v'^(^■,■••:^v•.;^■^<:^4 m^^i^^::. i r .->•*, r--Tv.w-',rv'"'T.fv;'V wi\T/i*'.i! i:^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, ),....... Copyright ^o,... Chap.. ...... Shelf. X_A_J UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Thoughtful Hours It Thoughtful Hours'^ *« ^ 3Sook of ^oems i53/S.M.HERRICK CINCINNATI "THE LITERARY SHOP" 1899 : dN^-- 41301 COPYRIGHT, 1899, BY S. M. HERRICK •ECONO OOPY, DEDICATED TOe^,^ MRS. D. A. MORRIS BY HER FRIEND J, THE AUTHOR^^^ PREFACE **Tr5UT men of long - enduring -L^ hopes, And careless what this hour may- bring, Can pardon little would-be Popes And Brummels, when they try to sing. An Artist, sir, should rest in Art, And waive a little of his claim ; To have the deep poetic heart Is more than all poetic fame. 3 4 PREFACE But you, sir, you are hard to please ; You never look but half content ; Nor like a gentleman at ease, With moral breadth of temperament.. ?j£ 0^ ^j^ ^^ ?{* ^Vhat profits now^ to understand The merits of a spotless shirt — A dapper boot, a little hand — If half the little soul is dirt? " — Tennyson. CONTENTS PAGE Preface ------.3 Thoue^htful Hours ----- xx Friendship -------12 Affliction is Wisdom ----- xj Addressing the Deity ----- 14 Charity ------- X5 A Prayer ------- x6 The Picture ------ xg Addressing the Nightingale - - . - ao A Short Love Poem ----- 29 Triumphant Cuba ------ a6 Saiot Cecilia ------ 38 5 O CONTENTS PAGE A Human Rose ------ 30 An Elemental War ----- 33 Speculation -------35 The Soul's Prayer - - - - - 37 A Twilight Stroll - - - - - - 39 To Mrs. Morris ----- 41 The Poet 43 Sonnet — Qenius ----- 45 Apostrophe to Alice and Phoebe Gary - - 47 Morn ------- 49 Night - - Sr A Plea 53 Retirement -- - - - - -55 Cupid ------- 57 Love's Spring Song - - - - - 58 On Byron's Poem, "To Woman" - - 60 A Wish 61 Fashion - - - - -- -.62 To Maude: On Her Picture - - - -63 To H.— Sonnet ----- 65 Virtue - - - -- - -67 On My Friends ----- 68 Fame — Sonnet . _ - - . - 70 To a Virtuous Young Man - - - - 72 Time --------74 CONTENTS 7 PAGE A False Friend ... - - 75 On Friendship ------ 78 A Hymn ^^ On an Oak Planted for Me at My Home (1899) - 80 Cincinnati ..---- 8a Away, Ye Youthful Friends - - - - 83 A Regret - - - - " " . ®* Poetry _------ 86 Love 88 Menaces ------- 9^ The Evening Star: Hesperus - - - 9a The Storm -------93 Self-interest 95 On Greatness ..-.-- 96 Repose in Sorrow ----- 98 Philosophy and Religion - - - - 100 Introducing a Book - - - - - *o* To Metaphysicians ----- loa Wisdom »03 To Y "4 The Wish 105 Address to My Own Personality - - - 107 There is No Marrying in Heaven - - 108 Sorrow : Food for Genius - - - - log Viewing a Parade ----- 110 8 CONTENTS PAGE The Music of the Soul ----- iii Eternity -__.__ uj To X14 Melancholy -.-.-. ng To 118 Spring Grove ------ 119 Dreams ------- 121 To H ------ X22 In Life— Adieu ------ 123 No Years in Truth ----- xas Man -------- ia6 O Let Me When I Die - . - - 128 To H -------xag O When to Earth ----- X30 Epistle to Mrs. Morris ----- 132 Adieu to Earth ----- 134 False Hearts ------ 136 Midnight ------ 137 To R 138 Fortune ------- X40 A Lover's Song ------ 14X To a Friend ------ 142 To - - - - - - - 144 To .--..-- 146 To 14* CONTENTS 9 PAGB borrow for a Friend's Absence ... i^o With Friends --.... i^ Decoration-Day - - . . . 154 O For a Spot --.... 15- O Moon, Good-night .... jg5 To 158 To C. W. T. 159 ^V^itten in "Lady of the Lake" - - - x6x i-i*e X63 THOUGHTFUL HOURS OLET me dream of time that has no strife, Of hours when thought sits pleasant on the brow^; When through Eternity the suns, emitting life, Tell of the part we know as nothing now. Then let me sing of all that I can feel The universe vastly doth by night display; Of all that to the sight doth seem unreal : These are the hours to sing my heav- enly lay — The thoughtful hours beneath the moon's soft beaming ray. II FRIENDSHIP HONOR sincere, kindness, love, Essential qualities from above, Must be in a friend. Learning profound, but culture more. From out the feeling heart must pour To be a friend. Taste, beauty, wit, but sympathy real, Humanity, justice, truth ideal. Are in a friend. 12 AFFLICTION IS WISDOM AFFLICTION is wisdom: the man "Who tramps for "work From morn till night, and looks at Fortune's "windo^vs, Whose heart "wells at each impatient shrug and nod Of cool dismissal from her lavish door, Kno"ws -what no books can teach, no learned art convey. 15 ADDRESSING THE DEITY FATHER of Mercies, watch my restless soul, Which far from thee doth often sadly rove; Save me from social, selfish pangs which rend The heart, and send it far from thee. Show^ me thy throne of peace, of love, of happiness, And shed, thou God of Universal Light, Thy truth and gentleness on my \vay- ward heart. 14 CHARITY AND is a man "who spends his money free A charitable man to thee? Dost thou not have to labor to the bone His petty dollar to loan? Call that charity in one \vho should free Give "without recompense to thee ; Endow institutions, feed the helpless poor, Live nobly, expect not fewer Thanks than Nature gets for her rich store. O heartless man, give more! 15 A PRAYER GREAT God of Mercy, soul's de- light, O hear my humble prayer : Beam upon me thy pow^erful light, For I am full of care. My heart and head alternate rule This trembling frame of mine ; The conflict seems so very cruel Since I am wholly thine. The days are long w^ithout the time Measured by mortal hours; I ^vait the sign, thou \vho art kind, To call me to thy bower. i6 A PRAYER 17 The dreams I 've fancied of thy bliss Reserved for purest souls, Has kept me hoping for Death's kiss To lay my body cold. Resigned, however, to thy will, I humbly bow my head; Let wisdom give me all my fill. Only by it I 'm fed. The blessing thou hast showered on me, In giving me heart friends, Such as long walked in step with thee — To heaven their soul tends. Forgive, dear Father, I beseech. My wayward, flighty thoughts ; They soar to thee, but rarely reach The sphere where they are caught. i8 A PRAYER Command my life, thy service free ; Thou gav'st this mind its home : Command it to be true to thee, And never let it roam. No temple like the purest heart Contains thy sacred name; No verse, unless of thee a part. Will bring the author fame. Thou art the body of the globe. As well the life it holds; Thou swing'st w^ith every planet round, Omnipresent, yet untold. O, if thy care extends so far. And comprehends the w^hole. Dost thou upon me ever look. And guide my burdened soul ! Y THE PICTURE OUR beauty runs to my finger's tip And out upon my pen I press the token to my lip, Thou gavest me, again. Thy perfect face, how can I tell What only love can see ! The look is there I love so well, *Tis all I see of thee. That look is beauty's lovely look, So tender and so mild ; To me it is a favorite book. In which there 's nothing wild. 19 A ADDRESSING THE NIGHTINGALE ND I am sad, sweet nightingale, as you, And I would gladly sing as sw^eet as you. A heavy gloom, like night, sits on my heart. Nor I know w^hy; nor can I doubt but that My sympathetic soul imbibes from souls Something of their smart. Not I for Nature, 20 ADDRESSING THE NIGHTINGALE 21 But Nature in me has made me light and sad Alternately. A plant that shrinks by- touch; A bird ^vhose happy wings her freedom gives ; A sparkling brook that murmurs in flo'svery nook ; A star afar is seen to dwell alone ; A zephyr that floats between the forest trees Am I : companion of thy life, sweet bird ; A philomel of running stream of song, That from your tender throat I silent learned That melody not found in busy throng. A SHORT LOVE POEM AND I will tell you, as you wish me to, A story sad of lovers' broken bliss. It was a meeting you may guess — an accident. After, he sought her, she thought a spirit worn With weary troubles since a man be- come, Searching for comfort as he ne'er had know^n. AVhen young and light, it seems, he, thoughtless, wed; 22 A SHORT LOVE POEM 23 And now two lovely children he has bred. But he has left them to the mother's care — A mother, but not a friend. For two long years He mourned his babies' voice, a dis- tracted man. Thus they met, and by his sorrow^ his heart she read. Each, for merit displayed, grasped the hand In token of vow, and thus their friend- ship Grew^, though it w^as ignorant love the w^hile. Such love to her — unseeking, unselfish love — Could mean but eternal joy, or ever- lasting youth ; A scented bower of fragrant heaven. 24 A SHORT LOVE POEM From his warm fingers, as they fle^v o'er melting Keys, forth melodies rang ; soft by the influence Of her gentle face into divine im- promptus. And he could play and ne'er play again the same, So richly varied w^as his music ; and as His moody soul poured forth its thought she loved him. And she some little poem vv^rote — or but A verse, a stanza, a song with fainter music. It was her nature thus to show her feeling.. Ne'er did young hearts so happy blend ; their love, A SHORT LOVE POEM 2$ Like loveliest May, was fair and blos- soming too — And yet how sweetly sad their sudden parting ! She never told her love, but well he knew^. As when blush a rose a zephyr ardent dare, He kissed her his farewell — on earth adieu ! Back to his heartless spouse she bade him go ; She thought 'twas better so. But O, let nature Shrink from looking into human woe ! TRIUMPHANT CUBA CUBA, the Island of the Sea, where nature Grows luxuriantly, thy freedom given ! Welcome thee our hand, w^hich-for thyself we Now extend, trusting that the Heav- enly Father bring You blessing, such as he has shed on sweet America. May from this noble war Thy great men spring, anxious for thy peace and Happiness. Our sister land we hail ! 26 TRIUMPHANT CUBA 27 A glorious victory won o'er Spanish pride, W^hose reign of oppression, long with- stood by humble Souls, eager for sword to save thy humble poor. It was the hand of God, who for thee raised His scepter from on high and banished Spain To prayer. Hail, new-born Cuba ! thou mayst be A nation fit to rank with all; for each In turn must have its face to sleep in history. SAINT CECILIA DAUGHTER of Music, Saint Ce- cilia divine, Immortal player of the High, I look On thee. A wonderful, happy thing That human likeness preserved can be In painting rare and fair of master hand. Dim, vv^ith inspiration flowing through thy Quivering nerves, thy eyes appear, calm, Majestic, centered on the God they loved ; 28 SAINT CECILIA 29 While raised thy hand, as if it speaks on keys W^hich tremble ere they sound the Master's hymns; And in thy face a sunbeam breaks through clouds Of earth, and through the light sweet cherubs sing. Haloing thee with smiles and shower- ing flow^ers. A A HUMAN ROSE BABE, whose loveliness w^e "watched from birth To childhood's wnning vrays, and saw it grow^ A mystery ne'er to be revealed. At first The little eyes scarce put forth sight; then Appeared those radiant orbs, gazing like one "With puzzled thought. My soul w^ent out to it. 30 A HUMAN ROSE 3I And, though it came a stranger here, it knew^ Its home — the mother, dear. Then brighter grew^ The little mind ; the head expanded; the body- Forced itself into form of beautiful in- fant To the view, with foot as perfect as its tiny Hand, and cheek as plump as blushing rose And fair. What other flower with it compare? Now it just knows me when I come to play And touch its chin. Its grandmamma thinks She sees me mirrored there, in its dark and 32 A HUMAN ROSE Glowing eyes. Such is love, that babes so fair ^Wear the image of purest soul ; but not I Its resemblance share, though sweet Friendship Throw^s me there. Rather can I, in the happy thought. Find a reflection of her mind, and know That her soul, like silvery brook, w^ears modest A nobleness so rare, through it you may look. But the babes, the sweetest face, just as lovely As the rose, fragrant yet with scented heaven. AN ELEMENTAL WAR R ESTLESS heaven is all at war to- night, And man in terror lives, watching her black Suspended clouds, fighting as they meet for victory. Hark ! her cannons' roar proclaims the battle's on, And lightning terrifies the listening sense. What difficulties has heaven with sub- dued man? 5 33 34 AN ELEMENTAL WAR Is it to show an eager giant's pow^er, Tearing \vith his might the beauty seen before ? And no^v the rain in drops falls large and strong As cannon balls rapidly on the greedy Earth, absorbing all she can; this heavy weight From Heaven's rich store for Nature's food Pattering on the pavement near, a music brings. Sw^eet to the quiet peaceful ear — a strain A gracious blessing brings a loving tid- ing Unto man that yet the Provider lives. L SPECULATION IKE awful thought of poet, the w^orld before Him lays, shines the red star a ruby bright, Other stars around forming a diamond setting. Man how^ singular looked belo'w! a speck 'Mid blazing sea of fire. One step, he passes From the street below to regions dark, unknow^n Behind this lovely scene of starry night. 35 36 SPECULATION What destiny has he, what has been reserved ? In all this vast creation better than His reason to perceive its beauty here? The thought o*erpo"wers me, to earth I look, And as I look, dow^n fall millions of miles. THE SOUL'S PRAYER WRAP me, dear Father, in thy mystic veil. Let eternal melodies thrill my trem- bling nerves ; Let life's low^ cares ne'er disturb my peaceful dream Of all that's lovely in the universe untold. Spare me from those w^hose vacant minds ne'er rose To dawn on you, ^vho love and walk the path 6 37 38 THE SOUL'S PRAYER I dare not roam ; place me above the foaming Crowd, in quiet altitude to think of thee. Father, then let me strive my best to sing By feeling harp the beauties I survey, Thy kingdom great is large enough for all. O help me to thy throne, the Lord of all! Many w^retched hearts bow low^ to thee. In every clime, in every nook of earth ; But few are they who wear thee in their hearts From day to day, and feel thy holy calm. A TWILIGHT STROLL WHEN thy sad heart, too sensi- tive for one Who, not knowing his frail self, re- bukes it For its virtuous faults, wanders forth to get A change of scene, and ease the sore which smarts With constant pain, w^hat foreign sights it sees ! The glaring street, so shocking with rich things, 39 40 A TWILIGHT STROLL Rich to the vulgar, but vexatious to the w^ise. Soldiers parading on the pavement clean, Smiling the while with such an igno- rant grin. Women in silks a shopping go, but more Their self-love to show. Men hurry- ing w^ith speed Their business to tend — a most pre- cious thing. But w^here 's a heart looking to see the destiny of things? TO MRS. MORRIS MOTHER to me, in spiritual realm, Thou whom my heart has oft ad- dressed In soliloquy at the starlight time, When heaven to me appeared so near, And God's loved inspiration charmed my ear, — Of thee they happy counsel ask, As oft I 've done. Woman of gentlest soul. Tender, severe, and mild, 41 42 TO MRS. MORRIS Heaven's blessings ever sho^ver thy life With peaceful friends, and may they love, Exalt, and know thee strong; armed W^ith the spirit of God, as I have done. THE POET THOUGH many pleasant days his mind doth see, Yet it as many stormy ones must feel. A live nest of buzzing insects quarreling Is that mind itself, pursuing, hunting The mystic gold, bestowed alone by Heaven. Sometimes his w^illful mind with mad- ness runs ; Again, 'tis brighter than the midday sun. 43 44 THE POET Through azure space unmeasured, it soars and falls, Leaving it a wreck of the distance flo^vn, Though on w^ings of love hidden se- crets found. G SONNET— GENIUS ENIUS, thou lamp of purest heav- enly light, Thou burnst 'midst the foulest scenes of hell, And "what thy dangers are thou "well canst tell ; Oft thy soul confused will take a for- eign flight, Oft thy body, its sufferings destroy de- light, Again, thy heart \vith hunger excessive fell, 45 46 SONNET GENIUS And drops thee in a desolate, unhappy dell, Adversity's self spreads round the deepest night. Then friends unkind disclose an untrue face, And labor for thy food brings burdened breast; Thy powers with other pow^ers run rapid race, And little time hast thou for natural rest; Thy fortune lies in sowing w^ith God's grace, And thou on earth art left an unhappy guest. APOSTROPHE TO ALICE AND PHCEBE CAREY A LICE, thou much-loved poet of our dell, And thou, Phoebe, sister by birth and love. Did ye, when from us ye did cheer- ful go, Leave on the hilltop your genius spir- its so There to rove, as angels to the inner sight, Greeting the midnight student \vhen pours his soul 47 48 APOSTROPHE Into eternal thought, -which happy d\velt in you. Thought which God gives and raises to his throne, Hearts pure and free, spiritual — such as ye. MORN 9/Tr> IS Morn who brings the blush to JL my sad cheek, 'Tis Morn w^ho sends me out with grateful smile ; 'Tis she, fair mistress of the ardent sun. Who in my sparkling, dazzled eyes doth dw^ell, And pours her loving freshness on my heart, 'Tis she, in rosy dress, inspires my song. 7 49 50 MORN Hail, modest morn, the glory of kind Heaven, Thou his pride, thou noblest touch 'mid his creation. To Night no coloring like to you He gave ; The flow^ers' s^veet face ne'er w^inning ope for him. And happy sun, in splendor dressed, does not In beauty, health, outshine the dreary moon. NIGHT 5/T^IS Night who on my forehead A heavy sits With wisdom as I gaze upon his sights ; The region of the sky, its blooming stars, Its sad and melancholy moon, who sways Him listless as her dark and yielding slave. Yet radiates his thoughtful, sober face. 51 52 NIGHT Below^ the blazing cities with delight Look and admire this busy scene above ; Admire the amour of the playful stars, And watch the constellation families, And all the innocent light of heaven Watch, rarely love, w^hat infinite hearts approve. A PLEA L ISTEN to the lowing calves, as in a car They ride through busy streets to ig- norant death. Perhaps they know their companions* cruel fate And sad, look puzzled, sudden parted now From grassy knoll and vernal shallow- pool. O spare them, glutton man, thy food enough 8 53 54 A PLEA The fertile earth abundant yields for thee ; Why take a life, hcwever humble be, And deprive it of the heavenly sun and air? Spare them for \vhat thou, thyself, lovest to share. w RETIREMENT HO would the pleasures of the heart forbear, Or music that the eternal soul doth yield ; Contemplation's scene, -with heaven dropped below In some loved, rustic, shadow^y, thoughtful dell. With brooklet flowing at thy quiet feet, While Rovers and Maybells on the flowery lav/n, 55 5^ RETIREMENT Play tricks w^ith Nature, innocent 'with glee. Or rest the eye upon the charms of day, Or troubled, starry ocean, seen at night. O "who, these mirthless delights e'er willing kne'w, Regret the stormy scenes of fevered life, Or folly's seizing, selfish, fearing joys. Which please but those whose empty minds ride high ? CUPID CUPID has me now I know, He has shot me with his bow; Now no longer doth my soul Roam in Nature uncontrolled. By his fetters I am bound, Fetters pleasant wound around By Love's threads so fine yet strong, I can hardly raise a song. 57 LOVE'S SPRING SONG o "WHY has Nature from me kept my mate? If he doth live, "why have I met him not? The soul repines her dainty choice to make, No"w spring is here, and favored birds do 'wed. The flo\vers bloom fairer for those hearts "which glo"w; The voice of God in every sound is heard ; 58 LOVE'S SPRING SONG 59 The trees tower higher, warm w^ith flowing sap ; The birds sing sweeter; innocent zephyrs laugh ; Cupid looks out and hears the twilight song,— O why from me Love's pleasures kept so long? ON BYRON'S POEM, *^TO ^VOMAN'' BYRON, w^e kno\v that we are frail. Why tell us this in pretty tale ; No frailer though are -we than thou. Men \vith hearts which glow for an hour, Glow^ if ^ve so negative be That thou in affirmative mayst see. If thou canst enjoy the charms w^e throw^, Thou think'st not of the love bestow^ed. Indeed, I scarce know^ man's strongest mood. To yield to woman his heart or soul. 60 A WISH WELL would I love to live in bovver ^A/■ith some kind spirit, glorious hour, When all to us the world is lost, And heaven descends to live w^ith us. From one the other would imbibe What she may need and he not hide From her the same, and O the bliss Such friendship rarely doth exist. Two powers w^ith light shed from on high Could rouse the world to weep or fly ; But not for me a mind so rare ; Alone I live, alone despair. 6i FASHION THOU art in fashion, 't is the same As being one among the lame, Who walk w^ith crutches, or by sight. And see not farther of beauty's light Not more than several blocks ahead. Such persons think not — feel, are led. Only by passion are they fed. 62 TO MAUDE: ON HER PICTURE SWEET, amiable, and kind, but vain art thou ; This likeness shows thy character — thy soul. Thou lovest richest dress, not modest gown, I 'm sorry, Maude, thou art too good for this; Vanity unbecoming is in thee. Schoolgirls should leave it when they leave their books ; 63 64 TO MAUDE: ON HER PICTURE And too, I see, complacent self-love smiles That plays w^inning on thy dimpled cheek. More proud thou art than the known author is Who has for many years held thee as dear As any one, and yet thou never knew- est — Your portrait lies w^ith many more of mine, But I would like a fairer one of thee, \Vhere innate virtue will illumine thy brow^. TO H.— SONNET THY figure dressed in reason, statue stood ; Thy face wore calmness as a virgin's veil, And yet thou, seraph, never hast be- ^vailed, And all that passed that ere thou understood. Thy eyes so fair with inspiration could See all, and O how^ delicately frail Thy beauty is, thy eyes when in a gale 9 65 66 TO H.— SONNET Shine as no je'wel shines, they w^ere as food To hungry souls, -when heaven was dark to sight, And Nature from fancy's eye hidden lay, No spiritual illuming soul-felt light To make them happy in their little day. But body love prevents this reason's flight. And keeps the eagle soul in moulded clay. VIRTUE VIRTUE, a maid of sober eye, Like autumn leaves that fall to die; Sweet as the rose ^vhen in its bloom, And the bee steals the soul's perfume; Pure as a brook in shady nook, The veil of love has graceful took. Dressed in Melancholy's favorite gown, Worn by angels, whose spirit around Guides, unforeseen, Innocence w^hen found. And soft whispers to Purity alone Before the enemy w^ill have flow^n. Nun of the world, unsheltered, un- known. In thine heart only, thou art a recluse. 67 ON MY FRIENDS I WEEP my unworthiness I feel Loved by friends who see noble- ness appear In every thought which illumines their brow^, And smiles on me, making me happy now^, While sincerity, w^ith suffering grace So perfect, free, shines in their face. Sweet Influence, ever shed thy dew, W^holesome and godly of these few, 68 ON MY FRIENDS 6g Upon my feeble heart, there let it rest, As I ^vould lie upon stronger breast. My soul, thankful, can not express, HoAV much I feel myself blessed. O let my God new friends oft choose. My judgment w^avering doth refuse ; But leave it for thyself, dear Lord, My vision apt to err. A cord Unites my soul to thee, thou Fount Supply me with each Virtue's w^ant. lO F FAME— SONNET AME, a feather that doth blow from place to place, And lights on few, blown by the wind as fickle As the wind w^hich the ambitious bard doth tickle. With vanity he rides in air; he runs a race With minds of every caliber; pleasing face Of Fortune smiling w^ith smiles w^hich w^rinkle 70 FAME— SONNET Jl His genius, a shining star alone should t\vinkle And number him as one, the immor- tal race. Thus he w^ho 's popular, loved, and courted. His verse as dust — it can not live — returns. For is not such a greedy heart dis- torted? A god he 'd be, yet oft the early 'worm Of earthly mold w^ith spirits oft re- 'warded Creeps o'er the soil, and eats but genius' germ. TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG MAN A SMILE thou gavest, but not to me ; I can not say deserve I thee, Such treasure as a smile to me To spend so carelessly. Smiles on thy face, like sun to earth, Can melt the hardest heart, if worth May touch the fickleness of mirth To Avin her graciously. 72 TO A VIRTUOUS YOUNG MAN 73 Rosy thy cheek as fair as worn, Beautiful, yet thy eye forlorn With early sorrow, careless w^orn To hide it thoughtfully. And on thy brow cool reason sits, And thou art thankful for thy wit, And doth all favors soon requite To feel as honorably. Thy brow, thy cheek, thy face, thy smile, — Such nobleness can ne'er beguile, Though thou may'st forget the while To look as generously. TIME TIME, thou angel-footed, unseen, mighty thief, Thou art sublime, thou representative of Him ; Eternity's broad - flowing, navigable stream, Thou fleetest ere our eyes to slumber go, For night is sleepy death when thou dost pass Unnoticed and unheard. Messenger of Heaven, Opportunity bring to every low op- pressed And wretched heart, they profit for moments misspent They ne'er can recall, howe'er the bosom w^eep. 74 A FALSE FRIEND TAKE it from mine eyes, dear Father, Let his beauty plead no further; Once I should have loved to see The picture now I long for thee To cast from out my sight. He was unkind, no reason mine, I thought that he who long was thine Could never, never be unkind. But constant friends are hard to find To follow in thy light. 75 76 A FALSE FRIEND I could not rest myself content If I my love had never lent To warm the care of Patience's heart, When she so thoughtful acts her part, To sorrow^ in the right. Regrets there are which never fade, For Memory from her thought ne'er laid Away these flowers with thorny stem Which prick us in the gem. To pluck we would delight. Friends all will be when Heaven 's w^ith me. For under foliage of shady tree, Which spreads its branches far and w^ide. They love to dwell, but ever hide When summer takes her flight. A FALSE FRIEND 77 Though beauty plead, if once untrue, My thoughts of him are very few ; Fair eyes and thoughtful brow conceal Not always virtue though seems real, But dark as starless night. Friends should be few as golden books, And from a favored few I took But one nobly to represent my soul. And he faithless represents the whole : O cast him from my sight ! ON FRIENDSHIP IT is enough, if friendship \ve w^ould gain, To quiet nobly wait, and still remain Firm, constant, loyal, — a proof we are sincere, — Instead of eagerness, w^ith constant fear Of non-acceptance. Mutual our hearts should feel. For love is not a phantom — it is real. 78 A HYMN WRITE, read, mourn, and silent pray, This the routine of a thoughtful day; Thy spirit clothed in mortal clay, Thy heavenly pilgrimage do not delay. Thy shado^v -walks the world about, And the enemy of God doth rout; Happy in doing all grace allow. Glorified in sorrow, reverent bow^. 79 ON AN OAK PLANTED FOR ME AT MY HOME— 1899 GROW, slender tree, make shade forme When I to home return; Make foliage fair, and let me see A bud w^ithout a -worm. Now spring is here, and you are young. Scarce ten feet from the ground ; Shoot out thy sprays before I come To view the scene around. 80 ON AN OAK 8l You promise "well, as I am told By him v^ho placed you there ; Your little leaves will soon unfold, And spread so very fair. Dear plant, for dear you are to me. Shoot quickly now to heaven ; For by thy side I shall be free The depth of nature fathom. II CINCINNATI SPRING and fall are swallowed up By muddy w^inter's horrid slush, And summer's blazing cloudless sky. Then 't is the time the birds do fly For seashore's frolic, foolish scene, Or spend the summer driving team At Saratoga — a giddy, fashionable drive. Others at a mountain inn derive More pleasure, and more comfort, too, To mingle quietly w^ith a few^; But many, like myself retired, Could not from here to move be hired. 82 AWAY, YE YOUTHFUL FRIENDS FRIENDS of my former hapless days, The time I spent with ye now fades ; Aw^ay, aw^ay, ye foolish ones! From ye, from pleasures am I won. Nothing but recollections sad Ye bring when I am cheerful, glad. Or happy in my element. No reproof, how^e'er, have I meant By writing this, for it is known The choice I 've made now for my own Is God. 83 A REGRET OWHAT a happy eve 'twas mine to feel But once, and only once, "with an ideal More brilliant mind than I had ever met! 'T is mine the sorrow and mine the regret That friendship's willing love not ready found In this kind breast. Only in history are renown Friendship of noble cast, of noble mind, 84 A REGRET 85 As mirrors to each other do refine Themselves and the susceptible world as w^ell; But who, though able to divine, could tell What may have come had confidence here been felt, With knowledge and w^isdom they had dealt. 12 POETRY POETRY, thou mistress of my lonely heart, Thou givest me cares, and thou givest me light ; From fountain of ecstasy thou spring- est as show^er. And sprinklest the earth with love from thy bow^er ; From friends thou hast torn me. To God thou hast borne me. From home thou dost take me. Thy "word is my law. 86 POETRY 87 Sw^eet are the meadows "when thou breathest thy soul; Soft is the brook ^vhen it moves by thy strain ; Melodious the birds "when thou givest them song; Pure, noble, fair, is the soul-beaming eye; Sw^eeter the fragrant earth, More glorified the world, More beautiful the heavens. But loveliest art thou of all. LOVE WHO has not loved, can he recall an hour Spent with love in a celestial bower, But what has often sorrowed, and wore the pain, If more the joy, and O what is the gain? Possession chills the glow we now enjoy. And often does in domestic relations cloy. 88 LOVE 89 But "wedded love, though tame, is kinder far; Its settled joys may tune the poet's lyre To loftier song, more heavenly strain, And all forget his youthful flames, he gains By this a blazing hearth and children dear; He has his love without the lover's fear. But sweet the hours the single hearts enjoy When in quest it goes for love to buoy It up above the tide of troubled sea; When all in dark and drear without the glee Young hearts should feel; for short is merry spring, When everything in nature seems to cling. 90 LOVE Love is a vain but pleasant good v/e hold, And \vhat of it now feels the aged cold ; Discretion yet is to be found with love, It is not the w^ay the fervent soul doth rove ; Who has not tasted of her violent sweets Has never loved, nor sipped that love in Keats. The stolen looks which satisfy the sight ; The weary hours when of that sight denied; The laughing tears at lover's charmed delight ; The heart-breaking thoughts which on the wind doth ride. Are only few^ of tortures lovers feel, And mar the bliss, imagined, nothing real. MENACES WHEN instruments of torture doth arise, Its influence, like day, at evening dies; The freedom of the mind disdains These petty trifles, reason's reign Rejects, or passes by as calm As doth the sun the tempest profound. 91 THE EVENING STAR: HESPERUS O LOVELY star, thy beams afar Tell of the ocean filled with stars, In -which thou movest as moves my soul Now gazing at Eternity's vast whole. O Night, how beautiful is thy light, How wondrous fair, and what a de- light Thou art to a million penetrating eyes Seen in this star before it dies. Or drops far back, away from sight! Good-night, bright star; again good- night ! 92 THE STORM UPON my couch at night I lay, With heaven all at war; In terror there I heard the fray, And \vished it were afar. At once my mind grew^ w^ild with thought, And fears of lightning threw Me into aw^e; my heart thus w^rought, The lightning I felt drew, 93 94 THE STORM So bright it shone, so spiritually wild, With thunder's loud reports; It fell upon my face, then died. My thought, the lightning courts. To God I prayed, deliver me From frenzy such as this ; Show me thy love once more to see, While rain the earth doth lash ! My prayer was heard, the morn brought light Which illumed my frighted brow; But ne'er shall I forget that night When heaven at me did scowl. SELF-INTEREST SELF-INTEREST will, thy heart as sure Distort, turn upside down ; If thou dost buy a toy, endure This torment, do not frown. That train of thought w^ill sweep away. And new^ one take its place; Thus knowledge in her way displays For art to illume her face. Whether a book thou willing publish, Or purchase a pair of shoes ; Thy w^ork to you seems merely rubbish, And is this virtue's dues ? 95 ON GREATNESS GREATNESS is doing what is just, Not in "wearing the conqueror's cro>vn ; In living nobly, w^ith few to trust, For confidence is w^isdom profound. The great man will not feign to show His spirit to the public mind Until he feels it 's old enough to crow^, And both his verse and himself re- fined. 96 ON GREATNESS 97 Only the spiritual deserves this term, Those who like a monument stand, Are erect in God, and are as firm As iron bands, because they can With kno^vledge sure, and \visdom di- vine. Claim "without honor this due place, And show their strength in living rhyme, And die, members of the immortal race. 13 REPOSE IN SORROW IF thou art sad, denied, bereft, Of every favorite look, Thy troubles then are found and left Within a much-loved book. We should our sorro"ws never tell ; Who has much sorrow shared, Prefers to hide, and often d\vell W^ith those who thus have fared. No sw^eeter pleasure can be know^n, We're happiest w^hen w^e're sad; Fortune w^ells tenderly w^hen dow^n, Then cares not to be glad. 98 REPOSE IN SORRO^V 99 The miserable are Heaven's guests, "Who dine at angels' board; With them to live is my request, Their food earth can 't afford. The soul afflicted pants for home, And looks for it above, In heaven's bowers shoTv longs to roam, And feel but po'wer of love. *T is proof enough the soul must rest. From cares her peace harass ; Its haven is the heavenly breast. There love God does not class. PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION PHILOSOPHY, Religion— in nature one, — But there is a distinction: He who loves philosophy has some, But not enough religion. Philosophy -walks without a crutch, 'Tis well as long as strong; But let adversity quickly touch. It can not walk so, long. lOO INTRODUCING A BOOK A BOOK when into the world is sent Is Nature's flower, there it unfolds; It is a gift the author presents, And with it, his soul. But if that soul in heaven doth dw^ell, Disdains to fall to earth; His book w^ill close, its petals shall Only in heaven have birth. 14 loi TO METAPHYSICIANS D OUBT matter if you wish to doubt, Doubt when you speculate bold; But mind you can not possibly doubt, You thus its pow^er unfold. I02 ^A/^ISDOM IF vessel full with knowledge falls Upon the worldling's floor; It is a waste one ne'er recalls, Such mind will call for more. The mind more thought will never hold Than is enough for one; Wisdom more precious than knowledge cold, Because not overdone. O maid of years and thought and love, None fairer to the mind; Thou art an angel from above, And to the soul art kind. 103 TO Y O YOUTH, simplicity divine Doth grace thy thoughtful brow; Perfection will be thine in time, Thy mind He w^ill endow. Thou docile nature, rise to heaven, Let arrogance see thy soul; Folly no longer claims thy heart. Apart thou art a whole. A generous nature, ever kind, Thy mien is worthy praise ; Thy manner is the most refined, It speaks thee prosperous days. 104 THE ^A/'ISH (THE AIR CAUGHT FROM A HAND-ORGAN) MORNING fair, Morning fair, Listen to my lay; Bring me love, bring me love, To cheer me my day. Morning bright, Morning bright, Send me from above Blessing that with me will stay, Something more than clay. 105 I06 THE WISH Evening dew, Evening de^v, Let thy zephyr blow^; Shed upon my bro\v thy tears, Let them silent flow. Evening dew, Evening dew, I have many fears, The morn w^ith love forgot to give The token to live. ADDRESS TO MY OWN PERSONALITY F AREWELL to the mortal, fare- well to myself; I 'm something of one, I 'm something of all ; From the flower I imbibe its purity rare, From the bird its music, and from man His life as I find it; gowned in joy, Misery, or strife, it is at the time, my life. 107 THERE IS NO MARRYING IN HEAVEN p OSSESSION is sweet to those loving sight, It is the chief motive to wed; But he who loves best, having God's light,— A lover may be of the dead. Those marriages made by the sly, w^oo- ing heart Have been said to live long and be true ; But they are not noble who take such a part, And the soul should not w^hen they do. io8 SORROAV: FOOD FOR GENIUS 9/nr\ IS sorrow lights the genius part, A And sets it in a flame; 'T is pang or torture rends the heart, Which gives to it the name. 'T is only when the rose is crushed, The fragrance does not die; 'T is laid away in jar as dust, Not there its perfume lies. The soul with anguish, mortal born, Speeds quickly to its grave; It breathes divine when it 's forlorn, And is not mortals' slave. 109 VIEWING A PARADE ONE in spirit, one in thought, Our souls looked out together; The mob enjoyed what we thought naught, We sailed above like feather. no THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL O IMMORTAL tune that stirs my soul, Like earthquake shakes the earth; How many a thought within doth roll, Unfettered and sans birth ! How oft w^hen I 'm severely pushed By trial too hard to bear, Thou tripped along and bore the crown To deck my patience fair! Ill ETERNITY THROUGH the dark space, Eter- nity's realm, The soul must travel alone; O'er the ocean, with God at the helm, The spirit rides the foam. This prospect vast, it thrills my heart With fear it can't control ; Of it I knovr I am a part. Only a speck, my soul. This consciousness alone will live. How, w^hen, or w^here unknown; 'T is vain to wonder when God tells The secret of death's groan. 112 ETERNITY II3 Go — sho^v the learned 't is folly, then, To try to fathom death ; Through boundless space the spirit's ken Is but suspended breath. No mortal eye hath seen the light That in the bosom lay Of those whose souls had taken flight, And told us not the way. And what they 've told the soul pro- claimed, Freed from its earthly mold ; 'T is little, but no one is blamed, For all they saw^ they told. 15 TO WHY doth thou now pursue, A love that doth not -warm thy breast? None but thy affinity to sue Will build for thee the heavenly nest. "Why sympathy to her give If perfect love doth not respond? W^ithout her you can live ; You are of her, perhaps, too fond. Dost thou not know that love Alternate given is unblessed ? Tw^o hearts at once, above, Must feel that love w^hich is our rest. 114 MELANCHOLY MELANCHOLY, thou bury'st me in a grave so deep, That I, a prey to every reptile, weep ; The sight of heaven, to me so dear, denied, And every face I love now seems un- kind. Despair sits heavy on my stony heart ; My tears may soften if some other heart Grieves and sorrows for an untrue friend, But not for me this lonely heart mus rend. "5 Il6 MELANCHOLY Thou art the cause of many evil acts ; Poor ^vretch, when tried by fate and wisdom, lacks, Puts the w^eapon to his fevered brow^, which snaps, And what is left the sod forever wraps. Thou makest many a cushioned home so drear That inmates long have ceased to joy or fear ; Their heavy hearts have learned to bear thee well, W^hich wrinkled brow and saddening brow oft tell. But thou art saddest w^hen to youth thou comest. These tender hearts so soon to grieve thou lovest ; MELANCHOLY 1 17 The lesson of life early to them to teach, And thus by care their hapless souls^ to reach. 'Tis "well, for "we who are by sorrow taught The loss of self, with love of God are. fraught ; And to His service early bend our wills, And w^ith His Spirit He us freely fills. i6 TO 1HAD not thought to meet you in a cheerful mood ; Thou seemst to me to be of thought a \vall Through -which my spirit searching thine for food Could penetrate not. How oft to God I call In friendship's name a congenial soul to feel ; And have I found one ? Must I sacri- fice the ideal To make the friendship seem to us more real ? Beautiful mind thou hast, superior ! I seal My broadest love — the spiritual — thine I hope to feel. ii8 WRITTEN AFTER A WALK IN SPRING GROVE SLOW, slow, slow moves the fu- neral to the grave, Where now^ w^ill sleep some soul. It is a cave .Where w^orms devour, yea, feast on man so strong. Is it to humiliate him that he not w^rong These creatures like himself w^hen reason gone ? 119 120 A WALK IN SPRING GROVE here will lie a breathless person long Beneath the sod, "when midnight shad- ow's stir (If stir they do) alone to be ; so weird A thought crept o'er me as I viewed the scene Of loved ones laden with tokens. So keen Their sufferings were when deep w^as laid his all, A husband of his wife bereft ! To fall Before them into the fated grave, yet blessed 1 w^ished myself, save this form, and give mine rest. DREAMS DREAMS clothe the mind in Fancy's gown, The color varies with the mood ; Merry or sad, the cause the same ! To dreams we do not give a name. One may, he thinks, a mountain raise, Or sleep w^ith worms for many days. Wed and be happy for an hour In some unknown airy bower ; Ride the pale moon and view the space Through w^hich the stars forever race. E'en murder the purest soul wll clinch, And bring it before a supreme bench; No crime, no pleasure, no ill or weal, But what the soul in dream will feel. 121 TO H I LOVE your gentle spirit, and I taste your soul, O shed on me thy radiant self! The story of my love lies in thy book untold, O search, my friend, this w^ritten leaf. O never, never can my heart from thee sever, Unless they are broken in t'wo; From the "world I would flee, but from thee I never Would leave "what I most love to sue. 122 o IN LIFE— ADIEU NCE more they met, at evening tide, And listened to each other's heart; In one the other did confide, For now they will forever part. Once more he played the inspiring strain She loved ; he never will again ; From desert w^orld at first he came, 'T was happiness, but all in vain. 123 124 IN LIFE— ADIEU It will be place which parts them now, O when loved hearts roam far apart How soon the thread w^hich binds by sight Breaks and winds around another heart. Once more she sighed, and w^ell she might ; 'Tis seldom that the heart is wrung By deathly farew^ell. In this plight How oft the soul has passionate clung. NO YEARS IN TRUTH THERE is no age in ^Visdom's "ways, View Pope at twenty-one; Joy, sorrow^, fear, and love are days Unlike the seasons run. A man is old if he has truth. And progress may be slow; A man at eighty is uncouth If he has known no foe. 125 H MAN OW great, how glorious is the might of man ! His will bent to works of God, har- monious With His as w^ell, doth rule the whole, he can Together w^ith His pow^er wield: mo- notonous The day mortal in weakness with only eyes 126 MAN 127 To view the wonders of man's great dominion. Without God's grace, "what is he? he doth die Enriched by heavenly blessing — a do- nation Would make him god, with power to change his destination. O LET ME AVHEN I DIE, IN RAPTURE DIE o LET me 'when I die, in rapture die. With heart on fire, illumed by earth and sky; Like bird my soul while singing home- "ward fly, And all the angels pass me smiling by. Gaze, approve, and accept me in their choir, To sing my lays, touched by their im- mortal fire. 128 TO H- IMAGE of nature; thou god of the sky, On thy cheek roses bloom, peace in thy eye ; Alternate the moon rise, and then the fair sun On thy countenance: thou art of beauty the son. 17 129 O ^VHEN TO EARTH THIS BODY MUST RETURN OWHEN to earth this body must return, Give it no thought, no monument, no tomb. Nor sprinkle it with lilies ; 't is a worm Of earth, this delicate mold of clay, where room Is given it w^ith other worms to creep The cemetery through, and enjoy the verdure there. 130 O WHEN TO EARTH I3I O under some grand, noble oak to sleep Is better than a marble slab, how^e'er fair; 'T is something that doth live, enjoys the air, And shades the place for birds to gather there ; Or if a little myrtle \vreathes my bed, To touch this forlorn spot no one would dare. EPISTLE TO MRS. MORRIS A LETTER to thee I now write, It bears a message of my love; I am not feeling well to-night, Yet I exist, thanks to God above. The spirit moves me at this hour To tell thee what thou art to me; 'Twill suit thee, — a full - bloomed flow^er, While I am but a bud to thee. Thou who the power of Heaven long felt From me no word of praise accept; 132 EPISTLE TO MRS. MORRIS 133 Forgive all thoughts I may have dealt Now thou hast gone, the best thou kept. Many long and w^eary summer days Shall pass before thou returnst ; I In virtue's ways may sing some lays ; A friend's long absence makes Apollo sigh. i8 ADIEU TO EARTH yv ELL, earth, thou hast thy share of me, I know, But canst thou claim this burdened brow ! Yes, soon my form w^ill lie in thee, my woe To even give you that right now. I came here for an object, not to breathe Longer than that purpose gained; When I my mission have fulfilled, I leave, My spirit now is on the w^ane. 134 ADIEU TO EARTH 135 Those -who learned home, and feel as strangers here, No longer look for years of health ; Nor do they hold the gift so temporal dear But as it gives them heavenly wealth. Too soon, too soon, I '11 greet thee, parent earth ; The flower as soon as bloom doth die, And thus the soul : perfection show^s its w^orth. To higher region then it fly. FALSE HEARTS WITHIN the grass, with flowers round, Lies hidden the sting of reptile; Before you see, he has you dow^n, Unfeeling man is just as subtle. Where admiration has been show^n, And among the noblest manners found. You find there is a malicious tone, Upon the scoffer 't is w^ell to frow^n. If there be hearts w^ith serpent's sting Within circumference of my love, O never let me hear the ring Of groveling creatures sportive rove. 136 MIDNIGHT ?/T^IS midnight, and the suburb hill A Sleeps peaceful; moon and stars bright peep ; I see them now from out my sill ; From earth to heaven a watch I keep, With books to fill, way in the night ; Nor w^ink the stars, but wink my eyes. If dark the heaven to my sight, For in those orbs grave Wisdom lies ; My tutor's the w^eird and sleepless night, When God reveals to every heart His beauty, majesty, power, delight. O the rapture, by thyself apart ! 137 TO H TO you I offer all — my heart, Though gift to you, you may not prize ; *T is all I have w^ith which to part. Unlike this rose — it never dies. Most things are precious to the sight; Possession seems to w^ound the charm ; Rare gifts are welcome if the right Mien offers them, the heart to w^arm. 138 TO H 139 A gift is loved when 'tis blessed, We should not force, nor offer t^vice; Soft it must lay within the breast, A look for thee w^ill then suffice. Let silent thought w^in w^hat it may. For what is w^orth the thought is worth The pain; then offer up thy love, Though in heaven only it have birth. FORTUNE ONLY one day is passed — it seems an age ; The experience is one of a year; My eager soul, freed from its narroTv cage, Has roamed the gay "world w^ithout fear. The pleasure it felt made up for the tears Which for years have silently flow^ed; The smiles of Fortune, though cloy, have no fears. Yet give me the bliss felt alone. 140 A LOVER'S SONG (AIR HEARD FROM MY WINDOW) OSES now bloom in the garden, my love, Bees are sipping the sw^eet; What is it thyself hardened, my love, Why doth thy heart not eat? R 141 TO A FRIEND COME, though weather be not mild, And stars are hid from sight ; And sun in splendor wild Has taken his last hour's flight Of this day's brief life ; come, And bring thyself, for the eve Is lonely, that work is done, Without my love not leave. Come, renew the ardor of my soul. It needs thy freshening thought; To it new^ mind unfold From some sad book thou caught. 142 TO A FRIEND 143 Bring me that generous love Which sparkles in thy eye, And all thou receivest above, Such blessing as not die. Together -we in love Hold conference w^ith our God, And ask the stars above To accept our humble laud. Together feel the prayer, Such prayer as gro^vs w^ithin. And dw^ells with nature fair. Such souls God's favor win. TO DEAD is the past, my own sad past, My breath thou hast willing become ; O let this friendship forever last, Let not thy spirit from me run. Together at the w^orld just peep, Nor taint our souls w^ith its foul breath ; Together o'er our misery weep, United even after death. Your verses told me of your w^oe; Your soul is troubled, that I know, To find a place for me just so. Within your heart you wish me low, 144 TO 145 Do not, my friend, rebel, for I Shall nestle there in time, and be Some company to you, or I die : I need you more, far more, you see. In tears I came, you met them well. But I to you then could not speak; All that I felt I could not tell, Yet softly did your spirit seek. Happier am I than I was then. That pent-up feeling soon would burst ; And I w^ithout deep w^isdom's ken Would cloy upon your ideal thirst. Many times our souls w^ill troubled be. The spiritual food partake w^hile may; Not oft are w^e so entirely free, Not to observe w^ould cause delay, 19 TO DOUBT not, kind friend, my love sincere, I would not steal thine heart; If another to it is very dear, O — must I feel the dart? No other one can take thy place Within this soul of mine; Ho\vever sweet to thee her face, So ever to me thine. In verse I w^ould express to thee "What look may fail to tell; My heart is thine, you have the key To w^here my treasures dw^ell. 146 TO 147 If from me you should go, my soul, Eternal life I'd lose; E'en Heaven to accept my scroll. Perchance, might then refuse. Doubt not, dear friend, doubt not my love, 'T is thine, forever thine ; For all thy tenderness, look above. For blessing, not for mine. TO COME, the moon and I both wait thee now, The day has been so long; And I have had a thoughtful brow^, Which wakens now my song. I tremble for thou wilt not come. The hour is drawing near ; I look away, I dread. Though from A distance, come, my dear! The stars shine bright above my sight, The noise is quelled below^; All hushed, 't is beauty's lovely night, The heavens are all aglow. 148 TO 149 I dare not move for fear I lose Thy spirit's favorite look; if thou come, a sigh refuse, Thee none, my soul thou took. When last we met, come bring it back This night, with thine together; 1 could not bear a soul to lack, I may have stormy weather. The hour has past, alas ! alas ! Had I not been so sad, Thou would'st have come by mental dash Along our line, and glad. 20 SORROAV FOR A FRIEND'S ABSENCE A FRIEND has left me, sweet and near, And I did truly love her; She has been mine for many a year, Ne'er shall I forget her. The home in -which Tve \vhispered all The saddest things "we feared, Has now^ forever had its fall In history of ours endeared. Nothing remains to sho-w the hours Together spent in heaven ; There is not even one lone flower To cheer my heart now riven. 150 A FRIEND^S ABSENCE 15^ She from my memory is erased, But her spirit's gently near; Her heart 's within my own incased. And yet I shed a tear. For years are well upon her head, ^A/'hich make her all the dearer; But when she'll numbered with the dead, Then we to God be nearer. "WITH FRIENDS HOW beautiful conversation is, that glo'ws With brilliant minds, soft, easy, sym- pathetic, kind. Where superiority is suppressed, and love prevails ; W^hat ballroom scene compares w^ith gathered friends ? W^ho of each other think, inviting good And noble sentiments of the heart to rise, 152 WITH FRIENDS 153 And each as eloquent, speaks his mind, and mild As azure sky, charms, "warms, soothes so tenderly That all the pain each every hour en- dures Is lost in one kind, social chat with friends. A DECORATION-DAY PARADE is passing my bowers' eye, I hear the music, I care not for the sight ; 'T is better without its strains to feel and sigh For patriotism, for love and duty's right Than show^ to vulgar cheers, encour- age fever W^hich now too often blazes, — O if Thought prevailed A paradise w^e 'd have, and all be clever, Instead of deaths and heart-breaks, thus bewailed Our soldiers happier in repose, sanc- tion my tale. 154 O FOR A SPOT o FOR a spot unfrequented by all W^ho of my heart are not; Where misfortune never Tvill befall W^ho of my heart are not; misfortune never Tvill bei My friends w^ith world forgot ! A quiet nook Tvhere dw^ells the owner's soul, Inviting Love's sweet rest ; Where secretly the powers of mind unfold, And wisdom is in quest. But O, to live without one cherished place. Such seems to be my lot; Where not one heart cheers me w^ith smiling face. And bids my cares forgot! 155 O MOON, GOOD-NIGHT OMOON, beautiful, sailing, silvery moon ! Whom lovers love to chide, and long for fate To meet their wishes \vhile thou shin'st late In full -orbed light — to-night thou leav'st too soon ; But fare-thee-"well, my spirit's kindly tune ' ■' Bids thee adieu ; to-morrow^ night the date May not be ours. Of thee none ever sate; 156 O MOON, GOOD-NIGHT 157 The sun in fiery flight many doth doom, But thou, benignant friend, thy nature charms. And thou no spirit ever, ever harms. Through mountainous regions of re- splendent light Roll'st thou with easy liberty and slow to sight ; Thou travel'st through those spacious realms so bright That I upon thee look, and say good- night ! TO SWEET, delicious soul! thy pres- ence soft (Like fragrance of a full-blown rose), And birds enchantingly fluttering aloft Awaked me from a horrible doze. Could I have felt thy gentle tread, And know^n thee as my shadow, love, Methinks a happy heart I 'd sped. But O, my soul it did not move. All night, a trembling leaf, I lay. Tossed by every unruly blast; But morn has brought a peaceful day, O that it might forever last ! 158 TO C. W. T. FELLOW in poesy, our ships no\v set sail O'er the ocean of art, with its cares and its darts; But we, with true, loyal, unconquer- able hearts Will brave the rough gales, though our barks may be frail. What w^ere w^e lost — w^ho for us would bew^ail, Unless 't is our pilot, who gives us our start, And keeps us together, though still far apart, 159 l60 TO C. W. T. But reviewers then left to report the sad tale. In song thou excell'st me, in music and rhyme, Yet I dare to exhibit my soul, 't is no crime ; The poetic nature, if robbed of its meed May be crushed like the flo'wer, and put forth no seed. Fair ^veather should favor, for God *s in the air, No worse than others do we hope to fare. AVRITTEN IN ^*LADY OF THE LAKE'' (BOUGHT AT HAMILTON, OHIO, 1899) SWEET memory sweet, record this day As one — the happiest of my life, In which in realm unknow^n, my lay Was freed from every care and strife. Upon the heavens I looked unbound. And felt the glory of Freedom's dow^er ; I view^ed the active scene around, And lived exalted — those few hours. 21 161 l62 '*LADY OF THE LAKE" My friend's kind presence fed my soul With beauty none but his could give; And O, the bliss remains untold, In memory only can it live. This little book the tale doth tell, Read Tvhen my heart was happy — light. In dreamy mood, I know so well, My cherished thoughts did take their flight. Forever let this city be The fairest spot to memory dear; Though little of it I did see. Yet in it I have left a tear. LIFE L ISTEN to the din of city life, How it upon the tender ear doth grate, And rob it of the eternal w^ith its strife. And O, what is sad mortals' earthly- fate: To drudge, to sleep, to eat, and last to die Is this all that we are — a problem strange ? A breath which wrenches many a heartfelt sigh, And loses, w^ith slightest change. Imagination's range. 16:; 164 LIFE In trembling fear w^e view the empty scene Or uncertain strong, soar regions in the air; We gaze upon the solar melting beam, And -when it fades, in buried sleep we banish care. In anxious hour, we w^ait w^ith hopeful fear, And strive the future to foresee and change, ^A/'hen God to us no longer keeps one dear. Our hearts bew^ail, droop, sigh, and perish then. Glad from this struggling fever to be freed. E'en joy her visits make in sorrow- gowned. The fate of nations like us are, we read: Its health, its wealth, its constitu- tion too unsound. SEI' k, 1899 ■ ■ .,. :..-L, ■:• -.ji-^jt-./'ivt^--.;vf/;'!lr''..: ■ ■. 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