Class Book-_ Copyright N°_ lqi^_ COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. WAYFARERS BY VIRGINIA CORRY BOSTON SHERMAN, FRENCH & COMPANY 1914 75 m -5 1914 Copyright, 1914 Sherman, French &> Company ©CIA 3 761 8 8 Fare you forth, my simple lays, Knock at many a distant door Until you find one who serves the poor; To him you may speak As he dreams by his hearthside, Or wander with him in blossomtide. So may a trusting piper find a friend At the far world's end. CONTENTS PAGE The Pilgrims 1 The Swingers 2 The Master's Pottery 3 Upon the King's Highway 4 Long Ago 5 A Student to an Intruder 6 To the Rising Sun 8 The Musicians 9 Blue and Red 10 In the Valley . . 11 The Lady in Gray 12 Night 14 Idolaters 15 Love 16 The Spirit of the Wind 17 To the Sparrows at Daybreak .... 19 The Deserters 20 The Nightingale . 21 The White Butterfly 22 The Pomegranate Tree 23 A Lover to a Lass 24 Shadows , 26 Love's Flower 27 The Reapers 29 Time 31 Her Guiding Light 33 Sympathy .......... 35 Judgment 36 The Dying Plea 37 PAGE The Returning 38 Unison 40 A Song of Spring .41 The Realm of Fantasy 43 The Song of the Lover 44 The Rocker 45 The Plaint of the Lonely Knight . . 46 The Watchers 47 The Storm 48 Summer 50 To the Man upon the Mountain ... 52 Sleep 53 A Minstrel to a Day 54 A Messenger 55 Sunset 56 Love and Pain 57 The Last Descendant 58 The Pebble 60 Endeavor 61 Life's Castaway 62 From Out the Past 64 One of Many 66 The Morning Breeze .68 Hospitality 69 Upon the Seashore 70 The Plea of the Scissors Grinder ... 71 Mother Earth 73 The Conqueror 75 A Lover and — Alas 77 Degeneration 80 PAGE Laughter 81 The Sign 82 The Italian Youth 83 His Treasury 84 Upon the Great Highway 85 May 86 In Harvest Time 87 Possession 89 Thanksgiving 92 THE PILGRIMS The morn has come! Fling wide your intangible gates, O day! And we will go upon our way, Some with hope; Some with pain ; Some with love without a stain ; Some seeking to behold Realms of purest gold; And some who have lost their " Eldo- rado," And now must pace with sorrow, Who does not hesitate to trace Pain upon the fairest face. In the throng I espy the gayest fellow, Dressed in brightest yellow, Dancing upon his way In the radiant light of day. Some call him levity; Some call him laughter; But him I will run after, For I would be, O sweetest destiny! Mistress of this merry fellow In a garb of brightest yellow. [1] THE SWINGERS Green grow the grasses ! Oh, green grow the grasses ! Over all the stars of light Watch while the world passes ; As a mote in a sunbeam, We swing in space. Rulers of empires, Cobwebs of lace! Don the plumes of an eagle, That ye may seem high To the monarch of space Who dwells in the sky. Green grow the grasses ! Oh, green grow the grasses ! Weave me a swing of them, O Time! While the world passes ; And sway me and swing me, And toss me so high That when my day passes I may alight in the sky. m THE MASTER'S POTTERY The shadowy moonlight The glow of the morn, The swaying heather, The flight of a bird in song, A fragant flower, And the weed which we cast forth in scorn Awaited the coming of man Ere ever man was born. My Master took a bit of the sky A shadow near by, A feather from the wing of a bird, And fleece from a cloud on high; A breeze from the sea, A drooping flower, A radiant hour, And snow and earth and sky He folded up in thee and me And bade us seek Him in eternity. [3] UPON THE KING'S HIGHWAY Drawn up in royal array Upon the king's highway Are poppies buff and red; But the king lies abed. The grasses are green, And bright with anemones ; Upon a great rock of gray Like a wan sentry A butterfly, the emblem of fair weather, Spreads wings of black and yellow. The maple trees form a grateful shade And an emerald arch For a sovereign and his cavalcade; But naught comes their way, Save a bit of thistledown, silent and free, Floating o'er the earth and the sea. The king lies abed — And gentlemen of high degree And equerries upon chargers bold With trappings of gold Bow their heads; For none can summon the dead. [4] LONG AGO There was a great senor Who said my name, " Virginia," Softly and low, Long ago. His hand so brown Did lead me down A pathway oversteep For my young feet. There were thistles there He did declare, And a big snake Over yonder. So in play We hastened away From great heights Grave and somber. Some regret ; some forget ; And some grow ever fonder Of the years Way over yonder. I am not gray, but I must say I am not so gay as upon that day, In early May, when I said, " Nay," To the senor who said, " Virginia," Softly and low Long ago. [5] A STUDENT TO AN INTRUDER The rain beats upon my windowpane, And the wind flings wide my door, As though to explore my scanty store And search my being o'er and o'er — Doubtless shouting without what I am about, Reading here of a shepherd and seer. Wind, you may attest That my clothes are not the best; Nevertheless, proclaim That I am a good fellow, And, if my coins were yellow, I would display great generosity In clothing those Who are obliged to bear you company, And whose daily wage Grim poverty cannot assuage. Furthermore, you may affirm That when I leave this world of little ease, Should I live again In a realm as vain, I would prefer to be A well covered tree, or a furry thing, Indifferent to your sting — For it is only in dreams That I have the means To keep want from my door [6] Or sufficiently cover my being o'er. Therefore, wind so bold, I pray you leave me alone When I am at home. m TO THE RISING SUN O Courier there! Bearest thou tidings of hope and good cheer To a desolate being here? Is my name enrolled upon an ancient scroll? Shall I live again beyond Life's plain? Thou that dwellest so high Must know the secrets of the sky! O mighty sun, whose glorious banner Is unfurled across the world, Give me a light to decipher All that is symboled here aright! [8] THE MUSICIANS Hark! hark! to the fairies' violins, How they sing! O'er their strings elfin fingers Find their way and display Modes of music seldom heard In the world by passion stirred. But the rills upon the hills Have learned their trills ; And the nightingale delights to con the score O'er and o'er, Joined by the wood-dove's soft diminuendo ; And the breeze upon the river, Murmuring of the earth's endeavor, Hums the refrain Again and again. The bows are moved a trifle faster On the strings which note disaster As, reverberating and direct, Sounds the mighty cataract ! Thus do the musicians play In the garden of the day, O men, halt upon your way, And listen to the tune that Nature sings, Voicing her delight In the day and in the night ! [9] BLUE AND RED Blue and red for the dead! The sunset unfolded its crimson flag on high, Studded with the blue of the sky; Thus proclaiming that the day had passed by, And blue and red were for the dead. A lass I knew Wore a gown of blue, A scarf of red Draped her head; And she looked in vain For a bark and her laddie Whom the sea had claimed; Thus in blue and red She sighed for the dead. [10] IN THE VALLEY Down in a misty valley I saw a form with little grace, Which averted its face When I drew nigh; And I heard a cry As I gazed into a pool near by, And saw reflected there The ghost of a woman I had once thought fair, With dusky tangled hair And fixed wide eyes That seemed to gaze past me Into some great depth of misery. [11] THE LADY IN GRAY In the golden noonlight One with a marvelous sight Saw a lady in gray Pass his way. Her diaphanous hair hung way down Upon her gown, Its meshes, frail As a silvery veil Revealed her slender form Made of mist, The hue of amethyst. She lifted her arms, when Io ! She floated to and fro, And with a lingering sigh Passed the world by And ascended a cloud Which, like a ship of state, In a harbor of blue did her await ; For it sailed away And was lost to view Ere the sun sank to rest Beyond the mountain's crest. [12] While in a castle square Mournfully a bell Tolled a knell, And many uncovered their heads ; For it was said A gracious lady was dead. [13] NIGHT A fragrance fills the air, The moonlight makes the meadow fair, And many a bright blossom I can see Upon the hawthorn tree. The radiant night Hath all the charms of day; Only in my desolate heart there dwells The darkness of farewell. [14] IDOLATERS Give me a sign Father of mine ! From a rift in heaven That we shall be forgiven ! We who are driven by chance And merciless circumstance From love and pity, And in blindness fight our way To an altar of clay. That we may erect on high A god of gold To control the world ; While faith and just endeavor Are vanquished by this alien god for- ever, And the race of men that Christ em- braced Are deaf to His far cry, As they proffer their souls To a god of gold. [15] LOVE O love, from the infinite regions above Thou hast come, With a radiance all thine own, To lighten care And bid the fallen yield not to despair. Thy tender glance doth entrance; Touch a silent chord within my heart And I shall know what thou art, Breath of morning ! Star of night ! Weaver of a mystic rite! Thou art Might, fair and wise, For in thine eyes None are too humble to share Thy kingdom rare. minstrel of a hundred lays ! Make fair my days ! 1 know thou art a rover, But I pray thee bide with me. And for thy fee Take thou my soul's ecstasy. 116] THE SPIRIT OF THE WIND I started from my sleep In the early morn to see The spirit of the wind Who whispered o'er me; White was the beard Which fell upon his breast. Locks of gray Hung in disarray About a rosy face To which youth had lent a grace That Time could not erase. His eyes were blue of a faded hue. Wide and without guile, Like the eyes of a questioning child, They seemed to gaze beyond me Into depths of infinity. In his face I could not trace The wisdom of our race. As he whispered o'er me, I felt he had never known sorrow nor fear. And I shuddered from his hand, For no mortal plea could he understand; Created in a distant sphere, He knew naught of the suffering here. [17] Nature is his harp, And frequently upon the strings of destiny He plays the wildest fantasy. The lilies bow their heads in fear As this wandering minstrel draweth near, Singing the deathsong of the year. The broken bow of the sycamore tree And the dying rose crumple 'neath his power. The brave ship, with sails rent and riven, Will seek in vain a safe haven When the wind upon the waters doth play Under heaven's vast canopy. Therefore, although his breath But fanned my brow, I shrank from him as a captive might The conqueror who, girth With sword and spear, Bids the conquered have no fear. [18] TO THE SPARROWS AT DAYBREAK Such a chatter! Such a chatter ! Goodness me, what's the matter? Has the magnolia burst into bloom? Has the wisteria faded too soon? Has the field of clover Been roughly ridden over? Has a falling chestnut burr Caused a whirr Where the robin makes its nest In a dim green wilderness? good creatures, I would know Why you chatter so. Bumblebee and lazy beetle, Golden moth that plagues the people, Do you know There is the deuce to pay Among the heralds of the day? [19] THE DESERTERS Ho, my lord! In the campfire's gleams Your men at arms Make way for dreams In which the enemy Scales your castle Avails, And sups with jest and revelry In your ancestral halls ! The standard of your race Is flung upon the ground; Upon your battlements high They have set their ensign With many colors bright ; And God Himself Must marvel at the sight! Awake ! Arise ! Your men so brave and true Have forsaken you! [20] THE NIGHTINGALE In the soft moonlight That blooms in the night, Like a magnolia fair In its dark lair, I listen to the tune That the nightingale sings in June. O sweetest lay! O ecstasy! O love from above ! Of this treasure beyond measure. Dost thou sing, O bird with the dusky wing! [21] THE WHITE BUTTERFLY Little white butterfly Floating over my clover bed, By what airy fancy are you led? Your wings have a soft sheen, And your tender body between Must have a spark of celestial fire, Or else it would tire Of hurrying to and fro In a maze I cannot see In my purblind poverty ; But by your bearings I know you to be A messenger of peace to me. When Nature flaunts a flag of truce Naught can trouble me ; I may not have wings, But I understand a few things. [22] THE POMEGRANATE TREE Although I have little to wear And scanty fare, I will not sigh But sadness defy, For a pomegranate tree Is in blossom near me. A bird in the tree Carols with glee Of fruit overhead, Luscious and red, To be borne by the pomegranate tree In blossom near me. Waving on high, In the wan moonlight, You may descry Banners as bright as beacon lights Upon the pomegranate tree In blossom near me. Hope and good cheer Have settled here, And the joyous hours Are laden with flowers, Since the pomegranate tree Is in blossom near me. [23] A LOVER TO A LASS Sweet Adair, lithesome and fair ! Wilt thou be a wife to me ? My estate is not great, But rich beyond compare Are the sweet alyssums there, And the purple heartsease grows About the door Of the cottage which I have built with care, Thinking, as I worked upon the hearth, Of thee, sweet Adair. I shall not despair of thy presence there, For I have seen the sunrise And the lovelight in thine eyes, Which glowed for me, My divinity ! I will give to thee a cloak of red, And a bonny horse To carry thee through the valley, And a flower bed Beneath thy window I will spread. When thou dost dwell with me thou shalt see That my mother gave to me The grace to know how tender I should be To a gentle being such as thee. There is a hook for thy bonnet, A ribbon for thy hair, and a rocking chair [S4] For thee, sweet Adair ! And a faithful servitor thou shalt find, When thou dost place thy hand in mine. sweet Adair! With thy pure eyes and sunny hair, God give to me the right To do and dare for thee, My sweet Adair ! [25] SHADOWS Near a thicket upon the ground Graceful shadows dance around, Nod and gesture and display An exquisite courtesy ; Retreating with the breeze and giving way To the sunlight, whose shafts are found Here and there upon the ground. There, without strife or might, in a dim light, Magic does abound; And not a sound Breaks the spell in the fragrant dell Where fantastic shadows dwell. If in despair, seek a sylvan glade, And watch the sunlight wade Through the shadows there; Soon your sorrows will disappear, Leaving you without a fear. [26] LOVE'S FLOWER Love, from the garden bring to me a flower, As an emblem of this radiant hour ; Not the lily of the valley Which droops its head as for one dead ; Nor the purple heliotrope Which, when parted from its parent stem, Dies so soon in the heat of noon ; Nor the daisy simple and white, It cannot typify our delight; Nor the gorgeous magnolia with its sweet per- fume, Its fair petals are stained By the touch of a gentle hand; Nor the flaming poppy Which lifts its head so haughtily for all to see; Nor the white rose Which I wore in my hair Before I knew thy love so true; But see, heart of my heart, By the aspen tree Grows an everlasting blossom, The flower for you and me. Its straw colored petals do not deceive; It is strong and true [27] And will live with us whate'er we do. Place it upon my breast and it shall be The emblem of the sweetest hour on earth to me, The hour when you said your heart Was mine for all time. p8] THE REAPERS Yonder come the reapers The rising sun to greet, The golden wheat to reap! Brilliant butterflies overhead; Swaying poppies, yellow and red ; Grasses green, And grasses mellow, Hello! With the songsters in the thickets Make obeisance to the day! There is not a shadow in your way. Youth is sweet! Time is fleet! And love is here to greet Every lad and lassie. Tender messages are .sent today From eyes of blue and brown and gray. There's saucy Prue and Allan O'Toole; Mary Gould of the Golden Rule; Annabel Gray in a kirtle gay; Gertie McGee and Johnnie Mallory; Ebidiza and Ann Eliza; Freckled Fan and wayward Dan; And leading the way, With hair astray, Madcap May. [29] She blithely dances o'er the dew, Gay as a bird, Light as a fay, And the plague Of the lads and lassies. Oh, life is but a holiday! Work is play when love and youth combine In the fragrant summertime. [30] TIME I care not for your laughter, I care not for your tears, I that am your master And measure out your years. To some I give full many, To others but a span, As I play pitch and toss With the destiny of man. I care no more if your life be brief Than I do for the ruddy leaf Which fades away too soon 'Neath October's loom. For every grief there is relief, But laughter is in vain, For he who flaunts his mirth in such wise Must buckle down to pain. Will you fill your bowl, benighted soul, And drain it with a sigh, Or laugh as I pass by, Placing within your reach The walnut and the peach, And in fairest faith the luscious grape, To beguile you for awhile, That you may gather a rose where the thistle grows? [31] Sweetest memories decline and fade away in time. He who prates of glory May be numbered with the slain ; He whose woes are many paradise may at- tain. But I care not for your poverty, I care not for your gain; The master of your destiny Does not reckon on the twain. [32] HER GUIDING LIGHT Peter Bright ! Peter Bright ! I think of thee In the early morning light, And when the lamp in my study Throws its mellow beams Upon the canvas where The lorelei's slim white fingers stray Through her golden hair. And in the long dark night Dreams recall thee to my sight, For the memory of thee Is my guiding light by day and night, Peter Bright! Peter Bright! Thy hands are kind and strong; Thy words are wondrous wise; And bright thine eyes. When all the world seemed drear Thou wert near with a guiding hand And a soft command. Laughter and many a jest I found as thy guest, And frequently thou gavest me A tender glance Which did my world enhance, For thou wert mine only delight, Peter Bright! Peter Bright 1 [33] Our paths diverge ; I must find courage Where lurks despair, For such would be thy counsel, dear, And in all things I would be True to thee. The wood fire gleams, But bleak and cold the study seems. The lorelei's blue alluring eyes Gaze upon me musingly; A faint contempt upon her red lips I discern as I sigh, Peter Bright! Peter Bright! [«*] SYMPATHY Nature wore a somber air ; The brown hills were bare; 'Neath a leaden sky A breeze did sigh, And a woodpecker drummed disconsolately Upon a hollow tree. I could not see the trailing robe of day, For a tint of gray, Like the ashes of a dead flower, Encompassed the hour When love said good-by to me, And nature wore a somber air In my despair. [35] JUDGMENT An adventurous bird Rose from the fields of earth With a joyous song To seek the wells of spring; But a bleak wind flung him Upon a rocky promontory And broke his wing, Wherefore he could not sing, Since only in flight Could he find delight, And the strength to voice a song That did not to earth belong. Fate had cast him upon the ground, And there he crept around With a broken wing, A bit of struggling clay, A grievous thing, Which the mole scorned to know. Thus he dwelt With the lizard and the beetle And the strangest kind of people. Ere long Memory ceased to remind him Of the song of long ago, And the lizard and the beetle, That had never known a woe, Thought him slow. [36] THE DYING PLEA Kiss me and tell me you love me. Kiss me again! I have passed through days of shadows, And nights of pain. Kiss me again! Yon oak tree is sturdy, But it bends 'Neath the sobbing rain. Kiss me again! See ! The light is almost gone, and my white rose, Ere it sheds its loveliness, Taps upon my window pane. Kiss me again ! Hark! There is a roar As of a mighty ocean at my door ! And against the night A wild bird screams with fright ! While I cry in vain Kiss me again! [37] THE RETURNING The dead have gone So far, so far Beyond the light of the evening star ! Although they live in a far country, I am reminded of their constancy, For oh! the dead remember me! I have felt their presence in the gloom Of my silent room, Stepping softly to and fro, Touching everything I possessed with a caress, Seeming with their silent mien Like creatures in a dream. When the dawn's fresh face Peered into my window and across my floor, With unheard footsteps and mystic grace They hovered around me, then vanished in space, Leaving me forever more Rarest treasures from hope's golden store. [38] L'ENVOI Be it said of the dead That their tasks are over, And place upon their breasts, As a symbol and a crest, A four-leaf clover. [39] UNISON The sky looked upon the earth and said: " Although I be of high degree, And thou so lowly, We form a mighty unity; Thou dost yield great treasure, I form a pathway for the sun, That its amber rays may bring thy concep- tions To infinite perfection. And I send the rain to hasten the precious grain Which doth millions sustain. Thou seeketh my help in thy endeavor, And I, who live forever, Would be without thee but a vain concavity. Look above and find a love That covereth thee as a fruitful tree ; Thus proving that perfect harmony exists Between those of high and low degree, So ordained by a supreme authority." 1*0] A SONG OF SPRING Rejoice ! Rejoice ! As with one voice, Re j oice ! The earth's decree Appears on bush and tree. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! The breeze has sent fragrant petals Here and there to declare that spring is here. Rejoice! Rejoice! O bird with the brightest wing, With thee I lift my voice ! Re j oice ! Re j oice ! The rose bough a dusky red doth hold The acacia trees are decked with gold. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! O time so fleet, Life is sweet ! Re j oice ! Re j oice ! A harp with golden strings Is touched by the breath of spring. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! [41] Hark to the call of the whippoorwill And the song of the rill! Re j oice ! Re j oice ! Welcome flowers and halcyon hours, Ye doth proclaim a mighty name. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! King and beggar, take thy pleasure, The bounty of earth is without measure. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! Upon the tree of destiny Are goodly gifts for thee and me. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! As with one voice, rejoice! For spring is here and God is near. Re j oice ! Re j oice ! [42] THE REALM OF FANTASY There was never a thorn for me, my dear, There was never a thorn for me; I lived in a world of harmony, A world of harmony — In a realm of ease where sapphire seas Reflected a sky serene; And the hills were covered with a mellow bloom, And the meadows with a tender green. The roses there could do no wrong, They had never a thorn, my dear, For they lived in a world of harmony, A world of harmony. If you would know of this mystic sphere Where the oriole held communion with me, a human, Upon the pinions wide Of imagination you must ride O'er a world of gray into a realm of fantasy, Where there was never a thorn for me, my dear, In a mystical world of harmony, A world of harmony. [43] THE SONG OF THE LOVER I went through a dusky wood Where gray shadows stood, And many trees Joined arms on high To keep my glances from the sky. My pathway of crimson and gold, Which the leaves placed Fold upon fold, Led to the sea, Where a ship awaited me Bound for a far country. And singing a blithesome air Of a maiden fair, I took no thought Of figures in gray, Nor the darkness of the wood, Where the green leaves Made a hood To cover many a creeping thing Which menaced me On my way to the sea And my fair ladye. For love accompanied me, And I saw upon the brow of night Only a gem of the fairest light. [44] THE ROCKER Tall poplar trees all in a row In my garden grow. On a windy day they nod and say, " Ho, ho ! " to the breeze Which rustles their leaves, And rocks the bough Where a drowsy bird rests upon her downy nest In a leafy wilderness. The breeze may sigh and to her cry, " Come away, come away, and fly witb me today, O pretty thing! It is time to attend to your marketing." But under the eaves Of the poplar leaves It is a pleasure in gusty weather To dream with closed eyes of southern skies, Heedless of treasure To be found upon the ground. So, little one, rock and sway While others say, " Ho, ho ! " to the windy day. [45] THE PLAINT OF THE LONELY KNIGHT Sweet daffodils and murmuring rills! Hath passed this way Upon a white palfrey The fairest sight in all the wide daylight? A lady in a damask gown, With yellow hair unbound, And upon her head a hood of red From which shone forth A face pale as the magnolia frail, And eyes the hue of the iris blossom; And lips red as the flaming flower Which blooms in the snow 'neath a north- ern sky. Hath ye seen such a radiant being pass by? O swaying daffodils and murmuring rills! Ye can but sigh ; She passed by! And I can know no rest, For this great lady but yesterday Stole from me, an humble knight, The heart within my breast, And all the world seems dark and gray Since she passed my way. [46] THE WATCHERS In a dream I saw many watch towers agleam ; In a purple dale, I was within hail, Yet the watchers spake not, but gazed upon me With some despair; And sighing to behold their grief, I awoke Where I, a weary traveler, Had lain down to rest when the day was bright, And lo! it was night, With many stars agleam in the purple sky; Musingly I watched a cloud sail by. [47] THE STORM The storm god is here! The plumes of the ocean Are all in motion, Tossing on high 'Neath a somber sky, As the great waves rise to hail The riotous gale Which whistles an air wild and free Gleaned in a strange countree! The trees are bent, The leaves are sent Over field and meadow, And waving heather ; The sturdy oak, The lily frail, And the sweet daffodil Are bowed with woe By the mighty foe Who stamps about In maddest glee To see his subjects Scurry and flee From a legion of fears That shout in their ears. [48] But there is strength To be found In a hole in the ground, And many a squirrel Seeks a haven of rest 'Neath the earth's warm breast, And does not envy The beings proud and free Who claim to hold dominion Over land and sea. Such wealth as theirs May lay them low, Where even a field mouse would not go. Thus many a small thing Triumphs today Over man in this wild fray. [49] SUMMER Summer has come again! Garlands without a stain Weave I with hope again, Roses of fairest mien Entwined with brightest green, To deck my brow — Listening to love acclaim Summer has come again ! For in this garden fair all things declare Summer has come, summer has come. Violets so sweet And subjects so neat Summer has summoned to scent the air With perfume rare And attest her loveliness, Crying in every ear Be of good cheer, Summer has come, summer is here. Drape and deck yourselves In fairest array For a holiday, And be in tune With lovely June, Bidding good-day To everyone, for Summer has come, summer has come. [50] In the trees Beneath the leaves Birds with folded wings Sing of joyous things. Who could repine In this glad time, While the bees hum Summer has come, summer has come? [51] TO THE MAN UPON THE MOUNTAIN man upon the mountain top ! I am too frail to climb the trail Which leads to your splendor ; But when the cool rains of September Have quenched the brown earth's thirst up there, The wild rose and the violet will climb your stair, And perchance speak of one who faltered on the way, For I wore them in my hair In the valley when you thought me fair, And did speak confidently to me Of the might and height and light of prayer. I, that had known despair, did not forbear To hope that I too might find a way To him who lives upon the radiant heights so high Beyond the sky. Do not leave me here in pain ! Come again ! Teach me to be brave And my spirit save ; For I would owe you such a debt 1 could ne'er forget. [52] SLEEP There is a whisper o'er the land Which many heed but none understand, A whisper of peace and of love Like a benediction from above To the bending flowers in the dusky hours ; The messenger of love is softly singing his lay O'er the golden head and the gray. Sleep, ye whose playtime has just begun, Sleep, ye whose race is almost run, Sleep, ye who weep, Tomorrow ye may reap golden wheat. Sleep, happy things with folded wings, God's messenger is here; Know ye not fear. [53] A MINSTREL TO A DAY Where hast thou gone, Thou gladsome day, With thy blossoms bright and gay? Wert thou born to me for a space And then to God in heaven, And canst thou be forgiven? O beautiful, merciless day! Thou hast gone with all my gladness ; But thou canst not take away The flower she gave me in my madness. [5*] A MESSENGER A bird whose like I had never seen in mountain or meadow Flew to my casement; And although his wings were bright, He sang not of delight, But wore a plaintive air, And sang, methought, of something lost somewhere ; Or was it but my own despair That he did voice with such a wondrous art That methought my heart Would break with pain, Listening to the plaintive strain? O vagrant from a distant shore ! Sing to> me no more ! For my love lies dying, And all the world is sighing. [55] SUNSET Sunset ! — A flock of seagulls wend their way Above a golden spray. Near the bay the bluebells swing and sway, As though tolling for the passing day In whose fiery rays the breeze Tosses crimson and gold and russet leaves, Which dance away to meet the twilight gray, Whose velvety pall soon will be thrown over all. Sunset ! — The light within my room recedes As though it sought in vain For the fair head that did brighten the gloom Of the dark room, And in the wan light A shadow of a cypress grave and tall Falls upon my wall. [56] LOVE AND PAIN I plucked a poppy for my breast. The warmth that my life blood shed Upon its loveliness drooped its head, And so it died there Of loneliness and despair. I should have known that it was too fair and gay To stay with one who lingered in the gloom, Past earth's fairy loom, Where all things blithe gather with delight And from golden hours are woven flowers Which in graceful array Welcome the day. heralds so bright, Give me of your light! For I have paid a toll to earth And would find a way Out of the gloom to yesterday. [57] THE LAST DESCENDANT O'er ocean and land I have roamed, At last I have come to my home, Barred the great door; and alone The old ruin I would explore, But a shadowy form in a cloak of gray Greets me from the gloom of a distant room. Sovereign of an ancient race! Thou hast come to haunt this place. I know thy step upon the stair, I gaze into the glass And see thine image in me, I that must tax my wits to find a way To live from day to day. I bend the knee to chance and trickery, And smile upon a rogue that he may har- bor me On account of my goodly pedigree. Time, the tyrant, has found a way To place a stain upon thy heraldry, And show to man that none so high Who may not in the dust lie. Thy castle on the hill Which overlooks the sea Is the home of the bat and the owl, And the rats have gnawn a way [58] Through thy precious tapestry. They disappear as I draw near, But I feel their eyes from unseen vantage Gaze at me expectantly. Where I linger by the chilly hearthside, Watching the spider weave its web O'er the helmet of the dead, While the wind wails at the casement And seems to say, " Away ! away ! away ! " [59] THE PEBBLE I picked a pebble from the ground; It did speak to me of the depth of the sea ; Of a mountain stream which passed O'er its smooth expanse long ago; Of the gold which the fragile fern doth hold, And the lotus flower which decked Cleo- patra's bower. Small wandering stone, polished bright, And white as the robe of Aphrodite ! In centuries to come will I be as fine as thee ? [60] ENDEAVOR O radiant moon ! Would that I could place Thy mellow rays within my loom, And the brightness of the noon, And the violet's sweet perfume, And the dusky hue of night, And the sunset's ruddy light, And the soft glow of the morn, And the blue of skies serene, And the sheen upon the rill As it wanders down the hill. All these treasures rare, world most fair ! I would weave into my loom, And not despair That even I might attain Perfection with my hand and brain. [61] LIFE'S CASTAWAY I am too sad to pray ; The weather is bleak, And many a harsh wind Has withered my cheek; My form is bent, As though a harlequin, With grim laughter, had sent My lofty spirit Into a grotesque tenement. I would leap upon a charger bold And dash into the fray, Where virtue seeks to find a way Past tyrants of renown Who claim the day; But I am old, And although my spirit would command, This poor clay will not obey. The day haunts the night With visions of delight, Such as a castaway Upon a desolate reef may recall As the evening shadows fall, And the seagulls Flash in the ocean's bed, And scream o'er his head. [63] The sunset has cast its rays upon my floor, And past my door a lonely loon flies With a plaintive cry; The night is here to clothe me o'er with grace In a mansion which is known as my home, Rich with treasures from oversea Which mock me and declare That my kingdom is despair. [63] FROM OUT THE PAST He stood in a pathway dim When the moon and I discovered him, As I by my casement leant, And the moon upon its pathway went. His helmet was under his arm And his fair hair caught the light, Which seemed as bright As the chained armor of gold which did en- fold A form of slender grace with visage bold Which my very soul did entrance, For the serene brow and sunny hair Memory claimed I had caressed somewhere ; As through labyrinths of time I seemed to climb Back to' the far days When I had known the bliss of his kiss. my brave knight ! So pale in the wan light, A sword reached your heart Ere my sire's minions tore us apart. Many lives I have led, many tears I have shed Since last we lived and loved, In a fair clime, in a distant time. [64] By a token all unspoken I knew that he had come Through the mazes of the ages To claim the love so true and tender That I to him did surrender Long ago. And with a cry of rapture which did attest The love aglow within my breast, I hastened to join him where The white lilac blossoms decked the night With fragrance and delight ; When from the ivy tower A bell tolled the midnight hour, And I awoke to darkness and despair, For my lover was not there. [65] ONE OF MANY From street to street And house to house He makes his way, Offering for sale, With a wistful face, Pins and needles, thread and lace, And with difficulty hoisting his pack Upon his back, For he is feeble, bent and gray, The old Jew peddler who comes our way. A stranger to ease and luxuries, But who shall say He is not a brave, good knight In God's great company? For his eyes are resolute and true, And he takes his orders graciously From destiny, murmuring not at his lot ; And I feel that I am in right good com- pany When he smilingly Offers his wares to me. Upon your doorstep look with care For brave Endeavor may be lurking there ; A stranger of high degree, Although he wear [66] A threadbare coat and an humble air, He carries many a virtue Which might lend a grace To a haughty face, For upon the road of pain There is much to be gained. [67] THE MORNING BREEZE Touched are the lute strings of morning By a truant breeze from high, Bidding the tall white roses nod To the humbler daisies nigh ; Rousing a bee in the clover ; Ruffling a butterfly's wings ; Searching the earth over For small invisible things ; Scattering from the trees their weak leaves To form a stronghold for the beetle, He who doubts not that such eaves Will protect him from all thieves Who would rob him of his rest As he dreams on earth's warm breast. Merry breeze so fond of plunder! You have robbed me of my slumber, Flapping my curtain to and fro, Calling me to rise and go Out where all things seem so gay On this fair midsummer day. [68] HOSPITALITY Beneath my roof There is a proof Of my hospitality, Which the passer-by May plainly see, Since the swallows have come To' dwell with me. With fluttering wings The twittering things Have brought some clay And molded a way, Under my roof to stay In comfort and ease for many a day. They occupy rooms of small dimensions, And to me pay no attention, But seem inclined to do as they please Under my eaves. I have not turned them out, For I find pleasure In watching what they are about, Feeling quite proud That creatures so happy and free Should care to dwell with me; And devotedly say : " Blessed be the hollows Of the swallows." [69] UPON THE SEASHORE Since youth has passed my door, and will speak to me no more, I care not the world to explore. I will wander upon my own seashore, And watch the ships put out to sea, Pondering upon what Fate may have in store for me In a strange country. [70] THE PLEA OF THE SCISSORS GRINDER Scissors to grind, scissors to grind ! Who will be kind And give to me their scissors to grind? I ring my bell To call you out (without a shout). Scissors to grind, scissors to grind! O you of good cheer ! There is someone here Who may be in need ; Take heed, take heed, And good will with necessity combine. Scissors to grind, scissors to grind! Some birds fly high, And some fly low, As o'er the earth they go. Mortals up and mortals down, Do not frown but bring to me, your Scissors to grind, scissors to grind. Do not doubt that justice you will find As I grind; See how sharp your scissors be, A bit of leather They will sever, Scissors to grind, scissors to grind! [71] My bell is not set upon a steeple Beneath a cross of gold For the sun to behold, But upon a little cart, With the humble hope That it will reach your heart. O good people, be kind, And give to me your Scissors to grind, scissors to grind. [72] MOTHER EARTH There is a great good mother Of high degree; Although she lowly be, She hath a gracious air, And she doth wear Jted, emerald and gray, And doth play A wondrous melody Which echoes through the woods, And is found in many a rill As it ripples in and out Among the hills. She hath given me garments fair, Mellow wheat and berries sweet When I would eat. I have bathed in a spring Whose dusky rim She decked with brightest flowers To make glad The fleeting hours. When I did wander in the heat of noon. Upon the mountain side, She gave me golden fruit To quench my thirst, And the leafy shade Of a fragrant tree To shelter me. And when night fell [73] I sought her ample breast To drink of her fount of rest. O mother of mine ! I feel that a Will divine Hath fashioned thee To comfort me, And lead me away from sorrow, And bid me raise my eyes To a radiant tomorrow. [74] THE CONQUEROR With my pack upon my back, An old gray hat, And a jacket out of gear — You may think it queer — But in garb such as this I am bound for bliss. As conqueror of the subjects of the sea And lord of expectancy, At break of day I search for prey With the beetle and the bee And all things which are free. The bee knows the joy Of seeking the pollen of the rose, And the beetle, I suppose, Looks for prey in quite another way v But for sport he is bound without a sound ; While gleefully I sing a lay Of an ancient day When lions roamed this land so free And disposed of men like me. Now this is a legend gray Relating to a bygone century. My step is light, But it rings with might [75] Upon the broad highway, For I am bound for bliss, And carking care I shall dismiss, Since merry is the soul That carries a fishing pole. [T6] A LOVER AND — ALAS You shall have a crown Of thistledown, And a kingdom, too, For I love you. See, your handmaidens so free Are growing at your knee ; Daisies white and small, And hyacinths, slender and tall. The peacock and the crane By a royal decree here shall remain, For the splendor of the peacock's train And the repose which the crane really knows. A minstrel rare we cannot spare, So the breeze through the leaves Shall whisper a lay All the livelong day. And when night finds you here, Dewdrops like diamonds will appear Upon your shoulders fair, And deck your hair. [77] That is, if you care to remain And continue your reign As queen of the meadow, Subject to the damp in the heather. I admit that a royal estate Does not always compensate For the loss of ease To those accustomed to do as they please. But if you should wander from here, my dear, I trust you will not stay At an expensive hostelry, For I prefer to reside Where you abide, And like the hyacinths fair, 1 have no money to spare. Therefore, I beg, remain here Through the warm season of the year, And when evening summons you to rest Place your head upon my breast. And we as free As the gypsies will be ; Your sighs I will temper With my replies. [78] The dampness of the weather, Nor the small things in the heather Cannot break up our home, Nor cause us to roam, For our kingdom is here, And our hearts know no fear, Since with love we abide Whatever betide. [79] DEGENERATION Place a seashell to your ear, A murmuring song you will hear, Set as a scroll within the shell forever to dwell, Telling of the mysteries of the deep, Where curious creatures abound And seaweed covers the retreat Of the many that are weak; Should they chance to stray along the sea's highway Numbers would be slain, For pirates lie in wait The lives of the venturesome to take, And by strength of might they achieve their fight. There are many upon the earth Who would emulate the subjects of the sea, Truants from their natural sphere. But in a future life They may be found, floating around, Looking for prey In the same old way. As you pluck the deadly hemlock And the rose For diverse destinies, So will the Master of our fate Separate the thistle from the grape. [80] LAUGHTER There is laughter all about, shout! And the sound Will resound All around Or, say " Quail," And my dog will wag his tail. Take not tears From the years With your fears! Repent and pray To be gay, For the fun Has just begun ! [81] THE SIGN One cloudy night upon the sky I saw silvery sheaves of wheat stacked high Upon a stubble field; At its extremity a shimmering waterfall, Beneath which a lake Seemed to take its sheen From the moon's radiant beams, Which flooded it o'er, and sought to explore A dusky cavern near by. But a centure in gray barred the way, And I knew to my sorrow That it would rain on the morrow. [82] THE ITALIAN YOUTH Beaming face, eyes so bright, Teeth of glistening white! " Will I buy thy peaches today? " Oh what bloom they do wear ! Shall I not declare they are fine? Can I not see they are in their prime? Oh joy be thine! They are mine ! And here is coin to buy thee wine. The exchange is fair; But how shall I pay for thy smile so gay? I cannot make a like return, For I was not born in Italy. But I thank thee For thy grace and thy radiant face; Thou blooming dust of earth, Sweet be thy destiny As these peaches are to me. [83] HIS TREASURY I was as a lost man in a dream, Fondling her nut-brown hair, agleam With glints of gold, upon her shoulders bare ; Her eyes of blue of the iris hue I closed with a kiss or two, Forgetting that I was of high degree, As I stooped to a maid so lowly. But I glanced about to see If anyone was observing me, And discovered on a fence near by An old owl which blinked an eye And seriously gazed at me ; I did not care for the creature's stare, So my lips sought those of the maiden there, And under the fragrant locust tree I held the key to a wondrous treasury. For the maiden I loved and she loved me, Yet I sighed to think I was above one so fair, And in order to comfort me With a kiss or two The little maid mounted her milking stool, And thus became a lady of high degree. So Fate arranged a match for me Under the fragrant locust tree. [84] UPON THE GREAT HIGHWAY Although I lack might, I will champion the right: The right of the brave and the holy, The right of the weak and the lowly; And will endeavor, if only for a day, To straighten the way Of the fellow in gray Whose star has declined And left him blind Upon the great highway. The lads and the lassies And the kitten there Under my chair Shall know no fear When I draw near; For I cannot compete With the strength of the weak, And God would not have it otherwise, Since their weakness Leads us to sympathy and sacrifice. Therefore, pity the fellow in gray; He is not strong, So help him along The great highway. [85] MAY Come, come away! Led by a feather All together, We will be gay ! What of today? You have work, you say? Oh come away ! Come away ! Fie ! in such weather Would you prefer Gold to heather? Come away! Leave your hive And be alive Just for today Come away! This is May, And by such token We should play. Come away! [86] IN HARVEST TIME There is tragedy here And many a fear, For a vast machine Goes up and down Above the dome Where the field mouse makes his homi* In great distress at his helplessness He mounts his tower of grass, And sees a hurricane of steel pass. Oh, the pity! Oh, the city! Oh, the dust and chaff Which flies in many eyes ! The citizens of Pompeii doubtless did pray To a god of clay, As the field mouse may be doing today To the man on the mower — The sower of disaster, And of his fate the master. Oh, the ruined marts ! And the wildly beating hearts Of the little things Which were wont to play In a most peculiar way Without fear of a disastrous year. [87] Now harvest time is here, And the giants of the ground Have gathered round To tear the golden towers down ; It is said to make bread For the people overhead. If a mouse should survive this affair t He may relate in language sedate The hurry, scurry and worry Of one of his number, Who informed them all of the fall Of the golden wheat in their street. To them this tale may be as dear As to us the ride of Paul Revere. You may think it queer, But if I were a seer, I would tell you what they said When they fled. [88] POSSESSION The day is mine! The day is mine! Come, share with me a gift divine ! Sovereign am I of hours of ease and ecstasies. There is a green velvet carpet spread for me in the valley; And a blue jay tells me there is a rill upon the hill Where the heather is in bloom, And the scarlet cardinal flower glorifies the hour. The day is mine! The day is mine! Virginia creeper decks the wall ; daffodils are growing tall ; The blushing Lady Washington is outdone by the rhododendron ; The grasshopper prates of it like a village gos- sip ; There is a downy moth, a yellow butterfly and a bumblebee, But they do not disagree ; They would not bother to make war on one an- other. The weeping willow tree is ashamed of a name Which suggests unhappiness — O trailing col- umbine. The day is mine ! The day is mine ! [89] The mocking bird is whistling for me And I have an invitation from the wild rose o'er the way Which climbed the hedge to say, " Good-day, Wilt thou agree to join my company, The squirrel, the bee, the oriole, and the old elm tree? " The forget-me-not has cast its lot With the gaudy marigold, Therefore may find a reason not all treason For being blue — but I will not repine — The day is mine! The day is mine! I shall hop along the way with my little friend the wren, But the thrush shall see That I can almost fly if I try. The brilliant poppies sway and would race with the day, And I will not say I am clay When I would be a branch of holly Or a lissome queen of folly, For light as a blossom from a tree is the spirit within me. The day is mine ! The day is mine! With its pomp of flowers and precious hours, A caterpillar has crept upon my gown ; I shall not frown, he may wish to show me round. [90] Time register me, A Rover through the per- fumed clover. My pedigree will not compare with a DeClare's But by right of birth upon the kingdom men call earth, The day is mine! The day is mine ! [91] THANKSGIVING Dear God, I thank Thee For this fair estate Wherein we stray. I know it cannot compare With the realm of our destiny — For there is an ecstasy at times Which penetrates the mind Like a vapor from a wine Brewed in fields divine, And tells us there is no extent to time, Nor joy, nor peace Beyond our reach. Therefore, great God on high, I thank Thee for the blueness of the sky, The rose of dawn, The melody of song, And the strength to see Thy beacon light In the darkest night. [92]