She phoned them when the Round was Eight:

It lies with thee — the choice is thine, is thine,To hit the ties or drive thy auto-car.I answered Her: The choice is mine — ah, no!We all were made or marred long, long ago.The parts are written; hear the super wail:‘Who is stage-managing this cosmic show?’Blind fools of fate and slaves of circumstance,Life is…

Of canvas-cunning and of Art,Of tenderness and passion true.A worshipped Master came to see;Oh he was kind and gentle, too.He studied it with sympathy,And sensed what I had sought to do.Said he: ‘Your paint is fresh and fair,And I can praise it without cease;And yet a touch just here and thereWould make of it a…

Closer, little ones, snuggle near;Let’s seek a story of ages old;A magic tale of a bygone day,Of lovely ladies and dragons dread;Come, for you’re all so tired of play,We’ll read till it’s time to go to bed.’So they all are glad, and they nestle in,And squat on the rough old nursery rug,And they nudge and…

Beside my study fire and writeThis verse I’m making now.This Period, this tiny dotMy pencil has defined,By centuries of human thoughtWas predestined.And my last period of allWith patience now I see;The final point so very small,That locks my life for me.Yet in eternity of timeThey relatively seemSo like,–the dot that rounds my rhymeOr ends my…

She deems I have no dash and drive,Jest dogoned weak.‘A man should be a man,’ says Liz‘Trade blow for blow.’Poor kid! What my position isShe jest don’t know.She jest don’t know my old man killed,Yea, slew and slew.As steamy blood he sweetly spilled,So could I too.And though no wrath of heart I showWhen I see…

With forest far and turret high,Renowned and rajah-rich am I.My father was, and his before,With wealth we owe to war on war;But let no potentate be proud . . .There are no pockets in a shroud.By nature I am mild and kind,To gentleness and ruth inclined;And though the pheasants over-runMy woods I will not touch…