I whispered, ‘Those were foolish words to say;I meant them not. I cannot bear the sightOf our dear face. I cannot meet the lightOf your dear eyes upon me. Sit, I pray-Sit here beside me; turn your look away,And lay your cheek on mine,’ Till morning brightWe sat so, and we did not speak. I…
Set free so much of red from heatsAt core of earth, and mixed such sweetsWith sour and spice: what was that strengthWhich out of darkness, length by length,Spun all thy shining thread of vine,Netting the fields in bond as thine.I see thy tendrils drink by sipsFrom grass and clover’s smiling lips;I hear thy roots dig…
Of danger and escape, the hours and waysOf death; it breathless flies the pestilence;It walls itself in towers of defence;By land, by sea, against the storm it laysDown barriers; then, comforted, it says:‘This spot, this hour is safe.’ Oh, vain pretence!Man born of man knows nothing when he goes;The winds blow where they list, and…
‘Faint and weary toiled a pilgrim,Faint and weary of his load;Sudden came a sweet bird wingingGlad and swift across his road.”Blessed songster!’ cried the pilgrim,‘Where is now the load I bore?I forget it in thy singing;Hearing thee, I faint no more,’‘While he spoke the bird went wingingHigher still, and soared away;‘Cruel songster!’ cried the pilgrim,‘Cruel…
I know that all the threads will runAppointed ways;I know each day will bring its task,And, being blind, no more I ask.I do not know the use or nameOf that I spin:I only know that some one came,And laid withinMy hand the thread, and said, ‘Since youAre blind, but one thing you can do.’Sometimes the…
‘I would not hurt you for the world:Am I to blame if I forget?’‘Forgive my selfish tears!’ she cried,‘Forgive! I knew that it was notBecause you meant to hurt me, sweet-I knew it was that you forgot!’But all the same, deep in her heartRankled this thought, and rankles yet,-‘When love is at its best, one…
The fight unto the mightiest to lift,Nor favors unto men whose skill had doneGreat works, nor riches ever unto oneWise man of understanding. All is driftOf time and chance, and none may stay or siftOr know the end of that which is begun.Who waits until the wind shall silent keep,Will never find the ready hour…
No crystal prism flashes on our sightSuch radiant splendor of the rainbow’s wholeOf color. Who would dream the fountain stoleIts tints, and if the sun no more were brightWould instant fade to its own pallid white?Who dream that never higher than the doleOf its own source, its stream may rise?Thus weSee often hearts of men…
Such lusty strength in them when earth was young?–Stand valor and its passion hot and bold,Insatiate of battle. How, else, toldBlind men, born blind, that red was fitting tongueMute, eloquent, to show how trumpets rungWhen armies charged adn battle-flags unfurled?Who sings of valor speaks for life, for death,Beyond all death, and long as life is…
The Old Year’s heart all weary grew,But said: The New Year rest has brought.’The Old Year’s hopes its heart laid down,As in a grave; but trusting, said:‘The blossoms of the New Year’s crownBloom from the ashes of the dead.’The Old Year’s heart was full of greed;With selfishness it longed and ached,And cried: ‘I have not…
