^Avenues of^ong my «^^.>^►^^^»^^^..^^^ ^, ^^... ' , v\ .^w-^, I*..' Class BS35 Book>-LL Sr y /? g CopiglitF.Ji_X_6_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. <:AVENUES OF SONG ^Avenues of (§ong uryee New York Edmond Byrne Hackett The Brick Row Book Shop, Inc. 1926 Copyright, 1926, by The Brick Row Book Shop, Inc. nARlG'26 ©ClA8798eO TO S. S. D. Acknowledgment is made to the editors of The Conning Tower, The Conning Tower Book, and the Philadelphia Public Ledger for their permission to use certain poems in this volume. M. B. D. CONTENTS Thesis by the Sea 1 1 The Fisherman's Wife i8 The Grasses 19 Unborn 20 When I am Dead 21 Night Rain 22 To a Lost Friend 23 Hymn 24 Halo 25 Song with Chimes 26 With the Words for a Song . . . .27 Armed 28 Warning 29 The Room 30 The Poet 32 Now the Sweet Spring 33 Songs I and H 34 Pursuit 37 Habitat 38 Query . 39 Afterwhile 40 A Mother to the Mother of God . . 41 •7- The Elf . . 43 The Star 44 Promise 45 Rupert Brooke 46 July Idyll 47 Sonnet 48 Sonnet 49 The Portrait ........ 50 Chance 51 Old Letters 52 Heritage 53 April Song • • • 55 CHILDREN'S VERSES To a Demanding Audience .... 59 Invitation to a Birthday Party . . .60 Susan, One Week Old 62 Under an Apple Tree 63 Gingerbread 64 Songs for a Little Boy, I, II, III . . 65 Contrary 68 Betsey 69 Pretty One 70 Swinging 71 Names 72 Mother's Bed 73 Church 74 .8. Shoes 75 For Ninette 76 Justice 77 Lullaby for Mary 78 Valentine for a Son 79 One Song 80 THESIS BY THE SEA (To N. S. and E. A. B.) I. A happy little girl wind-blown — With hair burnt gold by seven suns, And brown legs flashing as she runs, Goes dancing up the shore alone. Her eyes pick colors from the day, And change to mingle with the sea. But keep their friendly mockery Though they be blue or green or grey. She skims a stone that leaps and skips A dozen times before its fall. And cups her hands to ape the call Of the white sea gull where he dips; Then turns to where her rivers run With sandy banks on either hand, And houses of her building stand. And romance walks till set of sun. . II . Here in her linen pinafore She grew as any daisy might, Till mother thought her skirt was quite Too short for wearing any more. For curled beside the fire at eight With Robin Hood she seemed all knees And bobbing scarlet ribbon, "Please, Not bed quite yet, it isn't late." For all the lore that books could teach Her dearest days were by the sea. And the sea's treasures hers to be Sought long and fondly up the beach. II. Magic days but lost at last Like a flash of color past. Spent at last nor missed at all By a maiden grown so tall. Couldn't her new dress be lace ? Secretly she liked her face — Kissed a boy and never told — Surely that was growing old ! . 12. III. The brown legs raced no more, a maid Memoried of the child that was She loved the sea — grown shy because Dreams gathered where she lately played. But when the day was sapphire bright She ruled it with a filling sail, And bubbles breaking on the rail, And sang, and knew no dreams at night. In the blue shade of afternoon She often sought a certain tree, With Keats to bear her company, And dusk discovered them too soon. Spring stirred in her and summer brought Questing for beauty. Sometimes she Carried a brush and paints to see If summer's colors could be caught — The green along the shore that flowed To milky lavender of sand. And far across the bay the land Blue-black where lights at evening showed. • 13- She loved the rosy brown that spills Its scent beneath the oldest fir ; And quickened to the hush and stir The busy forest never stills. The dress she carried like a flower Revealed her slender, boyish grace, The hat that drooped to hide her face Learned coquetry for half an hour. A comb of clouded tortoise-shell — A scarf that flirted with her eyes — She wore with an amused surprise, Happy to know she wore them well. IV. Not as she planned or dreamed he came At length — revealed in one long-known Who saw her suddenly full-grown And loved her passing praise or blame. With eyes that open on a view Familiar as a mirrored face And find a glory in the place That daily converse never knew — . 14. So she discovered love in him, Unrestful first and piqued to find The startled ecstasy of mind He woke beyond her vision's rim. She laughed and left him, — sought once more Enchantment by the v^^indy sea, But found it clouded suddenly. And no content along the shore. Then starry-eyed with April's tears, Like April fearful of her mood, For love — that recks not ill or good — She gave him her unwritten years. V. The hastening hour too fleet to cherish. Too swift to taste the racing day, But not a joy they know shall perish — The wise heart lays its dreams away. That child that counts the years I've loved you Turns grey eyes to the sea again, And the old melodies that moved you Reshape the shore to a new refrain. • 15- Sorrow has strayed along the beaches, Anger and tears have washed the sea, But we return where the sure tide teaches Its deathless trysting to you and me. Love has challenged — a trumpet calling — Clearer now than it ever blew, Ours is the night with the black tide falling, Ours is the morning the years renew. VI. Babbling of this and that Tea and cat — Careful of her foolish frocks — Her thin locks. Will her back grow bent — her eyes Lose surprise? And her skin to parchment turn For the urn ? Once she trod the springing sand. The firm land, Once she swam the laughing sea Fearlessly, — Lay with love and fenced with pain. Saw sin slain. .16. Pity not because she waits At the gates Rather long and must wear Tatters there — Tatters of the flesh that wore Flame before. All her beauty earth her lover Did uncover, He was lord of her, to life She was wife — Death the thiever comes to claim Just her name ! •17 THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE My love lies very close to me Upon a narrow bed — My beautiful young love asleep When all our words are said. But I have not forgot the maid Who lies alone and cold, Whose dear, whose only dear is dead Ere half their tale is told. My love lies very close to me — My love so warm and strong, But I have known the widow's bed For grey nights and long. And I have seen the leaf in bud. And seen it fall and die, And known between my love and me Wind and wave rose high. And heard between my love and me Drowned Death ride by. And though I go with glad eyes In the glad morn, Ever I kiss my love at night I pray for maids forlorn. .18. i THE GRASSES I stood among the grasses crisp and sweet, And watched them bend about me in a mass Of summer fragrance in the noonday heat, And drowned the world past finding in the grass. Just for one moment while my senses reeled, I thought I was a daisy in the field. Just for one moment — then the dream was spent And rushing back upon me came the world. The world and my weak life ; in discontent I saw my daisy fancies spun and whirled Away — my heart went with them; alien feet Still stood among the grasses crisp and sweet. 19 UNBORN When morning breaks in gold or grey I make a song or two, That I may carry through the day A happy heart for you. And when the night is cool about, I say one little prayer, In case your spirit is devout And shyly lingers there. Oh, if I go a-sorrowing, Or angry, or untrue, Sleep, little one, until I bring A better gift for you. Oh, if I go a-sorrowing. Forget, wee one, forget, For sorrow's drooping scarlet wing — It must not touch you yet. 20. WHEN I AM DEAD You will do things for comforting When I am dead, Setting a shining, carven stone At my forgetful head; Planting a foolish little flower Erect and sweet, To mark the fabled resting-place Of my far-flying feet. But I shall find my heaven sad — Who can atone For love I failed you nevermore With tears or flowers or stone. . 21 . NIGHT RAIN I only know your hand is kind, And hold it close against my face, And hear your sleepy comments trace The dear-loved places of your mind. The busy, watchful sun's away. The dripping breath of night is sweet, And all my comfort is complete, To know you near until the day. The night rain hems us all about. Even our thoughts cannot slip out. . i 22 . TO A LOST FRIEND If I was beautiful forget The things you loved to say to me, We have foresworn such comradery And will not dally with regret. If I was wise in little ways And caught your mood in thought or deed I could not fill your greater need, And have no claim to any praise. One thing I leave you from the strife Of passions that would not agree: — Take if you will the good in me A touchstone to the good in life. 23 HYMN Heaven, who of blessings are Lavish past our due, Does there sometimes rise from far Light to hallow you ? Looking on this sleeping child, Do your outposts guess Earth — herself unreconciled — Shares your blessedness? For if Beauty have a place In the heavenly mood. You must gather from his face Sweet beatitude. 24 HALO The tears you gave me will not dry They glisten in my hair, In heaven you will know me by The rainbow resting there. I shall not wear a circlet plain As other maidens do, But crown me with the sun and rain I lived through loving you. .25 SONG WITH CHIMES Stones and the shifting sand, Stars and the wheeling sky, Tides at the moon's command Change not so much as I. Sweeping a wider arc Than the year renewed with Spring, Brighter eyes to the dark Than the night's own brood I bring. The wind that calls me home To share his houseless bliss, Knows that my courses roam Fiercer, farther than his. Moored not below — above — Trackless I thread the blue, But that I'm thrall to love. And love's unchanged in you. 26. WITH THE WORDS FOR A SONG I will give you a thread of my thought For a song, And an echo blown after. It will live while you cherish it — caught So long In the web of your laughter. When you bring it again it will soar From me To the heart that could make it Such a wing — that it walk earth no more — And be Your own — will you take it? •27 ARMED I have one sword I never draw, Its blade is virgin clean, Its scabbard the unspoken law That lies two friends between. It will not see the light this tide Unless my neighbor cry, "A sword, a sword!" and I, with pride, Unsheathe it then, and die. .28. WARNING Where a ghost has left his mark Tread not boldly in the dark; Where a bluebell peals his tune Pray beneath the opal moon. In the dew dance lightly, very, Footsteps sometimes crush a fairy. Study magic not profoundly — Lest you nevermore sleep soundly. • 29- THE ROOM There is a sealed room Deep in my mind, Where on an old, old loom Colors I wind. I keep it clear of noise, Fretting and fear. That I may hear the voice Of God speak there. All that I hope of heaven, Garner of earth, In this bright room is shriven For song's new birth. There sings the nightingale, There blooms the rose, He tells all day his tale. She thornless grows. There pain has pleasure's wings Better to reach Kingdoms which glow with things Beyond our speech. 30 There life Is told in rhyme Lovely and long, And to life's measured time Death is a song! 31 THE POET Who puts his heart in black and white And prints it in a little book — He must be bold to let the light Search out his heart in every nook. Who puts his tears in passing song Knows no less grief unless he bear Another's grief with his along The healing currents of the air. Who captures Beauty, that wild bird, To tame her to a printer's nest, Finds when he reads the written word Only a feather from her breast. But while he tries with foolish sound To make a god or break a creed, No less of wonder will abound In blazing star and bending reed. 32 NOW THE SWEET SPRING Now the sweet Spring has ringed my wedding finger, And in the magic night my coming waits ; Shy lilacs at my cottage window linger, For every waking bud and I are mates. Now the young grass caresses feet that love it, Now the pale moon is born again for me, And my own hill, with dawn grown red above it, ^ Draws its light breath through new-made greenery. O Love, there is no promise like the blos- soms' — O Love, no faith so surely kept as Spring's; Forget, forget that ours are mortal bosoms That lean so close and pledge such foolish things ; And in this twilit garden lie together. Dreaming that when our loving shall be done — Some year again, in this enchanted weather, Reblooming in a rose — we shall be one. ■33' SONG I. I will defy the world with you That does not love your gypsy blood, Nor the wild hair beneath your hood. I will defy the world that would Declare love like a patterned book. In outworn paths our feet forsook. How should they know that once you shook Your warm hair o'er me on a day — In a bright meadow new with May? How should they know the swift glad way You ran to me with summer's feet And met me where the near stars meet? Hush, my gypsy, love is sweet — Free him then before he dies; Let them prattle parrot-wise, Lies and lies and lies. 34 SONG II. To Paradise Where love is wise I do not care to go. Oh, let me be In Normandy Where peach blooms blow ! Where peach blossoms blow to bloom, And flutter frail and fair — Like dreams gleaming in the gloom On my Love's hair. In Paradise Where love is wise My Love will never be, For foolish as The careless grass And blowing flowers is she. The blowing flowers that fade and fall When tired of the sun, And lie in shade of friendly wall When day is done. •35- O Paradise Are you so wise Who know no way of death? Whose blossoms stay For alway And never fall beneath — And never fall beneath the bough Where my Love laughing lies, Nor bless her hair, nor kiss her brow In Paradise. .36. PURSUIT I sought love over the hill, He laughed on the other side; I stalked him wary and still, But love rode wild and wide. I mocked the amorous moon. And built my house alone. Forgetting wholly and soon A vagrant I'd outgrown. I planted flowers in order From well selected seed, But love came up in the border A flaming scarlet weed. 37 HABITAT I build a house I call my own To shut the city out, With brick and mortar, wood and stone I hedge myself about. With bread and sweet philosophy I arm myself within. That I may view composedly The city's dirt and sin. But see, one window opens wide — (And may it never close) For through it like a mighty tide The city's music flows: The wheels of work, the tears of sin — Laughter to shake the skies, — And I who at the window lean Am grown a little wise. 38- QUERY Dear, to give you all you ask — Hands and lips and heart of me — Would it make the year's long task Dearer, clearer in the doing? Even then I cannot see That it would be worth the ruing, Dear, to give you all you ask. 39 AFTERWHILE Will these dear things of my today- Grow dim as childhood loves and games, Which avenues of years array With unfamiliar shapes and names? And vi^ill this vivid life in me Lie quiet, the last lamp go out; And then from heaven will living be A childish thing to laugh about ? .40. A MOTHER TO THE MOTHER OF GOD Mary, as my baby lies, Warm upon my breast in sleep, Fears within my heart arise At the lovely trust I keep. Hear his little wailing cry Lifted to the heavens afar, Under Bethlehem's boundless sky — Under Jesus' very star! Of the way his feet will go I can see no more than you In the stable long ago Glimpsed the man that Jesus grew. Lo, I cannot change the plan When Gethsemane is near; Mothers save nor God nor man The appointed Cross and Spear. Hands that hold him closer now Must unfold and leave him free, Serving him I take no vow For the person he will be : .41 . Set no seal upon his lips — Preconceive no shrine — no law — Fearless if his banner dips At a Sign I never saw. Hands that hold him closer yet Just tonight can know his need, At my breast his lips are wet — What strange god is this I feed? Mary, Mother, counsel me, See how young and fair he lies ! Such a little way I see Where the hills of Life arise. 42 THE ELF Hark! I know he's coming, Hear his tiny feet, Running, racing, drumming, Thrumming, thrumming, thrumming, Hush! he's grave and sweet. Whisper or you'll scare him. Whisper or he'll guess Half the love you bear him — How you could not spare him — Shameless tenderness. Bow a bit politely, Cool you are and prim. Take, oh, take him lightly Or you'll daily, nightly Break your heart for him. •43 THE STAR A white star opens in the sea, And claims its likeness in the sky, And in the secret heart of me Love blooms for me to know you by. A lifted lantern fair and far Above the stress of thought it rides. And glows where my lone pathways are As that far planet gilds the tides. I do not seize it from its place, Lest I might blur it with my breath, But in my heart and on my face I know its radiance till death. 44 PROMISE I shall take beyond the blue One sweet memory of you. I shall keep when flesh is dead One enchantment in its stead. Death himself will never tarry For a load he could not carry, — For a load of gossamer All his strength could never stir. If an unnamed bird take wing From your window in that Spring— If a flower unknown before Lift its beauty at your door, — If a new star deck the sky On the very night I die, — There the bright remembrance see Of your starry love for me. 45 RUPERT BROOKE Why should we weep that you are gone away ? Tears are for those who loved to touch your hair And hands, — and lost these beautiful and fair — Inseparable from you, the dear-loved clay That held your spirit here awhile to say A few glad things, but we were scarce aware Of this your unsubstantial self, and bear No grief to know your body must decay. No grief but a sure joy to know death's part Is only dust, and still the lovely song That was your spirit climbs the English sky. Surely you hear its lyric echo start Where the wild-thyme and poppies are new- sprung, And Scyros keeps your mortal memory. .46 JULY IDYLL I saw her in the splendid sun of noon, Glistening with the late touch of the sea — White on white sands — abandoned utterly To rest — careless of waking late or soon. The warm abundance of her hair was strewn By the kind wind that set its glory free About her shoulders, — still as death was she As one might sleep in silent marble hewn. Old grief was there made sweet, and ancient strife Broke in the heart like music by the sea — A startled worshipper I bowed my head; And then she woke with her strange gift of life, To make a common trespasser of me, And all the beauty of that hour was dead. 47 SONNET I know I shall not be a simple thing For you to love — all peaceable and plain, — A quiet child with eyes that will remain Just as you loved them first; the years will bring Change and the luck of change to everything, New love to new adventure must attain Outrunning chance, nor lag to turn again Back to old flowers, old tricks of wondering. And there must not be any lesson learned By one apart. Life yields no store of hours So great that we may quarrel at the morn, And turn to kiss at even — as you turned The very hour might die like dying flowers. And on my unkissed lips a sigh be born. 48. SONNET Dear, when you kneel beside me in the night Your nearness makes God strangely far- removed, — What need have I to cry the Infinite — What need of any comfort — greatly loved By you. Surely the ways of earth are blest That have discovered such rare peace to me, And hands that lately in your hands were pressed Are not so swift to fold in suppliancy. And if life hurt us deeply would God be Great solace then, — if one at end of day Lay suddenly cold — one knelt alone to pray Oh, would he find God's dim immensity? And finding God how much were left to seek — Your warm breath stirring on my hair and cheek. 49 THE PORTRAIT To live encircled in that lovely frame Above the v^^ell-proportioned chimney-place — Chosen — as well as by the magic name That made you — for your own enchanting grace — That is a fate for maid two centuries dead Your lovers would approve — for swift ap- plause Rises again to your so queenly head, And no one asks about the moral laws. Lovely and lawless one, the lace is fine That fails to shield your breast — the hair is sleek That mounts above a flushing brow and cheek To crown you where a rose and curl entwine. I trow that you could drop a hint concisely To awkward flappers how to do it nicely! 50 CHANCE Oh will you lie on some far plain Whose blood is warm and red — And never laugh again with Spring Upon your shining head ? Will my Love turn to a craven heav'n The terrible eyes of death — Who sweetly sleeps beneath my hand And draws such quiet breath? 51 OLD LETTERS I would not read them now who know The green earth glad again, — Folly to torture so Old, useless pain. Put them by with a lock and key, Locking if you can The shaken heart of me — The broken man. Deeply, deeply we draw our breath Under the flaming sky, Shut away the death You did not die. 52 HERITAGE Oh, do you hear The fife and drum Whose birth is come In time of war? The answering feet Resound and beat — A pulse within your blood For ill or good. Will there be written On your heart Old stories and old sorrowing, The weariness these long days bring ? The courage that these times impart- May that be built within your heart. The peace that mothers learn of war- That shall go too To you — Secure in great disaster — Death's serene master ! I cannot be afraid For you, new made When life was little to give •53- That you might live, And find the earth still sweet To your young feet. I cannot be afraid ... The sword you carry has a shining blade! 54 APRIL SONG The suns and rains of April Shed joy upon my head, And where the crocus-cup should spring Love springs instead. For May will bring you surely, And April at a chance, What wonder gold and pearly The jonquils dance ! How will it feel to touch you — So long, so long away? What will your eyes be saying? I'll know in May! 55 CHILDREN'S VERSES TO A DEMANDING AUDIENCE I only know a few songs, sir, And none of them are new songs, sir, But If you care To hear an air, I'll sing you one or two songs, sir. In charity befriend me, sir, A kindly ear pray lend me, sir. For every man The best I can I'll sing If he'll attend me, sir. 59 INVITATION TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY May and Maud and Margaret, Ann and Dorothy, Caroline and Charlotte, Will you come for tea? Nina in her party dress, Nina — Nina D., Nina here at my house Is going to be three. Jack and George and Jimmie, Archibald and Pete, Ted and Tom and Timmie, Will you come and eat? Nina with her yellow hair, Nina — Nina D., Nina here at my house Is going to be three. Come and grab the cherry tarts, Come and bolt the cake. Come and take of peppermints, More than you should take. .60. But don't steal Nina, Nina — Nina D., For Nina lives at my house, And she belongs to me. .61. SUSAN, ONE WEEK OLD You are too young and dear, Too wise and beautiful To sing of, who appear From recent Paradise; But if my song be dull You'll hardly criticise — You are too young and dear. .62. UNDER AN APPLE TREE Under an apple tree I lie And watch the great clouds passing by; They tell me you are in the sky, And oh, it seems so very high. So very high — pray do not stray Too near the edges in your play, And fall into this apple tree. And shake the apples down on me. • 63 GINGERBREAD One day while we were at our tea They brought the telegram that said That my papa was missing — dead Perhaps — while we ate gingerbread. And though he sits beside me now, And chooses me a slice that's thick, I do not care for tea — the prick And sting of ginger make me sick. 64- SONGS FOR A LITTLE BOY L Does one give thanks for such as these — Beautiful earthly vanities? A little back from head to toes Straight as the straightest tree that grows; Brown eyes that see as far and wide As birds above the countryside; A mouth to turn a mother to A lover when she kisses you. What treasure for another year You keep I do not seek, my dear, Content to own this sturdy elf, The pagan mother of your self. IL Dear little Adam in Eden dreaming, Surely you are your maker's pride, With your blameless mind and your body gleaming — And nothing in either you care to hide. .65. Frisking about as I try to dress you, Free of the world as the winds are free, Shy and strange when I would caress you — God's creation anew to me. I know some day you will eat the apple, I know some day you will meet the fall, And numberless times with the devil grapple Before you throw him over the wall. But now you are safe in the Lord's first gar- den — Free of the world as the winds are free — And I am the stern and adoring warden. And God and the Angels envy me. III. The little prayers I pray for you Ask only simple things, I would not strew the way for you With glowing happenings; Nor fill your hands too full of fun Through days so newly fair, And find them when the day is done Too tired to fold in prayer. .66. Clear eyes, strong arms, a seeking heart, Oh, am I wise who know So little of the destined part God gave you long ago? Love? dare I ask so much for you — Grown bolder as I pray? Or has God given such to you That you give much away. 67 CONTRARY Mary, Mary, do you keep Your garden on the hill, With cockleshells, and wee maids, And sweet bells still? Sweet, shrill bells that beat Their silver on my brain — Like the vagrant fairy feet Of the April rain. Mary, Mary, when I tire Of the city weather, Kind dreams take me back To our days together; When I listened to the sea In your cockleshells, And danced — a pretty maid with me — To your silver bells. .68. BETSEY One year made you so fair and good I hardly thought a second could Add anything at all to you, But lo, your ringlets longer grew, Your smile more bright, your eyes more blue- I found you twice as dear at two. And now another year has sped. And left new beauties on your head — New wisdom in your heart, and we Find you threefold as dear at three. Have pity, little maid, on those Whose loving with your beauty grows, If every year adds charms anew, What will your fond admirers do ? .69 PRETTY ONE Pretty one, pretty one, where will you go, With your cheeks and your forehead like roses and snow? Where will you wander, and how will you fare. With your mad, laughing eyes and your glis- tening hair? Pretty one, pretty one, how can I tell Who know you so lovely and love you so well, — How can I tell and for what shall I pray Whose senses are faint from your ravishing way? So here's a blue ribbon to match your blue eyes. And your grandmother's cookbook for pastries and pies. And here's a prescription to keep your heart whole : — A lad that will love you clear through to your soul! 70 SWINGING When daddy swings me in the tree He pushes hard and high, Until the apples seem to be Balloons that hurry by. Until — though lunch was very good- Fm like an empty bowl, And long for any kind of food To feed my hungry soul. 71 NAMES My mother wears my daddy's name When she's in company, That's very fine but all the same His name belongs to me. I wear it all, and all the time And haven't any other, While she is sometimes Margaret And sometimes Mom, or Mother. My, what responsibility To carry it about. Whatever people say of me He's sure to find it out! 72 MOTHER'S BED When I sleep in mother's bed I hark with all my ears, To hear the very same sounds Mother hears: The cars that rattle in the street, The fountain in the yard. The cherry tree that squeaks when The wind blows hard. I stretch my head up — up, My toes down — down. And in the morning mother says. My, you've grown! I say good-night to all the posts At my feet and head. And hope I'll soon be sick again In mother's bed. 73 CHURCH I asked my mother once if she Thought fairies went to church like me. She said that there were hundreds there At hymns and psalms and praise and prayer. And when we leave she thinks they stay And play a bit their softest play; The colored windows make them think That summer's come — all in a wink! 74 SHOES Fairies don't wear any shoes So they have never got To try them on and try to choose Which pinch and which do not. Instead they dip their feet in dew Which doesn't cost a nickel, And not a pebble pushes through Nor can a prickle prickle. 75 FOR NINETTE I comb your hair, I wash your face, I button up your frock; But at the door of your heart's place I only knock. I teach you work and play, and fold Your hands at night for prayer, But something stirs I cannot hold- Like sunlight there. I open all the fairylands That I have ventured through, But never touch with clumsy hands The fairy you! .76. JUSTICE What need is there of fairies, If you believe they're true, What need that day be brighter Than it has looked to you? But I'll waylay the stranger Who cries, **It can't be so," And murder unbelievers Who dare to tell you no! 77 LULLABY FOR MARY There Is no peace in scorn, There is no joy in hate — Remember this white rose new-born Early and late. Rest is in lovely things, Sleep in the hovering sky, Serenity in folded wings When dusk drifts by. Love wherever you may; Laugh before time flies; And open brave to every day Your sweet blue eyes. 78 VALENTINE FOR A SON Run! you cannot catch me, Race ! you will not win, Who are you to match me? When did you begin? This? Why, that's your mother — Poky as you see. But where will you discover The girl she used to be? The race is lost at starting, You drowned her in the blue. One fellow knows the charting — But, sweet, it isn't you ! •79 ONE SONG One song I never sing who know All song's worth, Too beautiful a thing to blow In pipes of earth. All lesser lays will meet eclipse. And die in air. This lives unsung upon my lips — Eternal there. .80. i^: Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Sept. 2009 PreservationTechnoiogies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 111 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724) 779-2111 ^ "■■I ;\' \^U V. V / r 'fWlmi m WM ^/ ^^^R'^?