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 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 
 
 
RUFUS CHILDRESS 
 
OATEN REEDS 
 
 POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 V 
 
 RUFUS CHILDRESS 
 
 HIS SECOND BOOK 
 
 CHICAGO 
 
 THB CLINIC PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 19IO 
 
75-3 •H)'^ 
 
 /?/^ 
 
 Copyrighted 
 
 IQIO 
 
 J5y /?«/i*5 Childress 
 
 CI.A26820^ 
 

 TO 
 
 JUDGE JOHN WHEELER McGEE 
 
 THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONALLY INSCRIBED 
 
 by the Author 
 
 RUFUS CHILDRESS 
 
I 
 
Ahl Wheeler, countless woes and ills beset 
 The 'poet-pilgrim in this ruthless world! 
 Misfortunes as from ambv^h on him hurled. 
 
 His ardors crush and make him grieve and fret. 
 
 His struggling soul submerged in vain regret; 
 And wheels aroar about his ears are whirled. 
 His senses crisping like to feathers curled. 
 
 But steadfast still he woos the fair Muse yet! 
 
 But mourns for Fate just compensation gives. 
 And evens up against his word and thought. 
 And cutting deep his wounds do sorely smart; 
 They heal not whilst the poet-pilgrim lives, 
 ^ui always paining hold his mind distraught. 
 While Failure gnaws into his bleeding heart! 
 
ROBERT HERRICE 
 
 O Mouth of gold and golden, 
 
 And most miraculous 
 In times now old and olden. 
 
 And wholly gone from us! 
 
 In secret suing, sighing. 
 Or wooing maidens gay. 
 
 Sang songs of love undying. 
 That long in silence lay; 
 
 But came, O Mouth immortal, 
 Like music thrilling m.en. 
 
 Heard through a charm-ed porte 
 From quaintest lyre within; 
 
JL, too, have loved and sorrowed, 
 I, too, have sung unheard. 
 
 With meager solace borrowed 
 From hope too long deferred; 
 
 And yet, though gloom-encumbered. 
 Hid from all eyes save mine. 
 
 As songs that long have slumbered 
 In Memory's mellowing shrine. 
 
 Now come my heart's effusions. 
 With golden dreams inlaid. 
 
 With nfe and love's illusions. 
 And Death a far-off shade! 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Page 
 
 Illustration 16 
 
 To the Muse „ 17 
 
 Hope and Faith 18 
 
 The Cat-bird 19 
 
 Woman 20 
 
 Land of Dreams 21 
 
 Woodshadows %L 
 
 Sonnets Diversified 24 
 
 Sketch of Drama 2G 
 
 Hermia and Lysander 27 
 
 Oberon 28 
 
 Titania •. . , . 29 
 
 The Fairy Host 30 
 
 Finis 31 
 
 Sonnets Diversified 32 
 
 Sketch of Drama 34 
 
 Hero , , 35 
 
 Don Pedro . . . . „ » » , 36 
 
 Leonato . . , - » « . , . 37 
 
Page 
 
 Vulgar John ....,.., 38 
 
 Frederick and Beatrice 39 
 
 Sonnet, Roundels, Ballade and Other Verses . 40 
 
 Cupid 41 
 
 My Baby Blonde 42 
 
 Lady Mine 43 
 
 Intangible 45 
 
 To a Cantatrice .47 
 
 Your Poet's Plea . . . . o . . 53 
 
 The Midnight Fire 56 
 
 Compensation 57 
 
 The Blue Grass Girl 59 
 
 Mrs. Carrie Nation 64 
 
 The Poet's Guerdon 67 
 
 At Resaca 69 
 
 Sonnets to Faces Fair 71 
 
 Dark Eyes . » 72 
 
 Elsie 73 
 
 Adela 74 
 
 Lily .... , 75 
 
 Annabel 76 
 
Page 
 
 Lottie ... . . . . 77 
 
 Anna 78 
 
 Lines and Lyrics 79 
 
 My Home Nest 80 
 
 Thought S2 
 
 Christmas Questionings 84 
 
 My Sister's Letter 85 
 
 My House and Heart 87 
 
 To the Little Massac 90 
 
 Some Sonnets, Religious, Personal and Otherwise 95 
 
 All is Vanity 96 
 
 Reality 97 
 
 What of the Day? 98 
 
 Saint Brandan 99 
 
 On the Lake Front, Chicago 100 
 
 Kentucky 102 
 
 The Briefest Grave 103 
 
 Friendship 104 
 
 Sea Shells 105 
 
 As Christ Said to Peter 106 
 
 Three Girls ... o «... 107 
 
Page 
 
 Sister Celine . „ , . , ., 109 
 
 The Gospel 11^ 
 
 The True Faith Ill 
 
 Our Saviour o . 113 
 
 Present Legal Conditions . . . „ „ 113 
 
 Emotional Insanity Plea 114 
 
 The Hung Jury 115 
 
 Questionable Decisions 116 
 
 A Musician 117 
 
 Marconi , o . . 119 
 
n 
 
 ^-■ 
 
 TO THE xMUSE {see page 17) 
 
Oaten Reeds IT 
 
 TO THE MUSE 
 
 Not like the Butterfly 
 That does not tarry, 
 
 That flutters idly by 
 On pinions airy; 
 
 But like the Honey-Bee 
 To fragrant flower, 
 
 Muse, I come to thee 
 Each idle hour! 
 
 1 come with loving lips. 
 Cling, sing and stay; 
 
 The Butterfly buf. sips. 
 And flits away! 
 
18 Oaten Reeds 
 
 HOPE AND FAITH 
 
 Hope is the scented flower 
 
 Which, in the breast implanted, 
 
 When storms have swept the bosom's bower, 
 Still blossoms like a thing enchanted, 
 
 Life*s sweet inheritance and dower! 
 
 Faith is the steady spark 
 
 For journeying mortals lighted, 
 
 Still beaming star-like through the dark. 
 On high where erst by Sorrow sighted, 
 
 And still where lifted eyes may mark! 
 
Oaten Reeds 19 
 
 THE CAT-BIRD 
 
 (Mimus Carolinensis) 
 
 I know a bird that flees 
 
 From man's approach, nestling along his way, 
 Which briefly trills amongst the orchard trees. 
 
 The weirdest lay! 
 
 A rush of smothered sounds, 
 
 It wells as from a love-lorn lover's lute, 
 As though his heart found solace in its wounds. 
 
 And then were mute! 
 
 Its charm I can not tell. 
 
 It bubbles up so with the singer's breath; 
 My longing soul beneath its subtle spell, 
 
 Feels close to Death! 
 
20 Oaten Reeds 
 
 WOMAN 
 
 Glory to her forever, 
 
 Glory and loveliness! 
 Till we from earth dissever, 
 
 Angel she is to bless! 
 
 The last ere Death defeats us. 
 To extend a helping hand; 
 
 And haply, first she greets us 
 In yonder Morning Land! 
 
 Mother! That word is dearest 
 In any speech or tongue; 
 
 Mother, whose heart is nearest 
 The hearts of old and young! 
 
Oaten Reeds 21 
 
 LAND OF DREAMS 
 
 (Roundel) 
 
 Land of Dreams, a breath of fresh perfume 
 Is wafted from thee, and thy flowery gleams, 
 
 1 see, cut starry tunnels through the gloom, 
 
 O Land of Dreams! 
 
 There Beauty smiles and sheds her lavish beams 
 
 O'er landscapes only summer suns illume. 
 And all thy shore with fadeless foliage teems. 
 
 Oh! that I dwelt in some luxuriant room 
 
 Or woody palace on thy rippling streams. 
 Regaled by scent of new-born bud and bloom, 
 O Land of Dreams! 
 
WOODSHADOWS 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away 
 
 From the heat and the dust of the city, 
 
 From the noise, the turmoil and dismay; 
 
 Down where the bright waterfall's ariose ditty 
 Sets musical echoes astray, 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away! 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away 
 
 From the struggles of trade and its ruses. 
 
 From the babble of men in the fray; 
 
 Down where in a dream that the lotus induces 
 I may lie all the long summer day, 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away' 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away 
 
 From the sun and his terrible lances 
 
 Like arrows that smite us and slay; 
 
 Down where he is held with his pitiless glances. 
 
 By leaves interwoven at bay, 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away! 
 22 
 
Oaten Reeds 23 
 
 Woodshadows, hide me away 
 
 From mansions of stone and their splendors. 
 From the glare of artistic display; 
 From the din of the marts, from the cries of the 
 venders, 
 
 And clashings of interests, I pray; 
 Down where, out of human surveying, 
 
 Alone mid the birds' roundelay, 
 
 1 may lie under trees cooling breezes are swaying. 
 At ease till the closing of day, 
 
 O Woodshadows, hide me away! 
 
SONNETS DIVERSIFIED 
 
FIVE SONNETS 
 
 UPON 
 
 MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM— ITS 
 
 MACHINATIONS, SUPERNATURALISM, 
 
 ETC. 
 
 AS follows: 
 
 Hermia and Lysander 
 Oberon 
 
 TiTANLA. 
 
 The Fairy Host 
 Fmis 
 
 25 
 
This drama, placed among the comedies of Shakespeare^ 
 was twice printed in 1600. 
 
 It was first printed by some nameless printer for Thomas 
 Fisher, and put on sale at his shop at the Sign of the White 
 Hart in Fleet street. 
 
 It was again printed the same year by James Roberts, 
 but the only entry of it at Stationers' Hall is to Fisher. 
 
 The exact time when written is unknown. We find the 
 earliest mention of it in 1598, by Meres in his Palladia 
 Tamia. 
 
 "The Knight's Tale" of Chaucer, and the same poet's 
 'Tysbe of Babylone," together with Author Golding's 
 translation of the story of Pyramus and Thisbe from Ovid, 
 are the only sources yet pointed out of the plots intro- 
 duced by Shakespeare in this composition. 
 
 26 
 
Sonnets Diversified 27 
 
 HERMIA AND LYSANDER 
 
 From Midsummer Night's Dream 
 
 In Athens once the statutes did declare 
 Law that lay most in harmless desuetude, 
 With penalty of death. But if construed 
 
 By cruel fathers, scarce a daughter dare 
 
 To disobey. Yet some, as forth they fare. 
 With wrathy parents clash in manner rude; 
 And one of these was Hermia who pursued 
 
 Her loved Lysander, bordering on despair. 
 
 With her he would elope, and in a wood 
 They met and idLd till they fell asleep 
 Upon the grass, a little space apart; 
 Here devilish Puck, his deeds so seldom good, 
 Lysander found, and made his Hermia weep 
 By turning from her his devoted heart. 
 
28 Sonnets Diversified 
 
 OBERON 
 
 From Midsummer NighCs Bream 
 
 O Oberon, thou king of Fairy-land, 
 Who with Titania from far India came 
 To dance by moonUght! Ah, it was a shame 
 
 To trick thy queen amidst the fairy band. 
 
 And deal to foolish Puck a f^ase command! 
 Did ever love run smooth? It is thy blame; 
 Thou dost by magic quench its holy flame 
 
 With tears of lovers who scarce understand. 
 
 The juice of certain flowers that purply blow, 
 Works cruel spells, far bitterer than gall, 
 Into the sleeping eyes of fond ones poured; 
 For their sweet loves, awaking, they bestow 
 On objects first whereon their visions fall; 
 And though an ass, that object is adored. 
 
Sonnets Diversified 29 
 
 TITANIA 
 
 From Midsummer Nighfs Dream 
 
 Titania, stealing from an Indian king 
 A charming boy whom Oberon desired. 
 Precipitated gall when he conspired 
 
 With heartless Puck to do so base a thing 
 
 As in thy slumber, o'er thy mind to fling 
 A spell as low as ill; one that required 
 An ass to be with all thy heart admired, 
 
 That he might filch thy beauteous changeling. 
 
 King Oberon, who wished thy charming boy, 
 Sent wary Puck for juice of purple flower. 
 To steep thy eyes and rob thee in thy sleep; 
 And this accomplished, hateful spell destroy; 
 But shameless Puck, conspirer in his power, 
 By his mistake made others sorely weep! 
 
30 Sonnets Diversified 
 
 THE FAIRY HOST 
 
 From Midsummer NighCs Dream 
 
 Ah, what a mazy mess these fairies make! 
 So wee they may in hulls of acorns hide, 
 Or on the backs of moving fire-flies ride. 
 
 Dressed in enameled skins of bat or snake; 
 
 And flitting here or there in bog or brake, 
 May visit oft the bashful groom or bride. 
 And work their pretty mischiefs unespied, 
 
 On loving souls ere they from slumber wake. 
 
 O playful fairies, where are you today? 
 Still as bewitching moonbeams fall aslant. 
 Seek ye the forms of those but newly wed ? 
 Go, little peoples, tricking whom you may; 
 Tho* in this drama still you run rampant, 
 I'm loth to know your happy days have fled. 
 
Sonnets Diversified 31 
 
 FINIS 
 
 From Midsummer Nighfs Dream 
 
 Egeus, at length, becoming reconciled, 
 Consented and as at the duke's behest, 
 Both Hermia and Lysander kindly blest; 
 
 On fair Helena young Demetrius smiled: 
 
 Puck and the king of fairies who defiled 
 Titania, having righted their distrest, 
 Unseen are romping mid the wedding guest. 
 
 About the groom and bride hilarious and wild. 
 
 This play with lines that every one doth quote, 
 
 In sixteen hundred played on divers nights, 
 
 Unto us comes with scarce a single change; 
 
 Lord Chamberlaine, and folks of kingliest note, 
 
 Looked on with smiles and felt the true delights 
 
 That still today thrill minds of highest range. 
 
SONNETS DIVERSIFIED 
 
FIVE SONNETS ON THE CHARACTERS 
 AND CREATIONS OF SHAKESPEARE 
 
 IN HIS PLAY OF 
 
 MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING 
 
 AS follows: 
 
 Hero 
 
 Don Pedro 
 Leonato 
 Vulgar John 
 Benedick and Beatrice 
 
 33 
 
"Much Ado about Nothing" is called a comedy, though 
 it has some very serious matter in it. We have very 
 little information respecting this play anterior to its pub- 
 lication in IGOO. 
 
 It had been frequently performed by Lord Chamber- 
 laine and his attendants. It is supposed to have become 
 popular, which warranted its publication in that year by 
 Andrew Wise and William Aspley. 
 
 It is believed that Shakespeare employed a lost version 
 of Bandello's twenty-second novel in the composition of 
 this drama. 
 
 The novel was published in 1554, and the scene of it 
 was laid in the city of Messina. The name Leonato was 
 found in this novel, and the man it represented was the 
 father of a girl who was mistreated somewhat like the 
 beautiful Hero in the drama. The name Don Pedro, 
 Prince of Arragon, was also taken from this volume. 
 
 34 
 
Sonnets Diversified 35 
 
 HERO 
 
 From Much Ado about Nothing 
 
 Sweet Hero, base Borachio's heartless crime, 
 And Claudio's treatment were enough to kill: 
 But thy young soul and thy unconquered will 
 
 Proclaimed thine innocence with voice subUme; 
 
 Thou wast sustained by words a full hour's time, 
 Nor failed till heated anger wrought its fill 
 And paralyzed thy brain! Thy lips were still 
 
 And cold, yet thou didst triumph pure and prime! 
 
 Though such inflictions make the spirit grieve, 
 By Nature blest with Beauty's seeming whole. 
 By Fortune lavished with a witching sum; 
 Brave maiden, glorious, like sweet Genevieve, 
 Whose praise the poet sang with loving soul. 
 How could all things but in thy favor come ? 
 
36 Sonnets Diversified 
 
 DON PEDRO 
 
 From Much Ado about Nothing 
 
 Proud Pedro, filled with wrong imaginings, 
 Between his two superb and noble friends. 
 Gets up a scheme that every one commends, 
 
 A scheme to pleasure princes, lords and kings; 
 
 Whilst it succeeds and much of promise brings, 
 A dastard crime is, ere its pleasance ends. 
 Concocted, which the Prince miscomprehends. 
 
 Whose shame and cruelty flew on speeding wings ! 
 
 Though Pedro's words do stalk out as with power, 
 
 And each scheme great he sets his heart upon. 
 
 In this case they are like the looper looped; 
 
 The mean thing done wrought havoc for an hour, 
 
 Then showed this Pedro, Prince of Arragon, 
 
 Was nothing but the primal duper duped! 
 
. Sonnets Diversified 37 
 
 LEONATO 
 
 From Much Ado about Nothing 
 
 Poor father, just as wedding moment nears, 
 
 His happiness was changed to feehng grim; 
 
 In soul depressed, his eyes were teary-dim 
 When Claudio shamed his daughter! It appears 
 He felt how love the father's heart endears 
 
 For smitten darling, seeming soul of him; 
 
 Yet after weeping, much he would contemn. 
 Said *'let her die!" eyes red from drying tears. 
 
 Ah! here we see the heart's most valued dream 
 Demolished, as by one fell stroke of pain. 
 And throat fills up so we can only lisp; 
 O grief death-dealing! Piteous in extreme, 
 In cases where the trustful father's brain 
 Is rent in shreds and burnt into a crisp ! 
 
38 Sonnets Diversijied 
 
 VULGAR JOHN 
 
 From Much Ado about Nothing 
 
 The vulgar John who caused this much ado, 
 A soulless man, but not of lowest breed. 
 Enjoyed the act of doing so vile a deed; 
 
 His was a heart too hard and coarse to rue, 
 
 A vicious mind that basest thoughts embue, 
 Tho' having sprung from semmi-Pedro seed; 
 And yet ill words Pedro was first to heed. 
 
 And quick believed the fair girl guilty too! 
 
 A mean deception when thus found to be, 
 
 The fact of being paid to do the crime. 
 
 Confessing all, Borachio emphasized; 
 
 And John, the payer, made hot haste to flee! 
 
 In secret words unfit for decent rhyme, 
 
 Pedro ashamed, his brother analyzed' 
 
Sonnets Diversified 39 
 
 BENEDICK AND BEATRICE 
 
 From Much Ado about Nothing 
 
 O you young lord, Padua's Benedick! 
 
 A man of wit and not of rancor free. 
 
 But fully matched in blazing repartee 
 By fair Beatrice! Ere estopping trick, 
 Your words in witty combat flitted thick, 
 
 As bees about a blossomed cherry tree; 
 
 But each in battle smote in like degree, 
 Whose fiery shaft oft sizzled in the quick! 
 
 In wit the same, so love in each increased 
 
 While being lured therein ere either knew, 
 
 By a true friend persuading all the rest; 
 
 And "sweet Beatrice" ere the wedding feast, 
 
 She afterward, we hope, more precious grew. 
 
 Whene'er a stork the clever union blest. 
 
SONNET, ROUNDELS, BALLADE AND 
 OTHER VERSES 
 
CUPID 
 
 Supreme and absolute — our joy or bane, 
 O Cupid — thou, thro* every vanished age, 
 Hast led to love admiring youth and sage, 
 
 And hast inspired so many a varied strain. 
 
 So many a loving rhyme and smooth refrain; 
 'Tis strange that yet upon the dainty page. 
 Thou shouldst the poet's facile pen engage, 
 
 To soothe our sorrows and make sweet our pain! 
 
 But still as mighty, some new height of truth 
 Gains the young minstrel by thy helpful powers 
 In Art's steep path, exerting best endeavor; 
 Who henceforth stands, crowned with enduring 
 youth. 
 Mid flying echoes like to shattered flowers, 
 Showering upon us jeweled words forever! 
 
 41 
 
42 Oaien Heeaa 
 
 f - 
 
 MY BABY BLONDE 
 
 {Roundels) 
 
 My baby blonde, your stylish dress 
 
 And beauty are, like bloom and frond. 
 Designed our souls to cheer and bless. 
 My baby blonde; 
 
 A splendor, as by silken bond, 
 Doth hold each heart in sweet duress. 
 
 Until the coldest groweth fond; 
 For like a dream of loveliness, 
 
 You hail from holy world beyond 
 To make our sins and sorrows less. 
 My baby blonde! 
 
 In Paradise they call and list 
 
 But wait in vain for soft replies 
 Of lips fond angels lately kissed 
 In Paradise! 
 
 Which with your baby face and eyes. 
 Still hold the sweetness, I insist, 
 
 That late they held above the skies; 
 And who henceforth at earthly tryst. 
 
 May kiss the lips that angels prize^ 
 Shall surely feel that you are missed 
 In Paradise! 
 
LADY MINE— A BALLADE 
 
 O lady mine with tlie raven hair! 
 
 Its dusky clusters thy face enshrine 
 In reveling gleams that strangely ensnare, 
 
 O lady mine! 
 They lift thee up o'er a lofty line 
 
 To heights of beauty both weird and fair, 
 In whose allurements all charms combine 
 
 From brows more darksome than shadows are. 
 And eyes still brighter than stars that shine 
 
 On dew-soft nights with a radiance rare, 
 O lady mine! 
 
 O lady mine with the raven hair! 
 
 We leave the marts at the day's decline, 
 And frequent I meet thee unaware, 
 
 O lady mine! 
 For when the blossoms on tree and vine, 
 With parted lips look above in prayer 
 At skies all crimson like rich red wine, 
 
 I love to meet and pass thee where 
 The pathway strays under fragrant pine. 
 Mid shadowy lights that glimmer and glare, 
 O lady mine! 
 43 
 
m 
 
 44 Oaten Reeds 
 
 O lady mine with the raven hair! 
 
 What magic mysteries about thee twine, 
 Enchanting the words thy hps declare? 
 
 O lady mine! 
 For haply hearing the voice of thine, 
 
 My soul was startled beyond compare, 
 By sounds as sweet as a song divine, 
 
 Transporting me from a world of care, 
 My dreams dispelled that were saturnine. 
 
 And my heart divorced from its old despair, 
 O lady mine! 
 
 ♦ 
 
INTANGIBLE 
 
 Afar up in some untraversed region, 
 Some wild of the ether's domain, 
 
 Bright phantasies gather in legion 
 Far limits enchain, 
 Which signal again and again. 
 
 Altitudes, tho' a mist interveneth, 
 They throng after toils of the day. 
 
 Like stars that rekindle the zenith 
 In cloudless array. 
 The moon having loitered away. 
 
 Each glows with ephemeral brightness, 
 A glimmer of tremulous gleams. 
 
 Fair as a nun's face is in whiteness. 
 The angel she seems, 
 Beheld in the sheen of her dreams. 
 
 A light on my mind from about them, 
 
 Distilleth like luminous rain; 
 And my life were unworthy without them. 
 
 Or lived but in vain, 
 
 A shade dark as death in my brain! 
 45 
 
46 Oaten Reeds 
 
 From them is the luster transmitted, 
 That glows at the height of my reach; 
 
 Bright sparks, their pure elements quitted, 
 Attract and beseech, 
 Enmeshed in the woof o: my speech. 
 
 Their splendor, a brilliancy shedding, 
 Refreshes these fancies of mine, 
 
 Like dawn, mother Earth overspreading, 
 Wiih morning's rare wine. 
 The flowers in her bosom that shine. 
 
 And thus, tho' the mist be unshifted, 
 My soul with their radiance fills. 
 
 And I feel that my life is uplifted 
 By rapturous thrills, 
 Above mother Earth and her ills! 
 
 So joyed in the stress of my sorrow. 
 Still patient, I labor and pray; 
 
 For Pity, the wind some tomorrow 
 May hustle away 
 The mist that enshrouds me today! 
 
TO A CANTATRICE 
 
 In the years since good old Pan 
 First made music sweet to man 
 By his pipings where he stood 
 Near the roadway in the wood; 
 While the many singing true, 
 Proffer him their homage due, 
 Some enthusiasts fluting clear. 
 Still enchant the human ear; 
 Yet among the eager throng, 
 I have heard no voice in song, 
 So triumphant, joyous, free, 
 O sweet girl, as thine to me! 
 
 For I hear, or dream I hear, 
 Murmuring in the atmosphere. 
 Silver bells and bells of gold. 
 Some that shout of joys untold. 
 
 Some that wail of wan despair; 
 47 
 
48 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Molten notes that touch and cHng, 
 Cleave asunder, tremulous — ring, 
 
 Flutter downward everywhere; 
 Dance or weep upon the green, 
 
 Mingling in a two-fold mass, 
 Like a swarm of fire-flies seen 
 
 Tangled in the dewy grass. 
 
 For I hear, or dream I hear, 
 Lute strings by a zephyr stirr'd. 
 
 Trembling in the atmosphere; 
 
 Or a trill spontaneous heard 
 Where some songster lowly grieves 
 
 In the stilly starlight hours. 
 Perched among the quivering leaves 
 
 Deep in secret woodland bowers. 
 
 For I hear melodious floods, 
 
 As when treetops o'er the lawn 
 Fragrant with their bursting buds, 
 
 Lightly bend with birds at dawn; 
 Like to gusts of swelling notes 
 Wafted from their joyous throats, 
 Waking flowers that startled leap 
 Sudden from their dewy sleep! 
 
Oaten Reeds 49 
 
 Seems I hear some violin 
 
 In a land of song and dreams; 
 Numbers rolling thick or thin. 
 As from skilled Maestro throats. 
 
 Widening into ribbon strands: 
 And an air about me floats 
 
 Like the sweet musician plays, 
 And my soul the more expands, 
 
 As the more it tensely sways. 
 
 And my joyance upward springs. 
 As on swift harmonious wings; 
 For thy music catching fire. 
 Makes the human soul aspire; 
 Stirs to noted men we praise. 
 Men we crown with Laurel bays; 
 Over from the Arcadian sea, 
 Seems with ease thou bringest me 
 Martial sounds from Dorian lyres, 
 
 Twanged as once by master hands; 
 Pealings loud from Grecian choirs 
 
 In the far off, classic lands. 
 
60 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Or triumphant yells that run 
 Down the phalanx which has won; 
 Keen huzzas of fearless men 
 Charging, sworn to die or win, 
 Sword to sword and gun to gun! 
 
 Now an anguished tone is heard 
 
 Sobbing in thy vocal stream, 
 Like some melancholy bird 
 
 Singing in a troubled dream; 
 Or a lover sighing low 
 
 Ere the last faint spark be fled. 
 Who heaps ravings of his woe 
 
 O'er his loved one lying dead; 
 Plaintive pathos which one feels 
 Some lorn phase of life reveals. 
 Like the old-time wondrous tones 
 
 When the Thracian wildly pled 
 Wringing tears from silent stones; 
 Or that faltering in thy breath, 
 
 O young mother, wan and wild, 
 Pleading with relentless death 
 
 For thy first-born, only child! 
 
Oaten Reeds 61 
 
 Still within thy voice there dwells 
 
 More that doth our joys prolong; 
 Something weaves alluring spells, 
 
 Sweet as Melusina's song 
 When she dallied, free from ban, 
 
 In Albania's fairy dells, 
 Ere Count Raymond came to woo; 
 Ere France heard her sudden screams. 
 
 While she led the elfin throng 
 Which about her rapturous drew, 
 Thro' the moon's bewitching gleams. 
 
 To some leafy rendezvous. 
 
 Or in days still more remote. 
 Strange as the mysterious chime 
 
 Morn's first ray from Memnon smote, 
 Greeting Aeos in olden time 
 
 Ere the shadows were withdrawn. 
 
 When the intensely florid dawn 
 Set the eastward heavens aflame. 
 
 And Aurora, glowing, came 
 
 Dancing down her sapphire track. 
 Clouds like blossoms flinging back; 
 
 Into wreaths and festoons rolled. 
 Gleaming pink and scarlet gold. 
 
52 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Dear girl, from thy horoscope, 
 
 Seerhke, let the poet decide; 
 
 Far above thee, deep and wide, 
 Doth a dazzling vista ope; 
 
 From about thee, day by day. 
 
 Clouds shall break and fall away; 
 More than golden-haired, thy hope! 
 
 Now thy voice in songful strain. 
 
 From whose fullness much we gain. 
 Draws us forth from mines and marts, 
 
 Thro' us sheds a fragrant leaven. 
 Gifts and lifts our tranced hearts, 
 
 O sweet singer, nearer Heaven! 
 And we know when thou hast sung, 
 
 Music, hand in hand with love. 
 Heavenly Maiden, still is young! 
 
 Still her spells are from above. 
 And beneath them swayed supreme. 
 
 As within some gloried shrine, 
 Our souls only dream and dream. 
 
 Thrilled by ecstasy divine! 
 
YOUR POET'S PLEA 
 
 (To Miss Elvira Miller, Louisville) 
 
 Some lovely maiden with eyes of brown 
 
 Your poet away has stolen. 
 And so your face wears an ugly frown, 
 
 Your eyes with weeping are swollen. 
 
 I must plead guilty, but does it matter? 
 
 What direr disaster could befall? 
 She dropped me and went to Cincinnati 
 
 To attend the "Bachelors' Ball " 
 
 My poet, my poet," you now repeat 
 
 In accents artfully clever; 
 If you had claimed me in words as sweet, 
 
 My heart had been yours forever! 
 
 Just so it is with the luckless poet! 
 His people withhold their praises; 
 They have regard, but they fail to show it 
 
 Ere they lay him under the daisies. 
 
 53 
 
54 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Was it mean to think or surmise, my dear. 
 While tears in my eyes did ghsten, 
 
 I sang unto ears which refused to hear? 
 To an angel who would not hsten? 
 
 Am I to blame if so fair a lass 
 
 As met with in song or story, 
 Has eyes that flash as I go to pass, 
 
 And catch me up in their glory? 
 
 But tho' purloined, since she discards, 
 
 And I must forever lose you. 
 Yet still are left two distinguished bards 
 
 Who may console and amuse you. 
 
 One seems a sort of barometer 
 The state of the weather showing; 
 
 Within his poems oft storms occur. 
 And the wind is always blowing. 
 
 So when you read him ere you know it, 
 A cough or a cold may ail you; 
 
 You call him a "Signal Service poet,"* 
 
 I rather, a signal failure! 
 
 *" Signal Service" was the name of the Weather 
 Bureau at the time this was written. 
 
 1 
 
Oaten Reeds 65 
 
 The other, an ultra, may entertain, 
 
 If not by his gorgeous writing, 
 By telling you over and over again, 
 
 A story of black cats fighting. 
 
 He says he saw them with his own eyes. 
 Spook cats at the foot of a stairway; 
 
 He heard their unearthly me-ow-ous cries. 
 And it almost turned his hair gray! 
 
 These poet-lads, as the days swim by. 
 May charm my beloved enslaver; 
 
 May pipe unto her, may sing or sigh, 
 And revel long in her favor. 
 
 But I, alas! must remain as now. 
 Your victim, my pretty scorner; 
 
 Yet you I mean to regain somehow, 
 Tho' never was love forlorner! 
 
THE MID-NIGHT FIRE 
 
 Hark! 
 
 The brazen bells! 
 
 The alarum swells, 
 
 And round its circuit flies; 
 
 I turn with lifted eyes. 
 
 And see the engine primed and fleet. 
 
 An outward glow of flame and heat. 
 
 Usurp, besmoke and spurn the street! 
 
 'Mid clash of hoofs and whirr of glancing tire. 
 
 With hastening clatter, nigher, nigher, nigher, 
 
 Pass like some hissing Cyclop towards the fire. 
 
 Now looming cloudward, higher, higher, higher. 
 
 His fresh plumes like a crimson sheet! 
 
 But the red demon, when they meet, 
 
 O'ermatched in might, in dire defeat, 
 
 Falls fainting from the skies; 
 
 His breath from where he lies, 
 
 That lessening wells. 
 
 Death's story tells — 
 
 Dark! 
 56 
 
COMPENSATION 
 
 Oh! all the day long, 
 
 My soul without pain, without care, 
 Far distant from earth and from wrong. 
 
 From sorrow and sorrow's despair, 
 Hath lolled in an ether of song. 
 
 Like a skylark aloft in the air — 
 Oh! all the day long! 
 
 And now — ah! from now until morn — 
 
 My soul's gratitude to declare, 
 I shall linger in shadows unworn 
 
 As the wind lightly tossing a hair, 
 While I pluck from the gardens of shade 
 
 Great flowers, their blossoms untorn, 
 Untarnished, and gorgeous in hues, 
 
 And a beautiful tiara braid 
 
 Your brows to adorn! 
 57 
 
58 OcUen Reeds 
 
 Or discover and choose 
 
 And bear from where flowers never fade. 
 Some radiant bloom without thorn 
 
 To cool and allay with its dews 
 My love's inextinguishable fires; 
 
 And to soften the heat of the flame 
 That scarreth with quenchless desires, 
 
 And thirstings insatiate for fame, 
 The hungering soul that aspires 
 
 To build an imperishable name! 
 
 Thus making me worthy and meet 
 To walk up the sky from the crowd. 
 
 And to drop on my knees at your feet; 
 My knees on the pink of the cloud 
 
 That dreams in a trance, whereupon, 
 O my Sweet, 
 
 You stand splendor-clad in the sun! 
 
 II 
 
THE BLUEGRASS GIRL 
 
 Her hair 
 
 Luxurious growing, 
 'Tis golden flood if fair; 
 If cloudy, black. 
 
 About her shoulders blowing. 
 Pours shadowy curlings down her back! 
 
 Her lips 
 
 To hearts unnerving. 
 
 Red blooms the brown bee sips; 
 
 Ofttimes they close 
 
 With most delicious curving, 
 
 And make her mouth a breathing rose! 
 59 
 
60 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Her cheeks 
 
 Are like those fountains 
 On white enchanted peaks 
 Of dawn-lit snow, 
 
 Upon Hesperian mountains, 
 In which red blossoms come and cro. 
 
 So shy 
 
 These make advances, 
 And flit so coyly by, 
 Each shimmering seems 
 
 To love*s admiring glances. 
 The borrowed hues of golden dreams. 
 
 They are 
 
 But maiden flushes. 
 Or flitting fancies fair, 
 A look may start, 
 
 That wreathe her face with blushes, 
 Then flounder back into her heart. 
 
Oaten Reeds 61 
 
 So sweet, 
 
 So splendor-storing. 
 So loving, it is meet 
 Her brilliant eyes, 
 
 Their lusters on you pouring, 
 Should symbol forth a Paradise! 
 
 Her speech 
 
 Man's woe displaces. 
 And tempers Sorrow's reach; 
 Her fragrant breath, 
 
 Her womanly embraces 
 And kiss do all but ward off death! 
 
 Oft seems 
 
 As one Titanic, 
 To him embued with dreams; 
 A power sublime 
 
 And justly talismanic, 
 A goddess in her glory's prime! 
 
62 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Yea, gifts 
 
 With feelings finer 
 The poet, and uphfts; 
 His mind inspires 
 
 To efforts still diviner, 
 And fills his soul with quenchless fires! 
 
 Like truth, 
 
 She is eternal 
 And fades not. Sweet her youth 
 With love endures 
 
 And blossoms forth supernal. 
 While Time for her his wing abjures! 
 
 And when 
 
 With murmurs lightest. 
 From southern groves again, 
 The winds may stir 
 
 While sky and cloud are brightest, 
 This, though unworthy heart of her; 
 
Oaten Reeds 63 
 
 At morn, 
 
 When leaves o'ersprinkle. 
 And flowers all earth adorn, 
 Some Naiad breeze 
 
 Whose feet make lilies twinkle, 
 I hope, that dances mid the trees. 
 
 May bear 
 
 Like message tender 
 Soft speeding through the fair 
 And fruitful lands, 
 
 O'erlaid with grassy splendor, 
 To her where she in triumph stands. 
 
 Apart — 
 
 From others ever. 
 That she may know my heart 
 She truly stirs 
 
 To high and best endeavor, 
 And that my songful soul is hers! 
 
MRS. CARRIE NATION 
 
 O Woman Soul! Still more and more 
 
 A terror to the slums, 
 A glory which was unobserved before, 
 
 Into our vision comes. 
 
 It is as a bright cloud on high, 
 
 So wide, so far we scan; 
 A new light risen in the darkling sky, 
 
 Attracts the eye of man! 
 
 Though scarce triumphant, many a week 
 
 We seem to see her stand 
 
 As one aloft upon a new-made peak, 
 
 In sight of all the land! 
 64 
 
Oaten Reeds 65 
 
 O Woman Faith! O noble thought! 
 
 So strong, so great in her! 
 Intrepid deeds that she has rudely wrought, 
 
 Have set the world astir! 
 
 The dauntless will, the dare, the dash, 
 
 The courage nigh sublime, 
 That prompt her with her besom thus to smash, 
 
 Were born to lessen crime! 
 
 They leave her standing in the sun, 
 
 And now another name. 
 By risks assumed, by triumphs rashly won, 
 
 Is linked to lasting fame! 
 
 O Woman Love! Deep as the seas, 
 
 As fresh, as pure, as glad 
 As sunlight on the leafy-blossomed trees, 
 
 In Summer glory clad! 
 
66 
 
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 And these for her with power entreat 
 
 Along where red Hghts gleam, 
 And where, upon the loathesome open street. 
 
 The wicked reign supreme! 
 
 Until no more they shall entice, 
 O God! Stay with her — stay! 
 
 Demolishing the brazen haunts of vice. 
 That lure men's souls astray! 
 
THE POET'S GUERDON 
 
 Sweet to the poet is fame, 
 
 But the spiritual splendor is sweeter 
 Which graspeth his soul up in flame. 
 
 And setteth ascintle his meter. 
 
 Words from his heart that he weaneth, 
 They link in a tremulous dance. 
 
 Like stars that bediamond the zenith. 
 The world in the calm of a trance. 
 
 See, though a gloom interveneth. 
 
 Thro' the vapor thin vapor that screeneth, 
 In his sky how they glimmer and glance! 
 
 67 
 
68 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Bright are his luminous themes 
 With the Hght of a brighter ideal; 
 
 But the brightest he sees in his dreams, 
 Never shines on the shore of the real! 
 
 Where clouds in the heavens are slanted. 
 Thro' soft filmy meshes that gird, 
 
 He peers into regions enchanted, 
 
 O Earth, but his visions are blurred! 
 
 Oh! that the boon had been granted 
 
 With the songs in his being implanted. 
 That the song of his soul might be heard ! 
 
 Shadows of scenes that are fairer 
 
 Are our scenes of no radiance dearth; 
 
 And the joys of his sorrow are rarer 
 Than rosiest dreams of our mirth; 
 
 For the music whereof he is bearer, 
 
 And the sorrow whereof he is sharer, 
 Have a rapture within not of earth! 
 
AT RESACA 
 
 All day their courage had been tested, 
 Their Southern hearts severely crost; 
 
 Each strong position from them wrested, 
 The hard-fought battle all but lost! 
 
 But suddenly, and seeming clearer 
 For fiery missiles whizzing past, 
 
 Mid bombs that burst with deadly terror, 
 Their victims falling thick and fast. 
 
 From bough above, to low notes clinging, 
 A mocking-bird that knew no hate, 
 
 At intervals was softly singing. 
 As if to serenade its mate. 
 
70 Oaten Reeds 
 
 Those veteran hearts beat more in union 
 To espy it, dauntless, pause a spell, 
 
 As though it held a mute communion 
 With screaming shrapnel, shot and shells 
 
 However keen each bullet's whistles. 
 Of leaden hail that swept along. 
 
 It caught the sounds of hissing missiles. 
 And deftly wove them in its song! 
 
 Then leapt aloft on glancing pinions. 
 And sang their trembling fears away; 
 
 And thus, from perch mid green dominions. 
 Helped Southern soldiers win the day! 
 
 With heart as free and self-reliant. 
 Oh! that at every battle South, 
 
 Some mocking-bird had sung defiant 
 Anear the cannon's brazen mouth! 
 
SONNETS TO FACES FAIR 
 
DARK EYES 
 
 {To Pauline) 
 
 Pauline! Pauline! Nothing is so fair 
 
 As the dark eyes in woman! Even skies 
 
 Of fiery terror where worst storms arise, 
 
 Are not so startling! And such eyes declare 
 
 In woman passions which we should not dare 
 
 Arouse or tempt! For in her spirit lies 
 
 Unseen but felt, a power that never dies! 
 
 Intuitive Wisdom breathes immortal there! 
 
 1 give much praise to them. Dark eyes inspire 
 Most rare poetic effort. Some bards owe 
 
 To them alone their best accomplishment; 
 Because in them the sweetest quenchless fire, 
 Like frankincense with fragrant, flaming glow, 
 Into each poem burns and leaves its scent! 
 
 72 
 
Sonnets to Faces Fair 73 
 
 ELSIE 
 
 Large eyes of gray, soft as a summer dawn; 
 
 Red rosy cheeks whose color comes and goes, 
 
 And Hps Hke twin strawberries, when aclose; 
 Ah, no such sweet buds blossom o'er the lawn! 
 Hair, like a cloud athwart the twilight drawn; 
 
 With darkness tinged, a shadow from it flows; 
 
 Each inner strand or tress with violet glows: 
 Such charms as these I fain would take in pawn ! 
 
 With guileless air, as knowing naught of woe. 
 She walks before me here asmile and glad, 
 A presence bright, demeanor modest, sweet; 
 With cheerfulness, where'er she chance to go, 
 That drives from others every feeling sad, 
 And makes her one we love to often meet. 
 
74 Sonnets to Faces Fair 
 
 ADELE 
 
 Sweet Adele, dressed in light pink today. 
 Is like a blossom half-blown in the spring, 
 Or long neck morning-glory, fragrant thing, 
 
 Or pale pink rose whose leaflets folded stay, 
 
 Till warm winds deck the field and forest gay; 
 Her light gold hair where fairy colors cling. 
 Like flames aflash from golden-robin's wing; 
 
 And slender form so frail a breeze might sway. 
 
 A silent, thoughtful face where faintest blush 
 
 Oft comes and goes, but lingers still in sight, 
 
 Sometimes, a moment ere it sinks from view; 
 
 This shows her heart so full of dreams they crush 
 
 And form delicious mixtures, blossom-bright, 
 
 That tint her samite cheeks and sweeten too. 
 
Sonnets to Faces Fair 76 
 
 LILY 
 
 O Lily, with your soft and pleasing name, 
 Your slender form and face a flower fair 
 Of sweetest bud that opes in blossom rare; 
 
 With eyes that capture — Oh! it is your game 
 
 With touch or smile to set each heart aflame! 
 A witching sprite, without regret or care. 
 To tempt or tease, to make or cure despair, 
 
 Yet a young goddess free from slightest blame! 
 
 You are, I think, even fair as Genevieve, 
 Whom Coleridge embalmed in verses good; 
 Even sweet as airy, fairy Lilian, sung 
 By Tennyson. Such verse I too would weave, 
 And praise you in your dawn of womanhood. 
 Most charming girl of girls you are among! 
 
76 Sonnets to Faces Fair 
 
 ANNABEL 
 
 Eyes gray as dawn whose silent flashes please, 
 Face fairer than one daintiest arts adorn; 
 This new young Hebe, fresh as airs of morn 
 
 From roses reared amongst the greening trees, 
 
 Whose lavish fragrance sweetens every breeze; 
 Yet she — her spirit white as blowing thorn — 
 With playful wiles to gladden hearts forlorn, 
 
 Seems sweeter than the sweetest one of these. 
 
 Says Shoppenhauer, " Nature makes her fair, 
 So that her beauty charming hearts of men. 
 May one enmesh" with full or empty purse; 
 This may be true, but thousands might declare, 
 'Tis joy and bliss her loving snares within, 
 When caught and held for better or for worse. 
 
Sonnets to Faces Fair 77 
 
 LOTTIE 
 
 Large eyes of hazel, brown as autumn leaves, 
 Which gaze ahead and loll in luscious dream; 
 Long, golden lashes shield from dizzy gleam, 
 
 High florid brow more shielding shadow weaves; 
 
 Her pouting lips they make a rose that grieves, 
 And from this rose when deep in loving theme. 
 With longing looks from eyes so near astream. 
 
 Sweet music drifts like rain from mossiest eaves. 
 
 Despite her aspect which she stately wears, 
 A sadness deep, though seventeen her years. 
 Beneath her smiles a grave expression speaks 
 It wells and wells till from her soft despairs, 
 Her heart and eyes are bathed in copious tears 
 That wash imprints upon her youthful cheeks. 
 
78 Sonnets to Faces Fair 
 
 ANNA 
 
 O Child! thy visage shining bright and clear, 
 As lighted from the rainbow's glowing span, 
 Has drawn but praise of late from every man; 
 
 Tho' full of childish traits that made thee dear. 
 
 When in our court house worthier charms appear 
 Thy father's trial shows thee lovelier than 
 Mid June day's splendor, smiling in the van 
 
 Of golden girls that grace our mansions here! 
 
 Ye famous heights whereon our heroines stand. 
 
 Triumphant beckoning many a lingering hour. 
 
 Here looms one more ! O Child with face ashine 
 
 Who wards off death as with a potent hand. 
 
 And saves thy father's life in primest flower. 
 
 Henceforth, the palm of worthiness is thine! 
 
LINES AND LYRICS 
 
MY HOME NEST 
 
 I do not love 
 The Eagle's scream — but wooing plaint 
 
 Of turtle dove! 
 Like some soft sorrow, low and faint, 
 Poured over ruins old and quaint. 
 
 I do not care 
 To venture where no shadows cool 
 
 The noon-tide glare; 
 But rather where once Pan did rule. 
 And Naiads bathed in rippling pool. 
 
 Some plot I crave 
 In Poesy's gladdening underfields 
 
 Where poppies wave. 
 
 Like wands some viewless spirit wields. 
 
 And sleep its blest refreshment yields. 
 80 
 
Oaten Reeds 81 
 
 I only dream 
 Of skies wherein the shower strays. 
 
 And rainbows gleam; 
 And though I love the poet's bays, 
 I do not chafe for human praise. 
 
 For hearts that bleed 
 Of woe and want that sting with pain, 
 
 For Sorrow's need, 
 From leafy haunt in Song's domain, 
 I hope to pour a soothing strain! 
 
 So I shall weave 
 My Home Nest in the cradling trees, 
 
 Where meshed winds grieve. 
 And rock and sing and lie at ease. 
 Till Day drops down in golden seas! 
 
THOUGHT 
 
 I weary of the pen. 
 
 And mourn the joy that once it gave; 
 I was its master, and was happy then, 
 
 Alas! I*m now its slave! 
 
 It once was sweet to think, 
 
 And nectar sip from Fancy's blooms; 
 But now before me, 
 
 With but gall for drink, 
 A life of bondage looms! 
 
 The years are backward hurled. 
 But Time unfolds no brighter day; 
 
 Yet willful Thought 
 
 Through Sorrow's sombre world. 
 
 Unbidden, soars away! 
 
 With wings of dusky hue, 
 
 Of high and wild adventure fond. 
 He cleaves the clouds 
 
 And seeks the morning's blue 
 
 Of unseen skies beyond! 
 
 82 
 
Oaten Reeds 
 
 Imperious, proud and bold. 
 
 Aloft he loves and dares to soar; 
 
 With fiery storm-clouds 
 Close about him rolled, 
 
 But loves and dares the more! 
 
 *Thou Vulture of the mind 
 
 That feedest on my brain and breast; 
 Thou thing apart 
 
 Yet with my life entwined. 
 Leave thou my soul at rest!" 
 
 In vain — he heeds me not! 
 
 But careless of my mortal pain. 
 He scours the heavens 
 
 And seeks some sunny spot 
 Above the clouds and rain! 
 
 Faint not, O Heart! nor break; 
 
 Bear up! and dream of fairer things; 
 He yet may reach 
 
 A cloudless world and shake 
 The shadow from his wings! 
 
CHRISTMAS QUESTIONINGS 
 
 (Roundels) 
 My darling boys, above the blue, 
 
 Beyond where blight of earth destroys, 
 What glories now envelop you, 
 My darhng boys? 
 Where bliss has no excess that cloys, 
 What new-born raptures thrill you through? 
 
 What sweeter hopes, what purer joys, 
 Than recent ones on earth you knew? 
 
 What fairer playthings, rarer toys. 
 Do angel hands about you strew, 
 My darhng boys? 
 
 In Paradise when Dream sees meet, 
 
 Sometimes, with half unclosing eyes 
 I stand — my worldly toils complete — 
 In Paradise 
 Ah! then, I think beyond surmise. 
 Again I hear you lisping sweet. 
 
 As late you lisped below the skies; 
 The pit-a-pat of baby feet. 
 
 With all the dainty sound implies, 
 Along the golden-glowing street. 
 In Paradise! 
 84 
 
MY SISTER'S LETTER 
 
 It wafts me back to other days, 
 To home and boyhood's merry plays; 
 To joyful hours, to nights of cheer, 
 To happy groups and faces dear, 
 We never shall behold again; 
 For mother in her grave is lain. 
 And stiaying feet have others led 
 Far from the old beloved Homestead! 
 
 It opes my heart to dreams anew. 
 To youth and love and skies of blue 
 Which by degrees fled unaware, 
 Soft as the solemn, dying air 
 
 Of wind in weeping willows; 
 Whose vanished sighs, as forth I fare, 
 
 Again seem wafted up to me. 
 
 Like undertones of waves and billows 
 
 From some far sea. 
 85 
 
' Oaten Reeds 
 
 My soul's recesses with them filling 
 Like murmurs that are spirit-heard; 
 
 They set the leaves of memory thrilling, 
 Unmarred by uttered word, 
 
 And burdened less with sorrow's moan. 
 
 Than with the dream of gladness flown. 
 
 It brings me back all gladdest things 
 With youth that linked an airy flight, 
 
 And o'er my drooping spirit flings 
 Love's early halcyon light; 
 
 Our lives all flow from best to worst; 
 
 We scarce perceive how mornings first 
 Swim by us, ne'er to come again; 
 
 Leaving our hearts like flowers athirst 
 For dew and rain. 
 
MY HOUSE AND HEART 
 
 My House was like some ruin old 
 
 That loomed where earth and ocean meet, 
 
 Where toiling waves with griefs but vainly told. 
 Forever beat and beat. 
 
 Before my door, far from its goal, 
 
 A stranded galleon long had lain, 
 With naked ribs wherein no living soul 
 
 Would ever throb again! 
 
 The owl at eve that soared aloof. 
 
 On noiseless pinion thither drawn. 
 
 Like some grim specter sought my lonely roof, 
 
 And softly perched thereon. 
 87 
 
Oaten Reeds 
 
 Gaunt wolves with eyes that fiercely gleamed, 
 Explored its precincts, day by day; 
 
 By night, gray gulls about its gables screamed, 
 And swiftly wheeled away. 
 
 My wandering thoughts essayed in vain 
 To fairer clime in dream to roam; 
 
 My Heart! It was the drear abode of pain, 
 Love's early ruined home! 
 
 A mourner, filled with rue and grime. 
 And deep fears haunting voice and tone, 
 
 I stood upon the slipping sands of Time 
 And wept alone! alone! 
 
 At length, into my House there came 
 A goddess, strange no god had wed; 
 
 Each gloomy chamber filled with mellow flame 
 Her ruby presence shed. 
 
 I 
 
Oaten Reeds 89 
 
 New life, new thought in me began, 
 
 With dreams untinged by shade of woe; 
 
 Henceforth, an ecstasy too sweet for man, 
 My happy Heart should know! 
 
 The look that stirs this mortal frame, 
 The touch that thrills with joy divine; 
 
 The lips that breathe and hallowed make my 
 name, 
 O Love, are thine! are thine! 
 
TO THE LITTLE MASSA.C 
 
 At morn, with many a freshening charm, 
 
 At eve, with shadows throtiging. 
 Once more, as seen to cleave the broad old farm, 
 
 Recalled with sighs and longing. 
 Beloved of old, O woodland stream 
 
 With joyous bird-life stirring, 
 I hail thee, winding like an emerald seam 
 
 Across my father's clearing! 
 
 By banks where cloistering willows tossed 
 
 Their lissome boughs and airy. 
 O'er walks with moss and leafy bloom embossed 
 
 For feet for Fay or Fairy, 
 Thy tide through loop and scallop ran 
 
 O'er soil superbly dowered; 
 
 And foliage dense, like some arborial span, 
 
 AJong thy borders towered. 
 £0 
 
Oaten Reeds 91 
 
 When Spring's warm rains increased thy flood, 
 
 And set it rushing, roaring, 
 Thou wast a sight to stir my boyish blood, 
 
 Across green meadows pouring! 
 Earth, by thy turbid torrents torn. 
 
 Was laved to pebbled cleanness; 
 And the soft blue that fills the summer morn 
 
 Baptized thy dewy greenness. 
 
 And I, within thy gentler wave 
 
 Who learned the art of swimming, 
 Was not myself, such keen delight it gave, 
 
 To see thy steep banks brimming! 
 Didst seem a sea that lashed the shore, 
 
 High boughs a welcome waving; 
 And I Leander, fearing floods no more, 
 
 Thy wanton breakers braving! 
 
 In all my youth these eyes could see 
 
 Thee clothed in varied feature. 
 Whose changeful aspects symboled forth to me 
 
 God in creative Nature. 
 
92 Oaten Reeds 
 
 And oh! when June woke earth and skies, 
 
 From lawn or garden station, 
 No place have I beheld with rapt surprise. 
 
 Such wondrous transformation! 
 
 First glinting gleams of pink were seen, 
 
 That in the sunrise shimmered; 
 Then faintly turning, slightest hints of green 
 
 Along thy windings glimmered: 
 One night sufficed; morn met a birth 
 
 But told in tropic story; 
 Thy curves appeared mid bursts of choral mirtii, 
 
 A blaze of blossom glory! 
 
 There, rainbow-like, from grove to grove, 
 
 Flashed glancing pinions ever. 
 Whilst many swelling throats spontaneous strove 
 
 In emulous endeavor; 
 And as the sun, each morning fair, 
 
 Rose like some big round jewel, 
 A thousand voices, vying, clove the air. 
 
 In Music's matin duel! 
 
Oaten Reeds 93 
 
 Now come with Joy*s unclouded beam, 
 
 Ye rosy-footed hours! 
 In boyhood first I found by Massac's stream, 
 
 The Muse*s sacred bowers! 
 Immersed in blossoms long I strode, 
 
 With sight and senses ravished; 
 For Nature's wealth where rankest foliage glowed. 
 
 Was on this woodland lavished! 
 
RONDEAU 
 
 Say what you will, Love makes me dare 
 To seek the heights and worship there; 
 My dreams condensed, as jewels lure. 
 Might form a brightening Cynosure 
 That would make eyes look up and stare! 
 
 Love makes or heals intensest care. 
 Makes or dispels the heart's dispair; 
 But sky. Love cannot make it bluer. 
 Say what you will! 
 
 I love the Muse, though ill I fare. 
 Because she hears my simple prayer, 
 And helps me strive with spirit truer. 
 To weave true verse that will endure 
 Till words become unused and rare. 
 Say what you will! 
 
 94 
 
SOME SONNETS 
 
 RELIGIOUS, PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE 
 
ALL IS VANITY 
 
 I have drunk deep, and now the glass I drain; 
 The nectared drop! It used to come unsought, 
 But bitter lees the busy years have brought; 
 
 The blood and fire of youth now pale and pain, 
 
 And struggling on, I sing a lessening strain; 
 I seem to hear as from the depths of thought, 
 A voice declare with subtle prophesy fraught, 
 
 "When age o'ertakes us, Time annuls the brain!" 
 
 With heart divided all these vanished years, 
 It is not strange my lonely spirit grieves, 
 Because of ills the Parcae may bequeath; 
 For, though I strive to do what best appears, 
 The Muse, disdaining verse my fancy weaves. 
 Denies me riches, fame or laurel- wreath ! 
 
 96 
 
REALITY 
 
 (Jan. 12, 1908) 
 
 These winter morns to walk along the street. 
 And inly breathe the cold crisp air is life; 
 A new-born vigor helps us through the strife, 
 
 Beats rough obstacles down with which we meet 
 
 So frequent, when our days are passing fleet; 
 And though the wind may cut us like a knife, 
 This vigor grows, for the whole morn is rife 
 
 With bracing blasts from ricks of snow and sleet. 
 
 I face them joying for the strength they give; 
 It flows into me, oozes through my flesh, 
 Infusing force in every lagging vein; 
 The more aroused, the more I feel I live, 
 And stancher verse my fancy weaves afresh, 
 With more of life and less of bitter pain. 
 
 97 
 
WHAT OF THE DAY? 
 
 The morn has come and all the day may bode, 
 
 No man can tell or reckon what shall be; 
 
 I take to street as still the gods decree. 
 And walk to workshop, looming down the road. 
 Where I, each morn, take up afresh the load 
 
 That in a few more years shall conquer me; 
 
 Still Fame and Fortune far before me flee, 
 And seems I reap but chaff from wheat I sowed. 
 
 O poets, how we chant, though scarce one heeds. 
 
 Or heeding knows or thoroughly understands 
 
 Our subtle fancies words but ill express! 
 
 Still we chant on, nor long for moneyed meeds, 
 
 Tho' hunger pinch or palsy shake our hands. 
 
 For in themselves our songs and poems bless. 
 
SAINT BRANDAN 
 
 Saint Brandan, sailing northern seas distrest 
 Of wind and storm, as in weird visions cast, 
 Upon iceberg high, saw Judas, clinging fast 
 
 And cooling with its snow his burning breast; 
 
 Saint Brandan, quaking^ of dire dread possest. 
 Asked how it came? "Good deeds do always 
 
 last," 
 Said Judas kindly. "Ere my life had passed, 
 
 For one, each Christmas Day comes respite- 
 blest." 
 
 "An angel said, who touched me while in flames, 
 
 * Arise! No fires shall harm you on this day!' 
 
 " How so ? I asked." * A leper, with his sores 
 
 Wind-blown full of the hot street sand, exclaims: 
 
 "'Help, — or I die!'" You, going your sinful 
 
 way. 
 
 Cast him your cloak which for you aye 
 
 implores!" 
 
 99 
 
ON THE LAKE FRONT, CHICAGO 
 
 The skies are clear but winds are high today, 
 And wary seagulls face their terrors brave; 
 For the first time, a moaning, somber stave, 
 
 Yon writhing flood, o'ermastering in its sway, 
 
 Bursts on my view ! And what doth more dismay. 
 See as from rising ground with motion grave, 
 Great wastes of waters, wave pursuing wave, 
 
 Come tumbling down and clash in endless fray' 
 
 Yea, like the god who rules the polar flood, 
 
 I seem to see thee stand with frowning brow. 
 
 And in thy wrath yon sounding barriers 
 
 smite, 
 
 O Inland Sea! And all my sluggish blood 
 
 Is seized with riot! Like an ocean, thou 
 
 Storm-tost and torn art awful in thy might! 
 100 
 
On the Lake Front 101 
 
 I turn toward multitudes who plot and plan, 
 And see commercial forces which have shown 
 Throughout the world Chicago greater grown, 
 
 Her trades and traffics thundering in the van! 
 
 While nigh me towering high, huge works of man, 
 In windowed palace wrought of steel and stone, 
 Now gash the clouds about each high roof 
 blown, 
 
 And daze their sights who fain would wholly 
 scan! 
 
 Chicago! Proud Chicago! Human hive 
 
 Where men, like bees that cease not all the day, 
 Longing for more, augment their golden 
 stores; 
 Fleet in their race for riches, some few thrive. 
 While thousands scarce can keep the wolves 
 away, 
 Which like insatiate Harpies haunt their 
 doors ! 
 
KENTUCKY 
 
 {The Author's Native State) 
 
 In leafy home of beauty born and reared 
 On thy fair borders, 'twas my fate to be, 
 O noble State, land of the brave and free! 
 
 In lonely spot where droop the shadows weird, 
 
 My grave in alien grounds I long have feared; 
 A few more years to live, if God decree. 
 With filial heart I shall return to thee. 
 
 And henceforth roam the paths I once revered. 
 
 Thy precious soil pressed by my baby feet, 
 
 To me most sacred seems of all the earth, 
 
 Since love and longing set my soul athirst; 
 
 Thy dark-haired daughters whom I chanced to 
 
 meet 
 
 In school days, gave mine inspirations birth. 
 
 And in thy woods the fair Muse found me 
 
 first. 
 
 102 
 
THE BRIEFEST GRAVE 
 
 O Christ, they put upon thy grave no flowers, 
 But a great stone, the Holy Scriptures say; 
 Lest faithful followers steal thy form away. 
 And swear thou hadst arisen! Mysterious powers 
 With angels came, shook earth and Roman 
 towers, 
 And smote the guards with deep and dire dis- 
 may. 
 Rolled off the great stone at the break of day. 
 On which one sate and brightened dawning 
 hours ! 
 
 Arisen, camest thou to woman's call. 
 Who weeping cried Rabboni, recognized 
 And bore glad tidings to a loving host; 
 Who waiting stood concealed by door and wall, 
 Ere long, each as by sacred fire baptized. 
 Blest with the initial wondrous Holy Ghost! 
 103 
 
FRIENDSHIP 
 
 Like fragrant fields of growing sassafras 
 Is truest friendship, full of lofty love 
 That lifts and leads to happier goals above, 
 
 Though seldom found in fairest forms that pass; 
 
 Naught purer sings amongst the leaves and grass. 
 Unhindered e'er by slipping sands that shove; 
 Far as that Ark whence vainly flew the dove. 
 
 From wicked grounds where crimes of men amass ! 
 
 It truly blesses. Worthier waxes life 
 Within its golden circle. Oft I feel 
 
 The magic of it that beguiles so strange 
 The poet's imagination, wondrous rife 
 
 With all that most allures. I frequent kneel 
 Amid its charms and pray it ne'er to change. 
 
 104 
 
SEA SHELLS 
 
 The rosy shells that He along the shore 
 
 Above the troubled waters, quaff the faint, 
 Vague intonation mourning like the plaint 
 
 Of some vast sorrow whispered o'er and o'er, 
 
 Quaff long and deeply, then are mute no more; 
 But ever after, mellow-lipped and quaint. 
 As through some soft epitomized restraint, 
 
 Breathe the airs imbibed of stormy Ocean's roar! 
 
 So songful souls that in their halcyon hours 
 Drink deep of Helle's fountain, never cease 
 To vibrate stirred by Song's harmonious 
 chime; 
 And long sustained by Love's inspiring powers, 
 Attain at length triumphant heights of peace. 
 Joining the blest in Glory's cloudless clime! 
 
 105 
 
AS CHRIST SAID TO PETER 
 
 "Get thee behind me, Satan 1" Tempt me not; 
 
 Tho' labor- worn, I strive with all my might 
 
 In life and love against the ills that blight, 
 Despite much cause for hate and passions hot; 
 Like prayer, the Golden Rule will make no blot; 
 
 But followed patient, keeps life clean and 
 white; 
 
 Though man's irreverence mars the Gospel's 
 light, 
 Till tinged with darkness seems each mortal's lot. 
 
 Forsooth, I feel imburdened with regret. 
 
 For oh! so much red blood unjustly streams. 
 Within my brain a fiery passion seethes; 
 What else can be? While on all sides beset 
 With murder, arson, holdups — one, it seems, 
 Imbibes crime in the very air he breathes! 
 
 106 
 
THREE GIRLS 
 
 Sweet Annie, Adabelle and Adeline, 
 Triune of girlhood, full of playful wiles, 
 Red rosy lips that part with sunny smiles; 
 
 Religious girls whose precious lives entwine. 
 
 Each fresh young face with holy light ashine, 
 They meekly bow within the cushioned aisles; 
 And all three, though the joy of life beguiles. 
 
 Of earth-born ills have shunned the faintest sign. 
 
 Thus in their early dreams these girls decide. 
 The same as one in worship, spirit, heart, 
 On convent-life and prayer forevermore; 
 
 Sweet Annie perished first, by health denied; 
 Dear Adeline died ere she made her start. 
 
 And Adabelle a little while forbore. 
 
 107 
 
108 Three Girls 
 
 Beside a church a leafy wood embowers. 
 Beneath a grassy mound, beyond recall, 
 With Adehne who grew up fair and tall. 
 
 Sweet Annie slumbers under dewy flowers; 
 
 Religion sways, but dark Death overpowers. 
 And drapes our premises with solemn pall; 
 Lone Adabelle, in storied-convent wall. 
 
 Now kneels in holy prayer for endless hours! 
 
 Sometimes, Religious Dream alike endows 
 The hearts of us for Death too soon to part, 
 And leaves scarce one enjoy the precious 
 boon; 
 Of these three girls, like birds amid the boughs 
 Two years ago, the same in mind and heart, 
 But Ada lives to greet another June. 
 
SISTER CELINE 
 
 (Adabelle, the Aiithor^s Daughter) 
 
 O dearest Sister, sweet religious girl! 
 So young, so fair as Hebe, famed of old 
 For beauty! Words alluring, wooings bold 
 
 Of ardent lovers, thou didst from thee hurl! 
 
 Didst spurn the worship setting brains awhirl; 
 But loves of Jesus and the flawless gold 
 Of gospel Truth, thy heart shall ever hold, 
 
 Whilst in thy visions glorious dreams unfurl! 
 
 O darling, whom this hallowed splendor clasps 
 
 And lifts toward Heaven, many a taste of bliss 
 
 Ere death, is thine surpassing sweet and 
 
 pure! 
 
 But thou foregoest the world whose beauty grasps 
 
 Thy minstrel-father, freed from aught remiss, 
 
 And fills his soul with loves that will endure! 
 
 109 
 
THE GOSPEL 
 
 O Christ ! to man how straight thy Gospel came ? 
 
 By thee diversely strewn, each precious word 
 
 Was writ by faithful scribes wherever heard, 
 In various speech and greeted with acclaim! 
 All Christians read and praise thy holy name; 
 
 On all the world thy blessings are conferred; 
 
 Wherever preached the multitudes are stirred, 
 And precious souls are snatched from utter shame. 
 
 Eusebius, best prepared of peopled lands, 
 Sought manuscripts o'er all inhabited earth, 
 And lovely order brought from chaos first; 
 By patient labors, both of eyes and hands. 
 Arranged thy Word that gives us all new birth, 
 And satisfies foray e our burning thirst. 
 
 110 
 
THE TRUE FAITH 
 
 O Jesus, coura^je from thee ne'er withdrew, 
 Tho' vain and wanton people would not learn. 
 But joyed to question rudely, scorn and spurn 
 
 And plot against thee! . . . Heeding, wondrous 
 few 
 
 Embraced the faith, yet thou wast firm and true; 
 In base conditions, while some pray and yearn, 
 We, floundering still, ignore which way to turn, 
 
 Though golden truths are here to guide us through. 
 
 Thou didst not falter, turning from the faith 
 
 Thou wouldst establish, making kindly light 
 
 To guide and lead us to our heavenly home; 
 
 For God ordained — Sin dying down a wraith — 
 
 This precious boon for man, and in the right 
 
 Thou didst defy the mighty powers of Rome! 
 
 Ill 
 
OUR SAVIOUR 
 
 Our Saviour, seeking hearts to hear and heed, 
 Among the poor his sacred plans were laid, 
 Because the poor most need his kindly aid; 
 
 He, first for men to war with sin and greed, 
 
 Chose humblest fishermen to preach and lead; 
 Called from his labors, each at once obeyed; 
 The rich and great against him were arrayed. 
 
 Unmoved nor touched by wondrous word and 
 deed. 
 
 O Christ, I seem to see thee on this night. 
 Amongst excited throngs the most serene, 
 And walking the rough waves of Galilee! 
 And somewhat as o'er Paul, there rushes light 
 Upon me which in earth nor air is seen. 
 But only in sweet dreams of bliss to be! 
 
 112 
 
PRESENT LEGAL CONDITIONS 
 
 We are aggrieved and feeling much displeased 
 With law-administrations; nothing gained 
 By long delays, the practice now maintained; 
 
 No standard high, old methods seem diseased, 
 
 And for the poor a slide to prison greased; 
 The day arrives, accused at last arraigned, 
 This way or that the juries are constrained. 
 
 Should they acquit just souls are unappeased. 
 
 Then we must license any blatant scamp, 
 License and thank the richer miscreant. 
 To slay our men of genius, honor, fame; 
 The law approves and gives its legal stamp. 
 The Judge commends the men who mercy 
 grant. 
 And many a patriot keenly feels the shame. 
 
 113 
 
EMOTIONAL INSANITY PLEA 
 
 Oh! God, thrust on o'erwrought creduHties, 
 This quasi-Hght wherein the judgment basks. 
 To say the least, one's understanding tasks! 
 
 A flickering ghmmer scarce discernment sees, 
 
 Yet holds full many a court's august decrees, 
 When either wealth or high influence asks; 
 But makes for slayers too diaphanous masks. 
 
 Yet this claim oft some guilty murderer frees 
 
 It seems a shame and yet the law consents. 
 This subterfuge where murder has been done, 
 Saves wealthy men from proper punishments 
 Does not always prevail, sometimes relents, 
 We know, which lets impartial justice run 
 In its true course on honest purpose bent. 
 
 114 
 
THE HUNG JURY 
 
 Discharge the jury, justice still undone! 
 
 Each claiming right, but very few agree, 
 
 Alleged law-breakers going bonded free; 
 From month to month expensive trials run, 
 The State is rich and from the date begun 
 
 She pays the cost, no matter what it be; 
 
 'Tis gay, but smiles from angry faces flee 
 Whose frowning owners would such farces shun! 
 
 Accused disgruntled, blamers much chagrined; 
 
 No parties pleased except the legal gang. 
 
 The patient Judge and all who cash receive; 
 
 And these together cling as friend to friend, 
 
 And laugh and gloat when silly juries hang, 
 
 Waxing rotund, while better people grieve. 
 
 115 
 
QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS 
 
 By prejudice some judges are controlled, 
 Seductive bribes entice a few to heed, 
 And many seem as swayed by venal greed; 
 
 To some who argue and maintain their hold. 
 
 Gross inadvertence is not dross, but gold; 
 One who decides and justice doth impede. 
 Or he whose error makes the victim bleed, 
 
 I pair with him who hath scant justice doled. 
 
 While these, thus leaning over ruin's brink, 
 
 To judgments ill in history's page appeal. 
 
 And keep their falsifying courts intact; 
 
 There's many an honest judge, I love to think. 
 
 Upright and pure, a soul so true as steel, 
 
 In equity whose judgments are exact. 
 
 116 
 
A MUSICIAN 
 
 {Two Sonnets Embodying his Supposed Com- 
 plaints ere Suiciae because his Violin was 
 Stolen.) 
 
 "O blest Cremona, loved and honored home 
 
 Where Raphael painted and where Vida sung! 
 
 His dainty brush, his honeyed Orphean tongue 
 Did waft thy fame beyond the hills of Rome, 
 And spread on high, of Fancy's flossy foam 
 
 A brightening glow like o*er Mantua hung; 
 
 And which the mellow, fleecy clouds among, 
 Shone dazzling downward from thy glorious 
 dome!'* 
 
 "Whence Violin came I played on in the hush 
 
 Of night, whose music wafted jojrful thought 
 
 And easeful balm to aching heart of mine; 
 
 For oh! like Raphael loved his sentient brush, 
 
 Or Vida, sugared words from Muses caught. 
 
 My dear Cremona loved I most divine!" 
 117 
 
A MUSICIAN CONTINUED 
 
 {His Soliloquy) 
 
 "My dear Cremona, like the bee for bloom 
 I long for thee! As zephyr over moss, 
 Thy music stole my pensive soul across. 
 
 And gladness lured amid oppressive gloom; 
 
 I feel, alas, since pillaged from my room, 
 My sweet Cremona, much as life thy loss! 
 Now all my joys consumed to ash and dross, 
 
 How dark my fate ? Less dread the eerie tomb ! " 
 
 **0 God! O God! Though base be suicide, 
 My lorn Cremona, changed to ominous tone, 
 Its soul aquiver full of poignant grief, 
 
 On its sweet strings the while bow doth abide. 
 
 Shall weep aloud, each woeful sound a moan 
 
 To drive to awful death the cruel thief!" 
 118 
 
MARCONI 
 
 All honors to Marconi, . . . wireless sage 
 Who struggled on with one supreme intent. 
 And equaled Morse's great accomplishment! 
 
 Illustrious deed! It doth all eyes engage. 
 
 And helps us through our earthly pilgrimage; 
 What genius here? Gift most magnificent! 
 A wonder wrought as if the skies were rent. 
 
 And triumph which will brighten history's page! 
 
 Inventions are the prize and pride of men, 
 
 For each enriching, aids us more or less 
 
 In working out of public ills and strife; 
 
 Marconi, wisdom's subtlest dreams within. 
 
 Creates a world's industry sure to bless 
 
 Vast multitudes in labor, love and life. 
 
 119 
 
MARCONI CONTINUED 
 
 {The Worth of his Invention as Exemplified 
 January 24, 1909, at the Wreck of the 
 Republic by the Florida.) 
 
 Marconi, wireless Wizard of our times! 
 His late invention, of most subtle birth, 
 Employed many a laborer, seeming dearth 
 
 Howe'er, in either near or foreign climes. 
 
 Of greater victory. Now its feat sublimes 
 Its swart inventor, marvels all of earth. 
 And amply proves a boon of wondrous worth, 
 
 Mid ocean's watery wastes and mammoth chimes! 
 
 Balks the grim Reaper all in man's behalf. 
 Triumphs in arts and methods quick to save. 
 Whose big results a moment take our breaths; 
 
 Our Wizard thus, through wireless telegraph. 
 
 Vouchsafing rescues from the perilous wave, 
 
 Robs every sea of terrors and of deaths 
 120 
 
J' JUL 8 19?8 \ 
 
One copy del. to Cat. Div. 
 JUL s HI