Class _tlliio01i Book.AXiK_tiic ghtN»_lll!i COEXRIGHT DEPOSm POEMATA AMANTIS BY AN ENGLISHMAN NEW YORK, MCMXVII All rights reserved V POEMATA AMANTIS (Love Verses) Fifty Copies only of these POEMATA AMANTIS have been privately printed. This Copy is No POEMATA AMANTIS \Love Verses) ADDRESSED TO A DAUGHTER 0/ AMERICA BY AN ENGLISHMAN spirit is more than matter. For spirit sunward tends; And these real flozvers we scatter For the spirits of our friends. NEW YORK, MCMXVII copyiught, 19 1 7 By The Plimpton Pkess / ^^y -9/917 THESE POEM ATA A MANTIS ARE DEDICATED TO THEIR ONLY INSPIRER CONTENTS PAGE TO II AMOR VICTRIX 12 THE LOOK 13 SUMMUM BONUM . I4 IMPERFECTION I5 THE DEFECT 16 DESIDERATA I7 AMOR IMPERATRIX 1 8 GRATITUDE 20 SUPPLICATION 21 EDEN 22 VOX ANGELICA 23 INQUIETUDE 24 PROMISE 25 TO THE NIGHT 26 THE MIRACLE 27 PREDESTINATION 28 love's LOGIC 29 THE INVITATION 30 THE BRIDGE 3 1 MOONBEAMS 32 DIMIDIUM ANIMJE 33 WAYFARERS 34 SONG 35 SONG 36 SONG 37 SONG 38 PEACE 39 THE SNOWDROP 40 [7] COMPLETION 41 CONSTANCY 42 REVERIE 43 THE GIFT 44 WITHOUT AND WITH 45 OPPOSITES 46 IF YOU WERE GONE 47 METAMORPHOSES 48 THE HAND 49 PASTEL 50 ONLY YOU 51 THE SIGH 52 REALITY 53 THE ISSUE 54 POTENCY 55 THE ROSE 56 THE PEARL 57 YOU 58 IN IMITATION OF SAPPHO 59 MANNA 61 MY LADY 62 SANS LIENS 63 AD ASTRA 65 INCOMPLETENESS 66 SONG 67 THREE LITTLE WORDS 68 SHADOWS 69 SONG 70 loneliness 7i yearning ." 73 inadequacy 74 beyond hope 75 starlight 76 l'envoi 77 [8] INDEX TO FIRST LINES PAGE A miracle of heavenly birth 27 Above the dusky hair 44 After suffering, balm 46 Beautiful hand 49 Behind your eyes 63 Come with the birds' first song 30 Dear love, when morning dawns 33 Famished with hunger 61 From the infinite space 39 Give me those hands 59 I have considered 14 I have no song to-night 69 I heard an angel call me 23 I know the way you used to go 42 I love the darkness of your eye 50 I must fix it like a mage 13 I saw a snowdrop 40 I see the children . . 52 I think if God should give 17 I thought of her and of her eyes 24 I was so cold 41 I would but cannot 74 If you love me as I love you 29 In hours I spend with you 56 Inspirerof my days 34 Into the unknown New Year 20 Let me be the sun 48 Love, just one sigh 15 [9] More than all earthly gain 76 My God, I thank Thee 22 My track crossed yours one day 28 No longer would the sky be blue 47 Not for us the semblance 53 Not long ago a child 18 O lips I love 67 O love I am yearning 73 O magic heart 55 O mighty impulse 12 O moonbeams on the roof 32 O night with wings unfurled 26 O the first days of spring 25 O what a rich return 57 O wind, O gentle wind 21 Others have spacious lands 51 So near you are 70 Song-birds and flowers 71 Take them, love, these sixty poems ']'] The bee sings in the flowers 38 The days that intervene 31 The evening falls 43 The night is falling, love 35 There is a blackness that I love 62 There is a redness in the rose 37 Thou hast filled up my cup 75 Though I go from the sun 36 Three little words 68 To-night if Christ 66 What can I bring thee ....•': 54 What is the sunshine to me 16 When the poems that I write you ii Without thy voice to bless me 45 You fill my heart with song 58 Your lips outvie the reddest rose 65 [10] TO HEN the poems that I write you You shall read, When I from earth's mutations Have been freed, You will know that still by love's impulsion bidden, I am singing by the blue of heaven hidden. When the passion I outpoured you You recall, In your musing, — when the evening Shadows fall, — You will know that in the happy near Hereafter I am waiting for your rippling girlish laughter. [II] AMOR VICTRIX MIGHTY impulse of o'ermastering Love, Drowned fathoms deep in thine un- sounded sea, Whose force is far my feeble strength above, I yield at last to thee. Vainly the little strives with the immense, Vainly an atom with infinity, Thou hast made bondsmen of mine every sense, I yield at last to thee. If thou must still deprive me of my thought. If thou must still possess my liberty. Contented thus to do as I am taught, I yield at last to thee. O blame me not because this soul of mine Long sought to keep her own identity; Mind, body, spirit, now I all resign — I yield them all to thee. [12] THE LOOK MUST fix it like a mage, That sweet look: Write it somewhere in the page Of a book: That when winter's cold doth kill Autumn flowers, All its mystic sweetness still May be ours. Gracious eyes that tenderly Answer mine ; Glorious eyes that pour for me Gladdening wine. Eyes that shine and save me in Sorrow's hour; And do shame the thought of sin By their power. Eyes that waked a soul in me, Love aflame. Making death henceforth to be But a name. [13] SUMMUM BONUM HAVE considered every grace That human life can hold ; The parks and stately palaces, The glory and the gold. The loveliness of Grecian form; The sea-bird's sweep of wing ; A child at play upon a lawn ; A primrose of the spring. I have imagined what we know When numbered with the dead, In Paradise, where roses blow, Whose bloom is never shed. But gazing now upon a face — Sweet, spirit-pure, apart, — I deem God's highest gift and grace Come with a woman's heart. [14] IMPERFECTION OVE, just one sigh My spirit doth give, Conscious that I Cannot perfectly Hve. Joys that entrance, Entrancing in vain Do but enhance Mine impotent pain. Rapture that lends Life its delight. Soon as it ends. Whelms me in night. Love, just one sigh My spirit doth give. Since we must die To perfectly live. [15] THE DEFECT HAT is the sunshine to me If the voice of my love is away? What all the wonders I see Around me by night and by day? What is the moon as she moves Up from the mist-cinctured hill, Eyeing the earth that she loves, Painting it white at her will ? What are the silver lights hung, Lamping it high overhead ? Still will their splendours be flung When I have passed to the dead. What is the world vast and wide ? What are my days that decline? Naught without her at my side; Naught if her hand clasp not mine. [i6] DESIDERATA THINK if God should give Me leave to ask to-night The life I fain would live In pain and grief's respite, I should but ask of Him one thing — My loved one to my heart to bring. I would not ask for ease, Nor wealth nor worldly gain ; Possession of all these Might leave me still in pain; For my lone soul knows no relief, Save only love, to end its grief. I wait through weary days, Through many a wakeful night ; No softest path I pace Can minister delight Till on my listening ear doth fall The step that makes amends for all. [17] AMOR IMPERATRIX [18] OT long ago a child Was laid upon our knees; It calmly slept and smiled, And was not hard to please. Our hearts recall the smiles Upon the dimpled cheek, The pretty baby wiles, The sweet attempts to speak. The little fingers twined In trust around our own; The present scarce divined. The future all unknown. A flower half-disclosed, A spirit half-awake, A melody proposed, A song as yet to make. The child we used to bless. The child with dreaming eyes. Is no more passionless. No longer peaceful lies. The tender little child, So gentle and so still, So easily beguiled. So subject to our will: Once quiet in our breast. Hath now imperious grown, Hath robbed us of our rest And made our hearts its throne. C19] GRATITUDE NTO the unknown New Year gliding, Hidden thoughts steal from their hiding. Thanks to God for vanished sorrow, Adding comfort to the morrow. Thanks to God that He hath sent us Love*s rich purple to content us. With its warm robe to enfold us, Angels envying behold us. Joy and light and peace and pleasure Love doth pour us without measure. Morning dawns with love to guide us, All day long she dwells beside us. Evening falls and draws us nearer, And the whispered word is dearer. In the folds of love soft sleeping. There is no more pain nor weeping. When the next life's morning breaketh. To new rapture love awaketh. [20] SUPPLICATION WIND, O gentle wind, Sing me a song to-night, My heart is sick with waiting. Waiting for love's delight. O moon, O silver moon, Throw me a glance to-night ; My heart is cold with longing. Longing for love's delight. O earth, O patient earth. Pity mortality. Tossed forever upon Time's tempestuous sea. O stars, O silent stars. More compassionate be! Ye will still shine on When earth forgetteth me. O Love, O Light of life. Eternal Deity; Vain, vain are all Thy gifts If love come not to me. [21] EDEN Y God, I thank Thee Who hast made The world so bright : The morning sun, the evening shade, The gems of night. And for that world eye hath not seen My thanks are due, And for the love that floats between And links the two: Till even grief, illumed by love. Transmuted is. And draws the soul to things above And fuller bliss. But most I thank Thee for Thy plan — So mystic sweet — Whereby Thou givest unto man A true help-meet. What if by day dark thoughts oppress, And peace depart; At even I have her caress To bless my heart. [22] vox ANGELICA HEARD an angel call me — "Come up at last and live; There's nothing to enthrall thee In all that earth can give. "The spirits sent to love thee, Save one, are gone before. And now they wait above thee Beside the open door." "I would (I answered), only My love I love her so. That should I leave her lonely. My joy would turn to woe. "Though heaven wait above me, On earth while still her heart So constantly doth love me, I never can depart." [23] INQUIETUDE PI THOUGHT of her and of her eyes The whole day long; I sat me down to moralize, But wrote a song. I rose and paced the crowded street, Yet I was blind: Her form, her voice, surpassing sweet, Possessed my mind. My garden high walls did enclose Seemed made for calm; But wanting her — I found the rose Had lost its charm. I left my flowers white and red, My garden plot: There is no ease for me, I said, Where she is not. [24] PROMISE THE first days of Spring With their sun and their scent, What a yearning they bring For love's sweet content ! How the leaves gently stirred By the wind at its will, And the charm of the bird Set the pulses athrill! O heart be thou strong There is One doth provide For the song-bird a song, And an arbour beside. And the white-blossom's Maker, Ere summer be spent. May make thee partaker Of love's sweet content. [25] TO THE NIGHT NIGHT, with wings unfurled Fall from the crystal dome; The one who makes my world Awaits my coming home. O night, like Holy Dove, Descend that I may see The spirit that I love Come out to welcome me. O night, that bringest bliss! Expectancy is sweet; But sweeter far than this — The hour when lovers meet. [26] THE MIRACLE MIRACLE of heavenly birth Is her dear heart to me; More than the treasures of the earth, Or those hid in the sea. A smile from her Creator's face She brings me every day, And love's deep undertone I trace. In all that she doth say. Of many moods, by fancy led, Impatient of control, A radiance still on me is shed From her love-lighted soul. Though seasons come and pass away. Her heart shall keep its youth, And wear, in some diviner day, Its glorious robe of truth. [27] PREDESTINATION Y track crossed yours one day, We met — and it was done; The love that will not pass away Was instantly begun. As I look back, I see A leading sure and strong — A Hand unseen directing me, Amid the countless throng. If clouds are in the sky, The sun is surely there; And Love, that sleeps not, standeth nigh To hear and answer prayer. Though eyes may lose the light. The sun still gives his ray; The little minutes of the night Lends brightness to the day. [28] LOVE'S LOGIC F you love me as I love you, Earth and sky have faces new. If you love me as I love you, All but love hath passed from view. If you love me as I love you, We shall walk with vision true. If you love me as I love you, Love through all we shall pursue. If you love me as I love you. Every bar is broken through. If you love me as I love you, God hath fashioned one of two. [29] THE INVITATION OME with the bird's first song; Come with the breath of dawn ; Come, for your stay hath been long; Come, for my heart is forlorn. Speak, and the morning breaks, Speak, and the night is spent; Speak, and my spirit wakes; Speak, and my heart is content. Whisper as mothers do; Whisper as lovers can ; Whisper / love but you; Whisper as woman to man. Stay with me in my mirth ; Stay with me when I sigh; Stay with me here on earth; Stay with me still in the sky. [30] THE BRIDGE HE days that intervene The cold, the chilling days, Since last your face was seen And love was more than praise. Are mists that veil, but cannot hide, The sun that they have glorified. The miles that intervene. The dark, the dreary miles, Whose enmity would screen From me your happy smiles. Are spaces in the vault of night Through which the stars shine doubly bright. My spirit still doth lean Across the farthest space, Until — no bar between — I find your shining face. And touch your cheek, and hold you fast. My utmost joy attained at last. [31] MOONBEAMS MOONBEAMS on the roof, O lights upon the river, O night of love and truth. Held in my heart forever. Three words of melody, A form in mystic white. And earth and sky and sea Were clad in new delight. O face I thrill to view, O voice that fills my brain. My spirits find in you A respite for its pain. No happier they who dwell In heav'n's unchanging light. Than we beneath the spell Love wove for us last night. [32] DIMIDIUM ANIMAE EAR love, When morning dawns, I turn to you; When noontide burns, I rest with you ; When evening falls, I call to you. Sweet love. As earth recedes, I shall need you; When life departs, I hold to you ; When heaven breaks, It brings me you. [33] WAYFARERS NSPIRER of my days, And solace of my nights, Companion of my ways, And sharer of my fights : The demons do not love us, Our pathway they would bar; But blue skies stretch above us, And evening hath its star. Response when doubts were rife, And banisher of cold. Whose touch upon my life. Turned all its dross to gold : The world will never know us, But still will wonder why The kingdoms it doth show us. We pass for love's sake by. [34] SONG HE night is falling, love, And my spirit calling, love. Just for you. The bats are flying, love. And my heart replying, love, Just to you. The stars above me, love, Seem all to love me, love, Because of you. The breeze doth bring me, love. Sweet joy, and sing me, love, A song of you. And all that liveth, love. My spirit giveth, love. New dreams of you. C35] SONG HOUGH I go from the sun, beloved, Whenever our pathways part ; Though the loss of your presence, beloved. Throw a shadow on my heart : Yet I will not complain, beloved, But rather rejoice that we Are sure of the life, beloved. That enters eternity. We part but to meet, beloved. And when hearts meet again. The grass at our feet, beloved. Will be brighter for the rain. [36] SONG HERE is a redness in the rose to-day I never knew before ; A sweeter fragrance from the jas- mine spray Floats through the open door. A fuller melody is in the wind That whispers low and sweet — A sense of something only half-defined, Yet felt to be complete. A happier murmur have the summer bees That rob the honeyed flowers; Their joyous undersong doth greatly please, Recalling childhood's hours. It is thy voice, O love, that lends such worth To flower and breeze and bee. And sheds upon a fading earth Hues of eternitv. [37] SONG *^HE bee sings in the flowers A song of happier hours Than used to be. The daffodil doth wear A robe more debonair Than anciently. The summer doth disclose A fuller redder rose Than once I knew. And every bush doth glow With glory angels know — Since I loved you. C38] PEACE ROM the infinite space Fell the night; And I yearned for the feel of your face, Heart's delight. From the mind's cloudy sky Doubt came down; And I longed for your low-voiced reply, Mine heart's own. Then I slept a sweet sleep ; And you came; And at once, with a tenderness deep, Called my name. At the words which you said, True and kind. Flew my fears, and a calm came instead To my mind. And at dawn my first thought, With eyes raised, Was to give, for the gladness you brought, God the praise. [39] THE SNOWDROP SAW a snowdrop bloom to-day Upon a nameless grave; I think a woman planted it For one no tears could save. And musing on our little life That hastens to its close; I thought of Christ Who wept and died, And from the grave arose. How could I love your darksome eyes, Your hand, your lips, your hair, — Your mind, so prompt to answer mine. Your spirit fine and rare; How could I keep them in my soul. While worship deeper grows. If over human hope and love The grave could ever close ? The snowdrop rising from the tomb, Brought Easter chimes to me: And sealed upon my heart the truth Of love's eternity. [40] COMPLETION WAS so cold, Until thine arms Were round me thrown, My love, mine own. It was so dark, Until the light Of thy dear face Lit every place. I was so sad. Until true joy Thou didst impart. Mine own sweetheart. And now with thee. In warmth and light And joy I dwell — Perpetual. [41] CONSTANCY PI KNOW the way you once did go, Dear maid of mine, Through meadows where the daisies grow. And butterflies dance to and fro. And sunbeams shine. I know the songs you once did sing. Wild, unrestrained, Until their rapture seemed to bring To kindling eyes the very thing That fancy feigned. And now that crags ascend more steep Than hath been yet, Although your path you steadfast keep, I ween that sometimes in your sleep Your cheek is wet. But still with me you choose to stay, Come what come will ; And dauntless and without dismay. Lend sunshine to the darkest day. And love me still. [42] REVERIE ^]HE evening falls: Your spirit calls: Through walls on walls I pass to you. The morning breaks, The earth awakes: Soft as snowflakes I glide to you. The fancy sweet Is incomplete Until lips meet, And I hold you. [43] THE GIFT BOVE the dusky hair, Above the darksome eyes, I love the heart, so real and rare. Where hidden treasure lies. Above the brow of white, The pink upon the cheek, I love the smile so full of light, That kindles when I speak. Above the perfect grace Of velvet hand and arm, I love the gleam upon the face That heightens every charm. The joy that reds the rose And gladdens heaven too. Came with the gift the angels chose. The gift supreme of you. [44] WITHOUT AND WITH ITHOUT thy voice to bless me, Thy soft hand to caress me, The world is pain. Without thy step at even To bring my heart its heaven, My life is vain. Without thy mind to strengthen My faith when shadows lengthen, My hope doth wane. With thy sweet spirit near me. To comfort and to cheer me, E*en grief is gain. [45] OPPOSITES FTER suffering, balm; After sorrow, rest ; After passion, calm; After pain, your breast. Bonds demand release; Doubt, the faith we prove ; Discord heightens peace; Loss doth perfect love. Evil longs for good ; Falsehood for the true; Famine calls for food ; Heartache, love, for you. [46] IF YOU WERE GONE O longer would the sky be blue; No longer bright the sun that shone; The rose no longer red of hue — If you were gone. No golden morn with breathing sweet, No evening hour with mystic thrill, Would make my pulses quicklier beat — If yours were still. No child, to steal my heart away, With eyes of your own colour deep, Could lure me in this world to stay — If you should sleep. No gain nor goal would be the worth. Nowhere for comfort could I fly. No refuge find in all this earth — If you should die. [47] METAMORPHOSES ET me be the sun With golden ray To greet your eye At break of day. Let me be the wind To kiss your cheek When you cHmb alone The mountain peak. Let me be the rain With finger rare To touch your lips And tingling hair. Let me be the dew And gently come Upon your breast To be its home. Let me be the moon With silver light That shares your pillow, Love, all night. [48] THE HAND EAUTIFUL hand that God hath made, If I were as good as I should be, I think my hand would be half afraid To touch you other than sacredly. Fingers attired in velvet white. If I had the eye no beauties escape, My spirit would drink a new delight In gazing upon your perfect shape. Speaking hand with mystical power, Calling melody out of the keys ; — Your music, like some fair scented flower, My inmost soul doth uplift and please. Sensitive hand that God hath made, And more than others hath beautified ; Within mine own when thou art laid. My life's deep longing is satisfied. [49] PASTEL LOVE the darkness of your eye Wherein a thousand sparks do lie. I love the whiteness of your face, That witnesseth an inward grace. I love the redness of your lips, That never suffers an eclipse. The darkness is the kindly night, That veils the world in mystic light. The whiteness is the fallen snow. That folds the flowers that live below. The redness is the rose's hue The bee doth kiss, — as I kiss you. [50] ONLY YOU FHERS have spacious lands, love, And parks and mansions new; And all that gold commands, love, But I have only you. I do not ask for wealth, love. Nor parks, nor mansions new: I am content with health, love. With health and only you. The things of time and sense, love. Are not the real and true; My joys are more intense, love. And I have only you. Earth vanisheth away, love. And all its treasures too; My wealth will ever stay, love. My wealth is only you. [51] THE SIGH SEE the children playing in the lane, I see the lark upspringing to the sky; I see the yellow wheatfields on the plain; I see them — but I sigh. I watch the glow that glorifies the West; I watch the night descending from on high ; I watch the birds repairing to their nest ; 1 watch them — but I sigh. I hear the voice of comfort of the Night ; I hear her step, and know that she is nigh ; I hear the song she singeth of delight ; I hear them — but I sigh. It is for hair more darksome than the Night's ; It is for eyes that love doth beautify; It is for hands that pour me all delights ; It is for these I sigh. [52] REALITY OT for us the semblance Men may buy for pelf; Nor a fine resemblance, But the thing itself. Not for us the seeming; But a power we feel — Waking as when dreaming - To be just as real. Not for us pretences, Whereof earth is full. Stirring but the senses, Passing by the soul. Not for us the flowers Artificers devise; This sweet rose of ours Grew in Paradise. [53] THE ISSUE HAT can I bring thee, dear, for all thy love to me ? My heart's full tribute is too poor a fee: Naught can I bring thee, dear, for all thy love to me. What can I sing thee, dear, for all thy love to me. My songs are less than love's own melody: Naught can I sing thee, dear, for all thy love to me. What can God bring thee, dear, for all thy love to me? A benediction thine eternally: This doth God bring thee, dear, for all thy love to me. What will they sing thee, dear, for all thy love to me ? The saints who see God's face continually: A sweet thanksgiving, dear, for all thy love to me. What is the issue, dear, of all thy love to me.? A soul that knoweth God through loving thee: This is the issue, dear, of all thy love to me. [.54] POTENCY MAGIC heart God made for mine, You bring me birds and flowers, ; And make a brighter sun to shine Upon this earth of ours. O mystic soul, exceeding dear, EncircUng me with rays. You make the darkness disappear. And fill with light my days. O answering love, that perfects mine — Sweet, exquisite, apart — Your potency is all divine. And floods with peace my heart. [55] THE ROSE N hours I spend with you, Hours unalloyed with pain, The songs my childhood knew Come singing through my brain. My spirit touching yours Finds inward peace, — though all Be tempest out of doors. And leaves in myriads fall. The homes of Europe weep; The days foretold have come; The things men sowed they reap; And they who sang are dumb. O how were I forlorn. Had God not sent you hither; — My rose without a thorn, My rose no cold can wither. [56] THE PEARL WHAT a rich return For all to-day's work-crowded hours, Your welcoming kiss. O what a heavenly balm To brain tired with protracted thought, Your cooling hand. O what a pillow soft, Softer than down to weary head, Your peaceful breast. O what a priceless pearl For earth and for eternity, Your woman's heart. [57] YOU OU fill my heart with song; You with the singing eyes, You with the spirit strong, For whom my prayers arise. You make the sun more bright ; You with the eyes of day, You with the eyes of Hght That drive the mists away. You shield me from the cold ; You with the passion pure, You with the heart all gold, In which I trust secure. You in whose heart I trust, You with the feeling true. Yours is such love — I must Love God Who fashioned you. [58] IN IMITATION OF SAPPHO IVE me those hands and eyes and lips: I am the thirsty bee that sips From that mysterious honeyed source His being and his vital force: Give me those lips. Give me those hands and eyes and lips: Bid the sun suffer no eclipse, I am the flower that needs must turn My face to where his glories burn : Give me those lips. Give me those hands and eyes and lips : The measured sand too quickly slips From out my glass, and soon the night Will rob me of my dear delight : Give me those lips. Give me those hands and eyes and lips: 'Twas writ in love's apocalypse That this our passion was to be: And who resisteth Destiny.? Give me those lips. [59] Give me those hands and eyes and hps; Our tongue in utterance often sHps, Our words are weakness at their best ; In silence love must be confessed : Give me those lips. [60] MANNA AMISHED with hunger, Heartsick and faint, — • Earth hath no bread Was my spirit's complaint. Freezing from coldness, Soul petrified, — Warmth, give me warmth, In mine anguish I cried. God in His kindness Answered my call, — Down from His Heaven Manna did fall. Banishing coldness, Warmth did appear, — That was thine heart, love. Unspeakably dear. [6i] MY LADY [jHERE is a blackness that I love, All other hues it glows above ; This colour rich, this colour rare, Dwells only in my lady's hair. There is a whiteness that I know. No other colour shineth so; This snowy whiteness, with its grace. Speaks only from my lady's face. There is a darkness, more than light, That dazzles far above the night ; This darkness, wherein beams do lie. Lives only in my lady's eye. There is a sweetness known to me. Whose source is deepest mystery; This hidden sweetness I can feel. But cannot to the full reveal. [62] SANS LIENS |EHIND your eyes A spirit lies; A thousand ways Your thought it sways, — O tell me what this spirit is, That droops and laughs in pain or bliss? Beneath your looks. As stones in brooks, A soul doth live, And upward strive, — O tell me what this soul can be, Whose light, as through a veil, I see ? Beneath the mesh, We call the flesh, A presence moves. That hates and loves, — tell me whence this presence came. Impalpable as air and flame ? [63] If language can Explain to man, Explain to me Love's mystery, — These moods, these motions manifold, Their secret spring I would be told. I kiss your lip. And nectar sip; Your hand I hold. Your form enfold, — And yet your spirit is as free As roving winds that sweep the sea. Since this is so, I fain would know How can we blend, Fulfil our end .? — love, have you not learned (said she), / most am yours when most I am free. [64: AD ASTRA OUR lips outvie the reddest rose, Bright being breathing thoughtful breath; With you my spirit's stature grows Beyond the reach of death. Your hair is duskier than the night ; Your eyes outshine the evening star; With you my spirit takes its flight To where the angels are. Your step hath music more than all The melodies that life enhance; And at the sound of your footfall I feel my pulses dance. So white your arms, so warm and dear, — So sweet their welcome and embrace, - They lift me from this lower sphere To heaven's highest place. L^sl INCOMPLETENESS P-NIGHT if Christ Whose voice I wait Should say, Come thou to Me, I would arise and follow straight, Yet, — half regretfully, — My look would linger on each scene Where you and I had happy been. To-night if heaven's light should break Upon my dreaming eyes, And without you I should awake In blissful Paradise, My wistful gaze would wander back To where you still pursued life's track. To-night if God should give me rest, Who find the struggle long; Although the angels round me pressed To teach me the new song. The tears into mine eyes would start If you were not with me, sweetheart. [66] SONG I LIPS I love and hair and eyes, O woman's heart the crown of all, From you the light of Paradise On me doth fall. O lips I love and hair and eyes, O woman's ways, so winsome sweet, O spirit made to sympathize, O true helpmeet. O lips I love and hair and eyes. For you my feeling is so deep. Within my heart your image lies E'en while I sleep. [67] THREE LITTLE WORDS HREE little words you said to-night Have filled my heart with singing, And set the bells, — the silver bells, — Of earth and heaven ringing. Three little words you said to-night Have made the saints in glory Suspend their songs, — their deathless songs. To listen to our story. Three little words you said to-night My heart will hold forever ; Beyond the bounds of time and space. Beyond the unknown river. Three little words you said to-night The joy of heaven will heighten, When Christ, Who is the spirit's light. The dark of earth shall lighten. [68] SHADOWS HAVE no song to-night, Nor any zest for singing, After the warmth and Hght Around your presence cHnging, The street was cold, it chilled my heart. And tears into my heart do start. I cannot lift my heart : Too heavy on it lies The thought of days apart From your dark shining eyes, When I shall long, and long in vain. For one soft hand to rest my brain. Upon my face I fall As doth a tired child; For comfort I recall That God on us hath smiled ; And so this heart, that paineth still. Awaits the unfolding of His will. [69] SONG O near you are, so dear you are, The faintest smile from you Doth thrill my heart, my happy heart, With rapture through and through. If you are nigh, give sigh for sigh. The merest word you say Doth flood my heart, my beating heart, With radiance of the day. So dear you are, so near you are, A cold look from your eye Would chill my heart, my trusting heart, And overcloud the sky. If love should range abroad or change. And pleading be in vain, Ah then, my heart, my faithful heart. Could never love again. [70] LONELINESS ONG-BIRDS and flowers, Singing together, With their sweet powers Perfect the weather. Children at play On the green grass All the long day Merrily pass. Only my heart, Dreaming alone, Standeth apart, Cold as a stone. Joy doth enthrall All except me: Deaf to her call. Why should I be? [71] Dower of my life, Darksome and dear, Sorrow is rife Till thou appear. Winsome and wise, God's gift to me. Nothing supplies Absence from thee. [72] YEARNING LOVE, I am yearning to-night, For your voice with its magical tone. To bring me the hours of dehght We knew in the days that are flown. Since then how the hours have been long, No light hath illumined the sky; No robin hath trilled me a song; No daisy hath greeted mine eye. To-day like its fellows hath been; It is passed, and night's curtain is spread; But there is no moon to be seen. No star in the vault overhead. The stars do not come where you're not; The moon, too, refuses to shine; But there is no desolate spot, If only your presence is mine. How long must I languish in vain For the hands that mine tingle to meet ; For the laughter that's music's refrain; For the kiss that is earth's sweetest sweet. [73] INADEQUACY WOULD but cannot — bitter words Expressive of our human fate ; To image heaven and yet remain Outside the gate. We see the bhss we may not grasp ; We feel the tide that laves the strand, And long to launch upon the deep, — Yet powerless stand. Joy holds a cup before our lips, — The cup we count life's only gain, — And we are conscious of a thirst That's more than pain. A glance, — and how our pulses thrill; We taste of heaven in our hearts; We hold out supplicating arms While Joy departs. O life, inadequate to Joy! Can we but catch her smile. Until the kindly hand of death Unbar the door.? [74] no more. BEYOND HOPE HOU hast filled up my cup With joy from above ; Thou hast lifted me up, O most wonderful love. Because thou dost pour Thy nectar for me, I live evermore In deep ecstasy. Thy coming doth bring Such light to mine eyes That glory doth ring The stars in the skies. Far, far beyond hope Thy sweetness I prove; Thou hast lifted me up, O most wonderful love. [75] STARLIGHT ORE than all earthly gain Your heart so true; More than the world's refrain One word from you. Sweeter than angel songs Your voice doth ring; And in the midst of throngs, 1 hear you sing. Upsprings, — as light doth come Forth from a star, — Joy and the sense of home. Where'er you are. For such immortal love To crown my days, God, with the choir above. Daily I praise. {.7^:\ L' ENVOI JAKE them, love, these sixty poems, Written as my heart was glowing, - Glowing with the fire that burneth In the deep depths of my spirit, — Fire which you yourself have kindled. White and still and cold the paper, Black the ink and dead and lifeless ; But a breath hath passed upon them From the vital soul within me, — And the lifeless are the living. And, as in your magic music, Which you weave into a language, Chords are blended, interwoven. Simple in themselves, yet telling In their blending man's whole story: So in these my songs I sing you. Searching, you will find the meaning. See the things love only seeth, Seize the message of the spirit, Which the dead are unaware of. 177'} And your spirit, — in my singing, — Hearing thus my spirit speaking. You will catch the oft-heard whisper, Spoken as by one beside you, — Love is best; love jaileth never. [7B] 6; \ .-.. ^ // Deacidified using the Bookkeeper proces; Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: May 2009 PreservatlonTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATIOt 111 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township^ PA 16066