PS 3525 .0863 A7 1919 Copy 1 V Class. BooL_JzlAiAX Copyright N°____ CQESUGHT DEPOSIT. 1 1 c/flmost The Shadowed Hour i "Sy John Erskine | First Offering 1 ' COPYRIGHT, MARCH NINETEEN - NINETEEN by MARTHA B. MOSHER A559809 APR -3 1919 *wt To CHRISTINA HOWELL CHARLES My Friend CONTENTS MY HEART IS BRAVE ..."... 13 STAR SONG 14 LULLABY -... 15 HAUNTED 17 LOVE'S RECOMPENSE 18 THE THOUSAND ISLANDS 19 LIFE'S ULTIMATE 20 EARTH WISDOM 21 O YE OF LITTLE FAITH 22 IN MEMORY 23 LOVE'S PARADOX 24 EARTH CALL 25 GARDENIA FLORIDA 26 COLUMBIA'S SONS 27 GOD'S SERVICE FLAG 29 WAKE 30 THE SNOW 31 GOOD CHEER TO MY COMRADES ... 32 THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER 33 THE GIFT BEARERS 34 LOVE'S BURIAL 35 UNDER THE SWORD ....... 36 THE SEA SPEAKS 37 EVENING REVELRY AT THOUSAND ISLANDS . 38 SORCERY 39 LOVE'S DESOLATION 40 VISION 41 A LOVER'S SOLILOQUY 42 MY ULTIMATE SELF 43 MY LOVE 44 c/^lmost MY HEART IS BRAVE My heart is brave for all things save for this: That you should be the wind And I be not the lyre whose strings it sweeps ; That I should be the night And you be not the dream that thrills my sleep, My heart is brave for all things save for this. My heart is brave for all things save for this: That you have list'ning ears And my tongue be too dumb to whisper you ; That I should be the sea And you the rock it breaks on futilely My heart is brave for all things save for this. My heart is brave for all things save for this: That you should be the sun And I the sands that cannot bear you life. That life should keep you late While I stand waiting at the Entrance Gate ; My brave heart swoons and sinks at fate like this. 13 STAR SONG I roamed along with water and sky For I with the night was passing by. And gazing intent at the blue roof above I saw from the stars fall a shower of love. Then I knew that every suffering soul Might have opened his heart and had it made whole But each held a canopy over his head That ever the fall of that love-rain had shed. The melody sweet that might quicken each heart Was lost — and could not its message impart. I. cried, 'Friends we need this song for our pain, O, shield not our heads from beneficent rain; Let us open our hearts — each one to the other, And join in the star-song for ever, O brother!' LULLABY My dream of thee, my open arms Coaxed thee down from the stars, From God thy home thou earnest down Past all the earthly bars. Enfolding thy dear baby form I hug thee to my breast, Thine own snug place to nestle warm And dream and rest — and rest — So close your tired . . . little eyes And may they never weep. Hush . . . every one tread quietly Our darling ... is asleep . . . The Angels now will guide thee back To gates of golden light While mother's hand is not close by To lead thee thru the night. So I will spare thee for an hour To play with Twinkling things That call thee little sister still Tho' thou hast lost thy wings. Thou' It ride safe in their pretty boat We call the crescent moon, 15 And sing with them to Jesu dear Thy very sweetest tune. But play not with St. Michael's sword Nor touch Queen Mary's crown ; Remember too, that mother here Awaits thy coming down. HAUNTED Why can I not escape you Why are you ever there? At every turn you seek me, Out in the open air, Within my lamplit chamber, As I descend the stair, At night when I am dreaming, I meet you everywhere. And if you must pursue me, Why will you never stay ? When I reach out to touch you You slowly melt away — Can it be I who trail you And will not let you stray Beyond my shadows' beckon Before I bar the way? If I might feel your warm breath, See you unfettered move, Could learn what 'tis that haunts me, If it be gh^t or love! If love, ti i haste to dower me With all delight thereof; With our fire braid a love-rope By which to climb above. LOVE'S RECOMPENSE Where are the many melodies My little lute once played to me? Today it sweeps to me but one; That one contents — it is of thee. Where are the many empty dreams That hitherto my thoughts did throng? Thou'st filled them all with thy dear self So full that they complete my song. THE THOUSAND ISLANDS In silent and timorous beauty They slumber, as green as verditer, These Islands that time cannot sever Nor sister love draw close together. Are these the haunts of the siren That stand so unsocial and steady, Whose babes not even are ready To gambol betimes in an eddy? The great deep silence broods in them The pine tree branches are not gay, Arachne's delicate webs here sway And make small ballrooms for a fay. Isles of Beauty, Isles of Rest 1 greet you with this solemn prayer — That some day I may be co-heir. To the sacredness which now you wear. LIFE'S ULTIMATE The Ultimate of silence is With eloquence the heart to swell ; The Ultimate of endless speech Is impotence to tell ; The Ultimate of luxury The luxury would be To have a single crumb of you To make an Epicure of me. The Ultimate of knowledge To fling life's problems back, The Ultimate of daylight Is that night's wings are black. The Ultimate of solitude In time and space and sea Is the Soul retreated to Itself In its Infinity! EARTH WISDOM The purest stream has still a muddy bed ! A dreamer stopping at a riverhead Sat gazing long into the crystal stream ; Would that its beauty might content his dream ! But he would slake his thirst in waters fair, And then his passion waxes bold to dare The pool-reflected image to desire That this Narcissus greatly did admire. Impulsively he plunges to the quest . . . But lo! there jets from the erst virgin breast A heavy mire . . . The limpid stream has soiled The image sought. — His eager leap is foiled! A clouded faith will ever cast a shade. The sage who always dwells in happy glade Is he who holds to his illusion fast ! Or, cherishing no dream, receives no blast ! "OH, YE OF LITTLE FAITH!" "Ye think My heart is numb, My ears are deaf; That I view silently in cold disdain, My children die; limb torn from limb: my hosts, Brave hosts, thus cruelly slain ? Tho' in My world live slaves who still believe That they must bow their heads to crown and rod Of greedy governments that crush them down, I still exist — their God. But when the world is free of tyranny, And when the fear is laid that through the years Man's liberty will perish from the globe, Then shall I dry your tears. For what appears destruction is My way Of freeing earth from greater evil still ; Then know that past your insight there are gleams That My dreams shall fulfill. Now let your groans and your distress subside, And your full faith in Me shine through your tears ; New courage, nobler vision, will survive Beyond the haze of years." IN MEMORY Your legioned friends are sorrowing at the phrase For all too soon you poured out life's bright wine, And we must mourn you on thru countless days — So to your gentle soul I build this shrine. Your saintly face will ever shine upon us, A star to lead us to the court of God, Your kindly spirit always so desirous To bless and better every path you trod. Dear friend, so leal to Friendship's deepest meaning, Your life was selfless, high and pure and true; So we, our eyes with sorrows' veil enshrouding Say "Sleep, Farewell — and know that we love you. LOVE'S PARADOX Until you came into my life I was a being, I was I, Now you are my identity ; My soul so full of peace and poise Knows only din, is drenched in noise. Until you came into my life I was as free as bird of care, Now I have earth and sky to bear : I who have been both rich and great I stand a beggar at your gate. Until you came into my life It often craved a solitude Which it has now in plentitude. Tho' you have nothing given me My heart beats loud in memory. EARTH CALL I have floated, I think, in dreams too long, My soul has grown lonely in far-away song; Once again I would touch the plant and the tree, Let the hills and the brook come play with me. My eyes cannot always to star-shine cling, My thoughts would be green with the leaves of spring, My blood calls for boulders and wild March days To calm it down from the mad moon's rays. The birds and the hedge and a breath of toil Are the sights that will still my heart's turmoil, For I have floated in dreams too long My soul must renew with a human song. GARDENIA FLORIDA A youth and maiden passed by me last night, Their hearts and voices singing loud with glee, But when I shook my perfume over them, They kissed and trembled in love's mystery. I know not whence they came, nor whither bent, But they have lived and will remember me. Then one came by who had forgot his God, Whose acts had long disturbed his soul's content; The very sweetest odors of my heart I spilled on his, till it, by memory rent Cried 'mother' — to one waiting his return. Tho' short-lived I awaken souls with scent. COLUMBIA'S SONS A trumpet blew and our youths' eyes Were straining toward foreign skies ! They did not shirk to pay the price Oppression asked in sacrifice. They braved pain, hunger and despair That all of earth might be the heir Of life, of love, of liberty — That all the fettered might be free. They've swung wide every dungeon door And helped the brave to win the war. Chorus A bugle broke our country's mood And Freedom surged in her blood. To arms — to arms — the world had utmost need ! 'To arms' they cried, that spawn of mighty seed! Columbia's Sons of many lands Rose loyal to her high commands. One earnest aim filled all her men, To crush the tyrant in his den. Their task was scarce begun before 'twas done. Thy clarion Lord, called them again They were thy hosts — thou leadest men Who died for dreams; 'twas a new world For which their banners were unfurled. The Kaiser was a man of straw Against the blades that they did draw. Their spirit made his cause forlorn Before the day that he was born. The old flag billows ! Eyes now gaze On the land they saved — to peaceful days. GOD'S SERVICE FLAG The sky is full of stars tonight And every one so rarely bright; It is God's Service Flag that shows A star for every man who goes In answer to the human call To which he sacrifices all, Whose heart divine has understood The passionate plea for brotherhood. God HIS Sword in his hand has thrust; He grips it firmly — since he must — To kill the false, till Love is Lord, To strike the fist so heavely mailed It cannot feel the pulse assailed. Those stars of strength in heaven's zone That shine for righteousness alone Will stand thru evil days and good For Liberty and Brotherhood. WAKE The stage eternal each day set for us Lures me thru casement eyes to view the sun As he with golden fingers, out of night, Uplifts the earth's dark curtains, one by one. From scenes that lie before me still and strange. He strikes the gloom, and scatters it to crest Of hills in golden fume. From his low range The slow light filters thru the trees and streams, And all the porticoes of morning throng With birds that wait to carol forth their song. These many tribed creatures, downy soft, Trill forth unfathomed sweetness from each throat, From some the epic, some the joy of life Wells forth in anguished or in chirping note. The mountains in their movements ever change As their new heads and breasts come into view, And their gaunt monster knees in parts show thru. Between cloud-shrines the high priest mounts his path And sees the heart of man still seek to fit His finite yearning to the infinite ! THE SNOW Down from the brooding silence of grey skies It floats and wavers, trembles to the ground ; Tho' whirling with live motion in descent Its fall makes, like the panther's tread, no sound. The earth that gives glad welcome to the rain Scowls only on this uninvited guest, Will not throw open doors to bid it in, Ungracious, tho it comes as virgin dressed. Exhausted by their long flight from the clouds The wandering flakes, at last, lie dead and still, And feel no further impulse till the wind Hurls them in heavy drifts by force and will Its softness smoothes sharp angles from the rocks, In air it spins fine lace work for the trees; Then spreads itself a shiny bridal veil The angry earth with beauty to appease. The heaped-up drifts invite the burning heart To cool itself within their virgin folds, Its silence, soothes all bitterness of thought And earth, inspired, receives the guest she holds. GOOD CHEER TO MY COMRADES Say that I died with one regret That when the Allies' Cabinet Has at the Victors' Council met, I cannot clasp your hands Say if my bullets that remained May speed on with my heart's blood stained, E'en tho my hands in death be chained, They still will clasp your hands. Say that tho fate o'ertook me — yet The glorious risk I'll not forget; You who to the end with wrongs still whet Your swords — then clasp my hands. Say that the dead have more prevailed Than they who have not fought and failed ; My soldier soul, with hearts that quailed, Cannot give clasp of hands. THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Great River, still as any frozen sea I saw thee mid thy moonlit isles at rest, Encircled of their arms, at peace and blest. Inconstant stream, with springs unsealed and free, Unconscious of thy true sublimity, I then beheld thee opening up thy breast And throbbing forth thy soul with eager zest To meet the far off ocean calling thee. At that great voice thy spirit knew its goal To mingle thy deep waters with its own, Forsaking beauteous isles for fate unknown : So may my course like thine not turn aside, But ever with such single purpose glide Till seas celestial overflow my soul. THE GIFT BEARERS The seas were cleft to bring her to these shores, The waves rolled proudly in with Liberty ; From east to west they surged, for her domain Must here be set, safe everlastingly. And now their sons sail back across the main Out from the west, with stars and stripes in hand To bear this gift of Liberty again To all who suffer in the eastern land. They set the world away, give up the age Of work and joy : their strong hearts, still unspent Are offered now as shields to the oppressed Knowing that death may be their monument. May this great gift now borne across the sea Crown them who give with immortality. LOVE'S BURIAL Oh Heart bereft, thou nevermore wilt see Her image dear ; nor will thy footsteps beat An echo following her heart and feet. Now will life's hill be steep and chill for me. And 'ere thy speech be still, what word from thee, My soul, would'st urge? — thou ever still replete With utterance that is no longer meet That thou should'st feel? Would'st speak thy agony! Must bury, Heart, thy love without delay; No memory of her mayest thou retain, Not e'en an afterglow of long set days, Nor echoes of the music passed away ; No recognition may'st thou henceforth trace ; Thy hope will, aye, renascence seek in vain. UNDER THE SWORD Didst Thou, O Christ, from death arise again? Or, liest Thou yet in thy dim sepulchre Where Mary brought Thee balm and spice and myrrh, Or was Thy resurrection all in vain? Dost Thou not hear these bitter cries of pain? How long must we endure this massacre? Art Thou no longer, Lord, earth's Arbiter, That Thou canst calmly see this Terror reign? Descend, great Son of God, and lift our gloom; Bring back the stars into our sable night, Let tyrants from their cursed thrones be hurled : So may we know that Thou didst quit Thy tomb. — O God, omnipotent! declare Thy might, Lest faith depart, and demons rule the world. THE SEA SPEAKS Earth, hast thou no longer space to hold The creatures whom the Lord assigned to thee ? 1 thought he gave the fishes unto me And human beings were not of my fold. Ill chance alone to my embrace had rolled Some victims. But the new world deity, The lord of Rightfulness, with blasphemy Has strewn my bed with numbers yet untold. With every rise and fall of my full heart, With every long roll of my billows deep I'll mourn these victims thru their last long sleep. From tyranny to wrest me was their part, They came as champions of democracy, And gave their all to set their nations free. EVENING REVELRY AT THOUSAND ISLANDS Across the rippling miles this river flows, Across the baby isles that intervene, Whose rocky beds lift coronals of green, Above earth's edge, the gleaming wine press shows Emerging from pale clouds at daylight's close. Now as he fills his press with grapes divine The peasant-sun here tramples out the wine And spills it on each cloud-fleece till it glows. The purple must drips from the west, and dyes A waterpath incarnadine and gold. The rustic revel fades before my eyes ; I homeward turn, as evening shadows fold About the land, while in the twilight spell The last departing peasant waves farewell. SORCERY I am again in love with life thru thee ! But yesterday my sails were closely furled ; Grey rain, and not a breath in all the world; The stars were gone, no moon beamed on my sea, I knew no port where one awaited me. Now what is life but death when no fierce flame In any heart responds unto your name? What value then had immortality ? Today's the noontide of my spirit's hour, The great winds of the world tear at my ropes Since I from out a wandering flame caught you To fill my breast with love's own gladdening power; The ribbon rainbow carries me my hopes The roof of our abode shows only blue. LOVE'S DESOLATION With brightness, Love, you might have filled my way, And with your glory have beset my road ; I bade you take my heart for your abode, But from it you did turn your eyes away, And to my joy-defrauded spirit say No word of solace. Hope that warmly glowed Lies breathless. Only memories you've bestowed Of lost desire that nothing can allay. A dream was woven in my yearning heart Of things beyond all dreams. It called my soul To you as new born promise, new sought goal. But you would in my vision have no part . . . I am lone actor in my dream. You've shown My goal was a mirage. I am Alone. VISION Great knowledge may be mine ; well may I know The process of the tide-controlling moon, May understand the laws of nature's rune ; But if at view of flower or star, no glow Within my breast can quicken my blood's flow, If I am dead of soul, or dim or sight To beauty's flash, then have I reached black night, Have lingered here too long and well may go. For if my sight no vision with it bears, And I nod on in witless apathy, Then is the travail of this life for nought ; But if earth's splendor in my soul has wrought, And if my wisdom my emotion shares, Then am I part of all life's ecstacy. A LOVER'S SOLILOQUY Since at her heart so often you have sought Access, my soul, why will you never see The gates are barred against you mightily And this desire of yours you have not fought Against, with sinews knit and stoutly wrought. So weak is your poor will, from vine on tree The tendrils frail could draw you helplessly To her. Tis clutching at hope's hem has brought You this poor meed. So wilful still your heart ! Your fingers will not quit the shattered lute Altho its music is for you now mute. Your melody is locked in you for aye, The chords are still with full lays strung, O Heart, And to the end their cadences will play. MY ULTIMATE SELF This other One who rules my life within Holds me from evil way, my moods uncouth Translates to lasting universal truth. Rejoicing in my strength, hurt with my sin He fans the spark that holds my purpose kin To that of the most distant orb ; or soothes My life's turmoil ; or from my spirit smoothes The frown with thoughts that overlook the din. This Sovereign Self is like unto the moon That drags the tides of this unruly me Wherefrom and whither she herself elects, While in control she holds great waves that soon Or late break epochs in the soul. Thus he, My Other Self, keeps vigil and directs. MY LOVE To speak your name my love, brings peace Unto my soul. Not e'en that precious name Can all the tenderness of my love frame, It over flows all measure. Should "my love" cease To sound its blessed meaning — seek release From grants of further largess, I'll not blame; In loneliness I'll cherish it the same. The magic spell can never know decrease. In you is now fulfilled my noblest dream That had its birth in the Supreme above. And since my thoughts have now no place to play Because you took from me my dreams away, Pray pledge yourself to leave me still my theme And give me aye possession of my Love. Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide Treatment Date: Oct. 2009 PreservationTechnologies A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive Cranberry Township, PA 16066 (724)779-2111 | ■Iiii#i™, 018 348 '"' —