My lady in her white silk shawl

Barrel-house kings, with feet unstable,Sagged and reeled and pounded on the table,A deep rolling bass.Pounded on the table,Beat an empty barrel with the handle of a broom,Hard as they were able,Boom, boom, BOOM,With a silk umbrella and the handle of a broom,Boomlay, boomlay, boomlay, BOOM.THEN I had religion, THEN I had a vision.I could not…

Give the engines room.’Louder, fasterThe little band-masterWhips up the fluting,Hurries up the tooting.He thinks that he stands,[*] The reins in his hands,In the fire-chief’s placeIn the night alarm chase.The cymbals whang,The kettledrums bang: —‘Clear the street,Clear the street,Clear the street — Boom, boom.In the evening gloom,In the evening gloom,Give the engines room,Give the engines room.Lest…

The youth played in the blear hotel.The rafters gleamed with glories strange.And winds of mourning ElsinoreHowling at chance and fate and change;Voices of old Europe’s deadDisturbed the new-built cattle-shed,The street, the high and solemn range.The while the coyote barked afarAll shadowy was the battlement.The ranch-boys huddled and grew pale,Youths who had come on riot bent.Forgot…

Of course you do not hear it, child.It takes a FAIRY ear.The full moon is a splendid gongThat beats as night grows still.It sounds above the evening songOf dove or whippoorwill.

With golden hope my spirit still adorning.Our God who made you all so fair and sweetIs three times gentle, and before his feetRejoicing I shall say:—’The girl you gaveWas my first Heaven, an angel bent to save.Oh, God, her maker, if my ingrate breathIs worth this rescue from the Second Death,Perhaps her dear proud eyes…

Where Time is not, and only dreamers are.Star from of old, the Magi-Kings are deadAnd a foolish Saxon seeks the manger-bed.O lead me to Jehovah’s childAcross this dreamland lone and wild,Then will I speak this prayer unsaid,And kiss his little haloed head —‘My star and I, we love thee, little child.’Except the Christ be born…