I*' .1.0' ,^ "oV ^AtfS .^q. VERSES BY iJJtratt&a J^nhi^ra S>m^ttsntt Boston 1904 ' ^ \ »'> "? '" j' Copyright, 1903, by Miranda Powers Swenson All Rights Reserved [thp library or i CONGRESS, Ti*o Cortt^e Receiveo 1^ 0^ Printed at The Gorham Press ' \ Boston To the Little Son John U'V iitviivs^ PAGES At Twilight . . 7 Love's Fear . 8 Invitation . 9 The Coming Brotherhood of Man 10 Her Face . 11 Glorified , 12 A Change of Opinion . 13 Love and Fame . 14 Appellations . . 15 Autumn . 16 A Wise Purpose . 17 To Grandmother on Her Eighty-Seconc Birthday . . 17 In Lover's Lane . 18 In Lover's Lane . 19 Autumn Wind * • • 20 Found , . , 20 A Tramp . 21 To C. D. C. on His Birthday . 22 Ecstacies . 22 Apart . 23 In Search of Health . 24 Cradle Song . 25 James Whitcomb Riley 26 A Cry for Mother-Love . 27 Reminders . . . . 28 To C. D. C. on His Birthday 29 The Deacon's Apple Tree 30 Then and Now 31 The Reason . 32 Melodies 33 To My Friend 34 The Missing Link 35 Enduring 36 Grandmother 37 Grandmother 38 A Night Thought 39 A Valentine 40 Sent with Flowers to C. A. M . on ] Her Birthday . 41 With Passing Night 42 Freedom of the Praii "ies . 43 There's nothing in the day, I know, So sad as when the sunset glow Fades in the West' away; O twilight hour! O sweet, sad time! When daylight wanes, and vespers chime, 'Tis neither night nor da}^ The dark shades fold me in their gloom, As slow they creep from room to room, But love-light still have I; The hour itself doth mournful seem. Alone I sit in happy dream. While darkness clouds the sk3\ 'Tis now, dear one, a voice I hear. So low, so soft, so sweet, so clear, I know it to be thine; " I love thee, dear, with all my heart. Though many miles do still us part, I love thee, Sweetheart mine.'' Then through the dusk I see thy face. And feel thee near in close embrace, Through all the glad twilight. O! sweet at close of drear}^ day. When darkness gathers 'round my way, To sit and wait the night. Xove'6 fcav Sometimes this thought stabs deep my heart, Like sharpened spear, or whetted dart. That some day in the coming time. When snows lie deep, or roses climb, You may forget; That some day I may raise my eyes To read the love that in yours lies. And find but cold indifference. Where passion late, with love intense, Had bright flames set. Some day perhaps my lips may press Yours cold, unfeeling, answerless; My hand's firm pressure then may be Unrecognized by touch from thee Of strong, warm palm. Change is a law that works alway Through Nature old, from day to day; The roses fade when Summer's past. Green leaves shrivel in Wintry blast, Or frost's chill calm. And so thy heart may change, dear one, And grow less warm, as does the Sun To Earth, when Winter's time is here, And days are cold, and nights are drear. With snow beset. Sometimes my heart is still with fear. Lest all that makes my poor life dear. And gives me jo}^ each dawning day, Should be forever snatched away, And you forget. Ifnvitation Come and kiss me. Sweetheart mine. Let me feel the touch divine, Of thy lips' soft, sweet caress; Set the red blood coursing through Heart that beats and throbs for you. By one touch of tenderness. Like the parched earth that waits For the op'ning of flood-gates. So pause I in eagerness; As the rains new life impart. So comes strengthening to my heart. By thy sweet lips' soft caress. Zbc doming ffirotbcrboo& of fiDan Through the many jangling discords Of full countless Christian creeds, Each contending theirs the doctrine That will meet all human needs, It is difficult to fathom, In the loud uproar and strife. Just the measure of relation Each bears to the Prince of Life. O, how simple is the story Of the lowly Saviour's love, Who a full salvation gave men. Exiled from the Courts above ! What rebuke is offered daily In the record of His life, To the loud-contending bodies Who are sowing seeds of strife! When the lowly Nazarene Trod the path unto the cross. Thought he not ol cruel passion, Of his suffering and loss; But his pure lips framed a prayer For the Church that bears His name. That they might be one in purpose Those for whom He bore the shame. 10 Nineteen centuries have fallen Into Time's measure of woe; Still divisions wide, unbridged, Rend His Body here below. God in Heaven, speed the coming Of the Brotherhood of man. When a broad, impelling kinship All the diffrences shall span! Iber face Like a star, in the deepening dusk Of the years That are past, with their burden of pain And of tears. Is her face glowing bright in her youth's Rosy dawn. With a smile, tender, sweet, through the years That are gone. Nevermore save in fanc}' her face Shall I see, Till at last my lone spirit from earth's Care is free; Then I know I shall find Paradise In that place. Where with rapture ecstatic I shall See her face. 11 (3lorifie& A silver sheen is on the sea, The white spray gleams translucently, Each playful wave is tinsel-crested Where moonbeams lie in soft foam nested, The shim'ring waves in gladness leap, Night's Queen is mirrored in the deep. But late today an angry sea In billows lashed unceasingly; Its sombre shade of darksome green Bore not a trace of silv'ry sheen; But when in evening's trysting hour. The fair moon came with love's great power. The sea glimmered effulgent, white. And shone and glistened all the night. A radiance bright o'er my life gleams. Surpassing all my wildest dreams. My soul is bathed in waves of light. My heart is quickened with delight; My pulses in strange madness leap. Thy face I see, awake, asleep. But late my heart with wild unrest Surged ever, by dull pain oppressed, 12 My life was commonplace, dead, gray. Dark, cloudy, threat'ning dawned each day; Then lo, thou camest and 'twas light! My life took on tints rainbow bright. My heart was calmed, soothed, satisfied, My whole life blessed and glorified. H Cbange of ©pinion TO HIS AUBURN-HAIRED GIRL Sweet auburn ! loveliest color of the hair. Fit crown of glory for my lady fair; Thy changing shades of burnished gold, Have won my heart, my life to hold: For one wee, shining curl I sigh, For thee, sweet maid, I live, I'd die. TO HIS RED-HEADED WIFE That's right! Get mad — for nothing, too; Your temper makes me mighty blue ! I might have known it, I suppose, That head of yours, red as a rose! One thing I'll say, though your eyes flash, I'm tired of red hairs in the hash! 13 %ovc anb ffame A young girl sat in a garden fair Breathing aloud a fervent prayer: " God of my life, for fame I plead, In mercy give, 'tis all I need." While thus she spoke Love came along, With tender look and sweetest song. Alas for fame! with cunning art Love made his own the maiden's heart. And once again on bended knee, The 3^oung girl sent to God a plea: " Dear Lord, O God! for Love I plead, Mine, ever mine, 'tis all I need." No more she tho't of worldly fame, Nor cared she for a lauded name. Ah Love! what gentle power thou hast, To sway the world while Time shall last; Yea, glory more than this is thine. Heaven is ruled by Love Divine. 14 appcUatione A walk by an ocean, boundless, A sight of the surging brine, A glimpse of a land far distant, One note of a song divine; A taste of Infinite Love, Of peace in a world of strife, Dull care and aching sorrow, We mortals call it Life. When we cross the ocean wide. With silver foam atrack, When toward the fair land sighted We sail, ne'er turning back. When we join the glad, sweet song. Voices keyed to Heaven's lay, And the peace no mortal knoweth, Lulls the soul forever, aye. If we muse on time of earth, When we drew our mortal breath, On the sorrow-stricken years, We shall call it only Death. 15 Hutumn Each season has delights To captivate the mind, Gay Spring her charming moods Of shine, and shower, and wind. Long days and star-lit eves Rose-perfumed, dewy, clear, The siren Summer flings With laughter to the year. But more entrancing far Than Summer's witching wiles. Or Spring's tender beauty And sweet, capricious smiles. Is Autumn, glorious time! Of seasons richest, rare. Glad days of golden harvest, Long nights of mellow air. 1(3 H Mi0e purpose Of what avail the sorrow That one time wrenched my soul, When each prospective morrow Held grief beyond control ? Has woe to man no mission, No life-lesson to teach? Grief softens to contrition Hearts kindness ne'er could reach. God sends us not all pleasure, Afflictions too we need; Pure love we can not measure, Flows from lone hearts that bleed. Zo (Branbmotber ®n 1bcr y£\Qht% Secont) Birtb&ai? When passing years and weighty, Have made me two and eighty, O! may I on that day. Have e'en the smallest fraction Of grace and that attraction Which Gnmdma has alway. 17 Iln Xo\)er*9 %nnc The grass still grows, a cushion soft For tripping, youthful feet, The trees still cast their shadows long, O'erhead tall branches meet. From out the emerald, grassy sod A violet peeps with drooping face. And lilies white and sweetly pure Still grov/ in stately grace. I tread again the well-worn path. We called it " Lover's Lane," Alone with dearest memories, My heart throbs but with pain. Long years have gone since Prue and I Strolled down the lane together. She vowing that her love would last Through fair or stormy weather. Our faces glowed with Love's pure light. Our lips told Love's old story. And ever}^ leaf and flower seemed Alight with life and glory. 18 The years stretched out before us two An avenue of pleasure, No sorrows loomed up in our way, But joys, and without measure. O ! little maid with laughing eyes. And lips just made to kiss, We could not see adown the years Our love-dream come to this. I hold again yoTir dimpled hand Within my sun-browned one, My lips meet thine with lingering touch, The world forgot, with thy love won. 'Tis but a mem'ry of the past; I walk alone the leafy aisle, Still haunted by a low, sweet voice, A winsome, shadowy smile. The path is worn, and travelled still By lass and tender swain; The evening shades still bring as then The youth to " Lover's Lane." 19 autumn M(n6 Through bending trees The Autumn breeze Sighs weirdly on its way; ' Mong faded leaves, Ungarnered sheaves, It whistles all the day, A mournful tune, MemV}^ of June, Of woods now brown and sear; A funVal song Of seasons long Dead, buried in the 3xar. fount) I have it, dear, she cried. Then peacefully she died; What wonder that she couldn't stand the shock! Then the neighbors gathered 'round. To see what she had found. 'Twas a pocket in her new cloth frock! 20 H tTranip A hungry lad All lean and sad, Sat over against the garden wall; His coat was old, Like the tale he told, And his collar — he had none at all. But pockets he had. And he felt so bad rhat the}^, too, were empty and flat, As he sat alone On a wa3'side stone. And chewed at the rim of his hat. Just over the wall. On the trees so tall, \Vere pears and peaches hanging; He looked and wished. And reached and flshed. Then over the fence went banging. One stifled moan, One dying groan. And he passed to a world of plenty. His tombstone bears A peach, two pears. And " He died of greed. Aged twenty." 21 ^0 d. H). C. on Ibie Blrtbba\) Another 3xar to count as thine, To make thy number twenty-nine; A year untried, unknown, untrod. Another season sent from God. Oh, ma}^ it prove a joyous time! Bright days, glad months, a happy chime! A year of joy from hrst to end, A year of good things for my friend. And I shall happy, thankful be, To know the time was glad for thee. The singer's voice is stilled When his soul to depths is stirred, Else a song, emotion-filled, That the earth has never heard. Would the silent spaces thrill. The painter's brushes wait While the grandest visions throng. Else a theme of nobler fate, With angelic phases strong, Would the snow}' canvas till. 22 apart But yesterday I saw thy face, And heard thy voice, dear Love, But yesterday the sun was bright, And blue the sky above. But yesterday my hand was clasped By thine, tender and strong, But yesterda}^ joy filled my heart And caroled Love's sweet song. Today the leaden skies hang low. No sun shines on my way, And joy has flown, I know not where. And all is dark, today. I long for but a single look From eyes so dear to me; I reach my arms in emptiness, No answering touch from thee. My heart cries out in loneliness. In grief I cannot hide; For just one sight of thy dear face I'd give all things beside. 23 The day is bright or dark, as thou "i Art near or far from me; I long, dear one, for just one word Of tenderness from thee. Iln Scarcb of Ibealtb I walked abroad at night- fall, When dark'ning shades drew nigh, I met a man of wealth sedate, A villager of station high. Ye gods! how strange a sight is this, At night upon the quiet street, A proud, a cultured citizen With smile serene, and bold, bare feet. 24 Cra&le Qowq Baby dear, I bend above thee, Leaning o'er thy cradle low, Slumber song still crooning softly, As the night-shades gather slow. Little One, I fain would keep thee Pure and innocent alway, But the great world's sin and sorrow Thou wilt surely know some day. Soon thy tender feet must travel Down life's thorny path alone; God in mercy guide thee. Sweetheart, Keep thee from each thorn and stone. May the tender, loving Saviour Ever have a watchful care O'er thee. Baby, through thy life-day, Keep thy soul still pure and fair. Baby dear, I bend above thee, Leaning o'er thy cradle low. Slumber song still crooning softly. As the night-shades gather slow. 25 Samee Mbitcomb IRilc^ Fancies delicate and graceful As frail woodland blossoms fair, Or soft, filmy fleece-clouds floating Leisurely through Summer air, Find the sweetest of expression In his verses' faultless flow, Lure and lead us gently backward To the Land of Long Ago. Songs of love divinely tender, With eternal youth replete. Make our heart-chords softly vibrate To a melody full sweet. Faint perfume of wayside flowers. Hum of bees and trill of birds. Weave a spell enchanting 'round us Through the rh3'thm of his words. In the jo3^ous realm of childhood Reigns and rules this Poet-king, Cares we leave to follow gladl}^ Small hands sweetly beckoning From the lines of verse and ballad. Till we reach a sunlit plain. With the flight of Time turned backward, We are children once asjain. 26 H dv^ for flDotbcr^lovc Tonight great waves of sadness roll Like mighty billows- o'er my soul; I feel afresh the loss that left Me of a Mother's love bereft, In childhood's day. Mother! sainted long above, Tonight I sadly miss thy love; 1 fain would find a tranquil rest For throbbing head, on Mother's breast In the old way. Mother, thy hand could soothe the pain Of aching heart and tired brain, And in the shelter of thy arm, Secure from all earth's care and harm, I'd go to sleep. O Mother! in the far-off sky Hear now, tonight, my heart's sad cry; Come back, and lull me now to rest, Like tired child, on thy dear breast. Then love-watch keep. 27 1Reinln&cr6 I lay them, Love, with tears away, The flowers you sent one happy day, Now brown with time, and faded, sere, Dead blossoms of another year; Like that unhappy love of ours. Frail as the life of Summer flowers. O roses tombed in fragrance sweet! love wrapped 'round with sorrow's sheet! With tender touch, in joy, in pain. With tears that drop like Autumn rain, 1 lay them by, this love, these flowers, The ghosts of other days and hours. And yet, alas ! though buried deep. And lulled by Time to quiet sleep, A perfume faint, and sweet, and rare. Like breath of flowers on Summer air, A thought of joy, of love a part. These oft disturb my mind and heart. 28 ^0 C. ID. C. on me Birtb&a^ I watched today The sun's last ray Make bright the clouds of night, And then and there, The daylight fair Slow faded from my sight. For one brief while, The sun's glad smile Made all around more sweet; Then dark'ning shade, O'er hill and glade. Bespoke the night's swift feet. My dearest friend. Till time shall end M^y joy and peace abound. And God's own light, Of truth and right. Shine o'er you all around. And may each year Find you sincere In all good works and true, And birthdays, glad As those you've had, Come many times to you. 29 ^be Beacon'e Hpple Zvcc One Arbor Day, old Deacon Jones Cleared weeds away, and sticks and stones, From out one tiny, corner spot Of his old, grassy pasture lot; And there, with calm and serious glee, He planted deep an apple tree. Then thinking how the apples sweet In coming years he'd gladly eat, He went his way; not dreaming how Some naughty boys in yonder mow, Had watched him as their plans they laid, To come that night with hoe and spade. To carry off the Deacon's tree. And leave instead, — well, we shall see. Long years had passed in joy away, When Deacon, walking out one day. Bethought him of his apple tree. And wondered if there fruit might be. How strange a sight now met his eyes! Poor Deacon fainted with surprise. For growing there in proud array Were pears in all their colors gay. 30 Z\)cn anb IFlow Two pieces of tin, Pictures of me, One taken years and years apast; One tiny, wee face, And one weary look, But yesterday I sat for the last. Two and twenty, Child and woman, O! the change that time has wrought; Joys and sighs, Smiles and tears. Careless play and happy thought. Then, " Now I lay me," Now, " God forgive ! " O! the guileless babyhood; A mother's kiss, A mother's knee. What wonder that the child was good ? Years have gone, I am alone. Weather-beaten and tempest-tossed; No good-night kiss, I pray alone. And sleep to dream of mother lost. 31 ^be IReaeon See the string of old maids Going to the store, Such a sight in our town Was never seen before. What can be the matter? In her Sunday best, Every maiden's heart beats With a strange unrest. What can be the reason ? Plain as plain can be ! The grocer has a new clerk Young and fair to see. Every blushing old maid Cherishes a hope, While she drops a courtesy, And buys a cake of soap. 32 nDclobiee I ope' my window-lattice wide To greet the day adawn outside With rosy flush of Eastern sky, And clouds of opal floating by. A blue-bird on a rose-tree near Loud sings a song of joy and cheer, Of shady gardens dewy cool, Sweet flowers mirrored in deep pool, Of sunshine filtered through green trees. Of perfumes borne on Summer breeze; I listen, while a sweeter note Than ever left a blue-bird's throat Thrills deep my soul, a mem'r)^ dear, A voice, thine own it is I hear: No note in angel song can be A sweeter sound than this to me. LofO.f 33 ^0 flD^ ]frlcn&. Whatever Fortune, fickle maid, Into my cup may choose to pour, I shall hold her a witless jade Unless thy friendship brims it o'er. Not wealth of Ophir's fabled gold. Nor favor shown by King or State, E'en all my little life might hold. Could for thy friendship compensate. Fortune may fame and riches great Withhold, save for my direst need, Then shall I bless the kindly Fate, And count myself favored indeed, If thy hand may reach mine, my friend. Through all the years to come. Until the day of life shall end. Then lead me gently Home. 34 At the show I wandered 'round, Till the monkey's cage I found (Each attraction tried to ostracize the other,) Here I stopped to fraternize, Incidentally to size Up the link that bound me to my brother. I determined not to see. And by no means to agree With the theory that Darwin almost proved, But the men upon life's stage, And the monkeys in the cage, I was forced to see were cousins once removed. While I cogitated there, On the common fate we share In belonging to the tricky monkey lot, I couldn't help but think Of the long-lost missing link, That has caused the wisest sages anxious thought. 35 Soon there strutted by A spectacle that I Could scarcely then behold without a smile; His eye of glass, and cane, Balanced up his lack of brain. And his clothes were in the very latest style. Then I knew that I had found The missing link that bound, 'Twas a creature we had simply called the dude ; I wondered what the dozen Apes thought of their cousin, But I knew to ask the question would be rude. JEn^urinQ The world hath its pleasures For one little day. The world hath its sorrows, They soon speed away; But Love hath its joys. Forever they last, And Love hath its woes Until Time is past. 36 (Branbmotbcr When the sun is sinking earthward, With the western sky aflame, And the day is slowly fading Into night, from whence it came, By the curtained window's casement Is Grandmother idly sitting, Dear hands folded now and empty. On her lap unfinished knitting. Her dear face is softly lighted With day's golden afterglow; Hair once brown is white and silvered With life's wintry frost and snow. Just a little on before her Lies Eternal Morning bright, Where the shadows, gath'ring darkly. Shall give way to Endless Light; And the weary soul find peaceful Rest in Everlasting Truth, And the body, tired and aged. Take on glad, unchanging youth. Do her dim eyes look far backward Down the vista of the past, Till they see a vision perfect Of her girlhood days at last? Does she live again in mem'ry That far time when, as a bride, She left all to follow gladl}^ Him who was her joy and pride ? Does she yearn to clasp once tightly In her arms, empty and lone, Babes long since now cradled softly. Sleeping under carven stone? Does she hear the childish prattle Of lips bearded long, and see Tiny forms, these years grown stately, Playing by her mother knee? Is her widowed heart still grieving For the husband, lover, friend. Who, a score of years and over. Reached alone his journey's end? Dear Grandmother, by the window Living o'er the happy past! Father, pity us when some day. She shall reach the end at last. 38 When the shadows shall be lifted That now veil the Light and Truth, And her patient, gentle spirit Shall receive eternal 3'Outh. a miGbt ^bouQbt A cloud all white and lovely, lay Beside the moon at close of day; A forest, dark and somber, stood Against the sk}^, a gloom}^^ wood. Tlie pale moonlight, that shone across The trees all dark and damp with moss. Made blacker still, in bold relief. On silvered sky, each bough and leaf; But whiter and more lovel}^ gleamed The cloud, as forth the pale light streamed. 'Tis so with souls in Truth's broad light. It shows them white or black with blight. Happy the man whose heart is pure, Who can the Master's search endure. 39 H IDalcntinc To be thy friend Till life shall end, To ever have thee near^ For this I pray By night, by day, Because I love thee, dear. This world I'd give. If I might live So near, so close to thee. That nothing would. Or ever could Divide thy love from me. 40 Sent Mitb flomve to C. H. m. on Iber Birtb&ai? Dear blossoms, fresh and fair, and sweet, I lay you at m}^ lady's feet. That your sweet breath of perfume rare, May speak of da3^s and seasons fair That shall be hers in this glad year, Whose first May morning dawns so clear. And one thing else I'd have her know, Please tell her in a whisper low, That no one loves her half so well As one whose name 3^ou dare not tell. 41 mith pasmxQ migbt Sometimes when sets the evening sun In golden glow, when day is done, I almost wish, with passing night My weary soul might take its flight. To solve the mystery that lies Beyond the vast blue of the skies; To leave all doubt and darkness here. For certainty and vision clear. To know at last the Power that holds The Universe, and yet unfolds Each tiny flower and blade of grass: To soar from sphere to sphere, and pass To where Truth is, and rest at last Full satisfied, all doubtings past. 42 Ifrce&om of tbe ipratrtes In the city's streets I stifle, Breathing fumes and heats That rifle Life of afl its sweets, And trifle With the red blood in my vein, Give me now the breeze That blows Through the swaying trees. And flows By green meadow seas. And goes, Leaving healing in its train. 43 1'2 'bv" •^^^^- M .4.^ .:^ -^^ <> *'tC *. ^ >. U ^"^ - V-^^ e .^ 5^^^. <^