gong-©rop^ BY LOUISE HART LOUISE HART Born January 27, 1911 Columbus^ Georgia SONG-DROPS B LOUISE HART ^^^ ^"V COPYRIGHT 1917 BY MRS. WM. L. BULLARD COLUMBUS, GA. (GILBERT P*1»NTIN5 CO., COLUMSOS, «*. A477727 .•^OV 26 1917 THESE POEMS COMPOSED BY LOUISE HART ARE, IN GREAT AFFECTION. DEDICATED TO HER GREAT GRANDPARENTS. ALFRED OWEN BLACKMAR, II MARY ANN BLACKMAR. ON THE SIXTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR WEDDED LIFE. Columbus, Ga., November 18. 1917. ShiP mirrors in her inspired mind sylvan- scenes, and the fragrant odors of oak and pine warm into expression thoughts deeper than those conveyed by printed page. —A. O. B. SONG- DROPS LOVE V\/HEN moon and star ^^ Peep from beneath the clouds, So soft and fair, Lullabies are heard From the bird On the evening- air. Oh, true, So true, Under leaf. Under boug-h, In the whole wide world Does love abide now. Tall Timber, July, 1917. THE SEA-MAIDEN OHE was bathed in dew; ^^ Her robes were misty clouds; Her eyes were sea-blue; Her face was the lily; Who had these beauties? They are not known to the world, Only to the Sea-Maidens! Now the Sea foams, And from it rises the Maiden of the Sea, The clouds come dimly over, And hide my Sea-Maiden from me. Tall Timber, October 19, 1917. TO A VIOLET IN THE RAIN \ /lOLET, when rain doth pour, ^ You shall be the Queen of more. I'll tell the winds as they whisk by thee You've made the Springf-time fair to me. Dear Violet, So wet. In the summer, I'll not forg-et. Warm Springs, Ga. April, 1917. BEFORE THE FIRE /^H! Coals that g-litter so fast, ^^ And are about to fade, It seems as if you are a picture for the wall, But you are vicious! If I touch you, you burn me. The blue flames, g-liding- about. Are robes of dancing- maidens brig-ht; And in the dark chimney with soot about Are witches brewing dark charms in and out; Shadows are clutched by witches' hands. All the imag"inary bands Of creatures of the fire Are from the inward eye. Tall Timber, October 19, 1917. WINTER {^Printed in July {1917) number of "Poetry" a magazine of verse, and now reprinted by permission.'\ T^HE snow-flakes fa.ll upon the gfround; * The snow-banks are g-ilded with beaut3^ Moon-Maidens come to drive upon the snow, And then it melts, And the moon closes her eyes slenderly. January^ 1917. NATURE'S CHANGES /^H, the frost is heavy ^^ And hides Nature. Ah! Nature, With your robes of pink, and blue and starry yellow flowers! The willow has many plumes, fit for a gorgeous crown. Your crown is made of autumn leaves, That shimmer high and low. Now — fast falls the snow, The grassy plots are ice And Nature lifts her arms about me, Her winter veils fall o'er the year's beauties, And she sleeps! Tall Tmiber, October W, 1917. AFTER SUNSET A golden misted sky, '^*' A moon above; Angels cling within the clouds, And the dark blistered trees wonder at the golden sky, With clouds above. Soft breezes pass! January 21, 1917. NIGHT AND MORNING WHEN butterflies twinkle softly And the rose's buds are tig-htly closed. Dew falls, Then Heaven's gfolden ladder is let down; The ang^els descend, And sweetly the stars peep, When it is almost morn The g-olden ladder is drawn up; And, as Aurora's first g-olden ray ligfhts g-ladly on the rose's buds, Petal by petal, they open! Tall Timber, August, 1917. INSCRIPTION FOR A SUN-DIAL {^Printed in July {1917) number of "Poetry, " a magazine of verse, and now reprinted by permission.^ "/^H, Time flies fast, ^ Days fly fast, Years fly fast. But love — stays fast Folded in your breast." Columbus, Ga., October, 1916. SEA ADVENTURES 'T'HE sea-g-ulls fly fast; *■• The waves dash o'er the ships, Showing" curious shells, upturned from the ocean's depths — Oh! That I mig-ht see the Maidens of the Sea! The sea dashes under and in. Oh, the sea dashes over the boats. Ah! I have g"one to the bottom! Where are the Sea-Maidens now? I wander here and there. And look for their ocean home. But they vanish, in the foam! Tall Timber, October 19, 1917. TO A LOG FIRE TTHE fire closes its robes in dangflingf •■• sparks As it dances; Then the fire doth spread its sparkling: robes. The fire doth burn ag"ain. And talks in poems and song's: "I g"ive the night lig-ht And sparks throw out. In the chimney, I do live And heat I g^ive to those in slumber." So ends my poem of the firelight, bright. January 15, 1917. THE TREE'S BALL 'X'HE trees are in their g^reen dresses, -'• Tonig-ht is their ball; Pines and cedars and maples tall, And gfardenias dance in their white flowers and g-reen coats, And bow to the trees. The crepe-myrtle nods its head; The lily wears her robe of purple As she dances her beautiful dance; The nig"ht dies, and a mourning" shade comes over them; The dance fades with a bow. January 10, 1917. TO LOUISE McPHERSON 'T'HERE is no woman beautiful, as the •■• one whose name is Louise; Her face is a g"limmer of sun, Her breast like a rose; Her evening- jeweled hair of black is lovely — She walks to the g-arden straig-ht, By the hollyhock she waits. A dewy rose pricks her dress; The day fades; She g"ilds the nig-ht. January^ 1917. SOAP-BUBBLES HPHE soap-bubbles dance •■• As I hold them in my hand; The soap-bubbles dance in all the tub-land, As they foam like lace about my shoulders. The colors dance and sing- When I look throug'h a big* bubble; They bend about my arms, They twine about my legs, And make them look white, Though they're pink — Oh, they look like an arch. Strewn with figures and curious things, Curious lights! Prom the water's edge they dart. Tall Timber, December, 1916. THE FAIRIES' SONG WHEN the silver moon From out the cloudy sky Has put her face, We will dance in ecstasy. We will shower daises down Among the brown broom-sedges And then we vanish, For it is dawn! March, 1917. MOON- MAGIC A RE you invisible? "^^ Are you invisible? Ah! How I wish 'twas Hallowe'en, When witches and elves are to be seen! The shadows deep are graved on the shadowy g-round, While up above the clouds are white; Ang"els ride among' them; The fire-flies g-listen brig-ht, While the stars shine out — Then a mist — December 30. 1916. THE SPIDER'S WEB [^Printed in July {1917) number of "Poetry," a magazine of verse, and now reprinted by permission.^ /^H, Spider, ^^ I love your spun web With pearls about it. If only one could touch such beauty And not destroy it! But Spider, keep your pearls Like shimmering' ornaments. December -4? 1916. ANGEL-LAND DEAUTY came down on the wings of a '-^ dove Prom Ang-el-Land — The Angels were swinging among the stars, And halos of roses fast were around their heads, Ringed in love; Thrice dancing about them were fairy clusters Clothed in white; The Angels wore pure gold, With forget-me-nots, Swinging slowly. February 2, 1917. SPRING IS WAKING 'T'HE stream is bubbling by, •■• As the moon comes beaming down, Little fairies make a band across the wood; And merrily fly the clouds to welcome them home; Awakened birds twitter. And softly sing of the promises Of flowers in the garden And jewels in the orchard. March, 1917. MOON r^H, Moon! ^^ I see you between the pines and cedars. Do you see the world beneath? Are the stars your children? Ah! Draw back, clouds, there, To welcome Mother Moon And the little stars on her breast. Then the Moon g-ot entang^led in some bay trees. So came the butter-tiies and bees To suck her honey; But they passed to the blossoms of the bay, Where they would stay, stay, stay; And thej^ kiss her white lips And flitter awa3^ But the moon floated on And was lost in the daw^n. June, 1917. CUNSHINE g-limmered over the fields of ^^ brown, And merry flowers tossed their heads And bowed Anciently, As slowly amongf them Evang^eline wandered; Then my thoug^hts wander and fly away. February 2, 1917. GRANDMOTHER /Grandmother said, "When I am ^one, ^^ Take this patch-work which I have done; There are silver ring's and bracelets of grold, and round, shining" dollars. And many a flower to bloom, And much g'reen g^rass; But when you see This patch-work, you'll think only of me." "And leave me forever?" the little g^irl said? "Never to kiss me? Be always dead?" "Do not cry, little maiden," Grandma said. May 20, 1917. NEW MOON WHEN creamy clouds and g-olden stars Come in the sky, In the cradle of the rocking moon There lies An angfel with a white rose. June, 1917. THE EVENING HOUR Duds open -^ And dew falls in the evening" hour, And perfume flows from every flower. The rabbits scurry under the trees; The leaves rustle, So cool blows the breeze, And perfume flows from every flower .. When perfume flows from every flower, The river of charms Rushes over me And drowns me in its arms. June, 1917. GENTLE RAiN 'X'HE g"entle rain falls on g'rass and g"round, * Under the maples the fairies roam, While the rain drops freckle their leafy home; The spotted lilies nod and say, "We are not now more freckled than they!" July, 1917. TO A GRAN' SIR GREY-BEARD [On finding a splendid and beloved specimen of blossoming gran^ sir grey -beard wantonly mutilated.^ /^H, gran' sir! Thou art ruined by cruel ^-^ hands, But love will bring- thee once more to beauty. An odd flower thou art! Thou hang-est like white moss Ming"led with g-lossy, g-reen little leaves; Or art thou weeping-? Thou wert fair, Gran' sir g-rey-beard! April, 1917. SUN LIGHT Dose of the dawn, ■''^ A g-limmer of wheat. And over the fields the sun is rising-; Butter-fiies come in brig-ht clusters; Narcissus waves to and fro; A crowned fairy came within that meadow. The sun speaks! Lig-ht, oh, beautiful Lig-ht! Lig-ht, oh, beautiful Lig-ht! Of all beauties, Lig-ht is most beautiful! October, 1916. SUMMER RAIN TTHE jeweled rain drops fall -'• As throbs the peacock's cry; And frightened doves fly throug:h the sky^ And diamonds fall from every tree, Showing- how lovely a rainy day may be! July, 1917. SPRING DAYS 'T'HE rainy spring- days have come * Plum blossoms glisten like snow; The Queen is a-top, With a dress of flower petals; Below — The philadelphus and spirea bloom, As beautiful as stars, and love. March, 1917. TTHE moon flies to rest, over the evening" -■■ g-arden of flowers; An awakened bird sings a song" in the West, Where the jeweled roses climb. The moon sinks ag-ain in the flower of the Evening- West; Then a lover came throug-h the mist And cried for his Juliette. A love moon! Moon! Oh, moon! JfMiuary, 1917. THE MAGIC POT ONCE there was an old man who had nothing" but a pot! This pot would boil his food whenever he asked for it. It was also a g-reat comfort to him. It would make itself into a bed whenever he wanted one. And when he wished g'old, the pot would g-o and bring- him g'old by the thousands. One day as the old man sat before the fire, he said: "Please bring" me my wife and build me a house. " His wife had deserted him because he was poor, and she had taken away every- thing" from him but the old pot, which she thoug"ht of no use. However, the pot was of g"reat use to him. The pot broug"ht a little cottag"e on rollers, and as it came up, the door opened, and there appeared his wife. She said, "Come in." And the door closed on them, and that was the last ever heard of the old man or the mag"ic pot. October 27, 1917. LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 015 897 628 6 €