ri^ FS 3 5 &? BookJLn.V± Giyright'N?. I..HJ1 COPYRIGHT DEPOSm "VERSES" BY EDNA DE FREMERY ,.o1 Copyrighted 1920 by Edna de Fremery mi I i 1920 PUBLISHED BY A. M. ROBERTSON SAN FRANCISCO I92O ©,CUSGlo45 CONTENTS Page Spring 9 Rome 10 How Many Ways 1 1 A Gift 12 Adieux 13 Masquerade 14 Parting 15 Sister Dolores 16 An Alter 17 Retrospection 18 Anticipation 19 The Sun King 20 Sea Voices 21 Vallombrosa 22 Venice 23 Annunciation 24 Palestine 25 Hope 26 Wanderlust 27 Thy People 28 Kismet 29 If, After Day 30 A Dream 31 To My Mother 32 SPRING I. I lived within a city street Where never lingered sunbeam fleet Or happy singing bird. But close outside my window grew A stunted, sickly tree that knew Spring's innocence had stirred, And putting forth a first pale shoot Of tender green, defied the soot. II. My heart had lived in darkness, till Like Spring upon the window-sill Love bade me live anew. So, in gold vapours of the dawn New life into my heart was born — New life that was for you. It flowered on my lips, a word — All trembling, faint, but still, you heard- [9 ROME I. Noon, and the summer blue Italian skies Thrilling the hour — There under sad purple cypress, lies A white flower. II. Bells through the golden air, to prayer calling — A fountain's voice Sounds in an antique garden, falling, falling Its tears, rejoice. III. You, that were all to me, living, dying — Love, hope, and all — Dear, you are free from earth's sorrow, and sighing, But my tears fall. [10] HOW MANY WAYS I. How many ways do I love you, dear? Tell me, how many leaves there be Ere the winds set free from the orchard's gold The million minted leaves that hold The carvings of eternity — So many ways do I love you, dear. II. How many ways do I love, again? Tell me, how many tears there are In a world in chains, of war's bitter pains Sending its crimson across the main — And crying up to a burning star So many ways do I love, again. in] A GIFT I. A royal gift, you have bestowed on me Oh my beloved. What my lips may give In whispered gratitude will ever live Deep in my heart. Your gift has made me see Beyond the known, into infinity — New vision to my eyes that used to grieve O'er the dull pattern that my hands must weave In woof of frieze, upon Life's tapestry. Now, on my loom, love blossoms like a star That trembles in illimitable night Like shining words God whispers from afar — Your gold thread, for my flax, will now requite Oh beautiful the fabric, in my sight — Beyond the power of life, or death to mar. [iai ADIEUX I. Never the sickle moon In the sky, Never the rose of May, Ere it die, Will bring at evening, still, Aught, to my window-sill But grief, and falling tears. Through the long, lonely years Love, will not die. Ml MASQUERADE I Do you remember, how, a year ago I came to you, in an old fashioned gown ? The pale moon in the sky hung low The light of the candles had burned down — I half feared your frown for my fanciful dress But now, I know, you loved me so. II. The flowers I held in my bouquet Were sweet red roses and mignonette They were the first to hear you say What they, nor I, will e'er forget. Their breath was a delicate perfume That filled the room. III. We said that we two would love for aye As long as winds should kiss the sea As long as flowers seek the sun We promised to love, for eternity — Ah, don't you see, 'twas on a night of mas- querade Our vows were made? [Hi PARTING I. Parting is like death, they say- Yet no flowers cover me And the shadows on my head Fall not, from cypress tree. Green is the spring about me With jeweled rain drops set And I, with tears, remember — Do you, afar, forget? [15 SISTER DOLORES I. As that scarred hill, which yesterday was green So, I, my Lord, in this dark garb of woe Unnatural, that shrouds me, as I go — Bear outward witness, to the soul thou'st seen. The silence ! Ah the silence prisons thought — And consciousness but mocks this show of death This apeing of tranquillity my breath Denies. When singing birds in snares are caught Surely their wings, that beat against the bars Cannot be music to God's listening ear. If I did grievous sin, who only loved brave youth — Bright flowers and sunshine and the happy truth Of laughter, that is holier than tears Then no bird's song, should rise up, 'neath the stars. [16 AN ALTAR I. I raised an altar in my heart And worshipped there — I held it sacred and apart From daily care And thoughts were flowers offered there And for sweet incense, rose my prayer. II. What matters it, if gods have flown And no one hears? This sacrifice must fain atone — And falling tears Wipe out the memory of hurts unseen — And love remain, where faith has never been, [17] RETROSPECTION I. After long years, to see again — The house I shared with youth — How small the windows, whose narrow panes I thought looked out on truth. II. How steep the stairs, and strict the door That will not yield to me — I should have turned back long before, Truth was within, you see. [18] ANTICIPATION I. I pray that the day will die, Will faint, in the arms of night — That the first star in the sky May show me its holy light. II. I pray that the haste of youth Life's joy, and fever, and pain May be hushed, in love's great truth Nor call to my soul, again. [19 THE SUN KING I. Lord of the wastes — the royal sun Scatters his largesse on the sands — Under the shade of the date palms, run Timid shadows, who fear his hand. II. The desert burns in triumphant light — Yielding a dream to one adored — Her gifts are roses, red, and white And golden silence, for her lord. [20] SEA VOICES I. Beyond the light of the headland bar — Beyond the city's iron grasp — Where the gray smoke turns to a crimson mar, And black masts twist in the harbor's clasp. II. There, under heaven, and free from earth — The great winds sing, in an ecstasy Of mighty freedom, and swift rebirth In sea songs of eternity. [21 VALLOMBROSA I. Once more, in Vallombrosa, under the moon Hung in the skies, Like a silver lamp, lit too soon Ere the day dies. II. On the terrace, gray, marble, and moss grown Red roses fall- Sweet is their fragrance, faint, and I hear a lone Nightingale's call. III. Why should all other things, be fair and the same? You are not here. If from that other world, you would but speak my name My dear, my dear. [22] VENICE I. Ah, Venice, fairest city of the seas — Lying with golden light upon your spires You are the vision of my happiest ease You are the very dream of my desires. II. With my own eyes, I may not look on you Or learn the azure winding of your ways — But in my home bound heart a thought sings true No miles can hide you from my spirit's gaze. [23 ANNUNCIATION I. A summer noon, in Nazareth of old — And in a garden, dreamed a Maid, Around Her, nodding lilies, starred with gold, And pure white doves, with coral feet, had strayed. II. From out the village, came the sound and calls Of children, playing in the dusty street, But in the garden holy silence falls, And God's bright angels, kneel at Mary's feet. [24 PALESTINE I. Twilight, before the hills of Palestine Sad colored, like the lives of saints, Stretching their pure and mystic line Toward the east, where daylight faints. II. Age old, and melancholy rocks A guarding shepherd, faintly heard — Calling his white fleeced, patient flocks Are these the echo of thy Word ? [25] HOPE I. You will come back to me, some day, I know — Whether the years, or death, shall keep apart Our lives for earth's brief span. In every heart God's placed his touchstone, Hope. The sea birds go Daring abysmal depths, and starless night Fearless, before the ruthless winds of heaven — That wound, and buffet them, while still, storm driven They breast the sky, to find home in their flight. There is no meanest creature on the earth But can, for love, be noble and be brave. You will come back to me, some day, I know And in the crucible of years, I'll save All worthy things of bravery and mirth, Mixed with the tears you would not have me show. 26 WANDERLUST I. A silver path through the Golden Gate The salty breath of the open sea — I ask no more of the winds of Fate, Than to fly before them, and so, be free. II. To sail to the lands of far away O'er changing waters, of blue and green To touch at the shores of far Cathay, And tropic isles I have never seen. III. For I am sick of the sight of home That never was home, to the heart of me: The body may stay, but the soul will roam Fve always longed for the open sea. 27] THY PEOPLE I. Thy sword is red, Oh Sultan ! But the moonlight silvers, nightly, The marble of the palace, where ladies, treading lightly With officers in turban Weave a scarlet thread of passion — The perfume of the flowers, and dance of latest fashion Soft music's rhythmic falling Still the voices that are calling "Thy sword is red, Oh Sultan ! And we die, beneath thy ban." [28 KISMET I. Into the blue that waits outside the door From out the latticed court, the Sultan goes The singing of the fountain's voice, no more Will softly wake him, from a sweet repose. II. Or lips of curving crimson, touch his ^heek And in his ear, tell secrets of Stamboul — Twill naught avail, for favour there to seek And who wastes kisses, but an empty fool? 29 IF, AFTER DAY— I. If, after day, the tender twilight holds Fair tints of purest hue, ethereal rose That, in the east, in fainting beauty glows Laved in the largesse of the sun's spent gold — If, after day, a single silver star In perfect splendor, dawns upon the night And all my being answers, at the sight As though I saw Faith's symbol, there set high For lovers' eyes, if, after day, I lie, Wrapped in the dim divinity of dreams And hear your voice, and live again the hour That speaks in music, answers in a flower Making all beauty, all happiness, all tears Your gift to me — Ah, after day, the dreams ! [30 A DREAM I. I had a dream last night After my tears — In darkness, dawned a light Calming my fears — I saw my own dead child Moving, with others mild Holding a light on high, Turning, to heed my cry With outstretched arm. II. Then, in my dream he spoke Soft to my woe — "Mother, when first I woke Your tears fell so The light I hold on high For new soul's, passing by Flickered, and would not go — I come, that you may know, Such tears do harm." [31 TO MY MOTHER I. I heard of Heaven — free from strife For all true souls of perfect will But you have made the gift of life So dear, I long to keep it still All other worlds I would forego To share this, with the heart I know. II. I heard there's nothing lasting here But permanence above — Back from that thought I turn in fear To shelter in your lasting love. No saint in Paradise could be What you, on earth, are now, to me. 32] SUNSET PRESS SAN FRANCISCO