." 
 
 Here the viny groves will impregn 
 
 Their hearts, and morn's orient sheen 
 
 Englad their profuse rhyme. 
 
 Little daisy so newly born, 
 
 What fair angel would thee bescorn? 
 
 Thou, with purity sweet, 
 
 With a message divine to tell 
 
 To earth, her brooding bosom quell. 
 
 In our hearts may thy spirit dwell, — 
 
 Be its holy retreat! 
 
ODE TO J. T. JOHNSON 
 
 Honored friend, — void of envy's trait, 
 Thy soul too noble to harbor fear — 
 Thine eyes see beauty everywhere 
 It may be found, — and appreciate 
 The rhymed verse of an old room-mate. 
 
 To thee I first my poesy showed : 
 I knew 'twould get an honest scan 
 From the heart of a metric man ; 
 And it did mitigate the load, — 
 Now my pathway with laurels sowed. 
 
 I ne'er for moment doubt'd the seed 
 Within mine own heart's sovran reign 
 That were sown by muses' refrain. 
 While some may think 'tis bloom of weed, 
 That's a poet's lot, — his paltry meed. 
 
 How true that a prophet's story 
 In his own land but fairy tale! 
 Himself, but mortal dust, they'd impale, 
 Or distraught his rightful glory 
 Till he's long dead, — his bones hoary. 
 
 But thy mind is a store-house bright 
 With philosophy's golden grain, 
 Brilliant as Dian's lucent fane, — 
 Thy soul is a trumpet of light 
 Fulgent in the foggiest night. 
 
 And that visage is the flower 
 Which betokens specious knowledge — 
 Much wisdom not learned in college; 
 'Tis the blow of thy heart's bower 
 Which gives thee that manly power. 
 
 ISO 
 
160 ODE TO J. T. JOHNSON 
 
 Fame's hall thy bronze bust may adorn, 
 
 Some seat exalt is but thy due. 
 
 Thy like I've met a lonely few, 
 
 For few like thee have yet been born. 
 
 Thine eyes spark like Apollo's morn! 
 
HYMN 
 
 Almighty Lord of grace divine, 
 Consecrate my soul's sight! 
 Around me let Thy beauty twine! 
 Give me Thy wisdom's light! 
 
 Help me rise from this sinful state — 
 Fill me with thy pure love! 
 O, may Thy mercy inviolate 
 Ope to me the gates above! 
 
 I see Thy thoughts in ev'ry flower 
 That blooms along my way; 
 Nature is Thy primal power, 
 Be it leaf or star's ray. 
 
 Lead me, O Lord, from wickedness 
 With Thy true guiding hand! 
 Remove the shadows of distress 
 From this beauteous land! 
 
 Great God of Heaven infinite, 
 With healing in Thy wing, 
 Give me Thy immaculate spirit: 
 Entune my heart to sing! 
 
 Thy grace dispells all brooding gloom, 
 Calms my sorrowing day. 
 O forsake me not at the tomb 
 Of this vile mortal clay! 
 
 161 
 
THANKSGIVING 
 
 Come, fill up the bowl and the cup! 
 Let's be mirthful, and all fill up. 
 Pour in the sparkling, fragrant wine. 
 Come on with joy. Let love benign 
 Kiss the hand of beauty so fair, 
 And be jolly and debonair. 
 
 So fill up the pot and the stein! 
 We'll convive as we now dine, 
 Giving thanks to Heaven most high 
 As we enjoy life's azure sky. 
 Come fill up the can and the bowl — 
 Let's drink to our eternal soul. 
 
 Pile up the dish, heap up the plate! 
 We'll be joyous ere it's too late. 
 Give us turkey, cranberry jam. 
 Give us quail, duck, and tender lamb. 
 Give us the fruit of every vine, 
 And the sweet soul of love entwine. 
 
 Then fill up the grail and the jar, 
 
 And give me Cubanola cigar, 
 
 That I may smoke and dream supine 
 
 In the incense of its spirit fine ; 
 
 And anon, as its smoke depart, 
 
 May glint the face of an old sweetheart. 
 
 Yea! Pour in burgundy to the brim! 
 Be temperate if you can't swim. 
 Plant gladness in the hearts you meet, 
 In mead, village, or busy street: 
 Give a brotherly hand, to wit, 
 And let love thy soul interknit. 
 
 162 
 
THANKSGIVING 163 
 
 Come, fill up the cup and pitcher. 
 
 You'll know how, and when to hitch her. 
 
 Be jubilant as morning lark. 
 
 Let not melancholy dim the spark 
 
 Of hilarity's hey-day fire, 
 
 But let's attune to Dian's lyre. 
 
 Be truly thankful we're so blest. 
 
 From North, South, East, and blooming West, 
 
 Neither kicker nor knocker be, 
 
 Have confidence in thy ship's destiny. 
 
 And steer for high tide's lucid zone, 
 
 But don't begin with languid groan. 
 
 Hence, fill up the mug and the glass! 
 Let a sheen of pure joy surpass 
 And halo our crowns with virtue. 
 We'll weather life's tempests through, 
 And may our eventide shine with gems 
 The most scintillating diadems. 
 
LOOKING BACKWARD 
 
 I know a pool where fishes school ; 
 Where the pebbles are pearl and green. 
 I've lingered there with one so fair, 
 Minding me of a sylvan queen. 
 
 I know a spot I've ne'er forgot, 
 Where the flowers of memory blow; 
 With fragrance sweet in love's retreat 
 O'er all hangs a radiant glow. 
 
 I e'er retrace that witching face 
 Conducive so to loving bliss, 
 Yet in our hearts no rift disparts 
 The balm of memory's kiss. 
 
 I still hover like sighing lover 
 Over the many pungent stings; 
 'Tween the besets and the regrets 
 I hear the whir of sequent wings. 
 
 O, dear Cupid, why so stupid? 
 Thy freazing taunts the heart's disguise; 
 Now sad remorse a pallid corse 
 Upon love's sacred altar lies. 
 
 i6 4 
 
TO MY CIGAR 
 
 I adore thee, my dear, beloved weed! 
 A princely scion of a genuine seed, 
 And a relation of Miss Havana — 
 A cousin from thy pleasing manner; 
 Thy seal brown wrapper the royal stuff: 
 I knew it from the first good puff. 
 Thy smoke's color proves thy lineage true: 
 'Tis the aristocratic tinge of blue 
 Evidencing thy station and breeding; 
 Providing at least thou art Cuba's seedling. 
 
 Methink I see in thy departing grace 
 The lineaments of a sweetheart's face; 
 Oft that Elfish visage true to life 
 I've spied in my mind's dreaming strife 
 Of ruminating vagaries, enchanting spell, 
 Till I've prayed that her ghost cease to dwell 
 In thy sinuous wreath, as fairy being; 
 Thus the tombed past my eyes e'er seeing. 
 
 In thy diffusing soul, exhaled in air, 
 I see graceful rolls of her flowing hair; 
 From her dangling curls fragrance doth rise 
 As I scan her face and witching eyes. 
 
 Ah, pish! My heart is thine dear Key West. 
 
 Let the god Eros take care of the rest, 
 
 And give me up to my delicious Cigar. 
 
 Most mortal nymphs should be viewed from afar, 
 
 Or kept well preserved in tobacco smoke, 
 
 For they're more happy free from the yoke; 
 
 And like higher Angels in story 
 
 Bright stars, leading us onward to glory, 
 
 Which, alas! we first lost by fairest Eve, 
 
 Being too flip and easy to deceive. 
 
 165 
 
166 TO MY CIGAR 
 
 But this cogitation, being an epic ode 
 To Miss Cubanola, of Havana, her abode, 
 Hence I must proceed with my rhyming tale 
 Ere my Cigar will have burned to ashes pale ; 
 
 Thus leaving me without inspiring sprite 
 Which upon me steals in thy mellow light. 
 I'm glad I met thee, my most regal queen, 
 Imbuing my soul with thy drowsy nicotine, 
 Permeating my blood with soothing narcotic, 
 Making me gently blissful, not despotic. 
 I've met many of thy name and kin 
 Whom I pray to never face again. 
 I hate to say it, but by Jove I hope 
 To ne'er be seen sucking a rope 
 On fire, blending mullen and cabbage leaf. 
 Little wonder at home we come to grief, 
 And have to hike to the stable for cow 
 At the behest of an angry frau. 
 
 But, my dear snipe, I have again digressed 
 
 In my soliloquizing muse, and quest 
 
 For dreaming solace to my tired mind 
 
 After having imbibed thy spirit kind, 
 
 And feeling grateful to thee for 'suaging 
 
 My racked nerves that were erstwhile out-raging 
 
 Ere I offered thee up as incense sweet 
 
 To the god of nicotine replete, 
 
 Whom I serve with love's devotional truth; 
 
 Good or bad its inception was in youth. 
 
 I've grown to love thee, dearest Havana, 
 
 Sweet nymphet of my goddess Diana! 
 
 I shall e'er puff and continue to whiff 
 
 At thy feverish nipple till I'm stiff, 
 
 And then I trust to meet thee in glory 
 
 Where smoking and spinning a good story 
 
 May be accounted as forms of prayer, 
 
 Burning sweet, fragrant leaves to Angels fair. 
 
 However, be it for weal or taunting woe, 
 
TO MY CIGAR 167 
 
 Whom but the celestial gods can e'er know 
 Why thou dost so soothe and inspire 
 When offered up in dreamy smoke by fire? 
 
 TO KATHRYN 
 
 Ah, yea, my bonny valentine, 
 I will for thee await 
 At Heaven's lucent gate, 
 Thou bud out-peeped divine, 
 
 Portending a flower so sweet, 
 Whose beauty fills my heart. 
 O, I sigh, from the smart 
 Thou givest in retreat. 
 
 Or is it just a fancy dream, 
 That comes thwart my sight, 
 And lingers with delight 
 While on thy smiles I queme. 
 
 Yes, little dove, for thy cooing 
 I'll wait, benign, serene, 
 To make of thee a queen; 
 Then ne'er cease from wooing. 
 
 Thou art my celestial flower — 
 My Angel sprouting wings, 
 My nightingale that sings 
 In my sacred bower. 
 
 Aye, I'll wait till I'm eighty-three, 
 Or till Gabriel's horn 
 Shall wake the final morn, 
 And expunge my jealousy. 
 
LOVE 
 
 Love, — a passion wholly divine, 
 
 From God, — and 'tis a holy name. 
 
 We should its beams 'round our souls twine 
 
 It should be prized 'bove mortal fame. 
 
 Love's tears are so precious and sweet 
 They seem as the Heavenly dews, 
 When they come as prayers to greet 
 Our hearts, and its unction transfuse. 
 
 If love doth not our lives up-flll, 
 It follows we'll be full of hate. 
 O, let's submit to His sacred will! 
 'Tis the folly of fools who wait. — 
 
 'Tis love's spirit that rules Heaven, 
 Reigns upon the Empyrean throne ; 
 The refrain by Angels given, 
 That shall our mortal sins condone. 
 
 When time's sands grain by grain out-flow, 
 And age upon us silently creep, 
 The hourglass most empty here below, 
 Then love shall bear us across the deep. 
 
 'Tis an attribute of God, 
 And His holy redeeming grace, 
 The symbol of the bloom and bud, — 
 Without which, we'll ne'er see Him, 
 face to face. 
 
 1 68 
 
HAVE YOU SEEN FLORA YET? 
 
 Have you seen Flora yet, 
 Flora the blithe and sweet, 
 
 The soul of each floret, 
 
 That doth our love entreat? 
 
 The winged fairy dear 
 
 That rides upon the breeze, 
 
 The nymph with rosy cheer 
 
 Whose breath our hearts appease. 
 
 Flora, the sweetest that smiles, 
 Who would our woes expugn, 
 
 She loves without the wiles 
 In months of May and June. 
 
 But she stays much longer 
 To kiss the bloom's advent, 
 
 Which lades her breath stronger, 
 Her tresses with dew besprent. 
 
 Flora, the fair goddess 
 
 Wreathed in Heaven's love, 
 
 Bud's regal enchantress, 
 
 The bee's passion doth move. 
 
 Thus with sapient delight 
 The bee with buzzing wing 
 
 From morn till brooding night 
 To Flora's blooms doth sing. 
 
 Ah, the bee's beauty's judge; 
 
 He knows this goddess' bliss: 
 To her he must begrudge 
 
 The moonbeam's dreaming kiss. 
 
 169 
 
70 HAVE YOU SEEN FLORA YET? 
 
 The stars with jealous rays 
 
 Cross swords at even-tide 
 Athwart the golden haze 
 
 To win her for a bride. 
 'Tis ever thus you ween; 
 
 Ugliness seems a curse 
 Where beauty reigns as queen 
 
 And signs her lyric verse. 
 
 Now who's for this to blame? 
 
 We all bow at her shrine. 
 Beauty from Heaven came; 
 
 Beseems to us divine. 
 
 Yea, come! Hear sylvan lutes, 
 And get a peeking glimpse 
 
 Where pipes the sweetest flutes 
 'Mong Flora's darling imps. 
 
TO K. O. 
 
 Not many years agone, dear, 
 (I'll not say how many here) 
 When thou wert just six months old, 
 Thou wert given me to hold: 
 I yet can so plainly see 
 That tiny mite of majesty. 
 I'll never forget thy charms 
 When I held thee in my arms; 
 For it made my soul flutter, 
 And my tongue 'gan to stutter 
 Admiration quite romantic; 
 Then my speech grew pedantic. — 
 I'd just as soon hold thee now 
 And plight an eternal vow. 
 Thou wert a sweet cherub then ; 
 Now the seraph type, I ken, 
 With tresses of raven gloss 
 Dangling thy cheeks' peachy floss. 
 Thy sparkling eyes of softest brown 
 Should win for thee a jeweled crown .- 
 Thy beauty not thine only worth — 
 Thy blood royal by Christian birth : 
 With smiles sweet as lotus bud 
 Emitted by thy soul so good, 
 With spirit benignly high : 
 For thy love a prince would die. — 
 Now thou'rt a sweet girl graduate, 
 With heart lilt in woman's estate. 
 May life's golden sands ever gleam, 
 And thy devotion on earth redeem 
 For thee chaplets above the sky, 
 Where heaven's joys all tears will dry. 
 
 171 
 
TO THE MOON 
 
 She rides upon her azure throne 
 In silvery garb pale; 
 Ever and anon she weeps alone, 
 When clouds her face do veil. 
 On pilgrimage she runs apace 
 As if her course were set 
 By some ethereal embrace 
 Whose cosmic force she's met. 
 
 How many times around the earth 
 
 She's gone, or yet must go! 
 
 Her age and her national birth 
 
 We'd surely like to know. 
 
 But she's more silent than her sex 
 
 Indicates, — she can keep 
 
 Her counsel, and shun social wrecks — 
 
 Never talks in her sleep. 
 
 The back of her head we ne'er see: 
 
 We wonder if she's bald, 
 
 Or would her tresses' brilliancy 
 
 Turn our eyes emerald ? 
 
 But for some reason unexplained 
 
 Her gaze is on the world, 
 
 And it has been since she's reigned, 
 
 Her secret yet upfurled. 
 
 She quite oft makes capricious changes, 
 Her whims then manifest ; 
 Tugs at the lakes and mountain ranges: 
 Rolls the ocean's booming crest, 
 Where bask sea-nymphs in magic ease: 
 Upon the waves they glide, 
 Whose oozy curls do oft surcease 
 The ever-surging tide. 
 
 172 
 
TO THE MOON i 73 
 
 Then at times she becomes quite full — 
 Often displays her horns; 
 Both of which incorrigible, 
 And bring her many scorns. 
 But Cynthia is a suffragette, 
 And sets her pathway high, 
 Zoned with orient coronet — 
 Czarina of the sky. 
 
 Roll on, thou regentess, with pride, 
 
 Perform thy service well ! 
 
 No ill from earth can thee betide, 
 
 Be thy end Heaven or Hell. 
 
 It may be harsh penance to requite 
 
 Some pristine wrong commit 
 
 For which thou essayest thy light: 
 
 Some sins God will ne'er acquit. 
 
 Hence, in ignominy now replete, 
 Impaled, dying or dead, 
 Mayhap thou art a soul concrete, 
 Of some goddess once wed 
 To a consort, a god supreme, 
 For perfidy transformed to grieve, 
 The which no penance can redeem : 
 Thy wrong, naught will retrieve. 
 
ODE TO WINTER 
 
 Spirit-dragon, thy very name sounds acold, 
 
 Gives chilly awe to autumn's tender gold, 
 
 And fangs the bugle-blooms and jonquils brown 
 
 With frigid blight and petulant, loathsome frown, 
 
 Pinching milkmaid's cheek and the hunter's ear; 
 
 Frescoes the window pane with congealed tear ; 
 
 Oft nips the school boy's sunburnt toes 
 
 And intrepid traveler's carmine nose. 
 
 O thou monster, with purpose not all vain, 
 
 But to many thy gelid breath gives pain. 
 
 At times thou seem'st the master in fury 
 
 Merciless, with infernal gorgon eye; 
 
 Snorting like an enraged wild boar shent, 
 
 Overburdening decrepitude's margent. 
 
 Of thee all nature, beast and man, deter, 
 
 When thou descend'st from Northern hemisphere, 
 
 With prismatic icicles zoning thy brow, 
 
 That harshly cling to leaf and laurel bough; 
 
 Wrapping the earth in shroud ghostly white, 
 
 Corpse pale, by stealth draped in silent night. 
 
 Then freezing lagoons, streamlets, and river, 
 
 Seem'st to repudiate the Supremest Giver, 
 
 Being monstrous and matchless in thy reign, 
 
 Potently pitiless in thy domain. 
 
 Thy petals of snow, white as swans'-down, 
 
 And clattering hail, rude as circus clown, — 
 
 With crystal breath that swirl like goose-feather 
 
 Thy blatant storm seems to curse the weather; 
 
 Bringing obfuscations grim to aged mind, 
 
 Forboded and rumored in sighing wind, 
 
 That sounds to the poor widow sepulchral 
 
 Or doom's voice shrieking up and down the hall, 
 
 Through which ghouls with demon's fiendish prowl 
 
 Skulk like hungry hyenas — with odors foul. 
 
 Thou remorseless devil with blighting fate 
 
 Causing the weak and indigent stings too great, 
 
 174 
 
ODE TO WINTER 175 
 
 Fettering the very soul with sad grieves, 
 
 Giving naught to destitute but spring's retrieves, 
 
 Which oft loiter in they frozen lap too long, 
 
 Making the forest pine for throstle's song — 
 
 In thy ranting fury innocent lambs 
 
 Are ruthlessly snatched from the mournful dams. 
 
 Thy grinning tushes full of venom's woe 
 
 And with satanic bite never let go 
 
 Till death is manifest in bulb and flower; 
 
 Then lurking hard by as if to devour 
 
 The havoc of thy relentless harpy teeth. 
 
 Thou monster such sad privations bequeath 
 
 To earth's defenseless and unsheltered heads — 
 
 Those unable to make invincible beds: 
 
 Thou hid'st from the starving Dame Nature's 
 
 food. 
 Ah, 'tis a vengeful blast that blows no good! 
 Hence to the rich and young thy blessing felt. 
 How they loath to see thy lily snow melt ! 
 'Tis their time for sportive bliss unconfined, 
 In gregarious swarms and opulence dined: 
 The time for ermine furs, and sleigh bells rife, 
 And sable muffs — and hilarious life. 
 Fair maids, youthful, with a roseate dawn, 
 Hop and skip graceful as nymph or fawn, 
 And glide upon glassy lake with spinning grace, 
 With nimble loveliness and happy face. 
 In merry joust the village swains contend, 
 Playing snow ball; their gallant pride defend, 
 And in war-like combat each side displays 
 Dauntless courage, full-hearted with artful ways; 
 With honest mien and fancies light and free 
 And truest eyes admiring tenderly, 
 The sweet lasses with voices tuneful ring, 
 Whose rose bud lips had music on the wing. 
 Then with gleeful feast and frolicsome tongue 
 Many folk songs with jolly mirth are sung; 
 Sumptuous supper — roast goose and cider, 
 
176 ODE TO WINTER 
 
 Pumpkin pie, pig's feet, apple-jack beside her: 
 Sparkling madeira and Mumm's extra dry, 
 And old Scotch whiskey made from blooming rye; 
 After which conviviality inspired 
 Buoying the sylvan heart, that love hath fired. 
 Then the fiddle is tuned with much delight 
 For the festive dance that will run all night. 
 Lige Simkins, a fiddler of local renown, 
 Who oft played in the county village town, 
 And drank egg-nog like sinner joyous 
 Till drunk as the witch of spirits cloyous. 
 Then his melodies with a sweeping rhyme 
 Had grandpa patting both feet, keeping time. 
 Aunt Milley danced a jig with Duncan Moore 
 For sweet memory's sake, and days of yore. 
 When love's wedding feast, with romantic charm 
 And honeymoons celebrated on the farm, 
 By those happy doves, when full joys elate, 
 Cupid smiles on each cooing pair delicate, 
 And winks a knowing eye with much zest; 
 His beauteous wooing the maidens blessed 
 As they sweetly dreamed, while the arrow's sting 
 Could plainly be felt, heart palpitating. — 
 
 Such the glories of winter, all agree 
 When we're prepared to receive it blithely, 
 And such too should be the winter of age. 
 Let none in life's bark be caught by sin's rage, 
 Unprepared to put out on shoreless sea 
 Rudderless, without Christian humility. 
 
ODE TO HESPERUS 
 
 Fairest gem of the astral sea, 
 Beaming on ocean and earth, 
 Thy orient majesty 
 Bespeaks thy noble birth — 
 Thou virgin of the silent night 
 Enthroned upon wings of gold, 
 Diffusing thy gracious light 
 That doth the sovran deep unfold. 
 
 Who can into thy benign face 
 
 Gaze, glistening through realms untrod, 
 
 And not in wonder retrace 
 
 Thy refulgence back to God — 
 
 Thou lucent queen of Heaven, 
 
 Empress of Apollo's sheen, 
 
 Thwart the universe given 
 
 In resplendent rays serene. 
 
 Glorious at eve-tide thy flame, 
 When Phoebus is sunken west, 
 Venus! that's a sacred name, 
 Thou goddess of love so blest! 
 Full of sacramental zeal 
 If thou didst poise o'er the child 
 Christ, thy brilliance did reveal 
 And lead the wise men undefiled. 
 
 Thou, then the star of Bethlehem, 
 
 Hath seen Jesus, our Redeemer; 
 
 Thou art Heaven's diadem, 
 
 And a veracious gleamer 
 
 In the azure firmament, 
 
 Placed there by holy designs 
 
 To a destiny diligent: 
 
 'Tis love in thy soul that shines. 
 
 177 
 
THE DYING YEAR 
 
 Kind friend, I bid thee a sad adieu; 
 
 I see the grim shadow of death 
 
 Upon thy aged brow; cold too 
 
 Are thy weary limbs, thy gasping breath, 
 
 And languid now thy pulse and heart. 
 
 Death to thee is a brooding fate; 
 
 Thy spirit from earth must depart, 
 
 Its mission now complete, — the gate 
 
 Of eternity stands oped, ajar, 
 
 To welcome thy immortal soul. 
 
 Eternal Jove will name a star 
 
 In thy honor, and the control 
 
 Of some throne sempiternal to grace 
 
 Forever, as Saturnian king, 
 
 Thy reward for serving time's race, 
 
 Thus comporting and agreeing, 
 
 So happy in the laws of truth, 
 
 In thy paternal plentitude. 
 
 And while, alas! thy crypt forsooth 
 
 Shall not on earth be wrought or hewed, 
 
 Yet in my heart thy cenotaph, 
 
 A shaft of golden memory's choice 
 
 Of love, blooms, fruit, and nature's laugh 
 
 A memento loving, whose voice 
 
 To my grief as a mother's song 
 
 To her sleepy infant, with pride, 
 
 Whose smiles yet to heaven belong, 
 
 Whose dreams an angel's wing doth guide.- 
 
 We must part, — thou to thy kingdom, 
 
 To thy exalt and sovran throne; 
 
 But, mutable, I to clay must come, 
 
 The road we mortals go alone. 
 
 May I again meet thee beyond tears 
 
 In the region that knows no night, 
 
 Where time is not computed by years, 
 
 i 7 8 
 
THE DYING YEAR 179 
 
 And eternity's wings glow with light, — 
 
 Where my nature immutable then, 
 
 In that glorious realm divine, 
 
 Where earth longings molt, like the wren, 
 
 And transmuted hearts naught do pine; 
 
 Where thy careworn anatomy 
 
 Shall vernate into beauty's charms, 
 
 And in teeming regality 
 
 Thou mayst infold me in thine arms. 
 
 I love thee; I loath to have thee go; 
 
 My heart now beats a mournful sigh: 
 
 Yet beyond clouds gestant with snow 
 
 Is thy demesne so azure high. 
 
 To me thou canst not more return, 
 
 But ere long I shall fly to thee; 
 
 Meanwhile my soul's most sacred urn 
 
 Shall hold thy fragrant memory. 
 
 I well recall thy virgin birth: 
 
 Thou wert fringed in Aurora's gold 
 
 While beauteous snow mantled the earth, 
 
 The stork's white pinions did thee unfold. 
 
 'Twas a bright silvery morn: 
 
 The wood birds flitted here and there ; 
 
 I too remember the hunter's horn 
 
 That resounded on the frosty air. 
 
 Each blade and twig in icy jewels decked, 
 
 And merry damsels on skates flit 
 
 Upon congealed lakes that did reflect 
 
 Their voices while loving hands interknit. 
 
 Again, dear foster friend, farewell! 
 
 Do not ask me why I thus weep. 
 
 My heart is lorn ; I scarce could tell : 
 
 Yet I know my sorrow is deep. 
 
 Why must such aching grief attend? 
 
 Why should love come to such a woe? 
 
 Why should ravaging time so blend 
 
 Mortals' delicate beauty here below? 
 
 May God speed thee on thy volant flight ! 
 
180 THE DYING YEAR 
 
 May thy throne eternal above 
 Be ministered by angels of light 
 And crown thee with Heaven's love! 
 
 MY STAR 
 
 My star is a world so bright : 
 To some a satellite no doubt; 
 But to me, its rays delight, 
 And sorrow's lurid cloud doth rout. 
 
 It truly walks upon the earth : 
 I'm glad of that, tis the truth; 
 A Venus of noblest birth, 
 In the morn of vernal youth. 
 
 My star is small with two orbs, 
 Twinkling under long lashes curved, 
 With upward grace that absorbs 
 My admiration unswerved. 
 
 'Tis a glittering gem, this, — 
 In the noon-day's sun 'twill shine; 
 In the darkness I would kiss: 
 I love its noon-tide divine. 
 
 No gloom in its zone by night, 
 For its cheering beams of gold 
 Give my path luminous light, 
 My melancholy up-fold, 
 
 And blend into tinted hues, 
 And implant loftiest song; 
 Whose sweet lute-whispering muse 
 Balms my bosom's every wrong. 
 
MY STAR 181 
 
 My star is a world indeed, 
 With purity's lucent blend; 
 To my soul, divinest meed, 
 All constellations transcend. 
 
 It has rose-bud mouth that smiles, 
 And teeth of the whitest pearls; 
 In my dreams it so beguiles, 
 Its dazzling beauty unfurls. 
 
 It has feet on which to glide, 
 And tresses of raven curls; 
 I fain would make this star a bride, 
 The dearest of all the girls. 
 
 What care I for stars above, 
 With diamond eyes of sacred fire; 
 How can they touch my heart's love, 
 Attune my impassioned lyre? 
 
TO ROSALEE 
 
 Thou art gone, my sweet Rosalee, 
 Into realms divine — high above, 
 But thy spirit, like cooing dove, 
 Is still my mournful fantasy. 
 
 'Tis years agone, since beaming pride 
 Hoped — and ambition's glowing fire 
 With lucent flame, and love's desire, 
 Crowned thee my sweet-heart, — future bride- 
 
 But the cold wing of destiny 
 Took thee. — 'Twas not for sin I know; 
 'Twas because Heaven loved thee so — 
 And wanted thy charming company. 
 
 Memory yet takes me back, dear, 
 And we romp, heart and hand so free, 
 'Cross the mead, near the billowy sea, 
 Where birds sing sweetly to give us cheer. 
 
 When roseate morn's lambent blush 
 Cast orient spears thwart the sky, 
 And shining dews pearled each bloom's eye, 
 We hied for berries ripe and lush. 
 
 And oft at e'entide's fading glow, 
 'Mong garden and orchard flowers 
 Playing hide and seek 'neath bowers 
 Of cherry, apple, and peach blow. 
 
 And under the starry night's breath, 
 When charioted zephyrs roving 
 Dallied soft plumes on our cheeks loving, — 
 Then we had not e'en dreamed of death. 
 
 182 
 
TO ROSALEE 183 
 
 Yet withal, dear one, thy advent 
 
 On earth inspirits me to reach 
 
 That kingdom whose glistening beach 
 
 Reflects in my heart the love thou'st sent. 
 
 Now thou'rt immortal Rosalee, 
 
 Gone beyond the abysm of sorrow 
 
 And grief, that thickens with the morrow. 
 
 O, happy thought! I'll come to thee. 
 
 My ship in silence hath been aimed 
 For the bright shores of fair renown; 
 'Tis my prayers to see thy crown 
 Of Heaven's luminous stars — famed. 
 
 I know thou'rt happy, Rosalee, 
 And look as fresh as a wild rose 
 At the brim of morning's young glows 
 When vernant flowers rainbow the lea. 
 
 I know not why thou wert taken, 
 When thou wert so young, sweet, and true, 
 But I may learn when I see you, — 
 Understand why I was forsaken. 
 
 Life is a dull voyage alone, — 
 I strolled 'neath the cliffs yesterday, 
 Where we so oft from school did play, 
 And built little houses of stone. 
 
 My tears streamed fast when I spied the shrine 
 On which I boosted thee, my queen ! 
 Then we named it thy throne of green, 
 Thou didst comport so regal and fine. 
 
1 84 TO ROSALEE 
 
 Oh, if I could hold thy hand again! 
 But I must sigh and weep instead; 
 I talk in my dreams — and I'm led 
 By thy spirit 'mid the starry main. 
 
 But, Rosalee, long since my hopes 
 
 Took flight — they flew with thee, my star, 
 
 Through the Heaven's postern ajar, 
 
 And there remain, while here my soul gropes. 
 
 My guardian angel Rosalee, 
 And my mediatrix divine, 
 My soul looks up to thee, to pine; 
 Oh, bless me in thy rosary. — 
 
 Oft I think I see thee in the skies 
 As the mind's golden vista unfurls 
 Visions o' Heaven and thy soft curls; 
 And then I see those azure eyes. 
 
 As the e'entide of life wings apace, 
 
 And my star recumbent, waning, 
 
 Oh, I hope I'm each day gaining 
 
 On the flow that sweeps to Hell's disgrace! 
 
 'Twas sad to lose thee, Rosalee, 
 At the dawn of life's sparkling light, 
 But sorrow did sharpen my sight, 
 In Heaven's glory to meet thee. 
 
 The geranium thou didst love 
 Brings forth its perennial bloom, 
 The flowers I spread on thy tomb, 
 Thus my immortal love to prove. 
 
TO LUCILE 
 
 Oh, what a fate has been my lot! 
 A destiny flung me at thy feet: 
 My heart caught fire, and I forgot 
 All but love's ecstacy, complete. 
 
 Those pensive eyes of softest brown 
 Illume my soul's forlorn pathway; 
 Thy golden tresses truly crown 
 A face more brilliant than noon's ray. 
 
 When I behold thy beauty charms 
 I'm reminded of a flower, 
 The Easter lily; my ardent arms 
 Would thee infold as life's dower. 
 
 When I first held thy hand, Lucile, 
 So immaculate and so white, 
 I felt a thrill which did reveal 
 A passion of enrapt delight. 
 
 That smile betokens virtue's truth; 
 Thy teeth like the most costly pearls: 
 A young princess thou art, forsooth. 
 Who wouldn't love thee, sweetest of girls? 
 
 My heart doth cherish with rhythmic bliss- 
 Re-echoes a melodious zeal; 
 Ah, how memory balms that kiss 
 I stole from thy rosebud lips, Lucile. 
 
 Yet there's no solace for my heart, 
 I fear, — ah me, I now repine 
 When I think how soon we must part. 
 Alas! Thou would'st never be mine. 
 
 185 
 
THE HAND OF GOD 
 
 Who can look into the azure deep 
 And not behold glories infinite? 
 
 The night's lucent eyes do ever keep 
 Watch upon the earth with delight. 
 
 Prevailing hues of blue and gold 
 Dominate the astral sea still. 
 
 O God, may our orisons unfold 
 The mysteries of Thy divine will. 
 
 When we regard Thy great power, 
 A cogent world-builder Thou art, 
 
 Piloting all things every hour, 
 
 Yet hearing man's suppliant heart. 
 
 Nor too busy the sparrow's fall 
 
 To see — Thou hear'st the raven's cry. 
 
 How matchless, how all in all 
 Is Thy puissant majesty. 
 
 Each star stoled in sacred design 
 
 Knows Thy loving presence supreme; 
 
 'Tis Thy face and glory that shine, 
 Thy love and mercy that redeem. 
 
 Who can be so blind, not to see 
 
 Thy wondrous hand at the prow-wheels 
 
 Of our eternal destiny 
 
 The solar universe reveals. 
 
 1 86 
 
TWILIGHT 
 
 I hear the whir of sleepy wing 
 And good-night vespers, — anthems sweet. 
 Parting day is now hovering, 
 Her silent blessing at my feet. — 
 Awake, ye habitues nocturnal, 
 That I may imbibe echo's tide, 
 Where Nature's divine ritual 
 Communes, and her soft shadows hide. 
 The night calls reboant soon heard, 
 From fox, bird, and lamenting owl; 
 The whippoorwill's plaintive word, 
 And ravenous wolf's savage howl, — 
 Anon come from copse-covert glens, 
 Each on rapacious pillage bent, 
 While blossoming perfume transcends 
 The azure mystic wonderment, — 
 And its sighing prayers steal 
 Into my retrospective mind; 
 Its incense to my soul I feel, 
 Blandished by the spiritous wind. — 
 The contiguity of earth and sky 
 In benignant reverence blend, 
 Sacred warmth and betrothal nigh, 
 While bird, beast, and man contend, — 
 Where silken zephyrs' votive bliss 
 Bridle amative breath of wild rose, 
 And with loving dalliance kiss 
 Each dewy bud which this night blows. 
 The yellow moon, gaunt, peeps askance 
 Through western haze above the hills; 
 Her brazen horns keen as Mars' lance 
 Fling meager beamlets upon the rills. — 
 Ah! 'Tis nightingale's tunes I hear 
 Wafted upon the roving breeze; 
 Their descants linger in my ear 
 
 187 
 
1 88 TWILIGHT 
 
 While my soul brims with ecstacies. — 
 Now's the time for true lover's vows: 
 A transporting symphonic wave 
 Sates my sense, as it doth arouse 
 Other scenes in memory's grave. 
 The stars, the arc lights of Heaven, 
 One by one come into my ken, 
 Round me tuneful silence given 
 My sequacious solitude, — and when 
 The departing sun's crimson hues 
 Have kissed ambient clouds good-night, 
 Each saffron glint has said adieus 
 To its soul-mate in love's delight; 
 Then brewing solemnity holds 
 A witching charm o'er mortal state ; 
 Her immortal dominion unfolds 
 The panorama of destined fate. 
 And thus life's evening shadows mute 
 Are growing longer each day fled. 
 O, if its twilight will impute 
 To my shades such glories full wed, 
 By divine nature inherent! 
 Her fair spirit to mine impart 
 Raptures exulting, and coexistent, 
 To implant hope in my lone heart! 
 Likewise a calm, appeasing tide 
 To placate a billowy sea, 
 A star fulgent, my soul to guide, 
 When I embark for eternity! 
 
TO SHAKESPEARE 
 
 Thy great scope is yet to us a wonder ; 
 
 Thy rhetoric in luster still out-shines: 
 Methink I hear that heralding thunder 
 
 And the luting enchantment which combines 
 The range of earth and sky, to thee out-flung 
 
 Like a magic meadow of blooming pink. 
 Thy comprehension infinite hath sung 
 
 From Aeolus' airy throne, — from lurid brink 
 Of human passions, — to make gay, or mourn. 
 Thy like for fathoming mortal destiny 
 
 And delving deep into the psychic bourn, 
 Sounding the depth of the soul's entity, 
 
 Seems his advent earthward doth not illume 
 Our benighted realm; nor flash forth lyric fire 
 
 Of eloquence, that compass joy and gloom. 
 Thou didst make music on Apollo's lyre, 
 
 Didst cunningly all depravity mirror 
 From celestial dome, and from hell forlorn; 
 
 Proving Heaven's love, and Hades' terror, 
 Engilding the stars anew ; robed the morn 
 
 In a beauty more dazzling and sublime 
 With thy philosophy and golden rhyme. 
 
 189 
 
THE INSPIRATION OF FRIENDSHIP 
 
 As the redolence of spring gives to the bee 
 Hivings of joy, his wealth of honey pure, 
 Likewise I garner friendship's sanctity, 
 And its saccharine to my soul I lure — 
 Friendship implanted in the vernal mind 
 Inweaves its weft into hoar years that bind. 
 
 All like matter, and spirits as well, attract 
 
 To some eternal sympathy benign, 
 
 Where genial affinity naught exact; 
 
 Nor will its ardency e'er droop and pine, 
 
 And beyond this vale 'twill be with love found ; 
 
 In such crystal realms fair beauties abound. 
 
 The friends I've known for many sober years, 
 Now that they're still as true as innocence, 
 Arouse in my heart inspiration that reveres 
 And anew revives some virtue detent 
 In my bosom, which with fervor glows 
 Whose inflorescence eclipses the rose. 
 
 Now fleeting time bequeaths its sequent wing, 
 
 And whirs dispiteous beyond the noon 
 
 Of life's lotted span: then age, the grim viking, 
 
 Comes with stealth, yet to the gay past doth croon, 
 
 And harks to echoes of friendship's votary 
 
 Still lingering in youth's fantastic sea. 
 
 And I e'er in mind see those childish pleasures, 
 Those enflowered vistas as backward I gaze ; 
 Oft enumerate the golden treasures 
 Of that fairy world I once saw ablaze. 
 How I would fain the wheels of time reverse, 
 And the autumn plumes of ripe years disperse! 
 
 190 
 
INSPIRATION OF FRIENDSHIP 191 
 
 By friendship's festive and blithesome sail 
 What an unfurled pennant to ever guide 
 In love's serene pathway, celestial trail 
 To the shore of eternal Heaven wide! 
 And, too, how rich to find a friend replete 
 On the footstool of God with fondness sweet! 
 
 But, alas! we must march on to our goal, 
 
 Add our song to the symphony of lore, 
 
 As it may vibrate the chords of the soul. 
 
 Aye! The journey henceforth may ope the door 
 
 Of joys to juvenile fancies unknown, 
 
 Nor to mortal vision hath e'er been shown. 
 
 'Tis a sweet attribute in a friend of youth 
 
 To vouchsafe and unselfishly commit 
 
 Unequivocal admiration, forsooth, 
 
 That conduces to exultations fit 
 
 To fill a heart with immaculate fire : 
 
 Let's enfranchise the muse such friends inspire. 
 
A MISTLETOE KISS 
 
 I stood 'neath the magic mistletoe bough; 
 
 A New Year's kiss I benignly got : 
 
 Rapture! — Would I were standing there now; 
 
 Yes, on that very identical spot. 
 
 'Twas a most loving and enchanting smack ! 
 
 I blushed scarlet, and my trembling lips hid. 
 
 Entreatingly I asked her to take it back: 
 
 Then she tip-toed and lingeringly did: 
 
 She took it — her blushes were unespied: 
 
 I'd let her again, I know full well; 
 
 Yea, if I had even swooned and died. 
 
 For it made my heart flutter and swell, 
 
 And my timorous soul she did affright. 
 
 Thus, smiling, she continued sweetly to sup. 
 
 While New Year's chimes were tolling midnight, 
 
 She was still sipping from love's drainless cup. 
 
 I'll ne'er forget the festive mistletoe. 
 
 As time links my joys measure by measure, 
 
 My dreams will revert to that night, I trow — 
 
 A night of memory's golden treasure. 
 
 There's more in osculation than joy's bliss: 
 
 In love it sings a melodious tune. 
 
 Sweet as her bouquet is Erato's kiss, 
 
 And the sweetheart's smack makes starlight noon. 
 
 In the fane of Venus they sing the kiss-song 
 
 Which binds with connubial links as strong 
 
 As home ties, yet sweeter; diviner goes 
 
 Into the hungry passions' empty abyss, 
 
 That swells and bubbles, but ne'er overflows. 
 
 A soothing composite is love's magic kiss! 
 
 In varying cadence, sweetly it sings, 
 
 Of Cupid's incense linked in Heaven's vows, — 
 
 'Tis love's exponent, recognized by kings; 
 
 In queenly hearts dormant emotions rouse. 
 
 TQ2 
 
A MISTLETOE KISS 193 
 
 O, thou muse! let Angel's golden wings 
 Dipped in love's fount of ambrosial sweets 
 Infuse medic balms, when mistletoe swings 
 O'er the hearts attuned to each other's beats, 
 And on each bosom's sacred altar burns 
 That unquenchable and amative fire 
 With congenial flame that haunts, goes, then re- 
 turns 
 To speak love's immaculate soul's desire. 
 
 TO MY VIOLIN 
 
 A thing of grace, life, and breath, 
 
 My heart to thee I devote; 
 
 We shall be comrades unto death, 
 
 Thy soul from mine not remote. 
 
 Whose rhythms, transporting, benign, 
 
 And so loving and so sweet 
 
 With modulations seemlied, 
 
 Like magic sirens, entreat; 
 
 Yet combined of maple-antique, 
 
 With waving curls — and vibrant spruce, 
 
 Joined together with vital glue, 
 
 Firm as lacquer, — harder to loose. 
 
 Yes, from the tree primeval 
 
 Thou didst come — while I came from clay : 
 
 Hence, we're cousins mysterious 
 
 On destiny's common highway. 
 
 And is it some forest legend 
 
 Emmewed in thy lonely heart; 
 
 Some sad fairy story tragic 
 
 In minor thou wouldst impart? 
 
 And deterge thyself of sorrow, 
 
 Yield up thy weird romance, 
 
 Told first to some sylvan cypress, 
 
 By some haunted cave, perchance? 
 
194 TO MY VIOLIN 
 
 Thy vocal endowments condign 
 To my sympathetic muse, 
 And joyous thy heart in song 
 As thy resonances infuse 
 And sway the human emotions, 
 With sadness or joys up-fill; 
 Hence, a soul thou dost possess 
 And lend it with gen'rous will. 
 
 In my love-lorn contemplations 
 And my lonely hours repined, 
 Thy tones cheer and so inspirit 
 And toll my immortal mind, 
 Back into the up-sealed by-gones 
 With luring phantasies from the skies 
 And dreamy visions that entice, 
 Through love's mystic imageries. 
 
 Is it song-bird's tunes caged since time 
 
 Immemorial, or stars' refrains caught 
 
 By sirens of eternal rhyme, 
 
 Or sighing themes of spirits lost? 
 
 Some dethroned god's penitent sins? 
 
 Alas ! the voice of contrite remorse 
 
 Thou wouldst give to the winged winds? 
 
 Thy progenitors may've grown long 
 On the grave of pre-eminent saint, 
 Some pristine prima donna of song 
 Whose mold by wonderment embodies 
 Thy substance, — mystically communes 
 With spirit of some deified Melba, 
 Conscious in thy wondrous tunes. 
 
 When thy wings of harmony 
 Outspread, with such golden hope 
 To curtain me from languor, 
 And cheering me on to cope 
 
TO MY VIOLIN 195 
 
 With powers psychic beyond 
 The bourne of human decree, 
 Whence such lingering echoes, 
 The murmurings of eternity; 
 And being more out, than in 
 The mortal zone, — thus o'er-reached 
 By thy mysterious tonality, — 
 And finding my spirit pleached, — 
 I wake as if from a rev'ry; 
 Then back to dull mortality fly, 
 And idly my fingers will stray 
 Over thy minor chords high. 
 
 O, thou beauty goddess, fair! — 
 With gracile waist symmetric, 
 The empress of instruments 
 Musical — and dance music 
 That sways the feet entrancing, 
 And again, with themes divine 
 That echo in memory's 
 Urn, — when gloomily we pine 
 For redemption's hand to lead 
 Us out of discordant seas, 
 Away from tuneless billows, 
 Back to thy soulful melodies. 
 Thou, like the voice of lyric fountain 
 Spurting forth from tuneful pipes, 
 Or from golden-plumed nightingales 
 With argent tongues and scarlet stripes! 
 
 My peerless Nymph in solitude, 
 With tender passion's sacred tone, 
 With wooing breath like violet's kiss, 
 My heart to thine in love hath grown. 
 Into thine own ears I pour 
 My soul's lamenting regrets; 
 With impassioned cadence holy 
 Thou return'st softly my life secrets. 
 
ig6 TO MY VIOLIN 
 
 Thou art my pulsing paragon 
 Whose beat is the sigh of love; 
 If I had but thee, dearest gem 
 I'd not hunger or aimlessly rove, 
 Nor pine, but rely placably 
 On thee and thy mellow song — 
 Such delicious symphonies full blown, 
 Like flowers' breath that floats along, 
 Soothing to my tranced dullness. 
 
 Of thee I'll not be deprived. 
 My endless love and ripest joys 
 Are thine. — Alas! I've long shrived 
 My heart-aches to thee; enrapt 
 By thy responsive sounds that steal 
 Into the soul's ethical ken, 
 And repeat the prayer I feel 
 In mine own immortal soul. 
 
 My dear consort, long since gone 
 To her heritage supernal — 
 She's waiting for me on the lawn 
 Of Heaven! — In mind I hear 
 Those sweet songs she oft did sing 
 As I commune with thee, dear, 
 Dreamily accompanying — 
 Now I'm all alone with thee, 
 And to thee, my friend, I'll cling, 
 For I've consecrated my heart 
 To thy soul, on every string! 
 I pray to have thee yonder 
 Where even the planets sing, 
 And celestial bodies attune 
 Their vibrance to the Heaven's wing. 
 
TO MUSIC 
 
 Sweet sprite of ev'ry age and clime, 
 How majestic thy glory! 
 Thy tongue of oracles sublime 
 In gloom or joy's story. 
 
 Thou dulcet pixy unfading, 
 With soft themes from the skies, 
 Whence thy gauzy, resonant wing 
 Brings the heart aching sighs. 
 
 Without thy kiss, love vain hopes dead — 
 But maudlin dreams that grieve. 
 Thy wooing opes the buds to wed, 
 Some kindred bloom reprieve. — 
 
 Thou'rt heavenly as purest love, 
 Boundless as infinite space; 
 Thy spirit eternal above 
 Where angels thee embrace. 
 
 Thou'rt with us from cradle to the grave: 
 Thy voice lulls the babe's sleep, 
 And Easter's festival octave 
 In my soul lingers deep. 
 
 E'en Memnon's statue makes Aurora's heart 
 
 Shed melancholy tears, 
 
 When it emits thy witching art, 
 
 Whose matin rhythm she hears. 
 
 Thou sweet goddess of high minions 
 Immortal and divine, 
 Whose nymph rides on zephyr's pinions, 
 Whose conduced virtues refine. 
 
 197 
 
198 TO MUSIC 
 
 Hence, the rippling brooks thus embued 
 With thy lyric delight! 
 And rivers proud and meadows hued 
 Rebeck thy orisons day and night. 
 
 And languid eyes with rheums glaze, 
 When thy voice solemn and bland 
 Some disavowed memories raise 
 Beyond the will's command. 
 
 Sententious medleys day by day 
 Haunt my reflective mind, 
 And oft a mildewed rhapsody 
 Comes floating on the wind. 
 
 And along crowded highway's sea 
 A merry tune may rise, 
 In my soul's dreaming revery 
 Which time can't ostracize. 
 
 A melody oft comes leeward, 
 While musing by the fire; 
 'Twill into memory's tankard 
 Mount, — if jocund Bacchus inspire. 
 
 Thy harmonies such sparkling gems 
 A living prayer's blaze; 
 From Heaven's throne thy diadems 
 E'er shine with lustrous rays. 
 
 Thy sweet concord, the cynosure 
 Of my lone pilgrimage, 
 To the golden portals of pure 
 Light, — where thou'rt empress sage. 
 
TO MUSIC 199 
 
 The king and queen at thy fount sip 
 And sate their hearts' desire, 
 As fragrant blooms with dewy lip 
 Drink the sun's gracious fire. 
 
 Now, darling muse, I say adieu, 
 
 But not a sad farewell; 
 
 I adore thee, and thy parvenu 
 
 Fain wouldst be, — and with thee dwell. 
 
DEATH 
 
 What is death that we eschew it? 
 Life's metamorphose, yet we rue it — 
 The chariot in which all must ride ; 
 We must die to be glorified. 
 
 Our natures more spirit than clay, 
 Why should we bemoan death's bewray? 
 Nothing's lost by the demon's sword, 
 If we'll grasp God's eternal word. 
 
 Death, who art thou, for me to fear? 
 Thy sting is mortal, dust thy bier; 
 Nor canst thou heavenward rise, 
 Nor thy sable aspect e'er disguise. 
 
 Thy gorgon frown the wage of sin, 
 At Hades' grot thou didst begin; 
 The devil is thy envious sire, 
 As he's the father of the liar. 
 
 I shall not fear thee, vengeful Death; 
 You mar this clay, but not life's breath, 
 Which mounts the celestial wave high: 
 'Twas not God's decree we should die. 
 
 We're just transmuted on this sphere 
 To meet conditions otherwhere. 
 Then we'll know thee, Death, thou serpent 
 By hell's vile dogs thou wilt be shent. 
 
 But in joyous bliss 'bove the sky 
 Where thy ebon wing shall ne'er fly, 
 We'll rise beyond thy mortal sting, 
 To our Father, and Heaven's King. 
 
 200 
 
THE TEMPLE OF NATURE 
 
 I'll visit the temple of Flora in May 
 
 And muse amid her shrine and cressy bay; 
 
 To my being of mortal flesh and blood 
 
 I'll philosophize on her emerald flood, 
 
 And forget the city's din and things rude 
 
 In drowsy solitude. 
 
 I'll commune with nature's God 'bove the sky 
 
 As the sweet moments fly, 
 
 And lose myself from myself completely 
 
 As upon the fluent wings of Mercury 
 
 I shall glide from mossy nook to the green 
 
 Lawns of the silent woodlands unseen, — 
 
 There consort with sylvan nymphs mid the leaves, 
 
 And unfold my love by amative heaves. — 
 
 In shadowy glens I'll feast my hungry eye, 
 And cool my limbs in the founts silvery, 
 Where the blue just now and then jealously 
 Peeps, with languid paleness that seems to sigh 
 For a beter view. Ah! but I'll be true 
 To the fairies, and to each delicate hue 
 Of ev'ry redolent tint of summer's joy; 
 I'll love the nymphs divinely, — I'll not toy 
 With a single breeze, nor flower's lone heart 
 That will to my bliss such homage impart. 
 Here to nature I'll bend my silent vows, 
 And in her cool fostering arms she'll house 
 My lorn and orphan bosom so drooping, 
 And into my soul pour her ambrosial spring. 
 O, beauteous month! Flora's fairest child! 
 Let me bask in thy bowers sweet and wild, 
 
 And chase broad-winged butterflies 'cross the mead 
 Made green and pliant by love-grass and weed, 
 And divinely fragrant by each sighing bloom 
 
 201 
 
202 THE TEMPLE OF NATURE 
 
 That dreams in drowsy wildwood, where the gloom 
 
 Of mortal souls, not there pining in woe, 
 
 But in themes of ecstacy overflow 
 
 In raptures superlative and with delight, 
 
 Revelling in the golden haze of light, 
 
 Where cloudlets like phantoms listlessly soai 
 
 Under azure canopy with winged oar. 
 
 Here sage and poet find inspiration 
 To write the verses that up-lift the nation, 
 Near meandering streams, tumbling, crystal; 
 That babble as down a brink they fall. 
 Yea, I'm a lover of all such blisses, 
 Where'er the naiad maiden's cheek kisses 
 The bashful zephyrs till they heave deep sighs, 
 Then wistfully loiter with pensive eyes 
 And with a passion of tenderest approve, 
 Like young Narcissus, who did his image love 
 With amorous reflection and hot flame, 
 Hence transmuted into the flower of his name. 
 Likewise the zephyrs by their kisses and stare 
 Were changed to a lady-fern sweet and rare, 
 And now bedeck the oozy cliffs and brink, 
 Where yet they ponder, and to fairies drink, 
 And kiss their little feet, nimble and white, 
 With the famishing love of an eremite. 
 
 Such the raptures in Flora's kingdom seen, 
 Where each tiny flower reigns as the queen 
 Or the king of some other soul divine; 
 Where the delicious wild rose and eglantine 
 Diffuse sweet incense, their untainted breath 
 Immaculate and pure in flowery death; 
 Which rise sacred to Dian's fane of fire 
 To purify her be jeweled attire, 
 Whereunto such sweetness all gods do bow 
 In fervent love, — plight an eternal vow. 
 
THE TEMPLE OF NATURE 203 
 
 Author of sublime Nature, so dear 
 To my spirit that doth unfold so clear, 
 And lures me to its mossy temples grand 
 Where nymphs frolic sportive on golden sand, 
 And in shallow waters amber minnows play 
 
 In kindeigarten 'gainst the refreshing sway 
 
 That ripples o'er pebbly stones 'neath cernuous 
 
 boughs, 
 Where all's concord, and nothing disavows — 
 
 O, let me near the boon of Nature dwell, 
 
 And list to legend-tale in conch-shell, 
 
 To songs emmewed since the first birth of time 
 
 Or when the sirens caught the poet's rhyme, 
 
 And re-echoed it into ev'ry sphere; 
 
 From whence can be heard by the sylphids' ear 
 
 Harmonious themes by bards of ancient lore, 
 
 Whose rhythm doth un-wind, and 'twill e'ermore. 
 
 When I'm the guest of this earthly paradise 
 
 1 pray naught may divert my hungry eyes, 
 And my delightful dream not be broken 
 
 By some rude kingfisher with gibes out-spoken 
 
 From the top of a dead sycamore tree, 
 
 There pluming his majesty, 
 
 And telling of some delicious repast 
 
 On a trout, having a feast, ere he'd fast. 
 
 But may my musing repose be embowered 
 
 In sylvan haunts serene uncowered; 
 
 There favored by the throstle's soothing notes 
 
 And the merry bobolinks' song, that floats 
 
 To my drowsy sense on the balmy breeze 
 
 Unconscious from whence it filters thro' the trees; 
 
 And may all the volatile dryads 
 
 Be about me, that I on bended knees 
 
 May suffuse my love and list to vibrant wings 
 
 From denizens that flit o'er dripping springs; 
 
 And a dreaming immortality be shed 
 
20 4 THE TEMPLE OF NATURE 
 
 Upon memory, that Lethe-ward hath sped 
 By reason of such opiate delight 
 Received from the enflowered vales so dight, 
 To ease one's soul into oblivion's grot, 
 Whence many enchantments by fancy shot 
 Into my innermost spiritual sense, 
 Wherein 'tis charmed by its own recompense. 
 
 Yea, I'm a disciple of Nature's breast: 
 Her bosom soothes my weary brain to rest, 
 'Neath the tapering willow's saffron stems 
 Through which the queen moon shoots her silver 
 
 gems. 
 Ah, Cynthia! Forsooth, thou dost the lovers spy, 
 But thou would'st not see a nymph in anguish die 
 That doth shrive to thee her sorrow and bliss, 
 Whom thou would'st infold in thy bosom and kiss. 
 Now I must leave thee, my sweet mother true: 
 Thy temple my heart with joy doth bedew. 
 But ere long I'll return to commune more; 
 My dedalean wings now must from thee soar. 
 
TO THE NINE MUSES 
 
 Come hither, rose-wreathed Erato. 
 
 Thy lyric brilliance resound; 
 
 With myrtled brow so zoned in grace, 
 
 Come to me; I'm thy beau. 
 
 Thy love my heart hath bound 
 
 In musing dreams, and rhythm's embrace. 
 
 Sweet Euterpe, goddess of the pipe, 
 Muse of all the wind instruments! 
 Thy ringlet tresses zephyrs play 
 With passion, lush and ripe, 
 Full of loving cloyments 
 And trancing tunes from the galaxy. 
 
 Fair Urania, empress of the sky, 
 Queen of constellations sublime, 
 Leader of the chorus when stars sang, 
 Princess of the planets high 
 And Vesper's wooing rhyme, 
 Heaven's glory from each star rang. 
 
 My facetious Thalia, of mirth, 
 Thy idyllic gems of the mead, 
 Of pastoral allegories 
 Of great beauty and worth, 
 Where nibble without heed 
 Pan's flocks on green promontories. 
 
 O Terpsichore! muse of the dance, 
 With choral songs and fancy flows, 
 Music deified by thy form 
 And swaying jubilance, 
 Or twirling on thy toes, 
 Graceful as the seagull in a storm. 
 
 20 "5 
 
206 TO THE NINE MUSES 
 
 Most eloquent Calliope, 
 
 Chief of the Heaven muses nine, 
 
 Mother of Orpheus (the lyrist, 
 
 With poetic wizardry) 
 
 Thy epic verses refine, 
 
 Whose influence none can resist. 
 
 To the great erudite Clio, 
 Keeper of the sacred history, 
 Recorder of annals divine, 
 Who saw the first rainbow 
 And light, before the eye 
 Of the orient sun did shine. 
 
 Melpomene, with tragic heart, 
 Didst thou witness the fall of Eve, 
 Hear the blood of Abel call out, 
 Attend drama's black art, 
 When Satan tried to deceive; 
 Whom angels and Michael did rout? 
 
 Polyhymnia, sweet lyric bride 
 Of anthems immortal that ring, 
 Echoing the domed expanse; 
 Thy fair beauty doth guide 
 The flight of Heaven's wing 
 
 That soothes the soul into dreaming trance. 
 
 Dear, heavenly muses, one and eight, 
 A fairy lot from whom to choose, 
 
 1 shall woo you, fair deities, 
 Lest some bewail to wait, 
 Or might her love diffuse 
 With dalliance and sportive eyes. 
 
 How I need you ev'ry silent hour! 
 I shall e'er worship at your shrine, 
 For ye are my inspiring light. 
 
TO THE NINE MUSES 207 
 
 I'm charmed at your bower, 
 Whose fragrant vines entwine, 
 Impearl with dews my soul to-night. 
 
 I aspire to be the consort 
 
 To all the family, for my soul 
 
 Hath gone to thee alike in treague. 
 
 Transport me by triple mort 
 
 Into your realm's control, 
 
 And my heart with poesy league. 
 
 Oh, sisters nine, in air-built skies! 
 My votive prayers and beauty dreams 
 Ascend the lucid space to you; 
 With yearnings and deep sighs 
 My soul's exulting themes 
 Hang resistless on rhythms true. 
 
 Yea, dear muses, two and seven, 
 At the brim of the golden morn 
 Your spreaded pinions o'er oceans deep 
 Shall waft strains from heaven, 
 While lingered joys unborn 
 Sleep in your songs — immortal sleep. 
 
 Birds of heaven with healing wings, 
 
 With dazzling eyes, gray, brown, and blue, 
 
 Each with gentle innocent gaze 
 
 On the beautiful things 
 
 Of nature, kind and true, 
 
 Your genius are the angels' praise. 
 
 Who would spurn such cousining love, 
 Kiss not those curving pansy lips 
 Of fairy nymphs the gods did sire? 
 Flavored by the dews above, 
 Whence the poets' sweet sips 
 Your imbrued vintage doth inspire. 
 
208 TO THE NINE MUSES 
 
 When my faltering steps amate, 
 
 And leave me chambered in the dark, 
 
 Then I pine for your glaucous wings, 
 
 Whose vibrances emulate 
 
 The tune of morning lark 
 
 That mounts Aurora's blush and sings. 
 
 If ye were human to my kiss, 
 
 And as soft velvet to my touch, 
 
 My amative hopes I'd essay, 
 
 And love's potential bliss 
 
 I'd enmew overmuch; 
 
 And fight amain, to win the day. 
 
 Ah sweet muses, with lambent smiles, 
 With dazzling beauty's loving glance, 
 That haunt my wingless soul's retreat; 
 Like the moon's guileless guiles 
 On the water's expanse 
 Where dance her silvery feet! 
 
 Give me your hearts, in pulsing ease, 
 And indulge my vision's desire, 
 While from your coral lips of pride 
 I'll quaff 'neath blooming trees 
 To quench this burning fire 
 While calmly spooming on love's tide. 
 
 How your cheeks with blushes suffuse, 
 
 And passion's charms your eyes confess- 
 
 A bliss that intertwines so bright. 
 
 Who could such love abuse? 
 
 That silent vows express 
 
 To my passioned heart's burning light. 
 
 Lovely muses, with lotus breath, 
 With timbrel's gold and vibrant chimes, 
 Like magic tunes from wizard's lyre — 
 
TO THE NINE MUSES 209 
 
 Such lives not meant for death ! 
 Your souls but fancy's rhymes 
 To give mortal, immortal fire. 
 
 Who would not caress those bright curls 
 
 And sing 'neath the blooms by nature wrought, 
 
 Where the damask rose each lip disparts, 
 
 Its essence pure unfurls, 
 
 When e'en-tide's pensive thought 
 
 Into the starry azure darts. 
 
 Dearest Peris, with penance done, 
 Through the gates of Paradise sweet doves 
 With delight enter the ken of truth, 
 Your soul's purity won, 
 Like furtive eye that loves 
 Palpable joys and budding youth. 
 
 Gracious Angels, Heaven's minstrels, 
 Send your gentle spirits to earth, 
 Yet have spirits in the starry glow 
 Casting down metric swells 
 Giving mortal new birth, 
 The elixir of love below. 
 
 Yea, sweet beauties of holy rhyme, 
 
 The universe opes to your sways! 
 
 Hence weep not my eternal flames: 
 
 Your poesy sublime 
 
 Nightingales tender lays; 
 
 Dull senseless themes to yours, my dames. 
 
 Ye deified Muses of grace, 
 
 Whose silver-throated chants from the skies 
 
 Echo with throbbing harmonies, 
 
 My visions interlace 
 
 As I heave unripe sighs 
 
 And languish in love's mystic seas. 
 
210 TO THE NINE MUSES 
 
 I hear your sweet musing refrains 
 Vibrating the ethereal air; 
 Such themes in chorus so refine 
 With Nocturn's honeyed strains, 
 Send me rhythms sweet and rare 
 From your heavenly choir of Nine. 
 
BUILDING AIR CASTLES 
 
 Various as the glory of stars 
 The air castle builders elate, 
 Raising turrets and glit'ring spars 
 Without an architect's estimate — 
 In dreaming fantasy they build 
 Domiciles huge and grand — then make 
 More noble — the domes oft regild. 
 But castles in the air awake 
 Ideals; the mind's genial hosts 
 Like spirits the Heavens control, 
 Or phantasm's unbodied ghosts, 
 Wooing mysterious into the soul. 
 
 Though greater and still more exalt, 
 They build into the blue domain 
 Of the planets' supernal vault; 
 Yet without abutments they maintain 
 Each superstructure — the visions' blows 
 Like the shadows of which they're wove; 
 Whose textile beauty as of rainbows 
 Hung over some enchanted grove. 
 Then hoary age enmosses the dome 
 Of temples reared in ardent caress, 
 While memory's never at home, 
 But reviewing scenes of happiness. 
 
 Round pious fancy's abluent spring 
 
 That bubbles 'neath hope's dazzling shrine, 
 
 Into which fair goddesses fling 
 
 Love's pearly tears pure as crystalline; 
 
 Then from its bright bosom nymphets rise 
 
 Imbued with Thetis' dewy embrace, 
 
 Soft as the blush of impassioned eyes 
 
 Radiant with celestial grace. 
 
 Thus it is they build proudest thrones 
 
 In Jove's beauteous realm so blue; 
 
 Whose blazing tints and fancy tones 
 
 Inspire ambitious pride of ev'ry hue. 
 
 211 
 
TO ESTELLE 
 
 'Tis true, Estelle, my memory 
 
 Is all remains these years; 
 
 'Neath the leaves of this spreading tree 
 
 My eyes distream with tears. 
 
 This morn I heard the lavrock's tune; 
 I thought of thy songs leal 
 When we rambled in early June — 
 Our love we did reveal. 
 
 The zephyrs thy raven curls wreathed, 
 As we, lass and lad gay, 
 Romped in the soft shadows and breathed 
 Fragrance of new-mown hay. 
 
 Our love then, innocent, as pure 
 
 As the bud's blooming sigh ; 
 
 Now 'tis all flown, canst thou endure 
 
 To hear the reason why? 
 
 'Tis true thou art a beauty fair; 
 I've known no one so sweet: 
 Yet to love thee I scarce can dare, 
 Though I worship at thy feet! 
 
 And while thou wert attending school 
 At the seminary high 
 I plowed the glebe with sedate mule; 
 Yet my heart could not thy love deny. 
 
 I turned the dank sward to the sun; 
 In musing thoughts of thee 
 Longed for the day when we'd be one 
 In holy matrimony. 
 
 212 
 
TO ESTELLE 213 
 
 Work to me was like idle play; 
 The notes of nesting wren 
 Did gladden the summer's day, 
 Thy face within my ken. 
 
 As I upgrew my dawning soul 
 Of thy virtues would sing: 
 I can now feel my heart's control 
 O'er thine own, withering. 
 
 Thou hast grown too worldly wise 
 For honest son of toil; 
 My callous hands, I now surmise, 
 Are my ignoble foil. 
 
 My fate is sealed — I feel its goad ; 
 Thy love hath fled, Estelle, 
 Or at least from me it tiptoed: 
 I now bid thee farewell. 
 
 Yet, I bless the passion of love, 
 I know there's such a thing; 
 Its power the Heavens doth move 
 With super-human wing. 
 
 I do not chide thee in my heart — 
 Thou art pure as stars' rays. 
 I'm glad I loved thee; 'twill impart 
 To fond memory's blaze. 
 
 I must surely love thee yet, dear, 
 As by that name it's known ; 
 It still hovers over the bier 
 Of the dead past alone. 
 
2i 4 TO ESTELLE 
 
 Who then can expugn this burning, 
 Who can assuage the pain, 
 Key the door against returning, 
 Be deaf to its refrain? 
 
 O, 'tis sad to brood o'er by-gones, 
 Wish we were children yet, 
 Roving o'er the sweet meadow lawns, 
 Our minds so free from fret. 
 
 I hope thy crowning day shall come, 
 For it, thou hast so wrought; 
 And not be bitter like a scum, 
 False star's insipience caught. 
 
 I laud thee for such noble aim ; 
 I pray thou may'st pluck the goal, 
 For 'tis thy ripe delicious claim — 
 Then grapple to thy soul. 
 
 Ambition is a surging sea; 
 Its billows mount the breast : 
 Rarely crowns without misery, 
 Which brings its own bequest. 
 
TO JOSEPHINE 
 
 Since thy face I last beheld, 
 Since thy love I know is dead, 
 Oh, if I could that link re-weld, 
 Revamp the vows that once were said! 
 Then my soul that's roving with the wind. 
 Riding upon the lurking breeze — 
 Once more Cupid would attune its muse; 
 Dry my tears, and grief surcease. — 
 
 Just the other moonless night 
 I dreamed of thee, dear Josephine, 
 Thy face wreathed in love's delight, 
 Thine eyes so bright, sweet valentine. 
 I dreamed we strolled hand in hand, 
 And I thy mien so truly read! 
 I'm sorry 'twas just fancies spun 
 From mind's visionary thread. 
 
 My life, a nightmare so hideous 
 Confined in gloom's darksome cave, 
 And 'twill ever remain thus, 
 Or drift with the spooming wave 
 Un-lulled by the turgid flow; 
 The loss of thee I'll e'er repine 
 To the dregs and gall forlorn, 
 Now the sun in very scorn doth shine. 
 
 Shall I end it all in death's cruse, 
 And then adieu to mortal pain, 
 Or yet hope for love's gentle thews 
 To lift on downy wings again ? 
 I've meditated to no avail. 
 Oh, fate! wretched fate! let me drift 
 Forever in bark by billows tossed, 
 Or on some ghostly Island shift. — 
 
 215 
 
2i6 TO JOSEPHINE 
 
 How we're buffeted by love's tempest, 
 Hurled headlong by its magic star! 
 In shady coves I've moored for rest, 
 But found none 'neath its scimitar. 
 Yes, love's a great feast, so they tell, 
 But its wine I've tasted was whey: 
 I'm tired of being a booby-jack; 
 In yon gulch I'll fling all dismay. 
 
 Josephine, my brain is shorn 
 Of reason, — my blood congeals 
 My love's fruitlessness, and its thorn 
 So prod and fang — my mind conceals 
 Sear leaves that into my heart fall, 
 That now brood foul weeds of sin, 
 Which choke out the blooming buds 
 That thrived on virtues within. 
 
 Welcome to my dust are wolves' jaws. 
 Weep not, Josephine, but for me pray! 
 'Tis but to soothe my mind, the maws 
 Of hungry animals I stay. 
 The life of some young kid 'twill save 
 For few days from teeth of pards, 
 Whose lairs are hereabout beset, 
 Whose screams my soliloquy retards. 
 
 Thou winged monster of sorrow, 
 I entreat thy foul stomach to feed 
 And feast on my flesh to-morrow, 
 And glut thy callow vulture's greed. — 
 Oh! to die, to sleep and to dream, 
 In the bosom of eternity long, 
 To give the mind sweet lenity 
 And blend with co-eternal song. 
 
TO JOSEPHINE 217 
 
 Oh, my God! where am I now? 
 I've had a vision, — the devil 
 Came in great pomp — (truly I vow) 
 In great vastitude of evil, 
 Gathering lost souls of suicides: 
 Oh, Heaven forgive me, I pray! 
 Dear Josephine, I love thee still — 
 I'll not harm this life's ebbing clay. 
 
 Praise I'll now sing unto the Lord 
 For mercy and rewards divine, 
 And for raising me by His word 
 From hell's enthralls serpentine, 
 That twisted about my lone spirit, 
 Which fluttered like an oriole 
 Under the necromantic spell 
 Of a serpent's vicious control. 
 
 Josephine, I adore thee, my prize, 
 Not in desperation to mope, 
 But in the light of Heaven's eyes 
 I'll strive with my rivals to cope. 
 Anywise I'll not this body destroy — 
 The temple of the soul's residence, 
 Its lodging temporal on earth: 
 Therefore I'll give it my defence. 
 
TO MY SCHOOLMATES 
 
 To my schoolmates one and all, 
 
 I yet hear your sonorous call, 
 
 As when at play 'neath beechen shade 
 
 My mind reverts to that leafy glade 
 
 Where we passed many happy hours 
 
 'Mong the sylvan cliffs and bowers, 
 
 Along the willow's weeping train. 
 
 I yet see Autumn's smiling grain, 
 
 And the beautiful goldenrod 
 
 As 'twould wave to the breeze, and nod 
 
 To some admiring flower fair, 
 
 Or soul-mate to further declare, — 
 
 Its amatory love impart, 
 
 Exuding sweet sighs from its heart. 
 
 Where the pungent mints thrifty grow, 
 
 Where the water lilies blow, 
 
 And the crystal spring runs so bold, 
 
 That bubbles from earth's bosom cold, — 
 
 Just below, round the craggy hill 
 
 This lucid stream turned the mill 
 
 That ground our corn into meal 
 
 And wheat into flour, "mother's seal" 
 
 'Tween huge stones, upper and nether, 
 
 That crushed the grains together. 
 
 Many a poke stalk we made fall, 
 And heard many wild bird's tender call; 
 And we'd lay the tall mullen low, 
 Or bend its head toward our beau; 
 If it lived and grew that way 
 'Twas a good omen, they'd say, 
 That she did love us truly. 
 We'd take all else, so on the sly; 
 Would kiss her when no one was nigh 
 E'en if the sweet lass feign would cry. 
 
 218 
 
TO MY SCHOOLMATES 219 
 
 You remember my canine rover 
 That looked like a black bear in clover, 
 And the yearlings we used to yoke, 
 Then drive up the road for a joke. 
 How they would sulk and often hike 
 Like huge jack-rabbits down the pike; 
 Hard to stop, as they were to start. 
 'Twas all gay romance in our cart, — 
 We loved excitement for the sauce; 
 Without some spice we'd have grown moss 
 Which oft began to germinate. 
 
 Then we'd begin our minds to freight 
 With some book-learning. You recall, 
 School began in summer or fall, 
 Lasting ninety days, little more. 
 But in that time we could learn o'er 
 What we forgot in the nine months 
 Or nearly so, by the old stunts, 
 That is, by studying aloud — 
 Fine system, of which we were proud. 
 We could yell out in a stout voice, 
 Call the teacher names, and rejoice. 
 The whippoorwill's chant of sadness 
 We'd list in our dreaming gladness, 
 And the owl's hooting monotone 
 From the tall elms where he had flown 
 Would fall upon our listless ears 
 And distraught with ominous fears. 
 But we knew the owl's secret bent — 
 He loves goose and lamb, innocent! 
 On a fat hen he does not frown : 
 Oft upon a dove, he'll swoop down. 
 
 You remember how we'd ramble 
 For a fat 'possum through the bramble, 
 And in persimmon tree we'd find 
 His Excellency; where he dined 
 
220 TO MY SCHOOLMATES 
 
 Sumptuous, 'neath the moon's argent rays, 
 Or by the stars' glittering plays, 
 Or yet in the most gloomed darkness 
 Obeying appetite's gnawing stress. 
 A well baked 'possum is a feast 
 For the gods high, or Pan's priests, 
 Who know where true luxuries dwell. 
 In such morsels how they revel, 
 And muse in rapt benevolence 
 When 'possum odors fill their sense. 
 
 Ah, those were happy days indeed — 
 
 Little then did we the moments heed! 
 
 In the mill pond we oft did fish 
 
 For trout, perch, or anything — pish ! 
 
 That would bite; even a bullfrog, 
 
 A turtle, or a polliwog. — 
 
 In the deep snow we'd track the hare, 
 
 And stop his muse so unaware. 
 
 That was fun! Don't you remember 
 
 How we chased them in gay December? 
 
 Then we would feast on rabbit stew, 
 
 And sometimes we had a barbecue; 
 
 With baked apples by a wood fire — 
 
 Sweet potatoes if we'd desire; 
 
 And all kinds of nuts we would crack. 
 
 Oft a long swig of apple-jack 
 
 We would quaff with much manhood ; 
 
 Then we'd get jolly and feel good. 
 
 But I've digressed from my story. 
 I'm telling about school days' glory, 
 When the blue-back speller was classic 
 And in her zenith bombastic, 
 And spelling bees were all the go, 
 Standing or sitting in a row; 
 The days when we licked the ink 
 From our pens, unconcerned as wink 
 
TO MY SCHOOLMATES 221 
 
 At some bright-eyed sweetheart benign 
 Whom we thought then almost divine. 
 Yea, my dear old festive schoolmates, 
 
 Those days were joyous, when on slates 
 We ciphered 'neath the shady trees, 
 Near the old log school-house, where fleas 
 Made out acquaintance and then feuds 
 Of great scratching, with short interludes — 
 Kept us quite occupied, you know. 
 But we preferred the out-door woe 
 To some teacher's laconic eyes 
 Whose leather heads we did despise. 
 
 Yes, my dear old chums, I ponder 
 And sigh for those days, and wonder 
 If the city chap has half the snap, 
 Filling his cranium with scrap; 
 'Tis truly enough his soul to blight 
 In trying to skimp his way light 
 Into the vestibule of knowledge 
 By playing football through college. 
 
 Many blissful pleasures I recount 
 
 In my memory, that doth mount 
 
 High into those raptures agone, 
 
 In my reminiscence outdrawn. 
 
 I wonder if the world's kind hand 
 
 Has gently dealt with you, as the sand 
 
 Of life grain by grain has filtered 
 
 Through time's sieve, each grain gold-glittered, 
 
 Or if you've toyed with destiny 
 
 And now look back with hopeless sigh 
 
 On a profligate past that jars 
 
 And grins like the ghost of dooming stars. 
 
222 TO MY SCHOOLMATES 
 
 I pray none may languish on bed 
 Of such remorse, with hopes all fled; 
 I trust it's not the case at all, 
 That none is caged in such a thrall, 
 But all do enjoy the sunshine 
 Of Heaven with naught to repine. 
 
 HUMILITY 
 
 Give me a life pure, unknown, 
 
 From whose every act may flow 
 
 Deeds of divine love unheard; 
 
 Than sinful pomp and pride loud, 
 
 E'en though it be upon a throne 
 
 From whose transient glare naught but show, 
 
 And whose vows but sounding word, 
 
 With pompous vanity proud. 
 
 Give me a heart full of song, 
 In which the joys of earth can dwell, 
 Concomitant with the joys above. 
 From such beauty let me not stray. 
 May I never stand for the wrong, 
 Upholding the dogmas of hell, 
 Knowing not the true God of love: 
 O Lord ! direct me on my way. — 
 
 Why should we puff up with glory? 
 From whence did we mammals spring? 
 Who gave us the power we laud 
 Over our brothers? those so weak, 
 Whose souls full of saddened story, 
 Who too oppressed, a note to sing? 
 Yet we loath to think we're the fraud ; 
 Oft-times we feign to appear meek. 
 
 O, impious wretch! with family tree, 
 With consanguineous line long 
 Reaching to Adam and Eve; 
 
HUMILITY 223 
 
 Or from perhensile tail monkey! 
 If the latter be true, then we 
 Should not do this animal wrong, 
 Maligning his race, if we believe 
 We're his degenerate progeny. 
 
 Vanity's seed naught but woe doth raise, 
 In youth or the most advanced age; 
 Yet many think they're immortal 
 And picture themselves peering high: 
 And oft with self-appointed praise 
 Whose ignorance doth crown them sage, 
 And make them strut and oft recall 
 The prowess of some kinsman's lie. 
 
 Humility, a virtue most rare, 
 
 The bloom and fragrance of wisdom, 
 
 Leading to Heaven's vale of rest 
 
 Whose love great eminence doth sire 
 
 In the human heart debonair; 
 
 Through whom earth's redemption shall come, 
 
 And to whom God makes His bequest, 
 
 Purified with empyrean fire. 
 
THE POETS 
 
 Poets have their dreams and repose: 
 They hear the stars sing at eve's close, 
 And they muse and sigh long and deep. 
 Many an inward tear they weep: 
 Their eyes may laugh gay and glisten, 
 While their hearts sob if you'll listen. 
 Their lyrics link Heaven and earth; 
 'Tis their design to give soul mirth, 
 And embolden elements pure. 
 Many privations they endure, 
 As they inwreathe flowery chain: 
 Their diction merely hides their pain, 
 While musing in the kingdom of verse, 
 Their spirits light-winged rehearse; 
 And weave their rhymes in beauty's loom 
 Just to smooth life's billowy gloom, 
 And plant the seed of flowers sweet 
 In the pathway of loving feet. 
 
 They're human nightingales of tune: 
 With loftier realms they commune. 
 Ah! they're seraphs with broken wings! 
 That's why on earth such lingerings, 
 Till their pinions grow strong and swift. 
 Meanwhile pearls from pebbles they sift. 
 They're king bees in the winter hive; 
 A kind of soul honey they give, 
 Oft casting their gems to the swine, 
 While on celestial food they dine. 
 They're larks that sing in their own ears, 
 For oft they soar where none else hears, 
 But sigh not for the poets plight 
 Though mellow noon be to them night ; 
 Rich then might be their deep musings 
 In begloomed darkness, sprouting wings. 
 Let them build castles in the sky: 
 
 224 
 
THE POETS 225 
 
 Like eagles they in azure fly, 
 And make their abodes e'en higher, 
 Such dizzy heights attune their lyre. — 
 The bards of earth to Heaven soar: 
 Eternal love they'll sing e'ermore. 
 Their themes are glints of divine blue, 
 And their songs prove Heaven is true. 
 The light ethereal they glean, 
 Which by mortal eye is ne'er seen. 
 Sing on, ye bards, and thus inspire! 
 Your souls shall honor Phoebus' choir, 
 Where no threnody rends the air, 
 Every song sweet and happy there. 
 
MY DREAM 
 
 In a dream I soared on wings high, 
 
 To some strange land where waters swirl; 
 
 I bethought myself 'bove the sky, 
 
 On a strand dazzling with gold and pearl. 
 
 I then began to fill my purse. 
 
 To my surprise, an angel stood 
 
 Before me gazing, nothing worse; 
 
 And told me to hoard not the blood 
 
 Of those who died on earth from craze 
 
 And left a memorial black 
 
 For wealth, their idol, and God of praise, 
 
 Stored in vault upon iron rack, 
 
 In the misers' coffer fireproof; 
 
 Who wailed a sou the church to pay, 
 
 Their mammon grasping, and aloof 
 
 Standing: kept all for rainy day, 
 
 Which to such as these never came. 
 
 Instead, their souls were required through death, 
 
 And now submerged in saffron flame, 
 
 Where the fumes of sulphur each breath 
 
 Imbibe, which make them gasp and mourn 
 
 Days gone, when on earth they did dwell, 
 
 But with hopes shattered and conscience torn 
 
 Could not avert the thrall of hell. 
 
 In this dream, I did then behold 
 Saints in un-numbered bands, who sang 
 Songs I often heard in tones bold, 
 That in earth's sanctuaries out-rang. 
 The angel admonished me true, 
 Then gave me a ring interwove, 
 With a posy engraven, who 
 Said the superscription meant love. 
 I felt strange, yet I did not wake; 
 My body with me I must have borne 
 
 226 
 
MY DREAM 227 
 
 Across this deep, engulfing lake; 
 But to return I did not mourn. 
 
 I heard many sounds so rhythmic, 
 
 Still, I smelt the sweet fragrant leas. 
 
 I heard words spirit — 'twas music 
 
 On the wing — soulful melodies. 
 
 I was contented as at home: 
 
 All faces in smiles elate wreathed 
 
 As they merrily in flocks did roam, 
 
 And the pure pomegranate breath breathed. 
 
 I saw fleet horses with eyes bright, 
 
 On which maidens with nosegays rode, 
 
 Beautiful in gossamers white. 
 
 The prancing steeds with love's load 
 
 Carried their riders with much pride 
 
 Too swift for my eyes to discern 
 
 If these fair creatures on earth e'er sighed 
 
 And if they were ransomed interne. 
 
 I, in this visionary plight, 
 Saw empurple blooms kiss the waves 
 In tranquil beauty, love's delight ; 
 Again I heard music's conclaves, 
 And list in breathless silence mute. 
 The buds and flowers by the stream 
 Breathed prayers soft as magic lute; 
 They too must have dozed in a dream, 
 While under such radiant sky, 
 The air so balmy in its tide 
 And viewless to the mortal eye, 
 Yet on music's soul it did ride. 
 
 If my muse could better convey 
 What I saw in my dreaming trance, 
 And too, if some prophet could essay 
 Such an instrument, its significance 
 Interpret, — or meaning divine, 
 
228 MY DREAM 
 
 My hopes might bloom like the wild rose, 
 
 And like water-lilies supine, 
 
 Bask in the scintillating glows 
 
 Of Heaven's sunshine — and heed the surge 
 
 That gently beats so lenient 
 
 At the door of my heart to deterge 
 
 And clothe it in holy raiment. 
 
 A dream is like a spider's weave — 
 Its texture but fancy superfine, 
 That can this mortal clay deceive; 
 Its true nature the soul doth twine. 
 
THE SOUL 
 
 Why should a soul so mystify 
 The mortal mind and brain of clay, 
 Or because it's from Heaven's sky 
 And belongs to realms of eternal day? 
 
 'Tis the life of immortal breath 
 And the flame of empyrean fire, 
 All the which we'll know after death; 
 The endued theme of human desire. 
 
 It is the pure incense of love, 
 The rays of its divinest light; 
 Immaculate substance from above 
 Too beauteous for mortal sight. 
 
 And 'tis the real essence of God, 
 His very life to angels given; 
 The echo of His matchless word 
 To the habitues of Heaven. 
 
 The divine composite, — the blow 
 Of earthly buds, — pure quintessence 
 As ethereal crystalline snow, 
 The crown of life, as recompense. 
 
 Virtue's compensated reward 
 For fortitude's devotion rare 
 Upon this impurple, charnel sward, 
 With robe and habiliment fair. 
 
 'Tis the oracle's wings purified 
 By Heaven's grace, — the immortal bloom, 
 Whose sacred elements shall guide 
 This flower eternal, from the tomb. — 
 
 229 
 
236 THE SOUL 
 
 Yea, truly 'tis God's attribute, 
 His holy principle unfurled: 
 No mortal can this fact confute. 
 But marvel not on Psyche's world. 
 
 We make the soul evil or divine 
 By the food we for it have sown, 
 Which to its nature must condign 
 If we'd have its stature full grown. 
 
 As we gaze into starry space 
 'Neath the canopy's arched sky, 
 We feel its magnetic embrace, 
 That potently enthrones on high: 
 
 The golden glare of mind's vision, 
 The loadstar of conscience unseen, 
 But pulling to heights Elysian 
 By power immortal serene: 
 
 The divine bloom with iris hues 
 With beauty too dazzling for eyes 
 Terrestial, — but e'er shall transfuse 
 And polarize mortal destinies. 
 
THE 'POSSUM HUNT 
 
 The time was in gay December, 
 Ah, how well I can remember; 
 The grapes and persimmons sweet and prime, 
 The air crisp for the Southern clime. 
 The trees had shed their leaves of gold; 
 The night to some might have seemed acold. 
 Ice had frescoed the tall blades o' grass- 
 Some flared like curved poniards of glass: 
 The sun had sunk in the amber west. 
 The squirrel had scampered to his nest. 
 The screech owl had begun his cry: 
 They always moan, the devil knows why: 
 They beseem recreants in feather, 
 Or stay out nights to curse the weather. 
 The queen of night, though somewhat dim, 
 Was mounting the horizon's eastern rim; 
 The tall trees were nodding to the breeze; 
 I heard the chipmunks when they'd sneeze: 
 The scented woods greeted my nose, 
 And did my nerves somewhat compose. 
 The sky was gemmed with spangles bright 
 Winking and blinking to help give light, 
 Upon this festive 'possum hunt, 
 The time of year for such a stunt. 
 My brown dog of fair mongrel stock, 
 Fleet as the hare o'er hill and rock; 
 His ears long with ebony tip, 
 And he'd never let a trail slip. 
 His nose was sharped for keenest smell; 
 When scenting the track he'd quickly yell— 
 The wooded hills re-echoed back. 
 By instinct he knew the 'possum's track 
 From that of fox, mink, or raccoon, 
 As well as we know night from noon. 
 His voice, true, like a silver horn 
 
 231 
 
232 THE 'POSSUM HUNT 
 
 Resounded at times, somewhat forlorn, 
 As if he had bayed a huge ghost 
 Or unicorn at least or most, 
 Which really meant his game descried, 
 By voice modulation he'd confide, 
 Which hurried me on with eager stride 
 My game to scan, as up the tree hied ; 
 And as the moon's reflecting rays 
 Shone on his gray ermine I'd gaze 
 And weigh with proud and anxious eyes 
 The heft and condition of my prize. 
 Then I'd climb up, and quickly slip 
 His fuzzy tail with tightening grip 
 Between stick at one end rived, 
 Ere at my hand he viciously dived, 
 And thus secure my black-eyed chap: 
 He'll sulk, growl, and bite; but ne'er snap. 
 'Twas useless to try to extricate 
 His prehensile tail, or underrate 
 His chagrin by sulkiness, thus caught; 
 Yet naught gained if he had fought. 
 The 'possum is quite tame for wild breed, 
 And when cooped, he soon loves to feed 
 On buttered biscuits or what not — 
 Even pork touches his hungry spot. 
 Like a pig he soon becomes dight 
 For table if your appetite 
 Is sufficient to take his fat, 
 With sweet potatoes, yams at that. 
 Before cooking he must be laid 
 Where jackfrost can sample his grade, 
 And pinch his flesh to make it sweet, 
 Good 'nough for Roosevelt to eat. 
 All great men love opossum meat. 
 When well baked 'tis indeed a treat, — 
 A meal for the gods, whose hearts' pride 
 For this dish makes them jealous-eyed. 
 
STANZAS 
 
 Love is a passion, 
 
 The heart's true ration 
 
 For every nation; 
 
 None eschew it. 
 
 'Tis worth the candle 
 
 All shadows dispell; 
 
 Easy to handle, 
 
 'Tis vain to rue it. 
 
 It brings many sighs; 
 
 Impearls beauty's eyes. 
 
 Who can say good-bye 
 
 To love's sweet face 
 
 Without sorrow's wing 
 
 Outspread hovering? 
 
 Though in mortal love, we find Heaven's tract 
 
 This passion may sway 
 
 The stars' argent ray. 
 
 Who can this gainsay 
 
 Since Heaven's love? 
 
 'Tis life's sparkling wine 
 
 From the sacred vine 
 
 Our natures refine. 
 
 Kings and queens approve. 
 
 Yea! 'tis a sweet grace 
 
 In hut or palace, 
 
 A flaming sword or mace, 
 
 Virtue's ensign 
 
 To appease the soul 
 
 And Heaven control 
 
 An immortal bloom, the amaranthine. — 
 
 233 
 
234 STANZAS 
 
 The rills babble bliss: 
 
 Nothing goes amiss. 
 
 In springtime they kiss, 
 
 And sparkle glee, 
 
 Hurrying to river; 
 
 There mingle forever 
 
 With loving fervor 
 
 In joys swirling sea, 
 
 Reflecting sun or moon: 
 
 With verdure festoon 
 
 Its banks May and June, 
 
 Where waters dream 
 
 In the bowered shades 
 
 'Mid the everglades, 
 
 Imbathing tender buds with loving gleam. 
 
 Thus with holiness 
 
 The woodlands impress 
 
 And palliate distress; 
 
 All wounds will heal : 
 
 The Nymph's smile will calm, 
 
 Flora's breath will balm, 
 
 Zephyrs to me psalm, 
 
 To my soul's own weal. 
 
 Love's rebounding tides 
 
 Over memory glides; 
 
 Thrills the blushing brides 
 
 With joy divine. 
 
 Who can e'er forget 
 
 The heart's own signet 
 
 Pure as sacred incense of columbine? 
 
THE CREATION 
 
 When God moved upon the abysmal deep 
 
 Amidst engulfing darkness desolate, 
 
 Where formless and boundless attributes confused 
 
 Thick, fathomless and incomparable — 
 
 Wherein groped night's black soul like a demon 
 
 ghoul : 
 In this chasm then not a monster dragon lived, 
 Nor convergent ray impierced this vast sea ; 
 No voice nor sound heard but eternity's wheels, 
 Huge and awesome in their nethermost grind, 
 Co-extensive with insuperable depth — 
 Then stagnant blackness breathed chaos distraught. 
 In this abysm unfathomed and forlorn 
 Nothing (at this indefinite age) had life, 
 Save therewithal the spirit of Jehovah 
 Which moved majestic 'midst incongruence; 
 And whose matchless wisdom and supremacy 
 This benighted gulf swayed with kingly potence. 
 Then God this shroud of boding mawkishness 
 Dissipated, and called forth immaculate light, 
 Which sprung from dismal and obscure darkness 
 With a brilliance and glory dazzling. 
 Thus bloomed the flower of light from the maw 
 Of dissonant and inharmonious chaos: 
 Then was destroyed brooding incongruity 
 By the King and Lord of hovering space — 
 And the sable wings of ominous gloom 
 He dispersed into Cerberean dungeon, — 
 Where yet it cowers with obloquious frown, 
 Impaled in a rayless and darkened tomb. — 
 
 Then lucific radiance with mellow sheen 
 Permeated the firmament infinite 
 With shadowless light remote and sublime, — 
 The temple of the omnipresent God 
 
 235 
 
236 THE CREATION 
 
 Now glowing fulgid 'neath the domed concave 
 
 Of sweeping infinity that zoned the pale 
 
 Of the deep, uninhabited waters, 
 
 Now impounded in the mighty ocean, 
 
 When the Great Builder called forth the dry lands 
 
 To appear from under the surging seas. 
 
 Then herb, grass, and blooming Mowers sprung forth 
 
 From the void and virgin matrix of earth ; 
 
 Tht quickened plants vegetated prolific; 
 
 All manner of trees in profusion grew. 
 
 The foliage of the forest primeval waved 
 
 In the lucid atmosphere, and glistened 
 
 In the resplendent smiles of golden dawn. 
 
 Then the Author of this Creation hung 
 
 His glorious sun in the yawning abysm 
 
 Of the deep and exalted firmament 
 
 To give earth light and vital energy ; 
 
 To rule subsidiary planets by night 
 
 And day, — endowing each with a minor 
 
 Brightness auxiliary and glorious, 
 
 Gilding the solar universe with beauty 
 
 In ev'ry kingdom above and below 
 
 The great eternal arch of Heaven's gulf — 
 
 Then the Maker and Pilot of our fate, 
 By power ineffable and supreme 
 Made He the moon to refract the sun's light 
 By night, and thus dilute its shadowy wing — 
 And innumerable stars did He sow 
 Broadcast amidst the ethereal void ; 
 Whence by auxetic reflection they minimize 
 Earth's lurid mantle when the moon is wan 
 Or in the thrall of the cloud's thund'rous veil; 
 While celestial orbs countless do command 
 Other worlds vast, huge and co-existent. 
 God made and swung in everlasting space 
 The analogue of terrestial elements, 
 
THE CREATION 237 
 
 Which are for signs and emblems prophetic 
 
 And mysterious. Then God filled the seas 
 
 With shark, whale, and ev'ry finny creature 
 
 Amphibia — or otherwise living 
 
 In the waters; and fowl and bird of wing 
 
 Were placed in this primitial wilderness 
 
 To spread His glory — rejoice and sing aloud 
 
 Amidst blooms, fruitage, and beauteous nature, 
 
 And to partake freely of its bounty 
 
 Where earth's fullness before them so outspread 
 
 In lavish abundance, munificent 
 
 According to His design and purpose; 
 
 And created He the beasts of the fields 
 
 To browse on virent herb and nutrient grass, 
 
 Provided for them by His divine grace. 
 
 And all things great and small God thus made, 
 
 And those that hibernate in earth's bosom, 
 
 Or walk, run, or creep upon the ground, or fly 
 
 In the cerulean Heavens above, 
 
 Or swim in the fathomless seas beneath, 
 
 All in gleesome and indigenous bliss, 
 
 Each after its own specific genus. 
 
 Now in wisdom the great Author divined 
 
 A minor, but glorious archetype 
 
 Of Himself, and man in His own image 
 
 And likeness created He, and him set 
 
 Over all which He for earth had thus made; 
 
 And which was for the glorification 
 
 Of this perfect man Adam of Eden. 
 
 The beautiful park wherein he was blessed 
 
 Was inimitable. God himself landscaped 
 
 This garden; hence 'twas indeed paradise 
 
 On earth. Adam the first horticulturist 
 
 Thus became, — and sent up hosanna's voice 
 
 Continually to the King of Heaven — 
 
 Without maternal origin or childhood 
 
 Accorded this holy man, who received from God 
 
238 THE CREATION 
 
 The breath and spirit of a living soul ; 
 
 Hence "the goodliest man of men since born," 
 
 In that he was made perfect by divine hands. 
 
 And God was pleased with His image in this man, 
 
 Though meagerly and dimly reflected ; 
 
 He blessed him, and crowned him king of the earth, 
 
 Giving him rulership over all things 
 
 Temporal beneath the azure firmament. 
 
 But with these honors and encomiums 
 
 Thrust upon this being of clay and spirit, 
 
 And while with gentle obeisance to God, 
 
 In his prayers thankful for meeds divine, 
 
 Yet his society was not conducive 
 
 To higher ideals; though his Maker 
 
 Communed with him to instruct him daily 
 
 In the science of husbandry and life. 
 
 But in heart he felt a yearning deep 
 
 For something more than the great Jehovah 
 
 Had yet created. But Adam could not cure 
 
 This forlornness, nor remedy devise, 
 
 But seeing all other beings in pairs, 
 
 Adam could not understand why alone 
 
 He should be: as he heard the birds' descants 
 
 And saw them each after its kind in couples 
 
 Build their nests in the hedges and bowers 
 
 Of this earthly paradise; with great joy 
 
 They consorted together, reared their brood 
 
 In common purpose and fidelity. 
 
 Adam therefore grew forlorn and repined, 
 
 His peace of mind with loneliness gestant. 
 
 He was dispirited, and heart leaden 
 
 And dejected. The Lord divined his need, 
 
 Which, being a help-mate, hence it was so: 
 
 God made this eremite a correlative 
 
 Soul, — a desired complement — a woman 
 
 In holy wedlock — to cherish and love — 
 
 To have her very dear to this gardner, 
 
 The great Surgeon created Adam a wife, 
 
THE CREATION 239 
 
 Out of his own flesh and blood ; of a rib, 
 
 From his own side taken, (when anaesthesis 
 
 Administered by this cogent physician) 
 
 From which the great Author of man and angels 
 
 Made Adam the fairest flower e'er blown : 
 
 A paragon, this beautifulest Eve, 
 
 Who on the face of Jehovah first looked, 
 
 Which was haloed in golden hues divine. 
 
 On this perfect woman God graciously 
 
 Smiled, and blessed her above all things earthly. 
 
 She then in adoration sank to her knees, 
 
 Giving thanks for her creation beautiful, 
 
 To the Most High for miraculous life. 
 
 Then she benignant in Adam's eyes looked, 
 
 Wherein beholding her Heaven-wrought face 
 
 Mirrored, — she in happiness laughed rhythmic, 
 
 And tenderly embraced her husband pure, 
 
 Imprinting on his brow imperial 
 
 A kiss with impassioned reverence. 
 
 Adam shed tears in sacred thankfulness; 
 
 His heart beyond utterance full, he sighed 
 
 Complacent, his soul's gratification 
 
 To God for this precious and holy gift ; 
 
 Then her glistening tresses in honor 
 
 Kissed, — her angel grace and womanly charms, 
 
 To him manifest, — her lily hand took, 
 
 And 'midst ripe fruitage and flowers with her 
 
 walked, 
 Each embued with love, and blessing the Lord. 
 
 Eve's athletic symmetry, a divine 
 
 Conception, — untarnished by the blight of sin, 
 
 Her queenly comport the admiration 
 
 Of all animals that fain did lick her hand ; 
 
 Her voice more lyric than the laughing rills, 
 
 Softer than Aurora's tints of rosy morn, 
 
 Sweeter than Flora's kiss to dewy buds 
 
 To wake them at golden breath's vernal dawn. 
 
2 4 o THE CREATION 
 
 The birds when seeing Eve would pour forth songs, 
 
 In exultant ecstacies symphonic, — 
 
 To admire the great masterpiece of God's 
 
 Creative genius, and earthly handiwork. 
 
 The flower buds precocious did open 
 
 To adore this beauty immaculate, — 
 
 And all blooms would diffuse sweetest fragrance 
 
 At her sight, and each face smiling up-raise. 
 
 And Adam loved his consort more than life. 
 In her eyes he was supremely blissful : 
 His heart was full of happiness and praise, 
 Sweet as the nightingale's moonlight vespers. — 
 Thus a veritable Venus and Adonis 
 Lived and loved in the garden of Eden, 
 For them made by the great God Almighty. 
 
TO KEATS 
 
 Nothing shall mitigate our love, nor sway 
 
 Our zeal for thee and thy poesy divine. 
 
 We know thy heart, and feel its tuneful lay. 
 
 Thy mortal body on earth did repine, 
 
 Withal for few hours, but thy soul's serene 
 
 Glory e'er with us; as morn's golden wings, 
 
 In visions lucent, like celestial sheen, 
 
 Came thine own crescented illuminings, — 
 
 Thy fame not yet in its mid-day flower, 
 
 Nor happy noon of its glorious light. 
 
 We were honored in transition's hour; 
 
 Like a wing-spent dove, thou rested o'er night 
 
 Here below, and shed thy lyric excess 
 
 Of poetic verse upon us beneath, 
 
 Whose pearly gems so bright our lives to bless 
 
 With sweetest rhyme, that melodies bequeath. 
 
 Ah yes, the muses love thee most benign, 
 
 And their copious blessings on thee shed, 
 
 Out-pouring love's unction and purest wine 
 
 Into thy pulsing heart, when each was wed 
 
 To thee. Yes, Keats, we're glad thou earnest un 
 
 guiled : 
 Thy words glisten with beauty's fantastic love. 
 Yet in years thou wert in youth's dawn, a child 
 In life's vernal bud,— God called thee above, 
 But thy going caused a bright star to rise 
 In the heaven's blue, and 'tis rising yet, 
 And thy muse goddess thy name glorifies. 
 Thy illustrious sun will never set: 
 'Twill shine for us down the vista of time 
 To lighten our steps upon this volant sphere 
 And gild our pilgrimage with flowing rhyme, 
 Reminding of thee and thy life sincere; 
 Infusing with spirit beauty unseen, 
 Though felt from day to day when hearts attune 
 To the light that glimmers within the screen 
 
 241 
 
242 TO KEATS 
 
 Of our silent souls, when with thine we commune- 
 Not far distant, at times it seems to Heaven, 
 And oft we hear the strident jaws of hell! 
 Whiche'er kingdom we invite is given: 
 'Tis our volition to hold the good, the bad repel. 
 At times we feel so pure and sublime 
 Our soul's pinions oft beat 'gainst mortal cage, 
 Sighing for meadow glens beyond this clime, 
 Thus fascinated o'er thy rhymes, poet, sage; 
 And the silken themes thy soul did impart, 
 Cadenced upon thy silver-strung zithern, 
 And the rosy fount of thy youthful heart. 
 To know thee in Heaven our emotions burn; 
 Where thou art writing in divine accent, 
 With harmonious elisions supreme, 
 In music's tongue and metric wonderment. 
 Thou'rt in reality mortal's love dream. 
 
I CARVED MY NAME IN A YOUNG 
 BEECH TREE 
 
 I carved my name in a young beech tree, 
 Where fool's initials quite oft you see, 
 But I did it with motive noble and dear; 
 Yet this earth its secret may never hear. 
 
 When I cut my name I made a pledge 
 That's graven on my heart, I now allege; 
 Did you ask why? Ah no matter, silent now 
 Is that breast! Yet my love I'll ne'er disavow. 
 
 I'm glad I carved it just at that time — 
 'Twas the destined hour to seal a mute rhyme. 
 I'll not promulgate our sacred intent, 
 To but one else — 'twas of no consequent. 
 
 But the star of my ill-fated horoscope 
 Has long since blighted that once crescent hope ; 
 And that tree may have ere this fallen low 
 To the sharp strokes of the axman's blow. 
 
 Yet graved in the archives of my mind 
 Is the monogram of that name refined; 
 And under the seal of silence reigns 
 Her fair soul in Elysian domains. 
 
 You might divine whom bright Heaven did redeem 
 And of whom my aching heart doth e'er dream: 
 My vow I shall keep, and make bold to say 
 'Twas an angel's, the other name I carved that day. 
 
 A name too pure to let fall from my tongue, 
 A name for which the Heavens have rung, 
 A name that is the tonic key to my heart, 
 A name that eternity cannot from me part. 
 
 24.3 
 
244 I CARVED MY NAME 
 
 That tree our trysting place for many years, 
 We met and kissed, and mingled our tears. 
 At each sad parting a sorrow would creep 
 Into our hearts and haunt us in sleep. 
 
 If our tears that sunk into the sand made pearls, 
 How charming they'd be to ten thousand girls, 
 And if each gem our love to its devotee bring 
 'Twould be sweeter than drink from Nectar spring. 
 
 THE CHURCH BELL 
 
 I list to the church bell ringing 
 And think on knells of other days, 
 When my soul was tuned for singing 
 And hope was full of morning lays: 
 Then my lilting joys were ablaze. 
 
 That church bell yet speaks to my soul 
 
 A language I cannot repeat; 
 
 It takes me back to youth's control 
 
 And reminds of loved one elite, 
 
 Of schooldays and beechen groves sweet. 
 
 It called out the hour of prayer 
 
 To the wise who observed the Lord ; 
 
 And re-echoed the village air 
 
 Where saintly dames with sweet accord 
 
 Repaired to hear God's sacred word. 
 
 There's love in the song of the bell, 
 Its resonance so pealing kind ; 
 The lost will hear those tolls in hell: 
 There its rueful ring will e'er remind 
 Of youth's calls, un-heeded, purblind. 
 
THE CHURCH BELL 245 
 
 Blessed youth is the golden time 
 To be impressed with the good or bad. 
 When the mind's full of vernal rhyme 
 The heart then so easy to be had — 
 'Twill accept God's oracles so glad. 
 
 Then, when life's golden leaf is sear 
 And youth is but memory's rose, 
 When shadows lengthen year by year, 
 We're glad to be free from sin's throes, 
 Infolded in Heaven's bright glows. 
 
 O, sweet youth, heed the church bell's call! 
 
 Turn not a deaf heart to its sound, 
 
 But go to God's temple withal, 
 
 And do not with vility abound: 
 
 Then age hath no cause to rue its ground. 
 
 Yea! Set thy faith creed standard high; 
 The devil can give naught but sin! 
 He has naught else but its vain lie 
 To offer thee, whose thorny whin 
 Host not, as thy spiritual kin. — 
 
 Then, O youth! let not thy bright wing 
 Be brinded by the breath of hell ; 
 And through eternity hear the ring 
 Of some loudly tolling church bell, 
 E'er re-sounding thy dying knell. — 
 
PROCESSIONAL 
 
 Lord of Angels, and of Heaven, 
 
 May pure hearts to us be given, 
 
 And cast out the sinful spirit; 
 
 Make our unworthy lives more fit 
 
 To shine upon drooping souls sad, 
 
 And make down-cast penitence glad 
 
 With a Heavenly countenance; 
 
 With eternal joy and fragrance 
 
 That shall be an emulation grand 
 
 To this and every Christian land, 
 
 That thy name may be glorified 
 
 Unto the ends of the world, wide; 
 
 And thy cause divine, none shall phase, 
 
 To which ev'ry knee shall bend with praise. 
 
 Let thy fire burn with raging flame 
 
 Upon the conscience of sin and shame, 
 
 And make all sorrow fly away. 
 
 Give us visions of the perfect day, 
 
 And make us kind, tender, and true. 
 
 Give us wisdom's grace to imbue 
 
 Our spirits, with destiny high. 
 
 Give us courage to magnify 
 
 Thy purpose, — and dare do the right — 
 
 Yea! if it costs our two eyes' sight! 
 
 And give us that power to rule 
 
 Ourselves, and fear not ridicule 
 
 Of the scoffer and sinner bold 
 
 With weazen heart and conscience cold. 
 
 Make us more than mortal, O Lord, 
 
 And fill us with thy matchless word. 
 
 May our advent upon this earth 
 
 Conform to Thy great mission's worth. 
 
 246 
 
EVENTIDE 
 
 The Oroide god his eye doth close, 
 (Pheobus, Apollo, now sunk to rest) ; 
 The air with commingled gold yet glows; 
 The ousel's flown to its brooding nest. 
 The charioteer, the sun's jockey guide, 
 Hath slackened his reins for Vesper's song ; 
 Then mounts to greet Aurora, morn's bride, 
 And re-pilot the king 'f day along 
 His morrow's eastern ascension high, 
 And again lead on his western cruise 
 'Thwart the blue interstellar sky, 
 And emblaze the path of cosmic thews — 
 
 The bumblebee now doth dew his. wing ; 
 The glow worm, his flambeau doth trim; 
 The day songster has long ceased to sing, 
 And plumeless bats in drowsy air skim. 
 As the rustic swain with honest tread 
 Comes from the harvest of golden grain 
 To sumptuous supper, and to bed — 
 To sleep, to dream some happy refrain 
 Amidst healthful scenes, a vernal tide 
 Of youth's surging waves, love's own decree 
 That opes his congenital heart wide 
 And embalms its raging misery. 
 
 In the dim glades all nature will soon dream 
 And circumfuse its sighing sweetness 
 Upon the roving zephyrs that teem 
 With the fragrance of love's repleteness, 
 That's engendered and deified above, 
 Whose earthly exponent and sovran 
 Is the goddess Venus, who doth move 
 Amidst earth, and glorify in man 
 His honest efforts with much delight, 
 As likewise indwellers of the sky 
 
 247 
 
248 EVENTIDE 
 
 Would engild the day, subdue the night 
 For the sake of mortal beauty's eye. — 
 
 Yon stars, the "Jack-o'-lanterns" of space, 
 One by one impierce the mirky haze 
 And inflect their vibrant beams to embrace 
 The daedal earth, with glittering blaze. 
 Now myriad gems from dizzy ether shine 
 With fulgid luster like virgin gold. 
 Ah, who can fathom such things divine, 
 Such astral sublimity unfold? 
 Or who can measure the universe, 
 Then direct its wonderous kingdom wise; 
 Who can interdict with voice of curse 
 Or apprehend those eternal eyes? 
 
 Sequential contemplations now fill 
 
 The pensive heart with atonements bland 
 
 Soothing to the soul's conscience and will, 
 
 If we bethink on that jeweled strand 
 
 Where contritions of spirit account 
 
 In a measure for virtues undone, 
 
 Where egotism imbitters the fount 
 
 Of love, blights the bloom where its rills run 
 
 O'er empearled beds of sparkling lure, 
 
 Where fair and amorous Sea-Gods vie 
 
 To win the love of Amphitrite, pure, 
 
 Queen of pearls, for whom Neptune would die. 
 
 When at life's eventide we trace our chart 
 Of years — inventory the virtue 
 Stored in the thesaurus of the heart, 
 Then may it be reckoned — our souls true, 
 Full of kind deeds; and love's plenitude, 
 Glowing with Heaven's oracular fire, 
 Burnished argent, by sacrific flood, 
 To enthrone our God-given desire — 
 Thus when the dim eye and hueless face 
 
EVENTIDE 249 
 
 Look into eternity exalt 
 
 With faltering mien — O God, erase 
 
 Our sins, and deterge our hearts of fault. 
 
 I LOVE A SWEET LASS TOO YOUNG 
 
 I love a sweet lass too young ; 
 In my dreams her beauty was sung 
 By some deity with white wings; 
 That siren theme in my soul rings. 
 O! I came to earth too soon — 
 Arrived at morn, instead o' noon. 
 What a cruel thing is years! 
 Age's despoilment oft brings tears 
 To many eyes once so blue — 
 Pretty eyes of hazel, too ; 
 Yes, and those quite soft and brown 
 Gold would give to cut years down. 
 Why I came too soon, is this: 
 At life's yeading tide, a Miss 
 I love ! — Yea, for a dear maiden 
 My heart is heavy-laden. 
 But a thousand years advance: 
 My age will be her romance ; 
 Then she'll be almost as old 
 If to her steadfast I could hold ; 
 So many years of love's bliss 
 All this time my lass to kiss, 
 Keep her young, — fair as today: 
 The idea makes my heart so gay! 
 She's such a lush, tender bud 
 My eyes brim with crystal flood 
 When I on disparity muse, 
 My early advent then abuse; 
 For she's a wonderous gazelle, 
 Prim as bloom of asphodel; 
 Her eyes sparkle so benign 
 The thought of loss makes me pine. 
 
250 I LOVE A SWEET LASS 
 
 She was sixteen not so long. 
 
 You should hear her sing a song! 
 
 Her voice has a honey tone — 
 
 'Twill be sweeter when she's grown. 
 
 'Tis a blessing love's no sin, 
 
 And if wooing doesn't win, 
 
 It keeps our hearts warm and pure, 
 
 Makes life easy to endure, — 
 
 Yea, love is divine for all, 
 
 And should our souls disenthral, — 
 
 'Twill keep gentle smiles playing 
 
 Athwart our visage, raying. 
 
 Love blesses one's simple life, 
 
 But not always gets a wife. 
 
 If we're old, or a young swell, 
 
 Sad any time to bid farewell 
 
 To love, — to which we advene, 
 
 Our inalienable demesne; 
 
 That pervades our heart's bower, 
 
 Then gives us moral power, 
 
 And adds to life's brilliant dreams, 
 
 Elevates to starry gleams — 
 
 Where blissful azures unfold, 
 
 Giving back hearts purest gold. 
 
 Yes, I love a Nymph so fair — 
 
 She's so winsome, I declare; 
 
 Glad I love her, — I've no fears; 
 
 She, rejuvenates my years. 
 
 Age exerts youth to some extent; 
 
 Youth vernates age, when they're blent. 
 
 All things affect all things else, 
 
 As ice doth air ere it melts. 
 
 Each tone in music vibrates, 
 
 And each kindred tone animates. 
 
 Each note for other feels a bliss 
 
 And lingers for a vibrant kiss; 
 
 Then disparts toward the sky, 
 
 Echoing through eternity. 
 
I LOVE A SWEET LASS 251 
 
 Each throbbing star in blue space 
 
 Takes cognizance of this grace, 
 
 Palpitates the rhythm and sings, 
 
 While orient Heaven flings 
 
 Golden kisses from the sun, 
 
 And unseen lights just begun 
 
 With radiance pure entwine 
 
 Our soul's sunrise, and will shine 
 
 Upon the path of love's hope, 
 
 Giving new heart and boundless scope 
 
 To sustain our mortal sight: 
 
 Helps to solve God's plans aright; 
 
 Exalts us above earth's clods. 
 
 By pure love we're extoled as gods. 
 
 If mortal a god can be, 
 
 Love's the price of eternity; 
 
 If eternity is the wage; 
 
 Love's our divine heritage. 
 
 Our heritage then is Heaven, 
 
 And love is Heaven-given, 
 
 From regions of celestial blue 
 
 That sanctify life anew — 
 
 Where all maids remain sixteen. 
 
 There mine will be a real queen. 
 
 I'll love her then so divine — 
 
 Who knows but she'll be mine, 
 
 Her soul beauty to adore, 
 
 To love and cherish e'ermore? 
 
 In mind I see her pinions: 
 
 Great then her sacred minions, 
 
 With crown of glittering gems 
 
 More precious than diadems 
 
 Of earth's benignant empress; 
 
 'Twould cost a billion, I guess, 
 
 If it came from ocean's bosom: 
 
 But comes from Heaven's kingdom. — 
 
 Hence, priceless will be her crown; 
 
 Then my love will claim renown: 
 
252 I LOVE A SWEET LASS 
 
 Age shall not its passion bar 
 
 Nor keep me from my beauty star. — 
 
 PROVIDENCE IN NATURE 
 
 I sat on the brink of a laughing brook; 
 The flowers were smiling on ev'ry side. 
 In vain I endeavored to read a book 
 Which on the moss careless lay open wide. 
 
 Most books I find inane, dry, and jejune, 
 When encloistered by bower, bloom, and bine — 
 With sweet nature I silently commune, 
 For somehow through it I see the divine. 
 
 I grow meditative 'neath cooling boughs; 
 Can hear the sweet music of tinkling bells 
 From the distant flocks that on the slopes browse, 
 Which soothes me to silence, by mystic spells. 
 
 The song-birds each recites some soulful act 
 As the sun makes a pearl of each dewdrop ; 
 The brooklet his golden arrows refract 
 Unless some fleeting cloud his brilliance stop. 
 
 Thus the unpausing functions of Ceres, 
 The goddess of tillage and waving grain, 
 Brings great endowment to vine and trees 
 Conducive to the beauty of each domain. 
 
 And as each coefficient hue reveals 
 A regal principle of celestial sheen, — 
 So each mortal bosom in itself feels 
 The want of Providence endued, serene. 
 
PROVIDENCE IN NATURE 253 
 
 God, omnipresent and in nature found — 
 The savage hears His voice in the sough wind, 
 His elements felt where virtues abound, 
 Of Him ev'ry twig, leaf, and bloom, remind — 
 
 No human too low not a God to have, 
 
 E'en if grim idols made of brass or wood, 
 
 If he serve them, though a superstitious knave, 
 
 The which may redound to some temporal good. 
 
 Thus Nature is the primordial eye 
 Of God, and proves the resurrection plain: 
 If a rose lose its vernal tints and die 
 Will it not evolve into a bud again ? 
 
 Or if a seed become dry and then fall 
 
 To mother earth, there its grave is but short; 
 
 The educing powers will soon recall 
 
 Its quickening soul, though erstwhile amort. 
 
 Thus Nature's laws unfold to us its plan, 
 Showing the imprint of its divine guide, 
 Revealing on all sides God's love for man, 
 Who it acknowledgeth with modest pride. 
 
 Hence, all forces of the universe aspire 
 To prove the Providence we see and trace; 
 A God who walks upon the thunder's fire 
 Will his own defend, for He's a God 'f grace. 
 
THE OLD MILLER AND THE MILL 
 
 The mill's water wheel so grand 
 On its axle turned in haste; 
 The spuming spray spattered the sand, 
 Which was strewn in prodigal waste. 
 
 The willows grew along the brink 
 And almost the banks hid from sight. 
 Oft I've stood on the verge to think 
 On the great genius — the mill-wright. 
 
 That wonderful wheel that sung, 
 In seeming delight, with a vim, 
 And about, a kind of awe flung, 
 The which by moon-light was grim — 
 
 And through this silvery haze 
 Much water at a tangent sprayed 
 Where the recumbent sun would blaze — 
 Its threads o' gold a rainbow made. 
 
 Over the vaporous mist, 
 Oft diamond's flaring drops 
 Would upward fly, as the sun kist 
 Each crystal cheek 'bove the copse. 
 
 In the pebbly stream below, 
 The minnows, amber, gold, and blue, 
 Played frolicsome pranks in the frothy flow, 
 'Neath the shifting shades o' emerald hue. 
 
 The miller's big fat yellow cat 
 Slept as lightly as a feather, 
 And he would not catch a rat, 
 Nor wet his feet in bad weather, 
 
 254 
 
OLD MILLER AND THE MILL 255 
 
 Because he feared he'd catch cold 
 And have his paws to lick dry; 
 With all his fur of gold 
 He ne'er liked the snow to ply. 
 
 The miller took plenty of toll, 
 So they said — to feed his pigs, 
 Which did always in fat roll, 
 But no fatter than his sprigs. 
 
 His hens were too plump to lay, 
 The cocks too obese to crow, 
 But guinea-fowls "pot-racked" all day, 
 The vain peacock plumed for show. 
 
 His ducks of blue, green, and white 
 Swam like fish, and stood on their heads 
 In the water, in gleeful delight, 
 Feeding from periwinkle beds. 
 
 His geese were a mongrel breed 
 Of gray feather, and bad manners; 
 One nervy gander took the lead, 
 Seemed proud of his winged banners, — 
 
 Oft talked to his many wives 
 
 In that anarchistic voice, 
 
 Or maligning some mate, as he shrives 
 
 To his fairest or latest choice. 
 
 His old horse, a dreamy nag, 
 Had passed his age for neighing; 
 His nineteen falls made him fag: 
 Now passed his time in praying. 
 
256 OLD MILLER AND THE MILL 
 
 His wife, too, was fat and round — 
 Her height did not upward obtrude, 
 Yet she could scarcely see the ground 
 Nor above a cow be viewed. 
 
 But as well as she knew how, 
 A fine dame: but didn't like a mouse; 
 Prized learning less than a cow — 
 When she waddled she shook the house. 
 
 Her husband, the miller, however, 
 Could not have been suited better — 
 A lean gawk — but a lover 
 True, and played it to the letter. 
 
 His arms were long and bony, 
 His Adam's-apple like the breast 
 Of whippoorwill — a crony 
 To all he was, he confessed. 
 
 His legs like stilts so thin, 
 His whiskers an autumn brown 
 Anchored to his pointed chin 
 Were docked once a year in town. 
 
 But withal, the old-time miller 
 Was a man of good repute: 
 He furnished seed to any tiller ; 
 Over the price would not dispute. 
 
 His news budget would ne'er nicker 
 Of gossip the neighbors round, 
 And he kept pure corn liquor 
 The farmers' tanks did impound. 
 
A PESSIMIST'S CONVERSION 
 
 I strayed meditative one afternoon; 
 
 'Twas I remember the first day of June. 
 
 The early flowers looked sickly and pale: 
 
 I could see the charry shade of death's veil 
 
 That hung o'er their drooping eyes like a pall 
 
 Of grim misery, from whose lurid thrall 
 
 There seemed no escape. I then let my eyes 
 
 Mount to the brazen heaven's lurid skies. 
 
 I bethought on things eternal above 
 
 Where we're taught fruition ripens into love; 
 
 But I could see no beauty for me shining, 
 
 Hence I onward stalked, my way repining. 
 
 I e'en quaked in the marrow of my bones, 
 
 And in the deep silence I heard the groans 
 
 Of my mewed spirit like a wild beast chained, 
 
 Pulling and scrowling for freedom ungained. 
 
 Thus my soul seemed out of sweet harmony. 
 
 Then I began more to bethink and see 
 
 Phantasies grim that to me brooded but ill, 
 
 With vile misanthropy my heart did fill. 
 
 I wandered on till I met with a spring 
 
 Hard by the wood, that moved but did not sing 
 
 Winding its sluggish way into a goose pond 
 
 That hove near the mead in silent despond. 
 
 Its visage was inanimate and still, 
 
 And seemed to frown up at ev'ry tree and hill. 
 
 Into its bosom I peered with a dread: 
 
 It gave me back that I had given, — my head 
 
 And gorgon face so impious with sin. 
 
 This grisly aspect augment'd my chagrin. 
 
 Then I moped into the wooded forest 
 
 Full of melancholy, though seeking rest 
 
 From the unsightly things my eyes did loth. 
 
 I saw in this wilderness but idle sloth. 
 
 The birds all chirped with a sorrowing wail; 
 
 257 
 
258 A PESSIMIST'S CONVERSION 
 
 From the feverish woodland the ranting rail 
 
 Broke the unholy spell of the stagnant calm. 
 
 Alas! no unction here my soul did balm: 
 
 If I had had a soul, the jungle would blight. 
 
 From the lurid Heavens I saw no light, 
 
 My life full of gloom to its bitter core — 
 
 Aught but happiness stared at me e'er more. 
 
 The wind through the trees made lugubrious noise- 
 
 A rasping variance, my mind to unpoise. 
 
 What mysterious strife I essayed to shun — 
 
 Was sick of life's burthen since 'twas begun. 
 
 No end I saw but a tombless charnel, 
 
 Or in the rancid maw of a reeking hell. 
 
 The paths all devious and ran so crude: 
 
 Trees crooked did hibernate vulturous brood: 
 
 The frowsy underbrush were so twisted 
 
 As if the devil's cohorts here enlisted, 
 
 And by their conflux did beshrew the earth 
 
 Or execrated its virtue and future worth: 
 
 The gawky heron here lurked for tad-pole 
 
 In voracious greed swallowing them whole. 
 
 Nature was all awry and foul with smell 
 
 Of dead things the refined nostrils repel. 
 
 Then I flung myself upon the foul ground : 
 
 There I dreamed as my vision did confound 
 
 The inherent dissonance of Nature's ear; 
 
 I into the future pried with timid fear, 
 
 In which I could see no congruity 
 
 Of design, but a mass dead or soon to die. 
 
 I saw embattling selfishness rampant, 
 
 And vitiate minds, with hearts adamant ; 
 
 Seeking unearned emoluments by stealth 
 
 And flattering treachery for wealth. 
 
 I saw the hand of greed and avarice 
 
 At poverty's throat, extorting its price ; 
 
 And plutocracy and mammon did flaunt 
 
 In the presence of the starving and gaunt. 
 
 In this discordant reverie so deep 
 
A PESSIMIST'S CONVERSION 259 
 
 I sank — my heart leaden too sad to weep. 
 Then I saw envy in ev'ry creature 
 Which cunningly dared the God of nature. 
 
 My trance then took me to a land of beauty 
 
 In the which I was an alien, yet not free: 
 
 A stranger un-endowed, without a right, 
 
 But just permitted a moment's sight. 
 
 At this juncture a fair nymph on me smiled. 
 
 Her sweet soul showed no sin had her beguiled. 
 
 This angel told me my mind was sordid — 
 
 Full of vile malice contrition could rid, 
 
 And I was to blame for my grisly visage, 
 
 My sophism a menace to heritage ; 
 
 That my heart was distempered by foul deeds 
 
 And by treading the immoral path that leads 
 
 The distraughted brain into woeful doom 
 
 Where the devil rules and his imps begloom. 
 
 Then I awoke and sought to find the Lord : 
 
 Forsooth, He caught my plaint, its very first word. 
 
 My sins flew, (like vipers they were each one) 
 
 As far from me as the then sunken sun. 
 
 My body became lithe as a meadow hare. 
 
 muse, give me power this to declare 
 In obvious and stentorian voice: 
 
 That now beauty reigns with love, my soul's choice. 
 And give me genius my spirit to fire, 
 Fearing not the gibes of the worldly liar. 
 
 1 then saw with a perfect vision true 
 Beauties numberless I erst never knew, 
 As the sun sank beyond the western frieze, 
 
 My heart agog for the lambent Pleiades. 
 I betook my feet back as I had come, 
 Wending my joyous way to an humble home ; 
 But not reaching there till the elves had hung 
 Diamond dewdrops on ev'ry bloom's tongue, 
 And a scintillation of pearl's emblaze 
 
260 A PESSIMIST'S CONVERSION 
 
 Shot from each leaf and blade with sparkling rays. 
 Methought I did behold Eden outspread: 
 Each bud seemed full of messages unsaid, 
 Ready to out-burst into sweetest song, 
 Whose burden divinest fragrance belong. 
 The birds warbled me a vesper's good-night, 
 A perfect rhapsody to my ears' delight : 
 Each voice with a sweet harmony blended, 
 And in melodious diapason transcended 
 To heights Elysian divinely pure, 
 Where the incense of love will e'er enure. 
 The spring that but two hours gone looked inane 
 Now sparkled like silver's refulgent vein; 
 The placid lake I called a pond doth mirror 
 My face guileless, deterged of flaunting terror. 
 Argent fishes were basking in its flow 
 Which I failed to besee a few hours ago ; 
 Their quivering fins refracted genial light 
 And the moon's recumbent beamlets by night; 
 Eyes shining like garnet, amber, and pearl 
 In wonderous ways their iris tints did unfurl. 
 The pessimist who sees as I once saw 
 Should be pitied by the divinest law ; 
 He makes his own dragons, — fangs hath given, 
 Views the world upside down, also Heaven; 
 Wraps all things in a cerement of woe — 
 Sees no beauty in the things here below. 
 
THE SHIP AT SEA 
 
 A huge leviathan she swims so grand, 
 Or plows her way majestic through the deep; 
 As if Heaven's light her soul did command 
 To some Celestial haven, that Angels keep. 
 
 A thing of life, beauty, and specious pride, 
 She glides with potency and queenly grace; 
 The spooming waves take her for Neptune's bride, 
 'Round her bosom briny arms interlace. 
 
 A sea-goddess borne on rolling surges high, 
 Skimming like a pensive hooper lorn and dole 
 Mounting the billows in faith, miraged en-sky, 
 Journeying a trackless course, like the soul. 
 
 The ocean in murmuring legends wild 
 Displays a vain ostentation of lore, 
 Rocking her as doth a mother her child 
 Upon the crest of its swelling tide's roar. 
 
 To her amplitude the moonbeams unfold 
 Godlike smiles, or behind a cloud they weep — 
 And upon charnel bed of pearl and gold 
 The wailing sea beseems too sad to sleep. 
 
 261 
 
IS VESUVIUS A FALLEN STAR 
 
 Is Vesuvius a fallen star 
 Or vanquished heavenly sun, 
 Which in some Herculean spar, 
 Hurled to earth from its kingdom won? 
 
 Is it still fighting in its pain, 
 
 Still dying and yet death denied ; 
 
 Hoping its glory to regain 
 
 And rise from languished bed with pride? 
 
 Is its fuming a faint sickness, 
 A nauseate stomach's trespass, 
 Its groans those of genuine distress 
 In agony; up-heaves molten mass? 
 
 May be a cruel god, mortal's foe, 
 Whose throne a dismal sacrifice, 
 Where hecatomb's blood did flow 
 Too revolting for Christian eyes. 
 
 It yet from earth may rise in fire 
 Thus when its punishment condigns; 
 Mount the space fleet as voice of lyre 
 When its sorrows repay the fines. 
 
 Or is it Lucifer lying here, 
 Still writhing in his heated gore 
 From the wound by Michael's spear? 
 Since then, all Heaven him deplore. 
 
 262 
 
LOVE'S HOPE FORLORN 
 
 O Venus, sweet goddess of beauty, 
 Let me once more dip my finger 
 In the fountain of love, and linger 
 On thy empearled banks with thee, 
 Thou enchantress of my destiny. 
 
 O Nereids, with feminine forms fair, 
 Come to my rescue and diffuse 
 The spirit of Heavenly thews 
 Into my dissonant soul's despair, 
 And tranquilize this minor air. 
 
 Dian give me thy converse sweet, 
 
 In accents generous and fine 
 
 'Neath boughs o'er-canopying thy shrine; 
 
 My prayer to thee in versed feet, 
 
 Thy gentle smile my love doth greet. 
 
 O beauteous Thalia, one more song 
 Give me, or send some bonny lass 
 To sing to me in velvet grass; 
 Sweeten love's embittered tongue 
 That my lorn heart may lose its prong. 
 
 Come to me, angels, where the bound 
 Of antlered deer startle the doze 
 Of song-birds at their noon repose; 
 Where rich vines pavilion the ground 
 And hope implants a rhythmic sound. 
 
 O, Vesta! with virginal wing 
 Fan my hot and distraughted brow; 
 Let not the muses disavow 
 Their votives to my sorrowing, 
 But mend my heart's broken string. 
 
 263 
 
264 LOVE'S HOPE FORLORN 
 
 May I again sip love's poppied brew 
 From its crystal oozings silvery, 
 Like radiant sparks from morn's eye 
 That now my scalding tears bedew, 
 And tinge my cheek with pallid hue. 
 
 Sweet Erato, pour some Hippocrene 
 In my soul to balm its disdain. 
 O, I'm sick of dreaming, — I fain 
 Would embosom my fairy queen 
 In my wistful heart's demesne. 
 
 SERENADE 
 
 Thro' the blooms the South-winds cooing 
 
 To thee so sweet and fair, 
 
 To thy bowered portals wooing 
 
 I come to plead love's prayer. 
 
 The moon's enchanting rays divine 
 Fall like a jeweled dart, 
 Inspiring love's dreams that entwine 
 Thy young romantic heart. 
 
 The sighing zephyrs lull thy rest 
 Night wings to the morrow; 
 I long to hold thee to my breast, 
 Then adieu to sorrow. 
 
 Hear the whippoorwill's call so sad ! 
 Her threnode bodes no ill; 
 Would its chant thy devotion glad, 
 My aching heart to fill. 
 
THE ROSEBUD 
 
 Tis just a rosebud, dear, 
 I'm sending thee to-day, 
 A fragrant beauty too; 
 'Twill I trust lend thee cheer 
 While I am far away. 
 
 And 'tis thy shade of red ; 
 I've kissed it, — I do again — 
 I pray you'll do the same ; 
 In the kisses I've said 
 What is my heart's refrain. 
 
 And I want it thee tell 
 In lute tones soft and pure 
 I dream of thee each night; 
 And my lily hopes swell 
 I feel thy love so sure. 
 
 True, this bud shall soon fade ; 
 'Tis sad to see it die, — 
 But it's just to remind us 
 We shall soon cross the glade 
 Where our love joins eternity. 
 
 265 
 
THE BLOOM'S VOICE 
 
 Take a bloom, consider it well; 
 Entune thy Christian ear: 
 Oral words can ne'er tell 
 The beauteous story you'll hear. 
 
 Here's the gladiolus so wise; 
 This musk-rose smiles in death, 
 Such aromatic sighs 
 It emits, as it perisheth. — 
 
 The glozing pansy at morn's gold 
 
 Gladdens its sweet face, 
 
 As if Heaven foretold 
 
 Of some aristocratic grace. 
 
 The hollyhock can relate with pride 
 
 Pure blisses, never known 
 
 By man unsatisfied, 
 
 Who languishes on earth to groan. — 
 
 Now behold the carnation pink, 
 That so unfolds its breast; 
 'Twill sometimes heave and wink 
 When a bonny maid's only guest. 
 
 Each flower is full of romance, 
 Full of love and beauty; 
 Its blooming elegance 
 Is Nature's priestly duty. 
 
 God through such inflorescence 
 Speakest to us, to prove 
 That Heaven's eminence 
 Is imbued with glorious love. 
 
 266 
 
NOCTURNE 
 
 The night is blessed by vesper's sheen; 
 And beyond the tall cypress trees 
 The moon throned like celestial queen ; 
 She would my aching heart appease. 
 
 The stars like golden arrows shoot: 
 Their orient darts bid me stay. 
 Thy soulful eyes my mind transmute 
 And lead along Heaven's galaxy. 
 
 Reprove me not, beauteous lass, 
 For thus invading thy sacred bower; 
 I've roved thro' glen and dewy grass — 
 Rarest rose to thee, no such flower. 
 
 Hear the nightingale's song divine 
 Its sweet anthem dreamily inspire ; 
 Would thy heart-beats attune to mine, 
 Melodize my soul's plaintive lyre. 
 
 The gentle breezes caress thy brow, 
 And pausing to admire thy charms; 
 Dearest angel, come to me now! 
 I long to hold thee in my arms. 
 
 O, sing to me, my darling maid ; 
 Add to my life earth's divinest joy 
 Ere I leave this enchanting glade. 
 O, with my heart no longer toy! 
 
 267 
 
ODE TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER 
 
 Spirit of these granite mountains high, 
 
 Whose exalted heads rear into the sky, 
 
 Whose feet dangle in thy proud waves so blue, 
 
 Thy leafy banks a sanctuary e'er new: — 
 
 In pulsing springtime the pearl-eared flowers 
 
 Cheer the gay songsters in shady bowers, 
 
 Where the night's fragrant air rends to plaintive 
 
 calls 
 Of whippoorwill and frogs in cave's haunted halls; 
 And grumbling owls deride the fleeting clouds 
 Soaring o'er like ghosts in gossamer shrouds. 
 
 Grand river, of this fair beautiful land, 
 Thy rippling waters have kissed the golden strand 
 Of Virginia's coves and mounds; oozing moats 
 Whose verdant slopes, grazed by flocks in fleecy 
 
 coats. 
 Next thy limpid bosom may pour from the height 
 Of some Alsatian precipice, spuming white, 
 Or trickle down marble jaws of the Rockies, 
 Or evaporate into anomalies; 
 Or be educed into feathery snow 
 Flying in the face of sweet fairies, so 
 Beauteous and fleet-footed, tripping to school; 
 Or rolled into huge ball by knavish fool 
 To fright some weary traveler by night, 
 By the wayside, a pale spectral sight. 
 Yet, thou seem'st to love these viny glades, 
 Lingering in eddies 'neath blooming shades, 
 'Mid silent-rooted luscious muscadine 
 Whose amorous arms embrace the eglantine; 
 Their lips meet in amatory joys unsung 
 Except by jealous zephyr's tender tongue — 
 Where the sun's slanting beams but softly peep, 
 And finny perch lave in thy mirky deep. 
 
 268 
 
ODE TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER 269 
 
 Haply the queen moon from her shimmering shrine 
 Dances her rays on thy glassy face supine; 
 Making each flower's dewy eye a pearl 
 Looking wistfully into the starry whirl, — 
 And in thy vibrant waves the speckle trout 
 Haunt inscrutable nooks, near Mount Lookout. 
 
 Gentle river, how happy thou should'st be 
 For the honor of thy name, Tennessee ! 
 Here the mocking bird sings his mimic lays 
 In passions divine, to thy rippling sprays, 
 While his meek-eyed mate is nursing the brood 
 Unfledged, to their full wings, in solitude; 
 And then at even-tide, the bullfrogs chant 
 To thy low murmur, in bass tones gallant. 
 
 Yes, crooked stream so mighty, thee I prize; 
 On thy caney beach I've dreamed of luxuries, 
 And did make foot-prints in thy sand. 
 Thy sinuosity but few understand 
 Except Neptune, who did thy channel plow 
 When the moon was young, ere the Red man's pow- 
 wow 
 Frayed the drowsy coves, or the green-eyed pan- 
 ther's screams 
 Echoed in dank grots, filling the night with dreams 
 Full of hideous awe : that voice of doom, 
 Blood-curdling, making one his own heart consume. 
 
 Ah, greatest river of the "Sunny-South," — 
 Flowing through Dixie-land from source to mouth — 
 Thou silvery gem of mountains supreme, 
 Denizens of thy valleys and glens teem 
 In prolific joys, and feast on sweet mast; 
 For rich nuts, lush fruits, thy lap unsurpassed. 
 Thy spirit veins burst from ev'ry mountain side: 
 Bounty is thy boon, that's known far and wide; 
 
270 ODE TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER 
 
 And thy grace pervades each native's sturdy heart 
 Whose drink cures melancholy's moping smart. 
 
 Here the thrush inspires in thy rustic grove 
 
 As if some nymphet muse entuned his love; 
 
 Thy embossed cliffs resound his sylvan strain, 
 
 Which fills the heart of ev'ry festive swain. 
 
 Here the bright crocus and gay violet 
 
 Give their fragrant spirits without regret, 
 
 To commingle with ev'ry dreaming sigh 
 
 Emitted by kindred bud humble or high, 
 
 Where the balmy incense from wild rose ascends 
 
 To meet its goddess, and with her sweetness blends. 
 
 Proud river of "America's Switzerland," 
 The princess of night reflects thy silvery band 
 And smiles upon thy bosom's teeming wealth, 
 When kissing thy orby bubbles by stealth; 
 Communes with thy soul's liquid sweetness, 
 Whence rises a balm breath of lovliness, 
 Made fragrant and dainty by grape blooms' sigh, 
 And blossoming blue-bells, alder, and wild rye. 
 
 Thy glory serpentine will never change, 
 Royal offspring of the Appalachian range! 
 Whose glittering sands yield treasure in pearl 
 Of great brilliance — whose lustrous eyes unfurl 
 Beauty rays, rivalling those of Oread 
 Nymphs, who glide up and down these valleys, glad 
 Forsooth, with pride unrepressed, like a maiden 
 Frolicking with sweet Flora so love-laden. 
 
 America's Rhine, what tales you could tell, 
 Of that dawn when first thy heart began to swell 
 And smile back at great Phoebus' golden eye 
 When he early sought thy bosom silvery, 
 And pinched thy cheeks; and the fairies so cute 
 
ODE TO THE TENNESSEE RIVER 271 
 
 Blew magic mist on buds and blooms to immute, 
 
 Or jolly into teeming fruition 
 
 Blessing each in its magic transition; 
 
 To ripe berry, grape, acorn, or sweet nuts brown — 
 
 The nourishment of which thou hast great renown. 
 
 THE DEW TO THE ROSE 
 
 Said the dew to the rose, 
 
 "I've come to moisten sweet 
 Each breath this night outgoes 
 
 To commingle and greet 
 Some other soul new born, 
 
 To the cowslip or pink 
 Or to the dreaming thorn 
 
 Dangling o'er the water's brink." 
 
 The rose flushed crimson-red 
 
 In a passion newly blown; 
 To the amative dew said, 
 
 "I'm scarcely yet half -grown, 
 But my lips for honey pine, 
 
 And thy gentle kiss pure 
 So give me life divine, 
 
 Make me love's connoisseur." 
 
 Then Aurora's eye of light 
 
 Peeped through the trellis still 
 To get a glint so bright 
 
 The rose yet dishabille. 
 The dew was full of bliss; 
 
 The ray with jealous mien 
 Did give the rose a kiss 
 
 So sprent in roral sheen. 
 
 Then I mused in amaze 
 
 On the eternal fit 
 Of nature's loving ways, 
 
 Yet ne'er a crime commit; 
 
272 THE DEW TO THE ROSE 
 
 How things so complement, 
 Each breath and sigh doth ride 
 
 On zephyrs' wings content, 
 And reign in floral pride. 
 
 Then came a buzzing bee 
 
 And lit upon the rose, 
 Fondling each petal free 
 
 With his dexterous toes; 
 And licked the fragrant lips 
 
 With such a skilful tongue, 
 Whose dainty little sips 
 
 To the rose much joy sung. 
 
 Next a humming-bird's dart 
 
 In mid-air poised on wing, 
 Dressed in his garish art 
 
 Drank in attitude hov'ring 
 Nectars with eager glee; 
 
 And with majestic grace 
 And queenly sanctity, 
 
 Thus sipped its ooze apace. 
 
 The rose, an emblem fair, 
 
 'Tis hostess for the dews; 
 Insects that wing the air 
 
 Its richness doth enthuse. 
 The very sweetest balm 
 
 They blissfully imbibe, 
 So loving and so calm 
 
 This metamorphosed tribe. 
 
 The rose with dew of morn 
 A thing of beauty fair; 
 
 Yet each rose has its thorn 
 
 Tho' with Heaven's breath rare. 
 
 And too, the fairest heart 
 
THE DEW TO THE ROSE 273 
 
 That on this earth may tread, 
 Whose bosom may heave and smart 
 From woes, un-heard, un-said. 
 
 THE HEART'S SOLILOQUY 
 
 Here under the brow of a cliff sublime 
 
 I muse, ponder, and rhyme, 
 
 On a sweet maid I once with pride did claim. 
 
 I hesitate now to whisper her name; 
 
 Yet she's precious and pure. 
 
 O, Eros! give me thy lure, 
 
 Illume my reliance that's now demure! 
 
 O, to think of losing her after all 
 
 Enshrouds my soul with pall. 
 
 I wonder if she truly knows my longing, 
 
 Or ever considers the mortal sting 
 
 That disavowed love feels; 
 
 Which the blighted heart conceals 
 
 From the cold world's hilarious appeals? 
 
 Dearest lass, if thou wert here in beauty's truth 
 
 To balm my woeful ruth 
 
 And placate this bosom's convulsed agony, 
 
 How truly noble 'twould beseem to die, 
 
 To rid this heart of pain 
 
 And its sorrowing bane, — 
 
 To transcend beyond this bitter refrain. 
 
 O Venus divine! what's love to bewail 
 
 And her tears that blanch pale? 
 
 Why should utmost passion insnare and foil 
 
 And the minist'ring muses thus recoil, 
 
 Or bid me not longer sue 
 
 While yet they brood perdue? — 
 
 No more with sweet blisses my soul imbue. 
 
TO PHOEBE 
 
 What grieving in thy heart 
 Thou in sad plaints impart? 
 A two-syllable strain 
 In sorrowful disdain 
 Wherein thy soul is bound. 
 'Tis I know some legend, 
 Some doleful past — a friend 
 For whom thou outpour'st grief. 
 But comest no relief 
 In that pining resound. 
 
 Strange, unhappy, thy lot, 
 Some memory unforgot 
 In that one sad refrain, 
 Phoebe, thou dost maintain; 
 Such keen mortality felt 
 All my life, as IVe heard 
 That threnode, little bird, 
 My pondering heart still 
 Those quaint inflections thrill — 
 And hath therein e'er dwelt. 
 
 Phoebe, thine only song — 
 'Tis reverb of some wrong 
 By some villain commit: 
 Yet, why should 'st thou rue it 
 And with that hopeless chant? 
 Modest bird of remorse 
 I would I knew thy source 
 Of sadness; then I'd balm 
 That woe — give thee new psalm, 
 Thy former aches recant. 
 
 I'd fill thy breast with love themes 
 Some happy springtide dreams — 
 With those sad grieves emmewed; 
 Thy progeny thus imbued 
 
 274 
 
TO PHOEBE 275 
 
 With that melancholy. 
 Thy sorrow is amplified, 
 From sire to son betide; 
 Hence 'tis family trait. 
 Thy brood must expiate 
 Such odious folly. 
 
 A bird of penance dire 
 Whose songs no joy inspire, 
 But sad as dumb Niobe; 
 Say'st little more than she, 
 In wildering dismay — 
 Near human habitation 
 Rear est thy generation, 
 Building thy house of moss — 
 Mud, lining it with floss, 
 Quite like thy suit of gray. 
 
 Thy lament is, Phoebe, 
 Whate'er that misery 
 Purports to signify; 
 Yet receiv'st no reply 
 To this sad quest forlorn. 
 'Tis Phoebe all the day 
 And 'tis thine only lay, 
 Phoebe, so sadly sweet 
 This strain thy woe doth mete 
 Thy dismal lot to mourn. 
 
276 TO PHOEBE 
 
 Thy plumage bespeaks gloom — 
 A raiment for the tomb; 
 And that dark pensive eye 
 Bemoans some destiny 
 As thy tuneless voice weeps. 
 May God gladden thy soul, 
 Give thee joyous control, 
 And rid thee of thy fate 
 Time will not dissipate, 
 Nor in thy bosom sleeps. 
 
 Disconsolate bird of sighs, 
 No glory for thee lies 
 In vernal buds of May; 
 Nor Aurora's morn's gay 
 With her blue golden light — 
 Not alone in the breast 
 Of mortal is woe the guest; 
 Yea, I know thou hast grieves, 
 And, too, without reprieves, 
 Phoebe, thy mournful plight! 
 
CHRISTMAS EVE 
 
 Christmas Eve, ah, ranting the wind did blow: 
 His dog trembled patient at his thin knees! 
 The hut was whitewashed by the sleeting snow: 
 Draped in dangling icicles waved the trees. 
 Here dwelt a pious hermit old — friends few — 
 With his faithful dog who shared his woe or weal ; 
 In friendship's common purpose the lone two 
 Eked out their sorrows; while age apace did steal. 
 
 This Christmas Eve to which I here refer 
 
 Had come during storm; with howling vengeance 
 
 It found them illy stored, and did deter 
 
 Their trapping and fishing for sustenance; — 
 
 Yet the poor man did not pine or complain, 
 
 But read his Bible aloud to his dog, 
 
 Who understood his words he seemed to feign; 
 
 He paused now and then to punch the fire-log. — 
 
 He'd offer prayer for himself and friend 
 
 For untold blessings both had long enjoyed; 
 
 E'en at this sacred hour he felt no shend 
 
 Of soul, as with him destiny had toyed, — 
 
 But had strong hopes in each coming morrow 
 
 That his Heaven goddess would descend some day, 
 
 And redeem this sad lingering sorrow, 
 
 Now, alas! beyond reach of mortal clay. 
 
 Thus nature numb in winter's frozen arms 
 Where slept the gowans 'neath ghostly surcease, 
 As the moon gazed grim at these witching charms 
 Through vaporous winds laden with snowy fleece. 
 The night was creeping near its dismal noon; 
 The blinking fire on the hearth yawned acold; 
 His dog dreamed and yelped as if a raccoon 
 Treed, as he had done ere he'd grown too old. 
 
 277 
 
278 CHRISTMAS EVE 
 
 For in his prime he was a hunter grand 
 And loved the sport, — the roof of his mouth proved, 
 Eyes keen, his life at his master's command, 
 Through the frowzy primevous forest roved. — 
 The hermit too was dreaming of brighter days: 
 He bethought on Christmas Eves and youth's ties 
 When his heart was gay, full of manhood's blaze, 
 His sweet Nell his votive and dawning prize. 
 
 But his Nell, years agone, had joined the choir 
 Ethereal beyond belt of sorrow's zone; 
 She took his heart, — his soul's eternal fire 
 Where she, his guardian angel, had flown. 
 Those ancient glories at each Eve's Yule-tide 
 Came sweeping back to flaunt his drooping years 
 And ope the temple of his lone heart wide, 
 Wherein impaled impassioned love and tears. 
 
 This night he saw his Nell's begodded soul, 
 
 Too real to be a dream ; yet asleep 
 
 He must've been, or out of mortal control. 
 
 She smiled and told him he soon should reap 
 
 His reward which was his prize now at hand, 
 
 For his fortitude and beauteous faith. 
 
 He could e'en then see the bejeweled strand, 
 
 As while she this divine oracle saith. — 
 
 Yet in the archives of this human frame, glowed 
 That warmth of smoldering love glorified; 
 Still untarnished by the tooth of time it flowed 
 - Plough his sweet memory, that soon should guide 
 To sparkling streams 'neath laurel's fragrant shade, 
 Where he shall meet his Nell and with her sing 
 Sweet hosannas in the amaranthus glade, 
 In the divine presence of the holy King. 
 
CHRISTMAS EVE 279 
 
 Thus he dreamed or slept in this visioned veil. 
 The wind the gnarled trees shook in this wildwood 
 
 cold ; 
 The frozen oaks with aching trunks did wail, 
 Crack and pop, as if their limbs they'd up-fold 
 To keep warm during this zero weather : 
 The screech owl in his hole continued to chide; 
 'Twas not his time to sleep, but his feather 
 Suit for such frigid blast did not provide. 
 
 The grizzly left not his lair of mullein 
 
 For fortnight or more, but would suck his paws, 
 
 And stayed within his hollow tree, sullen, 
 
 Waiting the clemence of Boreas' jaws, 
 
 Or the capitulation of this blizzard, 
 
 Ere he would dare forage for food and drink; — 
 
 The fox too kept within his own pollard, 
 
 And would not in the deep snow prowl or slink. 
 
 The stars now and then twinkled upon the scene, 
 But were too cold to combat this frozen spell; 
 The nocturnal moon now proved less a queen, 
 Her horns swollen, or had begun to swell ; 
 But she looked wan and gave but dim display, 
 She not half-full, but approached quarter one, 
 And could have produced a more lucent ray 
 Had billowy clouds let her silver beams atone. 
 
 Meanwhile the outer world oblivious 
 
 To the temporal needs of this man poor, 
 
 Were spending this Christmas Eve delicious 
 
 Each after the tenor of his lower 
 
 Or higher aims, conduced; — some were dancing 
 
 To celebrate the advent of our Lord ; 
 
 Some wed, — others dallied in love's romancing, 
 
 While some sang praise in hallelujah's word. 
 
280 CHRISTMAS EVE 
 
 Be there not few who preferred a drunk 
 Or an orgy obscene — with Bacchus dwell, 
 And revel in ribald crowd, like rancid skunk, 
 Thus paving the highway to dismal hell. 
 While the world rolls on with its cumbrous load, 
 Some make merry while others muse and pray; 
 To a sin-seared heart conscience does not goad, 
 But accounts its life's sweet morsel each day. 
 
 Now the eye of gray morn began to stream 
 Through the un-chinked cracks of this humble hut, 
 Upon the sleepers, who yet seemed to dream. 
 The dog woke, but found his master's eyes shut; 
 He whined plaintive as if to rouse his repose, 
 And knowing it was past his hour to rise — 
 'Twas now six o'clock, when at five he rose: 
 Albeit, yet his comrade oped not his eyes. 
 
 This poor dog, uneasy, somehow divined, 
 And in a grieved voice barked, his fear's deride, 
 For his lone life and fate he now repined, 
 As he perceived his friend in a trance had died. 
 Hence by instinct, knowing his life by a thread 
 Hung, — then by his good master crouched so tired 
 He cried and groaned as if prayers he said — 
 But a moment; then calm, for he too expired. 
 
QUESTIONS 
 
 Is life after all a dream, 
 But a hollow empty sigh — 
 Is it just a tuneless theme, 
 But a shadow fleeting by? 
 
 Is love a mere selfish thing, 
 But a phantom in the mind — 
 Has it no Heavenly wing 
 Flying like the spirit wind? 
 
 No beauty in the soul's ray, 
 Nor light from its sacred eye? 
 Ah ! no soul at all you say, 
 Nor truth in immortality? 
 
 And is there no rest divine, 
 No Heaven sublime above, 
 Or no land for which you pine 
 For redeeming holy love? 
 
 Without the eye's visual dart, 
 Oh can you no brightness see; 
 Through the divine spirit heart 
 Can you not feel eternity? 
 
 Have you no proof within, 
 Indeed can you not discern 
 Between the soul, and the flesh of sin 
 Have you really no concern? 
 
 No lesson from nature learn — 
 Nothing that betokens the Lord? 
 Feel no conscience within you burn, 
 Nor hope in God's matchless word? 
 
 281 
 
282 QUESTIONS 
 
 Is love a vanity mortal 
 
 Which with other passions dies — 
 
 Has it no eternal portal 
 
 Nor harvest beyond the skies? 
 
 No communion with your soul, 
 Nor soul with which to commune; 
 Nothing pure upon life's scroll 
 All so vapid and jejune? 
 
 No mystery in the rose, 
 And has virtue no reward; 
 Nor haven promised to those 
 Who sleep beneath the sward? 
 
 No prophet's truths have you read, 
 Nor faith from stars glean, indeed, 
 From whom, from whence are you fed, 
 Who's the author of your creed? 
 
 Is God a myth — just a name — 
 A legend story of old, 
 A pantheism? — Oh, the shame! 
 Who can such benight'd views hold? 
 
 Oh impious world, so bold, 
 Looking for a sign — a cross 
 In the heavens — clinging t' gold, 
 Alas! thy ignoble loss? — 
 
TO MARY GOOSE 
 
 Here in Tremont Street rests thy mortal clay 
 
 In a dank and modest chamber old, 
 
 Where the buckeye's grasping roots impierce thy 
 
 mould, 
 And towering bricks exclude the sun's ray. 
 
 No flowers embellish this humble spot 
 
 On which to botanize upon thy mound ; 
 
 Perhaps thy wish to be wrapt in common ground, 
 
 Though thy love for children shall ne'er be forgot. 
 
 Gently sleep, dear immortal mother Goose! 
 Thy enchanting fables shall e'er be sung 
 By ev'ry sweet youth's primordial tongue, 
 Eternal in every language's use. 
 
 Ev'ry child should view this modest slab, 
 
 This silent headstone of fragile slate, 
 
 Here where dreams his Fairy Godmother great, 
 
 Near the din of pounding hoof and rumbling cab. 
 
 Thy name now a familiar household word 
 In e'ery land and place of childhood's home; 
 And among nomadic tribes that roam 
 May oft thy fascinating tales be heard. 
 
 Mother Goose, thy creative, genial soul 
 Imbues the youthful mind with fancy's part, 
 Implants poesy in the plastic heart, 
 Comports to a mother's divine control. 
 
 Thy dust long since to the elements gone, 
 Now all that remains is memory sweet ; 
 But thy wooing rhymes the child-soul will greet, 
 Till time has into eternity flown.— 
 
 283 
 
284 TO MARY GOOSE 
 
 To thee we should erect a monument, 
 Thus to prove our own adoration true, 
 And reverent regard to thy name due: 
 'Twould be love's effort and money well spent. 
 
 A cenotaph raised to thee in ev'ry clime 
 And thy noble virtues truly exalt; 
 A monolith pointing to the Heaven's vault, 
 To e'er perpetuate thy flowing rhyme. 
 
 Tremont St., Boston. 
 
IN MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
 
 JULY 6, 1914 
 
 I mused alone in Mount Auburn, 
 Albeit the spirit of fear 
 Did not besiege me; — though did yearn 
 My soul for Heaven's light more clear, 
 To see beyond the tomb's dark veil, — 
 To strengthen my impotent creed, 
 Enflower the path of death's lone trail 
 In the hour of most direful need. 
 
 That I shall know what I've felt 
 In my soul's everlasting trust, 
 And that ray which flashed as I knelt 
 Over the grave of a poet's dust, 
 May follow me forever more. — 
 And then my sub-consciousness awoke 
 As my mind on swift wings did soar 
 Beyond the upper azure cloak, 
 Into the region of sacred love 
 Where altruism blossoms in peace 
 In the celestial garden above, 
 And all human frailties cease. 
 
 I then seemed from myself apart 
 As I caught a rhythmic solitude, 
 In consonance with my lone heart 
 While this City of Silence I viewed ; — 
 Where lies the honored dust of fame 
 Who left noble deeds of great worth : 
 A golden halo round each name 
 Shines like a sunbeam o'er the earth. 
 
 285 
 
286 IN MOUNT AUBURN CEMETERY 
 
 Here rest the sages of dignity 
 
 And learned Solons of renown, 
 
 Men once of mammon without charity 
 
 Whose lives too sordid for jeweled crown. 
 
 And poets of the divine muses great 
 
 Here slumber 'neath earth's bosomed urn, 
 
 And Doctors of Divinity await 
 
 Their meeds and the spirit's return. — 
 
 How truly blessed are the dead 
 Who repose in the ark of the Lord, 
 If they be soldiers full-mounted, 
 Anchored to His oracular word. 
 Sleep on, philosophers and bards 
 With deep pathos that once did flow, — 
 Patiently dream of sweet rewards 
 Which only You and Heaven know. 
 
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 
 
 In ages bigoted and paganism hurled, — 
 
 Or impinged upon the palpable conscience 
 
 Of a desolate generation's woe, — 
 
 Upon a benighted and sin depraved world, — 
 
 Beyond the bourn of mortal weakness to grope 
 
 For a truth to palliate fermented strife, — 
 
 Inherent in hearts of sordid decreptitude, 
 
 And in sophistries, ignoble and false, 
 
 The earth in warlike array breathed unrest. — 
 
 The dark angel of vengeance stalked and wreaked 
 
 And blasphemed the meek and holy son of God ; 
 
 The knee of supplication naught availed. 
 
 Religion into bartered servility waned — 
 
 Stiff-necked pride had led the world to turmoils: 
 
 Reviling excellence, no crime, — Hell's spume 
 
 Of fury and odors vile; blasting reigned. — 
 
 Tyrant hypocrisy swayed the multitude. 
 
 The lamb of God haughty insolence bore. 
 
 Evil minds debauched in ribald desires, 
 
 Clamored for martyred blood of innocence. 
 
 Wherefore, thus founded on sacred facts, 
 
 None can anywise equal the solemnity, 
 
 The sorrow, and sufferings, of the Christ, — 
 
 Whose dismal hours beggar description's pen 
 
 Mortal. — In the Garden of Gethsemane 
 
 The pathos and passion deep, beyond words 
 
 Or imagination to overdraw. 
 
 The stars trembled and feared at that crucial hour ; 
 
 In humiliation the sun eclipsed ; 
 
 The moon shed rays of deprecation's grace 
 
 In divine comport; the firmament swayed; 
 
 From pole to pole the earth in darkness quaked. 
 
 Satan, the arch-fiend, with mind alert, grim, 
 
 Scanned the concave of doom overspread. 
 
 Who therefore can paint a picture of such woe? 
 
 «87 
 
288 THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 
 
 How, He a man of grief, prayed like a God, 
 
 And a God, suffered and bore our sins to the 
 
 cross ! 
 The hinges of despair, with blackest fate 
 Flung the mantle of Satan o'er all hope 
 On earth; eternity opened its jaws; 
 Beside malefactors and thieves of sin 
 The Savior in meekness submits to death. 
 Yet, the son of God, with power divine, 
 And angels legion at his command swarmed 
 Over His head; yet no harshness fell on 
 His betrayer, nor his red-hardec 1 murderers! — 
 Then, how like the prince of Heaven our sins bore : 
 Our infamy He himself upon took, 
 And tasted death for a world benighted. 
 No evil in Him found, Herod "the Fox" 
 And Pilate alloweth Him to die on 
 The rugged tree, and thus pander malice ; 
 While the children of ignorance still clung 
 To Barabbas; and the breath of limbo, 
 Which wafted a seething froth of venom, 
 Blighting the leaves and blooms of nature 
 Round about, while Peter in bitterest 
 Sorrow heard the cock crow, to remind him 
 Of his broken vows distraught, and mortal 
 Weakness: as the soldiers of Herod flared 
 The lance of evil authority bold, 
 Armed in brazen shields in mighty phalanx, 
 And abided their time for Judas, the kiss 
 To give, after partaking his last sop 
 From the hand of the Son of righteousness. 
 But Judas, wanting the silver, his lure, 
 Took on the black wings of mammon's vile greed- 
 It so beseemed the traitor had faith enough, 
 A faith in spirituality lacking, ' 
 And he bethought himself wise— his folly 
 
THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE 289 
 
 A tempting faith. — He conjured up evil; 
 
 Yet in his heart, believing Jesus the Christ, 
 
 Being thus, the Lord himself from foe would save. 
 
 The bargain for silver his astute acumen, — 
 
 His mind inflamed and bestraught by the clink 
 
 Of lucre's black and undaunted spirit, 
 
 He fell the prey to its Hell-born avarice. — 
 
 TO SPRING 
 
 Sweet maiden with floral breath, 
 Youthful hopes, — no fear of death, 
 The fickle child we admire, 
 To whom with ardent desire 
 We look ; and then bless thy birth ! 
 Thou dear harbinger of mirth, 
 Oft thou linger'st in the lap 
 Of thy rude brother, saucy chap; 
 And then capricious as fawn 
 Browsing upon Dian's lawn, — 
 Bringing with thee birds of song, 
 And the bloom-goddess along, 
 Sweet Flora and her angels, 
 All sippers of dew-balmed dells. — 
 We greet thee, thou unbeguiled, 
 Even if a precocious child 
 Thou dost prove. A poet's love 
 Is thine, — for his soul doth move 
 At thy rosy cheeks and curls 
 Reminding of other worlds; — 
 Thy face inspirits the heart 
 Till dreaming reveries start. — 
 We drink to thy chaplet crown, 
 And cheer thy queenly renown, 
 And praise thy sylvan advent; 
 Welcome thy bounteous cloyment: 
 And those lush and pouty lips 
 Vernate us 'neath rustic drips, 
 
2 9 o TO SPRING 
 
 Make us gay — and habilitate 
 Our sighing muse, — our souls sate 
 In the wine of sparkling themes 
 Which felicitate our dreams. — 
 Thy scenery befit thy plays, 
 And thy dramatic dismays 
 But the whims or sportive mien 
 From the nectared cloud's idle spleen. 
 Hast thou come to nest in hull, 
 Garland winter's frosty skull, 
 Bringing berries sweet and ripe? 
 Humming bees, and crickets' pipe, 
 And butterflies flecked with gold? 
 The Naturalist's eye behold; 
 And with eager step he'll chase 
 Across the mead's blooming face. 
 Thou with sweet melodies sing 
 Full of music ministering; 
 Upfilling the heart with joy, 
 Heaping nature's lap to cloy, 
 Oft breaking her apron strings, 
 Gilding her matchless wings, 
 Giving muscadine and grape. 
 Dormant life puts on new shape, 
 But clings to prevailing styles; 
 Neither hoodwinks nor beguiles, 
 Yet frolicsome, with pure hands 
 Gives solace, but no commands; 
 Offering all, sweet embraces, 
 Loving the weak thy graces. 
 Thou art God's expounded soul. 
 He doth thy movements control 
 Through thee, bless and fill our cup, 
 Giving all creatures life's sup, 
 Free to each as the morn's light, 
 Sumptuous plenitude thy right. 
 Thy love unbandied bespreads 
 Pervading universe and heads 
 
TO SPRING 291 
 
 Of the tinest flowers 
 
 E'er grew in sterile bowers. 
 
 Who then shall gainsay thy fane, 
 
 And who would ever complain 
 
 To see the blossoming wolds, 
 
 Fair Aetolia's iris tints 
 
 Whose fragrance gives the mind glints 
 
 Of the infinite, — divine, 
 
 More gracious than eglantine, 
 
 Giving a fantastic tinge. 
 
 Yea, sweet Spring, where shadows fringe, 
 
 Propitious to lover's sighs, 
 
 With lily joys, — and azure skies; 
 
 When marching clouds on the wind 
 
 Do engender in the mind. 
 
 Such fancies of loveliness 
 
 Into every heart doth press : 
 
 Thy lustihood and sweet face 
 
 Give a benediction's grace, 
 
 Inviolate to thy vows, 
 
 To the floral maids and boughs. 
 
 Yea, vernal buds, lush and fine, 
 
 With true obeisance benign 
 
 We bend to that mystic force, 
 
 And her wondrous potent course, 
 
 Sucking the earth sap with root 
 
 Giving back thy golden fruit, 
 
 Imbibing life from the sun 
 
 And pigments from the air you've spun. 
 
 Thou enchantress of the dell, 
 
 I love thy footprints, and dwell 
 
 Close to thy genitive throne, 
 
 Whose deities will condone 
 
 Our sins. O give us sweet lips, 
 
 Gentle Spring, — and oozing sips 
 
 From thy beauty heart and soul, 
 
 And holy balm to reach our goal ! 
 
FAREWELL TO BOSTON 
 
 Farewell, dear little Miss Bostonian, 
 
 So natty and slim, so fat and trim ! 
 
 You from me filched my heart Lidian, 
 
 With your true azure eyes, which truly dim 
 
 The violet's delicate hues divine, 
 
 Peeping blushful 'neath leaves' musty frock 
 
 At spring's mystic dawn. Good-bye, Angeline, 
 
 Thou classic beauty of the "Mayflower" stock! 
 
 Adieu, Virgie, thou witching little bird, 
 
 Singing like a nightingale glorified, 
 
 Diffusing beyond descriptive word 
 
 Soulful strains; — when I learned a June bride 
 
 Thou art next year to blissfully become, 
 
 My soul sank, alas ! too late to dispart 
 
 Those lily vows, and like an eagle's swooping hum 
 
 Implunge gallant for thy blithesome heart. 
 
 Good-bye, my brown eyed Ethel and Jean, 
 Cousins, of "Plymouth Rock" pedigree; 
 Dear maidens, to my sense a Hippocrene 
 Each so daedal, with queenly majesty. 
 Your voices yet ring sweet to my languid brain ; 
 Your pleasing kindness; each feminine look — 
 Such soothing charms the Heavens' refrain — 
 Your loss to my joy, memory doth brook. 
 
 Ye dames of fashion, and men genteel, 
 So truly chivalrous and polite, 
 Chesterfields of suavity leal, 
 Desiring to treat all men aright 
 Within thy gates and wildering streets, 
 Which are forsooth, illuring antiques — 
 I perceive your love never retreats: 
 Do ye need all those loquacious Greeks? 
 
 292 
 
FAREWELL TO BOSTON 293 
 
 Good-bye, dear Utopia of my dreams! 
 How I did loath to say that farewell 
 To thee, bright eyes, with diamond gleams 
 Too beauteous for my pen to tell. 
 But such love for thee can never die, 
 Nor can vicissitudes make it fade. 
 E'en now a giant tear brims my eye 
 As I bethink on thee, dearest maid. 
 
 Farewell, "Norumbega" Park, paradise 
 Of wooing delights; ye groves where the wild rose 
 And honeysuckle's incense sweetly rise; 
 Where the blooming chestnut perfumes disclose 
 Impassioned regard for zephyr's kiss; 
 Where the pond lily supine nods to the air 
 While in dreaming ease its sweetest bliss 
 Out-flings to the fairies debonair. 
 
 And ye dear ladies of many creeds, 
 Striving to win that Elysian goal, 
 Know ye that all beauty feeds 
 The hungry and immortal soul? 
 When panoplied by honest prayer 
 Thereby unfolding truth's precious grace ; 
 For angels are flitting ev'ry where, 
 Ministering to this benighted race. 
 
 Though be it known, none has a patent 
 On how to reach the divine ear of God, 
 But virtue engendereth nourishment 
 Known only to those who serve the Lord 
 In the beauty of holiness; when 
 The battle 'gainst sin is surging high, 
 Which tries the souls of sturdiest men, 
 But points the way to the eternal sky. 
 
ODE TO A ROSE 
 
 Gracious and consecrated emblem so pure, 
 A blossom redolent of vernal sweets, 
 Whose peerless beauty betokens joyous lure, 
 The messenger of love that Cupid greets! 
 
 Thy waft'd spirit not of this fleeting sphere, 
 But meant to bless us in life's lonely hour — 
 Sent from heaven to give mortal cheer; 
 Of all God's gifts the rarest flower! 
 
 Thy communing vows drooping souls assuage, 
 Whose sacred incense rise before the throne: 
 There blessed by an eternal heritage, 
 Acclaimed by seraphs the sweetest e'er blown. 
 
 Thy nature to various lands condign, 
 Those thorns thine only guarded protection; 
 And thou art youth's inspiration and mine: 
 All mankind love thy distilled affection. 
 
 Those emerald leaves and symmetrical buds, 
 Whose florescence brings a tide of fragrant darts, 
 That foreshadow a wave of attar floods: 
 Then thy lingering soul balms bruised hearts. 
 
 Rose, thou'rt immortal, — with grace diffusive, 
 Balming the mournful wound death has brought, 
 Whose charming blush and silent prayers give 
 A benediction to the life gloom hath caught. 
 
 Not joy alone meets thy presence benign: 
 Oft broken hearts soothed by thy sacrifice; 
 More noble on thy stem than eglantine 
 Or young virgin queen, crowned in love's device! 
 
 294 
 
ODE TO A ROSE 295 
 
 All creatures bless thy odorance divine: 
 Beauty nymphs at thy floral shrine rejoice; 
 And bright eyes on thy sweet compassion dine, 
 Thy zephyred breath soft as an Angel's voice. 
 
 How we wonder from whence such magic bliss, 
 Inspiring dreams of amorous delight; 
 At Hymen's gay feast how welcome thy kiss, 
 Whose silent majesty greets the bride so dight. 
 
 How apropos thy insignia of love! 
 A precious virtue from heaven descends 
 Upon thy sweet-savored spirit, to move 
 Our souls where thy matchless beauty blends. 
 
 Thy nodding blooms, virent and fuzzy pods, 
 Festoon the sanctum of the fairy hall; 
 Thy ebbing breath invocations from the gods 
 That rides auriferous breezes ethereal. 
 
 Thou princess, loveliest flower e'er sighed 
 To perfume Erato's luminous fane ; 
 Who loves the rose and ever will confide 
 In its heart, where her kindred spirits reign. 
 
 In the garden of youth the face most fair, 
 Never intended to blossom and pine, 
 And fade away in solitude's despair, 
 But to flourish in Flora's kingdom fine. 
 
 Who can look upon thy educing dawn, 
 
 And not ponder on things holy and true, 
 
 Of heaven's mead, with thy soul imbuing the lawn, 
 
 Of God, who made thee in most ev'ry hue. 
 
 Thy life and its adieu give us faith wings, — 
 Our second coming but divine sequence ; 
 And thy melifluous advent thus brings 
 Us within the bourne of omnipotence. 
 
TO THE "LONE STAR" STATE 
 
 Fairest maid of the universe, 
 Bright star of the Gulf of Mexico, 
 Would I could the muses coerce 
 To descant thy virtues apropos 
 And melodize on thy fealty; — 
 I adore thee, and for thee sigh. 
 
 I long to see thy fruitful lap 
 And imbibe thy golden sunshine; 
 Let alfalfa perfumes enwrap 
 My olfactories, as I dine 
 This lorn soul in a pensive mood, 
 In thy sopiting solitude: 
 
 To hear the waving corn rustle 
 In its song of harvest delights ; 
 To feel a thrill of thewy muscle 
 Engendered by thy balmy nights; 
 To hear the mocking bird's ecstacy 
 Unlinking arpeggios with glee : 
 
 To behold the meadows besprent 
 With rainbow tints and daffodils, 
 Empurpled cotton blooms content 
 Whose lint the planters' purse upfills ; 
 To see the honey-bee roaming 
 For saccharine till the gloaming: 
 
 To hear the continuous hum, 
 The thrasher hulling golden grain: 
 Ah Texas, thou sweet Elysium 
 Teeming with Ceres' bounteous train ; 
 Thou dreamland! thou Utopia! 
 To all extend thy cornucopia. 
 
 296 
 
THE HUMAN HEART 
 
 What a mystic composite 
 
 Is the human heart; so true — 
 
 So evil — so saturnine; 
 
 Oft to jealous strife commit — 
 
 Or filled with pathos divine — 
 
 A fount of ambrosial dew. 
 
 Life's pump — a machine throbbing 
 From which emanates all good, 
 From which all malice springeth; 
 From which comes sorrow sobbing, 
 Or Heavenly joys ringeth, 
 By no science understood. 
 
 The heart is truly but clay 
 If put to chemical test; — 
 A voice echoing from space — 
 A dictaphone night and day 
 Receiving or giving grace, 
 By the immortal soul blest. 
 
 'Tis God's earthly residence: 
 
 He dwells in the human heart 
 
 If within at all He's found ; 
 
 Not the head — but the heart. Hence 
 
 Do not the head, but the heart sound, 
 
 If its charity you'd impart. 
 
 ^97 
 
IF WE COULD BUT LIVE ON THIS 
 EARTH AGAIN 
 
 If we could but live on this earth again 
 We'd be adroitly inured to its ways; 
 Our souls then might bloom and never disdain, 
 And reach the Heaven's Elysian highways. 
 
 'Tis a great pity Nature does not give 
 
 Us poor mortals below two lives apart, 
 
 That the first might be spent learning how to live 
 
 The last, mending aches of the primal heart. 
 
 O, if we could but silently retrace 
 Those missteps that have proved unwise, 
 Then get our bearings from the throne of grace, 
 Our lives here would be less a sacrifice. 
 
 For the first allotted span we find, alas! 
 Thus spent in making tentative surveys; 
 Amidst the pitfalls of sin we must pass 
 Ere we seem to imbibe life's golden rays. 
 
 O, ye who brood over the winged bygones, 
 Dry your heart's mournful and clandestine tears; 
 Your penance ten thousand times o'er condones 
 For the wrongs commit. Have no prescient fears. 
 
 Therefore have no impotent forebodings 
 Of the dearth of the fountain from on high, 
 For God hath divine healing in His wings, 
 And there's balm in Gilead for ev'ry sigh. 
 
 Hence then, grieve not over the "might have beens," 
 
 But take up the broken lute and mend it. 
 
 Where there's a will there's no cause for blighting 
 
 sins: 
 Take up the sword of prayer and defend it. 
 
 We know not what's best for our own future — 
 Oft we're like children crying for a toy; 
 Sometimes 'tis but fantasy we endure 
 Or an illusion we would grasp to cloy. 
 
 298 
 
IF WE COULD BUT LIVE 299 
 
 Be the load real or from the mind's loom, 
 Build your heart's citadels strong and more bold ; 
 Do not get enmeshed in a languid gloom — 
 Patience is a passion more precious than gold. 
 
 Then sigh no more, ye brides of secret love, 
 With cumbersome loads of melancholy. 
 Look to yon starry portals exalt above 
 And expurgate your souls of wicked folly. 
 
 And when in Heaven's clime we meet redeemed, 
 We'll engird ourselves for bliss and duty; 
 Then but sweet memory will evoke, so themed, 
 As we worship at the shrine of love's beauty. 
 
 SLEEPY HOLLOW CEMETERY 
 
 Concord, Mass., July 22, 191 4 
 
 Here 'neath solemn oak and swaying pine 
 The illustrious clay of Hawthorne sleeps; 
 Where the blessings of nature smile divine 
 Though the wind's voice, e'er moaning, e'er weeps 
 The air delicious, with pious fragrance 
 Fraught — and verdant moss so reverent clings 
 To tomb and mausoleum, as for life, 
 While deep-toned solitude seems to enhance 
 The rightful eminence of angels' wings 
 That here sojourn to muse on mortal strife. 
 
 And hard by slumbers the great Emerson, 
 In his generation most lettered and wise. 
 Now a marble bowlder, weighing a ton, 
 Above his noble head ponderous lies. 
 Thoreau and the Alcotts here silently rest 
 Where other literate souls keep them company. 
 Afar many come to pay love's sweet tribute; 
 
300 SLEEPY HOLLOW CEMETERY 
 
 From the North, South, East, and the golden West 
 Here congregate, to drop a tear and sigh 
 With ponderings soft as enchanted lute. 
 
 Serene as an Arcadia wrapped in dreams, 
 Awake not the guests of this sleepy silence; 
 Though we can imagine the holy themes 
 Of mingled prayers and sorrowing cadence 
 That have skyward flown to the throne of grace, 
 When heart-breaking grief, and venerate tear 
 Were (and yet may be) emptied upon this ground; 
 When tender eyes looked on the beloved face 
 For the last time, reposed upon the bier, 
 Then list to the clod's unpitying sound. 
 
 The robin's note is somewhat in respect; 
 
 His recitation bears a minor refrain, 
 
 As if he doth with gravity reflect 
 
 Upon the brevity of life's mortal chain. 
 
 At night the star's lambent beams thread through 
 
 trees 
 And fling over all a shimmering light, 
 As the moon shoots from her queenly throne 
 Rays, that eclipse the eyes of Hesperides 
 And emmantle all in a ghostly fright, 
 While one's hollow ears hear the sepulchres groan. 
 
 The polished tombstones refract with grim awe 
 Phantasies flaunting, though but dimly seen ; 
 Struggling, as if some supervening law, 
 Disavowed celestial ray to intervene. 
 Near by this sacred spot a river flows, 
 But with silence it winds its destined course 
 Like the slow move of a funeral train ; 
 With comely reverence onward it goes, 
 Seeming to know it rolls near a human force 
 Of mighty souls, that Heaven shall regain. 
 
LIBRARY 
 
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