v'<.C 
 
 
 
 
 Koierf yQolwoil 
 
 i 
 
Class. 
 
 Book 
 
 pki:.si;nt):i) hy 
 
Falling Leaves 
 
Falling Leaves 
 
 Intermittent Verse 
 
 Robert Bolwell 
 ipid 
 
Edition limited to seventy-five copies. 
 This volume is copy number J^y 
 
 7535-03 
 ,037 F3 
 
 to'. 
 
 fiANSFEWREO PROM 
 
 The Schmehl Press 
 Cleveland 
 
 AUS -9 1919 
 
Contents 
 
 Youth --------- 9 
 
 From Wandrers Nachtlied ----- 10 
 
 Gemma Vitae -------- H 
 
 From Geistes-Grusz ------ 12 
 
 Daybreak -------- ig 
 
 Chant of the Spheres ------ 14 
 
 Hymn ---------16 
 
 The Spirit of a Kiss - 18 
 
 A Gift --------- 21 
 
 Perplexity - - - - - - - - 22 
 
 The Love of a Woman ----- 25 
 
 Song of the Earth ------ 26 
 
 Lullaby --------- 28 
 
 The Little Things of Life ----- 29 
 
Youth 
 
 Untoward confidence of youth! 
 
 Unreverential years, 
 When hope soars high to the smiling sky 
 
 With scorn for weakening fears ; 
 When the morning sweetness of man's life 
 
 Expands his lust for power, 
 No thought has he on bended knee 
 
 To seek life's faded flower. 
 
 He longs for conflict, manly strife, 
 
 To prove his virgin strength; 
 His courage leaps beyond its keeps 
 
 To meet all battles' length. 
 His gleaming breastplate, now aglow 
 
 With youthful purity, 
 Is doomed to stain, — the Sons of Cain 
 
 Bow down to Earth's decree. 
 
 With virile heat he yet prepares 
 
 To vindicate his scar. 
 With heart aright to lead his fight. 
 
 No mythic Avatar. 
 The vain ideals lie unemployed, 
 
 Off is illusion's mask. 
 With humble mien and mind serene 
 
 He meets the daily task. 
 
 1913 
 
 [ 9 ] 
 
From "Wanders Nachtlied" 
 
 Goethe, 1776 
 
 Oh Thou Who art in heaven, 
 
 Who grief and pain doth still, — 
 
 Those who art doubly wretched, 
 With double comfort fill; 
 
 Of wandering am I weary, 
 What matters joy or pain. 
 
 If Thy calm Peace sufficeth, 
 Within my breast to reign. 
 
 1913 
 
 [10] 
 
Qemma Vitae 
 
 "Drink!" 
 
 "Nay, pause ; 
 
 Not in haste, — 
 
 Thou shouldst ponder 
 
 There are other things 
 
 That in life thou must do. 
 
 Thy life's most dear possession 
 
 By thine own hand shall robbed be. 
 
 The soul which thou held dear shall perish 
 
 Thy emptied corpse shall topple o'er the brink. 
 
 And worth, which every man should cherish. 
 
 Shall also die. The God's decree 
 
 Shall punish thy transgression. 
 
 'To thine own self be true.' 
 
 Hadst thou wealth of kings 
 
 Do not squander. 
 
 Lest thou waste 
 
 Thy cause. 
 
 Think!" 
 
 1914 
 
 [11] 
 
rrom "Qeistes-Qrusz" 
 
 Goethe, 177 If 
 
 High upon the ruined castle 
 
 Broods the spirit of its lord, 
 Who to fleeting ships bestows 
 
 His benediction as reward. 
 
 "Hark," he calls, "I too was strong, 
 This heart was steadfast, stout and wild ; 
 
 My bosom welled with budding joy 
 
 And cups my brimming youth beguiled. 
 
 "Half my day was rushed away. 
 
 And drowsy sloth laid waste my prime, 
 
 But still yon tiny, peopled barks 
 
 Glide onward through an endless time." 
 
 1914. 
 
 [12] 
 
Daybreak 
 
 (In picture verse) 
 
 A city shrouded in the mantle of darkness. 
 
 Silent and desolate are the lanes. 
 
 Quiet broods over dwellings, heavy with slumber 
 
 of millions. 
 The spirit of the place is at rest, — a tired mother 
 
 with her sons reclining in fond arms. 
 Creatures resting from toil. 
 
 Distant rumblings echo in deserted ways; 
 
 the sleeping Thing but stirring in her rest. 
 Now no sound is heard. 
 Silence throbs, and Fear is born of black night and 
 
 sullen stillness. 
 Inaction, Quiet and Death. 
 
 The black curtain of the East parts. 
 
 Leaden grey pierces the air. 
 
 The city stirs with unopened eyes. 
 
 Her champion of Day comes to battle Gloom. 
 
 Ever-increasing noise, heart-bursting expectancy. 
 The golden touch of sun; the answering roar of 
 
 salutation from the throat of the refreshed 
 
 earth. 
 Creatures stream to toil. 
 The work of the world is begun. 
 
 1914 
 
 [13] 
 
Chant of the Spheres 
 
 Before the birth of time we tuned 
 
 Our natal song of praise, 
 From no beginning, to no end, 
 
 We sound our ordered phrase: 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 Our cycled course of vast degree 
 
 Obeys supreme design, 
 We are His works, unnumbered, huge, 
 
 Of origin divine: 
 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 Obedience must be our lot. 
 
 Part of a mighty plan, 
 Unswerving through eternity. 
 
 Illimitable span: 
 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 The utmost suns take up the chant 
 
 Of voiceless harmony. 
 Pale moons, wild comets unrestrained, 
 
 Sing through infinity: 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 [14] 
 
Amidst us, peopled worlds roll by, 
 Their destined goal to gain ; 
 
 Their end is formed within His mind, — 
 Links of our mighty chain: 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 Before the birth of time we tuned 
 
 Our natal song of praise. 
 From no beginning, to no end. 
 We sound our ordered phrase: 
 "Glory to God!" 
 
 1914 
 
 [16] 
 
Hymn 
 
 When Thy breath moves in the leaves, 
 And Thy gaze illumes the plain, 
 When from sleeping hills there heaves 
 Sighs of perfume-tinted air, 
 I sense the Infinite. 
 
 When elemental nature sings, 
 When Thy world resounds the note 
 Of votive chant which heaven flings 
 Upon an echoing universe, 
 I hear the Infinite. 
 
 When o'er the blue arc of Thy sky 
 Dark, wind-lashed clouds of anger roll. 
 When roar and flask, comingled, fly 
 To earth, dread, trembling 'neath the shock, 
 I feel the Infinite. 
 
 [16] 
 
When in my breast the blood leaps up 
 In silent bliss, for life Thou gave, 
 No thoughts of men can fill my cup 
 Of joy, for, comprehending Thee, 
 I know the Infinite. 
 
 Spirit of All, to Thee are known 
 My hopes, forever barred from words; 
 An answering spark in me has grown 
 Into an all-consuming fire. 
 I share the Infinite. 
 
 1914 
 
 [17] 
 
The Spirit of a Kiss 
 
 (On a dance in a college building.) 
 
 'Twas nigh the spirit-stirring hour 
 When shades of past appear, 
 
 When present fades before the realm 
 Of ghosts of former year. 
 
 Minerva's bower had lost its might. 
 And Learning was asleep. 
 
 Her shrine, the scene of revelry 
 And terpsichorean feat. 
 
 Here students pale, for once untrue 
 
 To their common mistress' charms, 
 Foregathered for a midnight dance 
 
 The learned courts reechoed loud 
 
 With swaying Music's call. 
 Where silk-clad feet tripped in response 
 
 To smiling Pleasure's thrall. 
 
 [18] 
 
But, safe within the shelt'ring shade 
 
 Of dim-lit corridor, 
 Two rebels wandered from the snare 
 
 Of Thalia's opened door. 
 
 No need had these of common wiles 
 
 To aid Time's even flight, 
 Each to the other did suffice 
 
 To lend enjoyment bright. 
 
 Now forth from Wisdom's cells there came 
 
 Stern shades of scholars old, 
 Their nightly conclave to convene. 
 
 And sagely discourse hold. 
 
 Then cried the band with dark dismay, 
 "Ho, brothers, what of this!" — 
 
 From midst of protest, futile, weak, 
 Was heard a ling'ring kiss! 
 
 [19] 
 
With blushing cheeks and eyes aglow, 
 
 Reflecting paradise, 
 The lovers scampered to the dance. 
 
 Affection to disguise. 
 
 The holy shrine had been profaned, 
 The virgin goddess weeps. 
 
 No more her halls are undefiled; 
 Bold Love no bounds ere keeps. 
 
 E'en now the passing student halts 
 
 About that hallowed spot, 
 Where budding Love was votarized, 
 
 And sterner gods forgot. 
 
 Transfigured are the gloomy halls. 
 Bright with a new-found bliss, 
 
 A golden memory here resides, — 
 The Spirit of a Kiss ! 
 
 1914 
 
 [20] 
 
AQift 
 
 The year is rushing to a fitful close, 
 
 — Long may it live in tender mem'ry's bloom! — 
 
 And gift-tide draws from friends that sweet 
 
 perfume 
 Of love, a free-will offering to repose 
 Affection in symbolic guise arrayed; 
 But why need I sincerity to mask. 
 And thus a gift of trifling value task 
 To bare my soul, by petty symbol's aid? 
 Then on a friend this simple boon bestow, — 
 To pledge affection true, from emblem free, 
 And, if devotion should accepted be, 
 My daring heeds no bounds, for now I show 
 My richest gift, which I to thee impart, — 
 Accept the season's greetings, — and my heart. 
 
 1914 
 
 [21] 
 
Perplexity 
 
 A pond'rous question troubles me, 
 Upon which hangs my fate, 
 
 And so, before my lady fair, 
 Expectantly I wait. 
 
 For judgment she must render me. 
 My joy or doom to speak, 
 
 I trembling hear her verdict dread, 
 And plead in accents weak. 
 
 The question, sweet, is learned quite. 
 And frightens simple wit. 
 
 My heart, dismayed by cold rebuke. 
 Can solve but half of it. 
 
 For naught know I of paradox, 
 
 Be merciful, my dear; 
 The tale of my perplexity 
 
 Receive with gracious ear. 
 
 [22] 
 
Why, if your eyes disclose to me 
 
 A heaven of happiness, 
 And lure me thus to win the prize 
 
 Which e'en the gods would bless ; 
 
 Why speak your lips in stern reproof. 
 
 My longing to dismay? 
 Your deep eyes tempt in accents rich 
 
 With Cupid's sparkling ray, 
 
 Your beauty's wealth invites my heart 
 
 Unto a feast of joy; 
 Why then reject my glad response, 
 
 My utter rapture cloy? 
 
 Why doth enchantment so entice, 
 And Cupid's thrall make me, 
 
 If but to punish my delight 
 With heartless mockery? 
 
 [28] 
 
Why, if your being calls to mine 
 O'er gulfs of silence chaste, 
 
 If I make joyous answer bold 
 And to your side make haste, 
 
 Why is my guerdon but a frown, 
 
 Averted head and sigh? 
 My fate I bide from ruby lips. 
 
 Most dreaded judge, tell Why? 
 
 1915 
 
 [24] 
 
The Love of a Woman 
 
 The earth offers pleasure, contentment and joy, 
 
 With a lavish and outstretched hand. 
 There is peace and delight, with a sterner alloy 
 Of the struggle and will to command; 
 
 Though the riches of earth to her creatures 
 
 hold call, 
 The love of a woman surpasses them all. 
 
 There are terrors of night and ghosts of the day, 
 
 And Horror plays handmaid to Life, 
 Fear befriends Failure, points Weakness the way 
 To the frightful despair after strife. 
 
 And for each gapes a chasm, a hideous fall, 
 But the love of a woman is greater than all. 
 
 Deep in the bosom of earth's hidden self, 
 
 Brood mysteries huge and profound. 
 Which baffle, dismay the vain seekers of pelf, 
 Who her uttermost secrets would sound; 
 
 Life offers us riddles, tremendous and small, 
 But the love of a woman is greatest of all. 
 
 1915 
 
 [25] 
 
Song of the Earth 
 
 I sing of the old and the new, 
 
 Of joy that is past, and to come. 
 Of sorrow as aged as my birth. 
 
 And the tale of the silent and dumb. 
 
 My voice sounds the call of the years, 
 
 Of all that is gone and will be, 
 For the shout and the roar of the present 
 
 Has ever been chanted by me. 
 
 My creatures are children of Time 
 And Eternity, sucked at my breast. 
 
 From my bosom they rush to their purpose, 
 And return there for refuge or rest. 
 
 To the strong I give strength manifold. 
 
 To the weak, nought but weakness and death, 
 
 For the breed who will rule me the longest 
 Must rob other species of breath. 
 
 [26] 
 
For I am the Guardian of Species, 
 
 Of races still-born in the night, 
 Of peoples and orders that perish. 
 
 And of beings unstayed for the fight. 
 
 I sing of the old and the new, 
 
 Of joy that is past, and to come. 
 
 Of sorrow as aged as my birth, 
 
 And the tale of the silent and dumb. 
 
 1915 
 
 [27] 
 
Lullaby 
 
 Golden-tipped sails glide o'er the sea, 
 Where lies baby's bark, for him and me. 
 Laden with playthings, dollies and toys. 
 Just a fine ship for good little boys; 
 
 So go to sleep, my laddie. 
 
 Fast to sleep, my laddie. 
 
 Fairies and angels are waiting for thee. 
 
 For you and for me ; 
 Go to sleep, my laddie. 
 Mother's darling laddie, 
 Fast to the heart-land of Mother and Boy, 
 
 For you and for me: 
 
 With baby's dear hand fast in my own, 
 For sonny can't get there all alone. 
 Together we'll sail out after the sun. 
 And find there a day not yet begun. 
 
 There we shall dance 'til dawn of day. 
 Sweet tired dear, with heaps of play. 
 Then back to our beds at break of light, — 
 So now let us tell all the world "Good Night !" 
 
 1916 
 
 [28] 
 
Little Things of Life 
 
 A patch of sunlight on a darksome wall, 
 
 The golden thread in hair of aged white, 
 
 A song of love amid the brawl of fight. 
 
 And notes of laughter through a heart-sick call; 
 
 The smile of sweetness in a melting tear, 
 
 A hand of pity, raised to stay the knout, 
 
 The trustful glance in times of stinging doubt, 
 
 And gentle whispers to a shame-bowed ear; 
 
 A mother's prayer for trespasses untold, 
 
 A sigh, replacing words of burning wrath, 
 
 A stalwart arm along a rocky path. 
 
 And dimpled fingers woven with the old; 
 
 Oh God of Things that make our striving strife, 
 We thank Thee for the little things of life ! 
 
 1916 
 
 [29]