I'^mmii T53F6 1910 /kO^ ^% ■5^"-. .^^ ,~Jv^ <>^. '^' A^^' ^oV" V' . f^^ .0^ ^ >" .-^^m- ■a? ^ 3Fnr 3Fr^^&0m W1L.I. ATKINSON II L V-tU' J Copyright, 1910 By WILT. ATKINSON. Metropolitan Press, Seattle, U. S. A. €CI.A278540 ®0 iffly iMntlirr Witl) a«rl| a mutl|pr: faUlt tu uwmmttktttJi iBrata itittlt I|tH hlaah, mih trust tu all tliiugs Iftgli (Cmura easy tu Ijim, aui> tliu' be trip aub fall ^t altall uut liUuii l|ia auul hiitl) rlag." RAGGED HEROES ■Frojn the Hungarian of Alexander Petofi. Rendered Into English Verse by Alice Stone Blackwell. I, too, could dress my verses up In rhymes and metres fair, As fits when we go visiting In fashion's pomp and glare. But my thoughts are not idle youths Who for amusement live. To go, in gloves and well-curled locks, Calls to receive and give. No sword rings now, no cannon booms ; Dim rust has quenched their rage ; Yet war goes on ; instead of swords. Ideas the battle wage. AmO'iig your warriors, O my Time! I combat as I can. 'Tis by my poems I contend ; Each is a fighting man. Ragged but valiant lads are they, All brave in battle's press. A soldier's duty is performed By courage, not by dress. Whether my poems will survive I do not ask at all ; If in this battle they perchance Must perish, let them fall. This book that holds my dead ideas E'en then will sacred be, Because of heroes 'tis the grave Who died for Liberty! TO CRITICS If ye like not rhyme or meter, Think! The truth's the thing Other writers' rhymes are sweeter ; Have mine truth and sting? CONTENTS ST. PATRICK'S GOSPEL ^""^^ GIVE YE HIS DUE TO CAES AP '" CLIMB DOWN ^^ESAR ^g SOME CRAZY NOTIONS '' THE SONS OP TOIL. ^^ (An Answer to Rudyard' -w^'i'- " ', ^^ of Martha") "^'''^'^ Kiplmg's "Sons FREEDOM'S CALL "^mSELPlSHNESS mammon-can: " A SONG FOR THe"timeS ^^ THE PACKTHREADS OP THE L^^'w' ' " ' '' TO AMBROSE BIERCE "^^ ^^^^ " ' ' • 39 EARTH'S GREATEST CROP '' PRAYER ^3 DE PROPUNDIS. ... ■ ■ ■ • ^^ THE PIRE DIVINE ^^ PROGRESS AND POVERTY '' TO OUR SON ^I GRIT 53 TYRANNY OR LIBERTY ^^ TO SOURDOUGHS ^^ CDME, LAMP OP GOD ^^ ALASKA'S CALL . ^^ 63 CONTENTS— ( Co^^^'^'^^'^O Page WHEN I.OVE ONCE COMES 6^ ... 66 TO JUNE g„ TO MY WIFE ^^ 'TIS NOT LOVE ^^^ DESOLATE ^j^ HOME ^^ NOR TIME NOR TIDE AMID THE GLORIES OF THY NATIVE ^^ HEAVEN ERE DEATH BECAME MY DAILY ^^ GUEST l'^ MY HEART'S STILL THINE ^_ WHERE IS MY LOVE? ^=^ GRIEVE NOT THY SOUL ' ' MY SPIRIT SHALL STAY FREE ^^^ DIVORCE ^'^ THE MAN WHO'LL DARE AN ANSWER TO -THE SONG OF THE ^^ DRIFTWEED" THE LAW OF LIFE THROUGH SUFFERING TO JOY? 84 AYE, OUT OF BITTER DARKNESS Sf. ST. PATRICK'S GOSPEL This fs St. Patrick's message, ''Hear all 3/e sons of toil ! There is no hope for labor Till ye reclaim earth's soil ! "By Erin's ruined hamlets, By Erin's famine years, Hark to this God sent gospel, Fair fruit oi blood and tears! "The pirates who enslaved me And sold me o'er the main, Are kin to those who sell God's earth And so make slaves again. "Yet tell it not in anger, Proclaim it not in wrath, But as a gospel from above To show God's chosen path. 17 ''Fling to the winds our banner, Fair flag of light and life, The Emerald with the sun-burst Foretelling end of strife! "Tear down the paper barriers That bar men from God's land ! Does any son of Ireland fear The weight of a dead hand? "By th' tears of exiled daughters, By th' blood of martyred sons, God's Earth is for the Living!'* St. Patrick's Gospel runs. 18 GIVE YE HIS DUE TO CAESAR The Fair Christ came! The Fair Christ passed awaj^! Has He no message for our later day When Dives denies Lazarus a crumb? When miser}'^ appeals and skies are dumb? Oh, ye of little faith and earth-bo-und eyes, Lift up your hearts and see Lord Christ arise! Hear ye once more the words of his dear lips Men's sophistries and cunning laws eclipse. "Give ye his due to Caesar!" "Yea, Lord, yea! We take shrewd toll from labor day by day That Caesar may be paid his meed of rent ! This law of Thine we keep! Be thou content!" 19 "We spin the wool and weave the linen fine , 1 And reap the fields while Caesars robe and dine I , We, naked, lace the winters cold and Storm ^ To gather wood to keep our Caesar. warm. "In mines. Thy children, (who would fain be free . To play with flowers or swim m Thy blue sea) Are bound to stifling toil that Caesar may be paid ; , i ^ Why now repeat the words thou long hast said?" "Art sure the rents are Caesar's that ye WereTe bid slave for others day by day? Men i scant faith 1 From your own snares break free! . , 1 ,.nt God's, bind men to Mens laws, not «joq s, slavery!" 20 "Blind leaders of the blind! Hear yet again ! This earth God gave to all the sons of men ! The land is for the living! Our earth grieves O'er men's evil laws. Pay no rent to thieves! "Ye pay toil's dues to Caesar, and despoil Your children of the bread wrung from the soil. Take back the heritage the Lord God gave ! God made ye men ; men's laws have made the slave!" 21 CLIMB DOWN The peril in China is yellow! At home, here, the}^ say it is black ! There will ever be peril to some one Till man shall climb down from man's back! They have sung of our burdens out yonder, They have told us their morals are slack I But the white man's sore burden will vanish. When we get off the darker man's back! We may drive in the Bible with bayonets; We may set wear's grim liounds on his track. But we'll never do much for the brown man Till we take all our weight from his back! Do you wonder Christ's words merely mock him ? That he thinks Christian virtues we lack, When we take each week six days to plunder And put all our load on his back? Some at home take pleasure in slumming, To see how men live in a shack, But if from suffering you'd free him, Just get off the poorer man's back! Go'd's skies will grow golden with promise God's harvests will meet ev'ry lack. And brothers will all the wide world be, When we get off the other man's back! 23 SOME CRAZY NOTIONS Is it such a crazy notion ? John says he owns the ocean Because he caught a fish ! Yet laugh not jet, my brothers, It may be there are others Who see things as they wish. Here comes a lordling grand Who says he owns the land On which wt all must live! How can he own the earth? What gave that notion birth? What deed has man to give? God's message soundeth clear: "My living children here, There is all the land For use, but not for barter." This is our Gospel charter Given by God's own hand. 24 THE SONS OF TOIL An answer to Rudyard Kipling's "Sons of Martha." Heed not, my brothers, the lying story, Though the words come sweet from hone)^ed tongue And the light of genius lends them glory, 'Tis an old, false tale his lips have sung. On the Sons of Martha he lays the curses That O'f old were laid on the Sons of Ham, And he gilds his lies in glowing verses That bid thieves prosper — the robbed be calm. This is his message to those who shiver Though through their toil the thieves are warm; "The Lord, who came from sin to deliver. He bids you — naked — go face the storm." 'Tis is a mo'nstroiis tale those lines are telling Of a heathen God who scourges His sons, Who bids drones welcome to His dwelling But curses workers, this story runs. Where nakedness clothing for idlers is w^eaving, Where hunger reaps grain that idlers take, Where toilers are starving and wan and grieving, This is the land of the Devil Snake. Where those who hew wood are cold and shiver. While idlers are warm by the fires they fed. Where the sons of toil in agony quiver. Though altar fires burn — true faith is dead. List, ye world of the unbelieving, List, ye he miscalls Martha's sons, God has never sanctioned thieving, "In the sweat of thy brow" His message runs. Not in the sweat of the brows of others. Not from the fruit of others' toil, Not from the blood of these, thy brothers. But earn thyself, thy bread from the soil. Look ! Ye may read it whilst ye are running. Hark! Ye may hear it in every wind, Man's laws may mark but devils' cunning, God's laws say heed the poor and blind. Who are the sons who seldom bother? Who but the Sons of Stolen Hoards? The Sons of To'il wrest from earth, their mother. Her bounteous blessings — to feed these lords. 27 'Tis the Sons of Toil who harness thunder, And drive their barks thro' the threat'- ning main: Their miracles waken the wide world's wonder, But the Sons of Hoards — take toll again. 'Tis not from the words o-f Christ, the Worker, That the Sons of Hoards draw their so- called rights: He gave no blessing to drone or shirker But bade men work for all earth's de- lights. List to the words of God the Teacher, This is the w\ay His Gospel runs, "Deny not My bounty to any creature, This earth belongs to My Living Sons." 28 FREEDOM'S CALL When Dickens came to Boston What were the words he said? "There are no beggars on these streets Asking us ahns for bread." When Dickens came to Boston, What was the song we sang? ^^ ''Oh! Come from ev'ry nation" To- Heaven the chorus rang. "Oh! Come from ev'ry nation! And come from ev'ry way! Come from all wide creation ! Haste! Make you no delay." "For Uncle Sam is rich enough To give you all a farm!" But now in place of welcome, We view them with alarm! That song rang o'er the mountains, 'Twas heard across the sea! 'Twas murmured in dark dungeons And sung there, fearfully! 29 The tyrant caught its echo And shuddered as he heard ! The bond slave, staggering to his task Grew stronger at that word ! For WT were then a world power And our flag floated high! For Greek or Turk or Slav or Pole Hope's star shone in our skj^ Aye, we were then a world power What need for armies then? Who'd strike at Freedom's refuge Knew he'd ne'er strike again ! For all the earth was stirring With hope of Freedom's cheer, Tho'Ugh slaves at home to despots, They stood as men w^hen here! From Ireland's ruined hamlets To far off Isles of Greese Our starry flag lived in the hearts Of all who sought release! 30 How have the mighty fallen! Have Freedom's blessings fled? Oh! help your recreant children Ye ho'Sts of mighty dead ! The men who flee from tyrants Find now no welcome here, Our hearts which once beat warmly Are cold with craven fear! Where once the wide world loved us And watched us from afar, And prayed for heaven's blessing On us, Hope's guiding Star, Now, wt build tariff barriers, Now, we, like heathen, trust In steel and shell and cannon, Which crumble into dust! Does freedom then forsake us? Nay! Hear her call again: "Trust no more in shot and shell Rise and again be men!" 31 'For ye a richer future Than carved by Europe's sword, For ye a grander service Than aping her War Lord!" "Sweep, sweep away the barriers That bar men from God's soil! Give to all their heritage, The full fruits of their toil!" 'Then shall earth's sore oppressed Take heart of hope again ! And bless the starry banner Which out of slaves makes men!' "BUT UNSELFISHNESS MAMMON CANNOT BUY " Ye say that men are selfish and sodden deep in sin, Ye say that they obscure the light that shineth from within ; Yet how the dark clouds lighten, when we read on history's page, Stories that make earth brighten, of hero, seer and sage. The palaces of Pharaoh, with cooling shade and tower Moses left to live with slaves and dare that tyrant's power. He left the converse of the learned, the pleasures of the feast, To fight and toil and struggle for slaves regarded least. He led them forth from bondage, across the desert drear. To th' glories of th' Promised Land, which now we're seeking here; A land of milk and honey; with wondrous harvests blest, Where slaves found long-sought freedom, and all the weary, rest. His laws made all men equal, nor could tyranny abide. Before His courts of justice which humbled perverse pride. Read now the laws he taught them, and, if ye will, ye may Learn how to lead to freedom the slaves on earth todav! 34 Oh, men, whose hearts are bleeding for humanity's dark side, Lift up your eyes and read again how the great Gracchi died. Yet while rejoicing in their work, their casting self away, Think what their teaching still may mean to suffering ones today. Of all these great interpreters who taught God's way again. And showed how weak is selfish might against unselfish men. Forget not, ye who labor now, in midnight mine and forge. The words of God's great seer today, our martyred Henry George ! If still your hearts are troubled, and still the skies seem gray, Think of earth's myriad mothers who eschew self today. Soon shall their self denial shine, a beacon to the world. And man's laws be with God's aligned and sin's black flags be furled. 36 A SONG FOR THE TIMES Still are Thy martyrs dying ! Still are Thy saints in grief! Still are Thy children crying! Oh, God! Grant us relief! Thy little ones in slavery toil, The evil still the good despoil. Those who sowed not are reaping The grain which hunger needs. The poor are vainly weeping. Change our weak prayers to deeds! Bid all earth's wars and rapine cease That we may worship Thee in peace. Still shivering cold is bleeding. And blood stains Thy pure snow, Though still our toil is feeding The fires, w^e feel no glow. For human laws help greed in theft, And strenuous toil has nothing left. 37 Oh, mortal! Vain thy calling! God works not for us so. If still the gC'od are falling. And still thieves richer grow, Look for the cause thyself w^ithin, That thou dost weakly yield is sin. The laws which need repealing Were wrought by human hands They sanction sin and stealing And bar toil from our lands. Join idle hands to idle soil And God will bless us in our toil. 38 THE PACK THREADS OF THE LAW I saw a mighty giant lying prone upon the ground, His form was worn and wasted, his chil- dren all around Were thin and pinched by hunger, yet he made no move to rise, Though he could see their suffering and he could hear their cries. High walls rose all around them and they wTre crowded close ; Though green fields lay beyond them, they set no foot in those. And still the starving children wept though food was w^asting near ; They seemed subdued by suffering and cowed by causeless fear. 39 The fields without were fertile, fruit on the trees hung fair, The grain was piled in golden heaps, but it lay rotting there; Rats ran in and out the piles and they were fat and sleek, The children crowded in those walls were thin and wan and weak. "O giant, why lie idle there?" Then cried I in amaze. The giant slowly turned his head and looked with hopeless gaze. "The fields are rich with harvest, go reap that golden grain And give to those who' hunger to ease their gnawing pain." "The walls prevent," the giant said. "The fields are owned by men Who need my toil no longer, so they shut us in this pen ; I cannot rise, for I am bound and must lie helpless here, Though children die around me and I lose all I hold most dear." 40 Yet those walls were merely paper! And looking down I saw The giant was bound o^nly by the pack threads of the law! We dream w^e're slaves to others, but we are far more base ; Our own fears 'tis that bind us and with us all our race! If our own wives and children feel the pangs of hunger gnaw^ 'Tis because we fear to break them, those thin threads of law! God gave no right to idlers to bar labor from the land ; Go, till those unused acres, trust in His Almighty Hand! The walls that bar from unused land, those walls were made by men ! Rise, ye who suffer, in your might, and tear them down again ! Rise, for yo-ur children and your homes! Take this for sign and shield, God's law^s are for eternity! Men's laws may be repealed ! 41 TO AMBROSE BIERCE I must exclaim against this thing (Though my protest may matter not) : It was not wine (has Bierce forgot?) Which poets drank of old. When from his soul a seer would sing, He sought the famed Pierian spring And drank its waters cold. Now, while our laws still sanction wrong. While children groan in mine and mart, While women walk with bleeding heart Along our great white w^ay. And find no pity in that throng, Are there not nobler themes for song Than folly's w^anton play? 42 EARTH'S GREATEST CROP Ho ! Seller in the market place, How fares our grain crop now? Devours the green bug still apace? Will sun or frost w^n in the race? Is it dry enough to plow? Ho ! Watcher in the market place, How fares our crop of men ? In cit}^ street, in city slum. Unheeded, little children come, Shall they grow up to do God's will, Or labor for the devil still ? Ho! Lawyer in earth's judgment hall, Is justice jest and play? Do rich and poor as equals stand Before your law's avenging hand? Art ready, ye, to hear God's call And face His court today? Ho! Statesmen, ye who make men's laws Learn wisdom from the past ; If your laws yet defy God's will And ro'b toil of its earnings still, Driving our babes to mine and mill. How may our Nation last? 43 PRAYER It is not prayer when with our tongues we say "We love Thy laws, Oh Lord ; and pray Thee guard Our hearts from harm and feet from slipp'ry w^ay;" Then straight seek out sin's paths His laws have barred. It is not prayer to fold our hands and ask Our God to shield us from our human law\s That bind our children to soul-wracking task; Ours is the crime ; ours to remove the cause. His sun and showers our yearly harvests bring; His days are filled with plenteous reward ; To greed and crime O'ur laws His blessings fling, And hunger bar from bread, with legal sword. 44 Prayer is the work our busy hands have wrought, Not the weak words our lips have feebly said : Prayer is the act that bane or blessing brought ; Words without deeds are profitless and dead. Would you pray truly? Break the barriers down That fence earth's soil from hungry toilers' needs. Fear neither human law, nor human frown That mock God's laws. Prayers are not words, but deeds. 45 DE PROFUNDIS Two thousand years the earth has heard Thy story Two thousand years of sin and want and crime ! And still we watch the heavens for Thy glory And still we wait the coming of Thy glad new time. Canst Thc'U not hear the mourning mothers sighing? Wilt Thou not heed truth's martyrs when they call? Dost Thou not hear Thy starving children crying? Oh ! is it nought to Thee when truth's brave banners fall? 4C Beneath the march of wrong the weary world is reeling, Truth and right b}^ armored might are often overborne, Men worship hoarded wealth though it be got by stealing, When will night pass and usher in Thy w^elcome morn ? The weary widow nettles to- her hungry babe is feeding. With arduous toil and care her patient back is bent. The earth lord takes the food that famished child is needing Calling this tribute wrung from want his proper rent. Come, Lord, and succor us! See, at Thy shrine we're kneeling, On this wricked, sinful world avenge thy slaughtered saints. Art deaf to our complaints? Wilt not an- swer O'ur appealing? Beneath life's burdens overborne mark how Thy martyr faints. 47 "Oh ! Mortal ! Vain and frivo-lous is thy complaining Doth earth not yield to toil her harvest of increase ? Shines not the sun? Are fields not thankful for the raining? The seasons come and pass; go reap their fruits in peace. Go, clear the fertile fields from brambles of man's sowing, Abolish all man's laws which steal from those who- toil, Then in freedom's fruitfulness, thy blessings will be growing The bounty of full harvests shall spring from all earth's soil. Not from God's laws but human laws are children dying, 'Tis not God's laws but man's which make the righteo'us moan, Abolish evil laws if thou wouldst stop earth's sighing. End all the laws that now^ deprive fair labor of her own. 48 I give the sons of man the wide earth for their plowing, I feed with rain the thirsty soil and cause the sun to shine, I give to labor all earth's yield for man's endowing Who are these idle lordlings who dare to say "Tis mine?' Align man's laws with mine if thou wouldst My will be doing And cause earth's slaughtering and pilfer- ing to cease, This only will prevent man after man pur- suing And will usher in the glory of the thou- sand years of peace." 49 THE FIRE DIVINE How felt Prometheus on the rock When hunger, heat and thirst pursued ? When his head felt the tempest's shock Was his bold soul by fear subdued? When vulture's beak and talons tore The flesh o-f fire's first conqueror What was his prayer, what was his mood? His soul from man's cause never swerved, Though nerves were racked and body bled ; Listen, ye earthborn, whom he served, Hear what the proud Prometheus said, "God grant the fire I kindle here, May nevermore be quenched by fear, But may men cheer though I be dead." Though racked my soul and my friends fled Kindle my heart with kindred fire Oh, God of great Prometheus dead. Let me, too, dare the tyrant's ire, Who filch from want and steal toil's bread. 50 PROGRESS AND POVERTY The lightning of the angry gods wears now our ball and chain, We've harnessed all the winds that blow and tides that swell the main.. Our sun's bright rays create new days where nature fixed the nights, And now we dare to ride the air and mock the eagles' flights. Yet where our grand cathedrals rise with sculptured arch and fane Our women feebly fight for food, and fight for food in vain; Our little children helpless lie in squalor, want and dirt, And through the organ's vibrant peal ring cries of mortal hurt. We've turned the torrents from their course and bade them work for man, To ev'ry question fate may ask we swiftly say "I can ;" At this new riddle of the sphinx, which clouds our midday sky, Shall we, like men bend to this task or fold our hands and cry? 51 If hunger reaps, yet may not eat, our bounteous fields of grain, If cold feeds still the close-fenced fires, while greed counts still its gain. If nakedness yet weaves the cloth that idle- ness doth seize. And shivering men, who fuel bring, are left without to freeze. If children toil through night's bleak hours, amid the midnight's grime, Pale, w^eazened mockeries of men, made old before their time. It is because we fear to take the heritage God gave And, where our sires for freedom fought, we crouch and play the slave. Then up, be men, and strike one blow for Freedom, God and Right, Our martyred sires of every age are with us in this fight! This earth is all our heritage from God's Almighty Hand, Take for a weapon Single Tax and with it free the land ! 52 TO OUR SON In coming days, when they shall say to thee "Thou canst not see thy mother," dear son, say "I see her in the foam capped waves at sea Whose white souls may not vie with hers; She shed all troubles as the sea sheds spray ; I see her lofty nature in those firs Whose gothic arches call God's worship- pers. Each rose of her dear loveliness may tell, And every lily murmurs forth her praise, The violet speaks her sweetness in its dell, The golden rod may measure forth her w^orth. Whose gold was heaven's own and no't of earth. The sunflower types her faithful so'ul that stays Fixed ever to the sun that she loves wtII. And when amid a field of ripening wheat A breeze may ripple it like waves at sea, So was the golden glory of her hair. And all things lovely, if they be complete Must some way in her tender radiance share. Weak are all words to tell her loss to me, So softly bound in love's sweet bonds, yet free. Where, gently murmuring, wooing waters meet "This holds," then say, "some hint of her sweet voice Which bade all hearts that heard her to rejoice." If perched upon some lofty mountain seat Thou seest an eagle fly straight at the sun. So straightly flew her soul to heaven won Rejoicing over sin and death's defeat. 54 And when on cloudless day or starry night Thou seest the wondrous blues of Heaven's skies, They cannot match the splendors of her eyes Which were twin lovely wtUs foT truth's delight. Nor wealth of ivory nor mounts of snow Might vie wnth those sweet breasts that lay below, Where oft thy head has lain ; she loved thee so. And if in some great conflict yet to come, Thou mayst shed thy young blood for liberty, Thank God for that; and though no mar- tial drum Nerve thee for death, then, to thine inner ear Shall come thy mother's voice; hark well to hear, "This bliss, dear son, I've asked that Heaven grant me," Then nobly die, because she lives in thee, 55 GRIT When the bugles ring out their wild chal- lenge And bid us charge straight for the wall How little we care for the danger, How dances our blo'od at the call, We spur at the ramparts together And shrink not though brothers may fall. But when the black midnight aw^akes us To face some stark danger alone, How fares it with you then, my brother, Can you stifle the sound of your groan, And bravely meet odds, though appalling. And w^ounded make never a moan? And when the black steeds of disaster Come galloping down the dark glen. And ever they come, fast and faster And you are alone with them then, In those anguished hours are you master With your courage unnoted by men? 56 When loneh^ and heartsick with anguish Can you listen to some brother's tale And bid him work on and be cheerful And smother _vour own heart's sad wail? Can you bid him meet fate with high courage Though the star of your hope has grown pale? Yet frail women, whom shadows make fearful, Who shudder at danger and pain, And at mere thought of bloodshed are tearful Can brace up our coiu'age again And help us face fate and be cheerful. Then why of men's grit are we vain? TYRANNY OR LIBERTY Two roads there are which lie before us plain : Two roads, whose end all who look long may see ; The one leads back to tyranny and pain, And one leads on to blessed liberty. Signposts there are; some made by faltering men Whose vision never rose 'bove mire and clod ; And some there are which stir men's souls again For they were painted by the hand of God ! Restrictions are the weapons tyrants wield : Not by their use may we make all men free : We must abolish laws which are crime's shield If we would end all war and tyranny. 5S We have forged paper fetters for God's soil ! We bar the unused earth from hungry men ! We must release these lands tO' those who toil And give them back their heritage again. We must abolish! Let God's laws have sway 1 Wipe out men's laws which work but evil still! Then, then, shall dawn that brighter, fairer day, When man, unhindered, shall work out God's will ! 59 TO SOURDOUGHS Yo'U have climbed sky tovv'ring glaciers You have mushed in through the snow You have learned the lore of ages Only the brave may know; You have forced from Death his secrets Though he buffets you about, Yet the Guggenheims will get you If you don't watch out. You may win your game w^ith Fortune Though you know Death co'gs the Dice, You have left behind the sunshine To face bleak worlds of ice, You have conquered myriad perils. Undeterred by fear or doubt But the Guggenheims w^ill get you If vou don't watch out. 60 More treacherous than the river. Where the thin ice masks its flow, Far keener than the wolf's sharp fangs, Colder than sleet or snow, Is their devouring maw of greed, More cruel than the knout. For the Guggenheims have got you If you don't watch out. Their methods are the wolf pack's, Their morals are the stye's, They wring their gold from famine And heed not hunger's cries. Oh, Alaskans, rise and fight them, Drive their hireling crew to rout. Such thieves are only dangerous When you don't watch O'Ut. 61 COME, LAMP OF GOD "Come, Lamp of God and light The darkness of our earth! Make life's dim corners bright With a celestial birth, For sorro'W, sin and strife shall reign Till Thou dost claim Thine own again. Come, Lamp of God, we must Test our crude laws by Thee ! Oh, teach us to be just! We dwTll in slavery. If Thy light in our eyes should burn For perfect truth our hearts w^ould yearn. Come, Lamp of God, the sky Is black with human woe. They twist Thy laws awry Who reap, yet do not sow. Oh, teach us to be brothers just Ere all our frames dissolve in dust. 62 ALASKA'S CALL Strong arms and stouts hearts, List to fair Alaska's call ! "Here's welcome to the willing! Here is room and wealth for all ! "Yours — come reach out and take them- Are the fish that swim my seas! Yours my gold and tin and copper- Come and share my wealth of these ! "Not alone on sea and mountain Are there fortunes to be won ; I have fields that need but tilling And their gold outshines the sun ! "There are millions of my acres Where now^ but wild grass waves, To make homes for sturdy freemen ; Will ye linger south as slaves?" Strong arms and stout hearts, List to fair Alaska's call! Here a royal realm awaits you! Here is room and wealth for all ! 63 WHEN LOVE ONCE COMES. When Love once comes, love comes to stay forever, Heed not the idle tales that Love may fade away. When Love once comes, he comes to part, ah, never! He'll be your constant guest, forever and a day. Love's not all immortal and Love sometimes may sleep. When he sleeps, you may dream, that Love has fled away. Let not your heart be troubled, drink not of grief too deep. For Lo've shall waken blithely when dawns our bright new day. 64 Fancies come a trooping when distance fond hearts sever, Sordid cares and worries may fright our love awhile, But there's nothing earthly may part true hearts forever. You'll banish all your worries if you greet them with a smile. Hand in hand we've walked adown Love's flower bordered alleys, Bitterness and woe have fled the sun- shine of 3 our smile; — True happiness still waits us in violet studded valleys, Soon we'll cross care's mountains and linger there awhile. TO JUNE Dear love, our rugged English speech Is all too cold and harsh and rough To speak my love. It cannot reach Love's height divine, nor tell enough The rapturous ecstacy I feel. Teach me, svv'eet, the heavenly lore Of thy true eyes, whose depths reveal Love's wealth, which I knew not hefore. Then may I tell thee, soul to soul And heart to heart and eye to eye, In that sweet speech no lips control I'll love but thee, dear, till I die. 66 TO MY WIFE Gilder sings, "So Heaven but thy cup fill Be empty mine, through all eternity." When thy cup's full, mine cannot empty be Since all my happiness is serving thee, And all I am is subject to thy will. If I have strength, 'tis for thy service, sweet ; What skill is mine shall smoother fo-r thy feet Make life's rugged pathway: What little wit God gave me is but to make better fit For thy fair soul our earthly dwelling place Till Heaven shall claim again thy heavenly grace. 67 'TIS NOT LOVE 'Tis not love, though It may wear love's seeming That Cometh in the sun to flee when shadows fall Oh, shame not love by such an idle dream- ing, Shadow time to true love is the sweetest time of all ! Walking close in sunshine, when all life's lanes look charming To flee from thy love when clo'uds close like a pall. We taste not the joy of shelt'ring love from harming, When the skies frown blackest is love's dearest time of all. DESOLATE I am thrice armed 'gainst any storm that blows, My naked breast is open to the snows, I can, undaunted, now face any fate For thou, my love, hast left me desolate. Poor is my purse, but rich my mem'ries are. Worm of the earth, I dared to wed a star; The star has gone, 3'et I mourn not my fate Though thou, my love, hast left me desolate. Thou canst not rob me of the glories past, Thy love may change, its memory shall last, Then welcome death, though it come soon or late ^Jy peerless love has left me desolate. 69 HOME Drear, drear, has been the night With its black shadows falling, When storm clouds hid the light And beasts of prey were calling, And somber shapes of darkness Mid shadovv's loomed appalling. But soon we'll go back home. Our day of joy will come, Oh, sweetheart, doubt it never! Nor time nor tide nor strife May part true hearts forever, Nor storm nor sea nor stress Shall serve our hearts to sever, Some day we'll go back home. Then bitter shall be sweet, Lo ! the day is drawing nearer. Guard now your stumbling feet The dawn will soon shine clearer! There's the lark's song now. Open wide your heart to hear her ! We're going back home! NOR TIME NOR TIDE Nor time, nor tide Nor distance then shall keep Thy loving heart from mine in days to come. When I lie down to sleep 'Neath the soft grasses closely by thy side Thine eyes shall speak, though thy dear lips stay dumb. Canst thou not see Through Death's obscuring veil, How my heart yearns for thy soft loving touch ? Though I succeed, I fail, — For I lack everything while wanting thee, But must plod patient o^n, enduring much. This hope endures Thy love outlasts all things, E'en death cannot o'er thy sweet love prevail. Wealth flies on unseen wings, Dangers thicken, friends flee, yet nought obscures Thy love; that shall be mine, though all else fail. AMID THE GLORIES OF THY NATIVE HEAVEN Amid the glories O'f thy native Heaven Dost thou, love, ever say "How brief a span was our bright dream on earth. How short that blissful day. We had but tasted once of Love's full store When God called me away?" From Heavenly fields and ever cloudless skies. From suns that never set, Dost thou look down upon this sin stained earth With longing and regret? Among Heaven's sons — the God anointed ones Oh, dost thou love me yet? I know thou dost; no bliss of Paradise Could turn thy love aside. It was on earth a foretaste sweet of Heaven Storm proof though tempest tried; Nor ever flaw its perfectness did mar Since thou wert first my bride. 72 ERE DEATH BECAME MY DAILY GUEST Ere Death became my daily guest I had high hopes and daring dreams. Now life is one long prayer for rest, I sigh for her I loved the best Who made this earth all Heaven seems. ''God knov^eth best!" I strive to say, My heart rebellious, spurns the rod. My thoughts are with thee every day Sw^et saint, still save me when I stray Till we two sleep beneath the sod. 73 MY HEART'S STILL THINE If, sweetheart, when tho-ii didst walk with me. With patient step the rugged roads of earth. Thy purer faith then helped my soul to see Duty's rough pathway, — this diviner birth Men miscall death, brings greater power to thee To make my life of nobler, higher worth. My heart's still thine; though thou art far away. My body 's thine ; though thou art in the skies ; My soul is thine; oh mould me as the clay By potter's fingers, deft and strong and w^ise, (Though with its brother clods long time it lay) Is beautified till fit for Paradise. WHERE IS I\IY LOVE? The brooks have broken from the ice king's power And dance down snowy hill sides in their glee; The wooing sun earth's heart stirs moTe each hour, The wondrous niAster)^ of spring is here ; Where is my love that comes not back to From death the flowers spring to quickened life, And leaflets burst from every budding tree. O'er death they triumph in the endless strife, This miracle of life from death we see. From death, oh wife, canst thou not come to me? If I walk blindly, wert thou not mine eyes? Shall I not stumble with thy light with- drawn ? If I should falter, need it bring surprise? I walk in darkness for thou wert my dawn, Fain would I follow w^here thy feet have gone. Yet, since I may not follow^ for a space, I'll strive to meet thy washes as when here, That I may meet thee some day face to face In that new home thy presence shall make dear ; In that sweet hope I'll patient run life's race. I'll greet thy beauty in each blooming flower, I'll hear thy voice in every blithe bird's song, Thy memory, love, shall o'er ill fate have power. And 'guile the weary w^ay from seeming long. Despite all trials, thou shalt make me strong. 76 GRIEVE NOT THY SOUL Grieve not thy soul, oh mortal, Though sorrow's skies be gray. This day is but the portal To a more perfect day. Steep not thy soul in sorrow. But meet grief with a smile, There's a glorious tomorrow, And a golden afterwhile. So, sad though sorrow's seeming Sink not thyself in grief; Tomorrow's sun, bright beaming, Shall bring thee sweet relief. T7 MY SPIRIT SHALL STAY FREE Though it ma}' be I cannot conquer fate, Fate shall not conquer me. My body may be bowed by grief ot chains, My spirit shall stay free. If strenuous toil shall fail some prize to win I will not weakly .yield, But boldly meet all foemen face to face Till borne back on my shield. Weaklings may drift with any turbid tide, I'll swim straight for the shore. Till strength be spent and angry surges whelm And mortal do no more. DIVORCE The envy bred of ignorance runneth our whole lives through, And so there comes divorce in our lives; we know what the old will do. And we hope to wed with an angel and not with human clay, So we seek afar for new virtues and cast those we've proven away. But there comes a time in our seeking when we know the old was best, A^nd we'd forfeit our hope of heaven to sob out our griefs on his breast. THE MAN WHO'LL DARE Hark to an old time Gospel Ye men, oppressed by care, Th' heavens above, the earth below Are all for the man who'll dare! Though fate beat down your buckler And fortune's lure prove snare. Yet, force the fighting further, The world's fo-r the man who'll dare! Still are seas unvexed by sailor, Still evil lurks in its lair; And childhood's crushed and moaning While we wait for th' man who'll dare. Are babes robbed of their birthright? Are children cumbered with care? In slav'ry th' days pass slowly While we wait for th' man who'll dare. He'll change man's laws which curse us. He'll conquer the realms of air! And toil worn babes shall bless him For Freedom — th' man who'll dare! AN ANSWER TO "THE SONG OF THE DRH^TWEED" 'Ware the siren verses Jessie Mackay sings, Of men who are but driftweed The sport of baser things, Only windblown spindrift Of little worth or weight, Drifting, drifting, drifting Dumbly to our fate. Not for me such do-ctrine! I'll swim against the sea; 'Spite its storms and surges My spirit shall stay free, And ever strive till some day I'll win a deathless goal, But I'll be no driftweed And I will own my soul. 81 Men there are a plenty, To gloss a tarnished past, Blame their sins on Heaven Claiming the die was cast Ages ere the earth was formed. But men who dare fight fate Mould the future with bare hands. These are the truly great. 82 THE LAW OF LIFE The law of life is service ! Slumber and sloth are death! 'Tis as we w^ork for others We earn our right to breath. Nature gives fruit to workers, To labor and toil alone, She has no prize for idlers, Death she awards the drone. If, then, toilers are starving While idlers thrive, the cause Is human greed and blindness Which ignore Nature's laws. THROUGH SUFFERING TO JOY? Through suffering to joy? Through shadows deep to sun? Is this Thy teaching, Father? So doth the lesson run? Ah, no! Thy wisdom, Father, doth not guide us so. Through suffering to service, pain shall help us grow. S4 AYE, OUT OF THE BITTER DARKNESS Aye, out of bitter darkness cometh light. Long, long ago the darkness blasted sight. The sun went down and all the earth was black. Yet though this world of mine seemed lost in wrack One star shone steady through the somber skies And smiled on me in blessing through your eyes ; And all Oh^mpus' nectar mocked your lips. Now e'en that star is shrouded in eclipse And all spring's blossoms mourn their lost perfume. God of our Fathers ! Grant me faith and trust Though all my world should crumble into dust! Help me to voice the prayer "God is just," Give me th' w^ill to lift those crushed be- neath life's wheel, The strength to shelter those the storm w^ould blast, The joy of bringing in Thy Commonweal The endurance to help others to the last. ^251 78 525 'o , n '■^.- .-^ x°--* lO- '\ '^y^m' ■^^'"% #^ W- --0' .^-^'^ ^ ■b^ '^0 4 c .-^^ '-^.Z- > %^<' :mM^ ^-^^a'