Class£^3i2,3 Book .IL^f 'sr^ CopyiightN^. '^'"^ COPYRIGHT DEPOSre VERSES By MATHILDE JUNGE Boston THE ROXBURGH PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to the MEMORY OF MY FATHER HERMAN JUNGE FEB 23 1914 ^CI.A369051 Copyrighted 1914 By MATHILDE JUNGE LUETKEMEYER All Rights Reserved \ CONTENTS. PAGE A Craving IS A Daffodil 98 A Dream 64 A Friend 72 A Glimpse of the Lake . . . .i 60 Alas! 63 Alonzo I 105 A Maiden's Charm 32 A Memory 58 An Impression at Sea 77 Apology 9 A Portrait 73 A Rainy Day 16 A Rondo 85 At Riverside 60 At St. Cergues 88 At Sundown , 57 At the Cathedral of Magdeburg 87 Bless Him! 85 Blessings of the Dying 112 Come, Sleep 44 Compensation 36 Cupid 76 Dancing Sunbeams 42 Death 69 Deep Calm 26 Delight in a Friend 40 Ecstasy 31 Entreaty to Joy 47 3 PAGE Exanimus 92 Farewell 55 Father! 13 Forgive ! 20 For Mankind's Comfort 30 Gaea's Sunshine 73 Greeting 9 Hail, Bacchus ! 32 Happy 76 Have Mercy ! 54 Hawthorne 56 Heidelberg 95 Huneker's Mezzotints 37 I'm Not Happy 101 Influence 5g In the Country 52 Italy gg It is too Late jy Landscape at Evening 3g Law — (A Fragment.) gg Let Me Die ! ^04. Life's Zephyr Breezes ^2 Life and Death 22 Lonely 25 Longing , 20 Love 22 Love Infinite ^o Lovers -ig Mademoiselle Marie -j^-j^q Memory g-j^ Monsieur et Madame Curie io9 Morning Thunderstorm 77 My Brother 104 My Dearest 109 My Love 99 My Love for Thee 23 My Native Country , go New Love Ig PAGE Nigbt 44 Juventa ! 48 Old St. Saviour's 70 Once More 11 n Phantasy 16 Please ! 46 Poetry 25 Poet's Aim 67 Prayer 35 Que Je Suis Heureux 56 Reaching out to the Infinite 51 Recovered 63 Remembrance 110 Sacred 54 Santa Lucia Ill Snoopsy 114 Spring 11 Spring Morning 15 Striving for the Unattainable 49 Saint Valentine Eve 74 Suffering 10 Sweetheart 53 Temptation 39 Thank Fate! 96 The Anchor 108 The Birth of Faith 11 The Bittersweet 65 Thee and Me IO3 The Ever New 97 The French Alexandrine 49 The London Sabbath. lOO The Marguerite 4I The Seasons I7 The Silence of Night 77 The Soul's Resolve I4 The Striving Soul 21 The Student Days are Past 117 The Tragedy, Life 116 5 PAGE The Water-Nymph! 28 They know not Love 24 Thine Eyes 74 Thou 68 Thought on High 27 To a Friend 66 To a Friend on Vacation 43 To a Maiden 68 To a TraveUng Companion 50 To be at One! 107 To Sorrow 61 To the Absent 59 To Thee 98 To the Moon 55 Unworthy 106 Vieux Chateau 91 With Patience 97 Woman 94 Woman and Man is Perfection 102 You 48 You and I 119 Your Influence 45 Youthful Love : 46 VERSES VERSES Shall I really venture to risk the strongest censure. Really fling the flail to thresh out straw, and hail Invoke upon these shoulders, yea, well-nigh Alpine bowlders. Where I would fain enlist to please with thoughtful gist? Ay, patience is a virtue, whose practice can- not hurt you. And goodness of a trend, a limit, still un- kenned ; So, therefore, pray, do spare me, if now I crudely dare be Presumptuous and audacious, to fill these lines ungracious. (Bttttins Joy and contentment shall be all thy days. Thou shalt walk on hereafter in happiness' ways; May today be complete as thy heart's wishes view, And yearly return just as joyful anew! VERSES I cannot find my sleep tonight, Thoughts are of him in grief ; O Lord, forgive the dreadful blight That, faithless, I unsheaf! O friend, my heart feels deep for thee, Forgive what I have done, And know, when thou art passion-free Thou freedom shalt have won! Forget me, fling me far away, Yes, hate me, scorn, disdain; But do not suffer day by day, Thy sorrow brings me pain! 10 VERSES Spring: What can be more beautiful, What in nature have more charm, — Surly Winter, old and gray. Spreads to youthful Spring his arm! Timidly the youth appears. Modestly in sight he comes, But when once a foothold sets. Soon demands all world to reign. Then the Winter's steps retreat, And fair Spring holds righteous rule; Soon a youth he'll be no more. But to Summer will have grown. In sorrow's cavernous depths Religious faith is born; The heart, that yearned in darkness, It is no more forlorn: Out of the mine of grief Is brought the gold of hope 11 VERSES JLobt Love knows no name but, Love! Love sees no aim but love, Love's passions' might is love, Love's boundless flight is love. Love's cherished hope is love, Love is the pope of love. I awake in the morning, 'Tis love that is dawning; Lay a-rest in the evening, And love is not leaving. 'Tis love in my beaming. And love in my dreaming; 'Tis love in my walking, And love in my talking, 'Tis love in my reading, And love in my beading; 'Tis love makes all sorrow, 'Tis love makes earth's heaven. Two eyes that are beaming, — 'Tis love from them streaming — Two others are showing Where a heart is o'erflowing. 12 VERSES Two lips speak of Beauty, Earnest, and Duty; A heart, all-embracing, A mind, all good tracing. I think of you not sadly, For yours is joyful Peace; I think of you e'en gladly, You rest in Earth's release. No worry knows your morrow, Your spirit lives full well, And though our flesh has sorrow, Your soul of Calm doth tell. You hover ever near us, Your presence soothes the pain; The Good through you unites us To One Eternal chain. The finite of existence, Which death doth claim to end. Is but a weak resistance, — To the Infinite doth trend. 13 VERSES Ah! Joyful hope of Meeting! Ah! Sweetest Recompense! Yes, Somewhere must be Greeting Of Souls, when flesh is hence. m I want to forget him, forget him at heart, Live only for music, for poetry, art; Have nought but the memory that once he was mine. That mine he still be, and not need I pine. The heart that awaketh, awaketh the mind; The soul, that hath slumbered, saith: "See thou, thou blind. Thy senses now open, thy tongue, let it free. From God to Humanity all good given be." *'The Beautiful now let thee solely inspire. Truth, Goodness be embers to thy life's fire. Away with the matter, away with the time. Away with the physical, — the mind and soul rhyme." ( VERSES The ochre maple, ohve poplar, The zinnobre of the larch and willow, The darkness of the spruce and hemlock. The luring red-hued Judas tree, The buckeye bud so large, unfolding. The quincebush blossom, scarlet red, A distant light of pink on peach tree. The brown of limb is almost hid; The grace of bough and wave of branches, The dancing of the merry twig, The nodding, kissing, fond embracing, — Ah, Spring, what joy, what promise this ! A modest sky of blue and cloudlets. Hangs softly o'er this jubilee; In distance shades to hues of roses. And thence into the unknown sea. Ah, hark, how chirps the sparrow's call- ing, How rolls and pearls the robin red, How gurgles, twitters every being, And shines the sun with balm o'erhead! 'Tis harmony and calmness, spreading From all the budding sounds and sights ; 'Tis peace transcends unto the living. And hope, and life, and health, and light. 15 VERSES Of his sweet kisses let me think, Of his dear, fond embrace; Of his bright eyeglance let me drink, In his soul me enlace! Si IBlainp 2Da^ The fog, the rain, the filthy air Speak not of joy nor sunshine fair; The gray, the dreary gloom overhead Reflects within a muddy bed. The monotone of drop on drop. Drawls out its melancholy chant; The hush about a lonely stop Foreshadows grief, — a human cant. The darkest future gropes before. The saddest past has closed the door ; The present is a state of war, Eternity the only lore. 16 VERSES Jit M ^00 Hatt Whoe'er has drunk from sorrow's well, Has found the spring a bitter draught; Whoe'er has sat in sorrow's cell, Has found therein a deadly waft. The heart feels heavy, chill and blunt, It dies beneath the glacier's weight; No huntsman there need dare to hunt, — Alas ! 'tis crushed ! — It is too late ! AUTUMN Calm, sweet, dusky night. Veiled by a clouded light; Hidden moon and silent star Reign within the realm afar. WINTER Cold, chill, creaking air, Gelid silver everywhere; Icy-crystal stars above. Bleak the light from Luna's cove. 17 VERSES SPRING Fond, tender, loving light, Fairest hope of future bright; Budding leaf and blossom pink Beckon in the crescent's blink. SUMMER Grapevine blossom, roses sweet Waft their perfume, love to meet; Oriole and nightingale Sing to eve, "Love, hail! all hail!" Love! Love! Once again Bright, sweet, calm, dear love! Hope, peace not in vain Ring, sing from above. Eyes, lips, smiles that speak Pure, fair, faithful love; Heart, mind, fond and meek, Coo, woo, like a dove. Storms, stays, love has felt, Staunch, brave kept its course; Faith, truth wove a belt Deep, wide, 'round its source. 18 VERSES Waves of love, they thrill the soul, Edify the suffering heart, Glorify the distant goal, Sanctify the present whole ! Words of love, what peace they sing! Sweet the strains of future hope. Life and joy anew they bring, When from lovers' lips they ring. Gilded moonlight sheds its beams Over two that are as one; From their eyes light fairer gleams, Each a star in heaven seems. Measured step, clasped arm in arm. Thought to thought, and soul to soul, Angels they, and gods disarm. Love divine in them the charm! Si Ctabmg God, Soul, Nature, we cry to thee, Implore thee to open thy mystery; We meet thee with heart and mind free to be A part of thee, Thee. Love, Eternity! 19 VERSES JLonQirtQ The mourning dove is sighing, I on the couch am lying, And wishing for the dying Of earthly flesh and pain. My soul seeks for a Kingdom, Where 's naught but Love and Wisdom, And where Humanity's Freedom Reigns supreme of all. jfotgibt Can harsh words be ne'er forgot, Impetuous deeds so long gone by? Cannot time make faint the blot, That has blurred a friendly tie? Will the mem'ry of joys past Ne'er delight the present gloom? Shall they all have been the last, — Such a wretched being's doom? Pray forgive, and have forgotten ! Let those days be far gone past. For regret has since then trodden, Where but joy should have been cast. 20 VERSES The spirit rises effervescent, high, To realms ideal, beyond the sky; Unlimited happiness there resounds, All nature free in nature's bounds. The soul drinks strength from nature's source, And onward, upward, in its course, Perpetuates eternal bliss: In Beauty, Truth, goes ne'er amiss. In struggle, strife, its progress finds, And when at length Death rends the blinds, It soars to cognate spirit lives, In nature's kingdom delves and dives. 21 VERSES I BEYOND There is a shore Where Hfe's no more ; Skeletons of the past Have told their last; The waves flow calmly, meekly, kindly, No passion's roar of breakers sounds: The life of earth is there found ended, A Life of Joy with Peace is blended. II HERE The heart oft sad, The mind rare glad, All future hopes Unwind like ropes; The battle of life is racing, shrieking, No good unless it self enhance: One bliss with this sad fate would mingle, That He will say : "The gold key jingle." 22 VERSES 9^jf Eobe Cot tILSee Why feel I so sad and so dreary, So lonely and downcast and weary? I love thee, yet find in this passion A sorrow that fills me with grief. I love thee, and see in thy glances A faith and a love that entrances ; Thy sweetness brings calm to my longing, And yet I am suffering with grief. Oh, tell me! When thou seest the wealing. The melancholy oft o'er me stealing, Dost think that thou canst bear the burden To cheer me, when I am in grief? Ah, love, I do love thee so truly. Do cherish thy good heart so fully. Yet wonder, if thou canst be wholly Content, with the love that I give ! Come, tell me thy life and its pleasures, And cheer me in love's sweetest measures ! Come, let me bestow all the treasures. That hide in this dark, hidden cell ! 98 VERSES Though dark is the recess that batters, Yet well-nigh in threads and in tatters It rends all its walls, and in shatters, When thy footsteps hark at the gate. l^dep UnotD Mot %o\}t And 'tis you they have called cold, You, whose kiss is fervent glow, Whose embrace, love, fetters so! You, whose heart does beat and batter, Sweet and sweeter flows love's strain— You, a passionate maiden's swain! Let us cry to farthest shores. That he knows not love's domain, Who can such of aught proclaim! 34 VERSES Musical rhythm of sounds that please the imagination, Thus begins the effect of pure, inspiring poesy; Then, as the emotion is scaling the climax to new ideation. Mingled with mental conception, reaches the aesthetic summit, Imagination, emotion, and thought united in ideal relation. Carry human life beyond the material ex- istence, Call out the spirit divine, and wed the soul to creation. Lonely, sad, not understood In your yearning, longing ! Not a soul, that, in this world, Knows your thirsting, gnawing ! Not a mind, that meets you halfway, Not a heart, that knows your love, Not a soul, that soars on with you, In your striving for humanity ! 25 VERSES Naught but passion, narrow feeling, Naught but each for his own self; Naught for humankind, for goodness, Yea, no aim for truth itself ! Go alone, then, heavenly impulse, Pass unknown through life's long course; Misconceived be and derided. Shrink within, yet work, work on ! SDtep Calm Words can no longer tell. What the heart feels deep within ; Unlimited, unbounded the spell, That radiates from end to begin. Not the glow, that absorbs with intensity, Not the frost, to the germ bringing chill, 'Tis the warm, deep, broad, harvest sun- shine. That sweetens the vine on the hill. On the hill that is rising high skyward, On the top of which shines the fair goal ; To eternity the future alluring. Though the present a beauteous whole. 29 VERSES ^^oufsit on ^iei Were I but a man, to content my inner longing, To follow up the heart in its tense, deep vein, To tread my eager footstep whither life is thronging. Out in the free, clear, open world's domain ! To battle with the wrong, and to conquer down the sin, To warn the men that on the yielding woman sore are treading; To cheer the soul outworn, that in fright and in din Is groping for the freedom, that so slow to her is spreading! Sister, take the banner and hold it to the sky: "Though woman is a lover, she also has a mind." Let the men then grapple until they come on high, You, a soaring eagle, o'er snow-clad summit find. 27 VERSES There, upon a tree-top, set your nest to build ; Be not but a sparrow, that gossips with the guild ! Be the radiant sunshine, that melts the snow about, But, too, the master learner, the teacher most devout ! Be the incense-burning of virtue, moral strength, The temple of divinity, a woman in all its sense ! But let that banner guide you through love, and life at length, May thus the men both love you, and honor you forthhence! ^^t dfliattt iBpmpS She peeps out from the shore's green ver- dure, Begirded with a gilded veil, Ensnares the boatman, lures him marsh- ward, Then leaps upon the sunlit sail. 28 VERSES Then back again to bush and thicket She darts, with Hthesome leap and smile, Allures him with her glance, and wicked, Enraptures, trances him with guile. Hah ! boatman ! Watch your skiff more dearly. Be not a phantom's foolish wreck; 'Tis but a maid of Neptune's kingdom, The reeds and rushes warn your deck. But now, behold ! She doffs her garments. Within her tresses wraps her limbs, Then bounds upon the boom to forward, And siren-like, sweet songs she hymns. The pilot harks, is scarce attentive That stern and rudder are at bay, That rocks and roots, and swampy off- shoots Are dangers, that his hand should stay. He gazes, winds his steps to boomward. Seduced by yonder eyes of blue; Yon waving of the hand to leeward, Yon ringlets' sunbeams lure him too. 39 VERSES He bends his body, only conscious Of joy roused by the spectre's sight; Beware! That spirit gHdes to Orcus, Decoys you from the heavenly light! Lo! Suddenly gone the ghostly vision! Woe! Gone the man of lurid sense; A gurgle in the gloomy waters; Alas ! Alas ! Forever hence ! The heart has ended its mourning, And peaceful, its gentle flow Is rising for humankind's solace, That oppressed ones may cheerfully go Where the paths, that are sweetened with roses And shaded with the graces of elms, Whose pasts were but thorns and sun's glowings. May be comfort and joy to their aims. 30 VERSES Each wave moves on to kiss the shore — Each wondering thought would nothing more — The shore of joy, the shore of bUss, Where peace and happiness are His. The waving waters cause a thrill, And fill the heart with love, good will; The clouds, that hang in yonder sky, Reveal a love supremely high. Ah, clouds, far off, to you I tell The joy, the bliss this heart befell ; As yonder space of beauteous blue. So pure, so high my love for — You! But who this You, I need not tell. The birds, the trees, the flowers know well; The world shall know it by and by. When spirit, heart and mind are high. And still the waters laugh and rush. Each wave greets others with a gush; The sky smiles sweetly on the whole, And love for all is in this soul. 31 VERSES Si ^eLititn*0 CJatm Ah, maid, who delv'st in love's deep depths. In love's sweet luring heights, Who spread' St the warm, the glowing charm. Divergent, from thy hallowed heart, Thou sooth'st, allur'st, restrict'st, drawest on, Send'st waves of lofty thought, Bedim'st, beguil'st, bewilderest, wil'st, Inspir'st the heart with purest light. Would ye be joyful, Then drink ye this wine; In it be forgetful Of custom and time. Would ye be truthful, Yourselves would ye be. And speak your heart freel}^ Then drink, full of glee. Inspired with devotion. Raised far above earth, Ye'd float in the ocean Of love, and of mirth. 32 VERSES Ye'd sing of fair women, Of beauteous climes; Good cheer would ye summon, With music and chimes. Ye'd dance a wild chorus, In wit would outdo The flight of swift Hermes, Be youthful anew. Ye'd raise your cup gleeful, Oblivious of woe, ''Yea, wine," ye'd cry cheerful, ''Thou'rt master of foe! ''Thou'rt spirit of spirit, In thee we are selves, With thee we do merit The joy of sweet elves ! ''O Bacchus! We praise thee. We raise thee on high; O Venus ! Adore thee To Jupiter nigh. ''Apollo we hallow. The Muses invoke; Euterpe we follow. In Erato hope. 33 VERSES * 'Terpsichore offer Our homage with joy; CalHope proffer Our poesy coy. ''O Bacchus of Semele! Bacchantes we be, Thy fauns be eternally, — 'Tis thou set'st us free ! "We love thee forever. Devote at thy shrine Our heart, and not sever Our spirit from thine. "In wine we do frolic. In wine we do live, In wine we are equal, In wine ourselves give!' 34 VERSES Lord, that dwellest in nature, Lord, that rulest the world. Lord, that art master of passion, Inspire the heart with thy love! Thou, who dost live in each bosom. In each little cell dost thy work, Invisible, yet not unknowable, Be guide to the soul bent on good ! As thou sowest the love seed in action, Forewarn thus the mind to be just ! Lead onward perception to beauty, But centre each deed in thy trust! Be the light that inspired each longing For love, and for beauty and truth. For wisdom, for courage and temperance, For justice, the essence of faith. 35 VERSES Compn^ation MAN Will there come no moment ever, When, content, I say, ''Do stay!"? Shall the heart yearn on forever, Must the mind crave truth alway? Will there ne'er be satisfaction, Ne'er the joy of the ideal; Such the only compensation, — The ideal lures forth the real? Cannot Peace give full contentment, Will not Beauty gratify, E'er Religion raise resentment, Love itself ne'er satisfy? Must the human kind be whining. Climbing ever on and on? Will not Death e'en end the pining, Never come the light of dawn? 36 VERSES DIVINITY Nay, — though't seem but void endeavour, Vying, with an effort vain, Nay, my spirit not forever Shall contend with man in pain. 'Tis for this that thou art flesh-made, That in sweat, from virtue's toil, Thou may'st clamber on, till Death's blade Send thee hence from pining's soil. Then, whoe'er has acted righteous, Shall be saved from deluge's grave, Shall leave strife behind, unconscious, In pure spirit's realm shall lave. (SL. Thou'rt a rhapsodist, of artistic whims, Impetuous, emotional, not yet sublime; Thou pleasest with thy florid gems, And with thy frankness oftentime ; Thy Poe-adoration is expressive. Thy Chopin-devotion highly laudative. VERSES Eantigicape at Cbening The sun's yellow course is reaching the end, Horizontally rays are covering the land ; Green fields of maize are dark in their ver- dure, Ripe wheat is heaped in shadowy hills; The cattle are lowing for water and fodder. While longer and longer the shadows ex- tend. The forest to east but a cold, black barri- cade. And dark is the wall of each house and haystack. Alternate in yellow and bright green the meadows Allure the eye to the far western view; Dark hedges of bushes, and fences of rail- ings Point out where the limits of pasturage cease ; Potato fields thriving, the oats yellow ripe: A picture of rural and sweet, peaceful life. . 38 VERSES temptation As Faust abhors carousing, Through love to sin gives proof, Stands firm of ambition aloof, And though Beauty in Helen espousing, Finds no content in his soul. But strives for a nobler goal, For Humanity's freedom and activity, — As expectation, not realization, Hope, through its contemplation, Raise him aloft among men. Urge him to go onward again ; So struggles the sense in each being, So rises or falls he through love. So must he from power be fleeing. Ere quite it ensnare in its flow The soul, that is striving to grow To higher good, for beneficence ; So must he surrender the ideal Of art, when experienced as real, Or perish at Galatea's magnificence, Ere reached be the highest activit}^ For the world's uplifting and munificence ; So only can he develop, So clarify the soul in its course ; Then will reward him envelop. When one with Creation, — his source. 39 VERSES ^tliQit in a iftunti How my heart palpitates at the thought. of thee. How my mind wanders back to thy presence with glee ! Can it be that thou lovest me? Friendly speak, I entreat thee ! How thy charm flows soft o'er my spirit rough and wild, How thou drawest out the good with thy manner gentle, mild ! Why is my tongue so free, Art thou but near to me? How an unfeigned, joyous glance speaks so honest to me. How thy voice appears ever agential to be! Art thou the counterpart to me, In temperament soothing and free? How pure is th}^ speech, and how lofty is thy thought. How reverest thou the right, and of evil knowest naught ! Yea, thou art dear to me, As only friend can be. 40 \^ E R S E S Dear Marguerite of modest hue, White and gold, and moist with dew You charm the eye amid the grasses, And sway your head with each fair wind That stirs the timothy in wavy dint. You look upon the sun's warm glow With ever open glance, and grow Erect upon your slender stem, Of modest pride, subdued, demure, Among your sister comrades, pure Like she, whose name you bear as proof Of sweet and heavenly innocent love. No fragrance charms the passing crowd, For one alone you are endowed, For him, who plucks you from your soil, Upon his breast a victim, spoil ; And when your head begins to droop, He chides his heart, that it could dare To have done harm to one so fair; He swears that never blossom more Will he bear off from its own floor. 41 VERSES SDancing feunbeamjS Twinkling, dancing, sprinkling sundrops Gliding o'er the esplanade Golden 3^ellow ; dark blue shadows Join them on the promenade; Tickling eyes, and sweet sensations Drawing in their merry flight, You'll not grasp them; they are fleeting; Swift are fled from out your sight. fLitf0 XtpfiVt 15ttt}t0 Gentle breezes, the zephyrs, sweep through the airy boughs. Soft sighs like lovers, recall love's early vows ; They come, they go, and oft return, Are sweet to each new ear, Are hushed when nature lies at rest, In springtime new appear. They soothe the memory sore with strife, Give comfort to a weary life. Infuse with hope of coming joy, E'en though they are but nature's toy. The gentle breezes, like zephyrs, sweep through the hoary boughs. Soft sighs, the angels, reveal God's heavenly vows. 42 • VERSES ^0 a jftienli on l^acation So thou art out of town today, Tomorrow, surely very gay! When in betrothed one's arms you lie, Each glance so sweet from her fair eye, Then, pra}^, do but one moment spare To think of friends, who have had share Of your esteem, your deep regard; Then fast forget the world of care, And be of naught but love a bard. ^ Eobe InUnitt Love knows no end, Love ne'er is spent ! Though tempest tears its case asunder, Though lightnings blast it, rends it thunder, Though arctic frost and tropic heat Destroy the frame, wherein love's seat, Though floods flow o'er the jewel shrine, Or earthquake bury it, or brine, The gem divine will ne'er lose worth, But purer, fairer be each birth ; Yea, love's sublime, circuitous course Outreaches life: — preternatural force! 43 VERSES Come, ^leep! Not yet enough of restless dreaming-? O sleep, come to my weary breast! O slumber, let thy wings be gleaming Upon this body, sore, distressed ! Give balsam to my tired spirits, Drop gently o'er these weary lids, Bestow upon these limbs their merits For toils, wrought as the daylight bids! Let muscle, nerve, each sinew's tension Be loosened in submissive rest, Let thoughts be gone ; in sweet ascension The mind within thy power be blest! Moonlit clouds are floating softly. Breezy boughs a-waving, lofty; Night is flying, peaceful, gently, Sighing, dying, breathing, wreathin^j, Sweetly soothing, calmly seething; Loving life in deepest slumber, Spinning dreams in countless number, Strewing rest with sweet assurance. Dusk the morn of life's endurance. 44 VERSES gout InUmnte Man, you have done no good to me, You have drawn only evil and sin from me. You have brought out the wicked in my nature, Have enslaved me to thoughts gross and base. You have sealed my lips with stubbornness, You have lured forth a state of revengeful- ness. You have given me no impetus for action, You have clipped the wings of my thought. You have buried the instinct of sacrifice, You have stained my heart with selfishness. You have shaken my high, moral standard. Have made me a prey to dire hatred. But anew will I rise from these ashes. Will work in high fields yet unknown. Will soar with new strength yet untested, Rise good, noble, true to my own. 45 VERSES Sweet clarions of music swell the breast That heaves in hopeful longing; It casts its claim with all the rest Unto a rosy dawning; In mellow tones it sings its song, That heart that still is tender, young. On cheerful, dewy morn it beats Within a breast of sunshine ; Through meadow^ and through grove it fleets, Through bower of the woodbine; Loud tones flow from young tallied hearts, Sweet fragrance from love's blossom parts. Let not the tie where love a liege, Be torn so fast asunder! Though tastes may differ, yet no breach, Please, let my heart prey under! I see no path that leads to light, In darkness I, unwonted; And still I feel this path is right, Though lonely, dark, e'en haunted. 46 VERSES Cntteatg to 3og O Joy, it is so sad to part, To leave thee, so benign; The heart a-quiver with youthful dart, It must refrain, decline! O Joy, thou art youth's only quest. Thou touch'st my heartstring still; And yet, O Joy, I must bequest Thee to the past — Be still ! Alas, thy music trips my feet, My heart leaps to thy strain, My voice sings songs of past so sweet,— O Joy, must I refrain? Just once more let me lead the ball. Just once more dance the waltz, Just once more grace the banquet-hall, And then, Joy, pla)^ me false! Then let me be content with joy That is not of thy kin. Then let me labor, work ; decoy, Forget thy w^orldh^ din! 47 VERSES Sou How dare you judge of her ethical value, You, who know not the facts of the case ? How dare you think she was guilty and un- true. You, who see but the game, not the chase ? Oh, pity! That you, who so subtle, full of justice, Should not feel that she ne'er could have done such a deed, But with judgment and suffering. With mind and heart guided, Persistence, yet courage, With sacrifice, self-scourge! Mind well, there is knowledge known but by one knower! Pay heed, there is action judged by but one Doer! ^ iubenta^ Oh, could I call back days gone past Of joy, of sorrow, all! Oh, could I say, — "They're not the last, They're not gone by, not all !" Oh, come once more, youth, come again, In happiness I'll greet thee then! 48 VERSES fetttbing tor t^t Mnattsiinablt What is it that does urge me on, That never gives me rest, That spurs and pains, ne'er satisfies, That drives me to despair? Not music, love, nor art can stave it. Not learning rest the craving. What is it tears both soul and body? Is it a God seeks passage earthward ? Is it a spirit seeks to pierce me? It seems to promise joy if reached. And still it pains me unachieved ; It seems to be the bliss of living, And yet the promise but of dying ; It whips me from behind, before. It draws me to a joyful shore. And yet it never lets me pass there. But always wends itself much faster Until a madness, sort of nightmare. Is solely payment for the craving. W^t JftencJ ^Itmnhtint Why should your rhyme be so mechanic. Your rhythm trite and monotonic? In music is rhythm. But rhythm is not music. 49 VERSES Tlo a ^tabdtng Companion Thou art a rarity, an oddity, — But thou dost lack that which thou should'st not; — Thou art resigned through disappointment; But why resign? Why stake Hfe's tide so low? Why ebb when thrill of youth is still within thee? Awake! Arise! Begin anew another theme! Life's song symphonic flows along: The Introduction and Adagio gone, Let Schersoes of a Beethoven appear; Sweet melancholy soon will dwindle small To life's whole fulness, as the end draws near; 'Tis not a Coda closeth such a life, A grand Finale crowneth all this strife! Thou art physician; let that be a cause Wherein much good and greatness rest; Seek a fair maid, build thee a hearth thine own, Let past be past, and future gleaming bright ahead. 50 VERSES Thou art so kind, so even-tempered, good, It gives one cheer to meet thee so; But keep thy standard brandished ever high, Most evident to every searching eye!