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S. H. M 
 
MOTHER'S 
 LOVE SONGS 
 
 ELIZABETH TOLDRIDGE 
 
 BOSTON 
 
 RICHARD G. BADGER 
 
 The G or ham Press 
 1911 
 
Copyright 1910 by Richard G. Badger 
 
 All Rights Reserved 
 
 
 The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. 
 
 ©CLA2?8(ir;o 
 
DEDICATION 
 
 Thou Wisdom, unto me communicate 
 
 Of God, {with all but His, commensurate;) 
 
 Thou Brightness, arched sky-like from east to west; 
 
 Thou Goodness, panoplied o'er all the rest! 
 
 Thou Sweetness, like a perfume in the room; 
 
 Thou Cheeriness, engulfing all of gloom; 
 
 Thou Mother — thou whose smiles revealings are 
 
 Of tendernesses rapt and singular; — 
 
 Thy child's and thine. Love's sweet mysterious 
 
 breath. 
 Which builds the wonder-worlds of Life and Death! 
 
CONTEXTS 
 
 The Little Dream-Mother II 
 
 What Was It Made Me Love You Sweet 12 
 
 My Little White Rose 13 
 
 When She Comes and Goes 15 
 
 So Beautiful and Good 16 
 
 Sweetheart-Mother 17 
 
 My "Beauty Rose" 18 
 
 Mother s Pansies 20 
 
 In April 21 
 
 The Mother Angel 22 
 
 My Love Lady 23 
 
 Mother s Flower 24 
 
 My Lady-Love 25 
 
 My Riches 26 
 
 Home and Love 27 
 
 The Mother-Deeps 28 
 
 Robin Time 29 
 
 The Meaning Of It All 31 
 
 There Is Nothing Too Sweet for Mother 32 
 
 A Fairy I Know 33 
 
 A Birthday 34 
 
 Mother s Day 35 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 The Forever 36 
 
 Guardian Mother 37 
 
 hnmortality 38 
 
 Love Names 39 
 
 My Mother 40 
 
 The Wonder Of It 41 
 
 A Wreath Of Arbutus 42 
 
 Companioned 43 
 
 Mother 44 
 
 A Birthday 45 
 
 The Heritage Of The Noble One 46 
 
 The Miracle 47 
 
 The Cry Of The Daughter 49 
 
 The Lullaby Of The Leaves 50 
 
 All Mothers 52 
 
MOTHER'S LOVE SONGS 
 
THE LITTLE DREAM-MOTHER 
 
 The little Dream-Mother ! Her hands are prayers 
 
 Her voice is an echo sweet; 
 And roses white as the pale moonlight — 
 
 The wake of her noiseless feet! 
 
 The little Dream-Mother! Her brow is pearl; 
 
 Her hair is a silver mist; 
 Yet in her eyes there's a light outvies 
 
 Those shadows of amethyst! 
 
 The little Dream-Mother! This wonder-look 
 
 The heart of all care beguiles; 
 While from her face, in immortal grace, 
 
 The soul of her childhood smiles! 
 
 II 
 
WHAT WAS IT MADE ME LOVE YOU, 
 SWEET? 
 
 What was It made me love you, Sweet? 
 Was it the bloom of the apple-flower 
 Tinting your face, or that dusky dower, 
 
 The wealth of your hair, — was it this, my Sweet? 
 
 Was it your white brow's arching, Dear? 
 
 Or, the light lift of those shining eyes, 
 
 Shattering fears, as a glad sunrise 
 The dark of the night, — was it this, my Dear? 
 
 Was it your life-song's music. Love, 
 Mating faint notes of my lowlier song. 
 Thrilling a lyric of joy along 
 
 The tide of two lives, — was it this, my Love? 
 
 Or that one Day, — remembering. Sweet, 
 Deep in your heart was its Need of me, 
 Willing the grace of our love to be, — 
 
 God gave me to you? It was this, my Sweet! 
 
 12 
 
MY LITTLE WHITE ROSE 
 
 As white as the snowdrift, 
 
 As fresh as the dew, 
 As fair as the vision 
 
 Of morning are you, — 
 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 As sweet as a thought is, 
 
 As true as a star, 
 As kind as the mantle 
 
 Of night falling far, — 
 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 As tender as twilight. 
 
 As loving as sleep. 
 As faithful as angels 
 
 That holy watch keep, — 
 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 To my springtime, its blossom. 
 To my summer, its glow, 
 
 To my autumn, its fruitage. 
 To my winter, its snow, — 
 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 13 
 
To my day, what its hope is, 
 To my night, all its rest, 
 
 To my heart, its deep joy-core. 
 Hidden sweet in the breast, — 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 To my spirit, love's music. 
 To my life, sorrow furled. 
 
 To my eyes, what God's light is. 
 
 To my arms, all the world, — 
 
 My little White Rose! 
 
 14 
 
WHEN SHE COMES AND GOES 
 
 When she goes, the sun goes with her, 
 
 In the da}^- 
 When she goes, the stars at night-time 
 
 Slip away! 
 When she goes, there is no sweetness 
 
 In sweet air; 
 When she goes, Joy seems in hiding, 
 
 Off somewhere. 
 
 When she comes, the dawn comes with her, 
 
 In the night; 
 When she comes, a star is shining 
 
 In sunlight! 
 When she comes, I hear birds singing 
 
 In still air; 
 When she comes, I feel Joy's heartbeats, 
 
 Everywhere. 
 
 15 
 
so BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD 
 
 She is like a little flower, 
 
 She is like a little star; 
 She is like a silver lakelet 
 
 Where the water-lilies are! 
 
 She is like a little jewel, 
 
 She is like a music-bar; 
 She is like a pretty woodlet 
 
 Where the violets hiding are ! 
 
 She is like a little valley, 
 
 Like a little hill afar! 
 She is like a bit of cloudlet 
 
 Where the rainbow's colors are! 
 
 She is like a benediction 
 
 With no human blight to mar: 
 
 She is like a perfect lyric 
 Where Love's deep revealings are! 
 
 She is like all visions lovely, 
 Whether near or whether far! 
 
 She is like all dreamings holy 
 Where divine aspirings are. 
 
 i6 
 
SWEETHEART-MOTHER 
 
 My first white thought and its fruition; 
 
 Hope's seed, the bough's reality! 
 My twilight-dream, my dawn's full mission; 
 
 Joy's root and towering tree! 
 
 My bloom, my fruit! Love's incarnation 
 
 As sister, friend, and comrade sweet! 
 My offering ; my expiation ; 
 My ladder to God's Feet ! 
 
 My dream ; my light ; my revelation ; 
 
 My poem, and my picture rare; 
 My monitor; my inspiration; 
 
 My love-song, and my prayer! 
 
 17 
 
MY "BEAUTY ROSE" 
 
 I may not cull the perfect flowers 
 
 In crimson beauty dressed, 
 And lay them In thy dear, dear hands 
 
 With thus my love confessed ; — 
 
 But I may dream I hold them close 
 And breathe their fragrance sweet, 
 
 And fold a kiss within each one, 
 My mother dear to greet; 
 
 And thou may'st dream I gave them thee 
 And that thou hold'st them fast. 
 
 And that thou hear'st the words they say 
 I whispered at the last: — 
 
 "So like the perfect roses, she, 
 
 My Matron sweet, with all 
 The promise of her youth fulfilled; 
 
 And no wish to recall 
 
 One dreamy hour! Her great warm heart 
 
 All full of love as these 
 Of scented balm, to bless the world 
 
 And its great trials ease!" 
 
 i8 
 
My sweet Rose-mother, may our Lord, 
 
 Who gave me unto thee, 
 Prepare us here to bloom for Him 
 
 Throughout Eternity! 
 
 19 
 
MOTHER'S PANSIES 
 
 A bowlful of pansies I seem to be, 
 But whitest dreams are hidden in me, 
 With many a prayer folded tenderly, 
 
 And under them all is Love — 
 Love, whose hopes outvie its fears. 
 Love that smiles in spite of tears, 
 Love that saves the while it cheers. 
 
 Under them all is Love! 
 
 A bowlful of pansies I seem to be. 
 But sweetest thoughts do abide in me! 
 With many a hope inlaid tenderly, 
 
 And under them all is Love — 
 Love that "stands by", right or wrong, 
 Love that brings a joy along, 
 Love that makes a little song. 
 
 Under them all is Love! 
 
 20 
 
IN APRIL 
 
 The Coming of the Pansies, once again — 
 Their grave-glad faces shining in the sun ; 
 
 They keep the tryst: to bring hearts-ease to men — 
 The yearly tryst — their ministry begun! 
 
 And one I know my Pansy dear I name, 
 Because her eyes hold just that steady look 
 
 The Pansies give, their mission to proclaim — 
 'Twould heal and bless tho' all the world for- 
 sook! 
 
 And I have named this one my Pansy dear, 
 Because her mission is to ease the heart; 
 
 Her ministry, to change or grief or fear 
 To holy hoping, with angelic art! 
 
 'Tis she, my Mother — dearest, sweetest, best — 
 
 I softly sing to, in the April air! 
 'Tis she I humbly gather to my breast 
 
 In thankfulness — my Pansy sweet to wear! 
 
 21 
 
THE MOTHER ANGEL ( 
 
 How near she moves — with holy eyes! i 
 
 And surely wings there be J 
 
 Whose dazzling white her radiance makes, j 
 Whose shadow falls on me! 
 
 Her amaranth and asphodel 
 
 Illume this earthly way; 
 Like Heaven's music falls her voice 
 
 In benedicite. 
 
 Upon her lips the smile that speaks 
 
 A soul's divinest mood: 
 For there above her hallowed brow — 
 
 The Star of Motherhood ! 
 
 22 
 
MY LOVE-LADY 
 
 Oh, all the air is honey-sweet, 
 Tho' Winter's sky's above — 
 
 For one's anear whose name is just 
 Another word for Love! 
 
 And violets are everywhere, 
 
 Tho' earth's the Winter's own — 
 
 For I clasp hands with one who hath 
 To love Incarnate grown! 
 
 Behold — the Mother of my heart! 
 
 While her rapt face I see, 
 Summer and winter, dawn and dew 
 Mean naught but Love to me! 
 
 23 
 
MOTHER'S FLOWER 
 
 My love's great Rose! A thousand petals seem, 
 In velvet softness sweet-perfumed, to breathe 
 In hallowed bands, in beauteous row on row: 
 And some of them are little thoughts of love; 
 And some of them are little hopes of love; 
 And more of them are little prayers of love — 
 And soft they crowd, with touch of rose-leaf wings ! 
 
 24 
 
MY LADY-LOVE 
 
 She is moving close beside me 
 
 Through the happy years: 
 God hath given her thus to guide me, 
 
 Swift to stay my tears! 
 
 Gentle hands on mine to lead me 
 
 All of Life's long way: 
 God hath made her heart to need me 
 
 Every night and day! 
 
 She is mine e'en though Death take me, 
 
 I have not a fear: 
 God hath willed she'll ne'er forsake me, 
 
 Little Mother Dear! 
 
 25 
 
MY RICHES 
 
 I have two Mothers! One Is she 
 Whose love gave breath to me : 
 
 The inspiration of a life 
 Through her maternity! 
 
 And one is she v^^hom from the Cross 
 
 Sweet Jesus gave to me: 
 "Behold thy Mother—" thus He left 
 
 His world its Legacy! 
 
 26 
 
HOME AND LOVE 
 
 There's a little Nest hung low 
 On the World's great Tree! 
 
 All warm and sweet, but ever so wee — • 
 Yet it serves for you and me — 
 
 Together, dear, together! 
 
 There's a little Boat adrift 
 
 On Life's Sea so wide! 
 It trusts to Heaven for wind and for tide. 
 
 Does the Love-boat we two ride — 
 
 Together, dear, together! 
 
 27 
 
THE MOTHER-DEEPS 
 
 She's such a little mother, 
 All the world's her child! 
 
 The golden head, the silver head. 
 The peevish and the mild ! 
 
 She's such a little mother, 
 
 She alw^ays sees a w^ay! 
 Ah, who can blame the mother-heart 
 
 That watches night and day? 
 
 She's such a little mother, 
 She deems us all her own; 
 
 And chides and heals us in a breath, 
 And who shall make a moan? 
 
 She's such a little mother — 
 
 (Love's banner never furled — ) 
 
 She reaches out her arms to bless 
 The whole round weary world! 
 
 28 
 
ROBIN-TIME 
 
 'TIs Pansy-time! And in their velvets neat 
 Of gold and purple, kneel they in a row, 
 
 The little Pansy-pages at her feet, — 
 
 For they were born to serve her, that they know! 
 
 'Tis Snowdrop-time! In dainty caps of white 
 Each Snowdrop-baby droops a sleepy head 
 
 Within its leaf-laced cradle rocking light — 
 Yet wakes and dimples as she nears its bed ! 
 
 'Tis Jonquil-time! And in their golden shoon 
 The Jonquil-children skip along before 
 
 To make sweet paths for her who follows soon, 
 Her childhood wonder in her eyes once more! 
 
 'Tis Blossom-time! And in their mousseline gowns 
 Of pink and white the Blossom-girls they go 
 
 And curtsey to her as she treads the downs, 
 Her face a blossom with a wreath of snow! 
 
 'Tis Lilac-time! And in their silken skirts 
 The Lilac-ladies bow and waft to her 
 
 Their perfumes sweet; while softly each asserts 
 That it is Mother's Time when Spring's astir! 
 
 29 
 
MagnoHa-time ! And In their stately way 
 The old Magnolia-dames they stare and stare, 
 
 And smooth their mantles coyly that they may 
 (Because she is so lovely) seem as fair! 
 
 It's Robin-time! And in his waistcoat red, 
 The Robin-laddie runs across the grass, — 
 
 But, of a sudden, stops and lifts his head — 
 It surely is the time for Her to pass 1 
 
 30 
 
THE MEANING OF IT ALL 
 
 The Chestnuts are opening their green umbrellas! 
 
 The Maples are shaking their little joy-bells! 
 The Poplar, the Ash and the Elm are unfolding 
 
 All their tiny green flags, 5^et not one of them tells 
 
 The wonderful Secret: why they wear the Spring's 
 colors ! 
 Why they wave her sweet favors in banners of 
 green ; 
 Why they spread their soft feathery blooms for a 
 carpet ; — 
 But / know! They have made Little Mother 
 their Queen! 
 
 And all of the Song-birds are singing together 
 Somewhere out of sight a sweet chorus, I ween! 
 
 Their loving Avowal to Spring and to Nature — 
 That they have just made Little Mother their 
 Queen ! 
 
 The Jonquil is fleet, but the Crocus was fleeter 
 That first brought the news! Now the Pansies 
 are seen 
 To form in procession, — All the Flowers follow 
 after, — 
 Joy of joys! They have made Little Mother 
 their Queen ! 
 
 31 
 
THERE IS NOTHING TOO SWEET FOR 
 MOTHER 
 
 The earth smiles flowers where her footsteps go 
 
 Who is dearer than any other; 
 The sky is hers, with its cloud of snow; — 
 
 There is nothing too svv^eet for mother! 
 
 For her, the sunrise glories afar ; 
 
 One sunset after another; 
 The twilight hour with its single star; — 
 
 There is nothing too sweet for mother! 
 
 The song-sparrow sings to her all the day; 
 
 The robin's her little brother; 
 Her pansies whisper, "Heart's-ease alway" ; — 
 
 There is nothing too sweet for mother! 
 
 Love-words, love-deeds, and tenderer, too, 
 
 Than we give to any other. 
 For Life's holiest best is her blessed due, — 
 
 There is nothing too sweet for mother! 
 
 32 
 
A FAIRY I KNOW 
 
 There's a beautiful Fafry on earth 
 Whom I always, always knew! 
 
 She wears no "invisible cap" — 
 She is here for all to view! 
 
 (I love you, she says.) 
 
 She does not stay in the woods. 
 Or under the leaves and flowers ; 
 
 She just lives in the house with me. 
 Through all the days and hours! 
 
 (I love you, she sings.) 
 
 Ah, she is gentle and wise, 
 This beautiful Fairy I know: 
 
 She tells me that Love and Truth 
 Will make me grow and grow ! 
 
 (I love you, she smiles.) 
 
 O Fairy-Mother so sweet, 
 
 I long to be just like you! 
 Shall I hide my self, like a seed, — 
 
 Was not that the way you grew? 
 
 (I love you, she cries!) 
 
 33 
 
A BIRTHDAY 
 
 The wee birds chirp from the ivied wall, 
 The blossoms breathe sweet on the spray, 
 
 The sunbeams everywhere softly fall, 
 'Tis somebody's birthday — to-day! 
 
 Ah, fitting the hours should flow so sweet, 
 And tender and w^arm the air — 
 
 The sky and the earth together greet, 
 In somebody's birthday to share ! 
 
 "I pray you tell who may somebody be?" — 
 
 I hear a question low — 
 Let me kiss her first and then you will see! 
 
 God bless her — it's mother, you know! 
 
 34 
 
MOTHER'S DAY 
 
 And so, the Spring has come again — 
 Because her feast-day came, you see! 
 
 And just because her feast-day came. 
 The leaves smiled out upon each tree! 
 
 For very gladness they laughed out! 
 
 And all the breezes made a rhyme 
 Of sweetest harmony to grace 
 
 Her feast-day in the Maying time! 
 
 And all the daisies bend and bow 
 And every buttercup is here. 
 
 And pansies smile, — because it's just 
 The sweetest day in all the year! 
 
 35 
 
THE FOREVER 
 
 Life here, life There, — 
 
 That is all! 
 Just a little Daytime in the World 
 Of striving and of failing, joy and blight; 
 And then a dreamless leaning on the bosom of Death, 
 
 Who brings the Night; 
 And next, the Wonder of Awakening 
 
 'Mid Fadeless Light! 
 
 Love here, love There, — 
 
 That is all ! 
 Just a little Glory in the World: 
 The sacrificial v\^ay that is Love's own; — 
 And then a sheer Forgetting on the heart of Death. 
 
 Love overthrown? 
 Nay — the Remembering of Love, in Heaven: 
 
 No Dream outgrown! 
 
 Thee here, thee There, — 
 
 That is all! 
 Just a Giving-up that brings a Gift 
 When we, with backward looks on Earth's bright 
 
 bowers — 
 Obedient children, answering the voice of Death — 
 
 Shall drop Life's flowers. 
 And run to find each other where God is, 
 
 His Roses, ours! 
 
 36 
 
GUARDIAN xMOTHER 
 
 O watcher from the heart's strong tower, 
 
 O warder from before I was, 
 Caretaker since life's firstling hour, 
 
 Of every joy the cause! 
 
 For all my light, the one to praise. 
 
 Of my ideals, the sturdy root; 
 Remembered bloom of childhood days. 
 
 My later life's sweet fruit! 
 
 Unwearied keeper of my soul, 
 
 O Eye that searcheth through and through! 
 Thou heart of hearts, as years onroll, 
 
 Beloved lover true ! 
 
 37 
 
IMMORTALITY 
 
 O mother-love, all selfless-pure, 
 
 O mother-care that foldeth me, 
 O mother-heart that needeth me 
 
 While Life and After-life endure — 
 
 O mother-soul that wilt seek mine, 
 
 (Time's guardianship all unforgot) 
 In some far glorious God-lit spot — 
 
 As even so shall mine seek thine! 
 
 38 
 
LOVE-NAMES 
 
 And some there be that never mark the years, 
 To Love's sweet music years so gently run: 
 
 And still I carry thee my joys, my tears; 
 And still thou callest me thy little one! 
 
 Thy loved one, and thy "treasure on life's sea!" 
 Thou namest me thy little star apart; 
 
 Thy doveling, and thy benedicite! 
 
 Thou callest me thy "life's blood", and "thy 
 heart!" 
 
 Yet, while I lose the all of self in thee 
 
 As thy meek child: Time hath a woman made! 
 
 And "little one" is my new name for thee: 
 I know a Fear, — yet I am not afraid. 
 
 For all my will is thine, and yet the Day 
 
 Grows vaster: lo, mine Hour to tend on thee! 
 
 And lo, my spirit's Need to bless thy way: 
 The Mother of my mother would I be! 
 
 39 
 
MY MOTHER 
 
 She is the gladness of the morning hour, 
 To me ; the teeming splendor of the noon ; 
 The star of evening; of the night, its moon; 
 
 And of the garden of my life, the flower, — 
 
 Which only lives to spend its holy dowser 
 Of fragrance all unmeasured : so that soon 
 It freshens many lives, as some sweet tune 
 
 Seeks every heart, to bless, — ere silence lower ! 
 
 Mine is she; yet is mother unto all 
 
 In that rare sympathy which makes her kind, 
 
 That tolerance, born of love, which holds in thrall 
 The near and far, with bonds that softly bind. 
 
 A universal Mother, selfless, sweet — 
 
 Yet only mine: I kneel and kiss her feet! 
 
 40 
 
THE WONDER OF IT! 
 
 Thou are not weary yet, dear heart, 
 Tho' far hath been the way; 
 
 Tho' many a night hath left its smart, 
 And grief met many a day! 
 
 Not weary yet, O radiant one, 
 
 Tho' long thy ministry: 
 For Love itself is all thine own 
 
 With its dear minstrelsy — 
 
 And Love it chanteth early, long; 
 
 And ever skyward tends; 
 It singeth sweet, the cares among, 
 
 A song that never ends! 
 
 Not weary yet, brave heart — for Oh, 
 There 's that within thy blood 
 
 Can never change or fade or go: 
 Thy beauteous Motherhood ! 
 
A WREATH OF ARBUTUS 
 
 Full tenderly down o'er her misty hair — 
 I long thus to nestle my beauty wreath : 
 
 So e'en must I hie to the woods and there 
 Low kneel where the blossoms — the green be- 
 neath — 
 
 Their hidden lives lead, like the cloistered ones; 
 
 And like to the consecrate mother-bands 
 Who whisper of love through the rains and suns, 
 
 And orisons make of their hallowed hands! 
 
 The tinted chalices there overflow 
 
 With joyance for mortals no v/ord may say: 
 
 Like hearts of all mothers, which overglow 
 With blisses that spend of themselves for aye! 
 
 The waxen blossoms there silently sing: 
 And ever in breathing this melody — 
 
 This musical fragrance of welcoming — 
 
 The soul of my mother doth speak with me! 
 
 42 
 
COMPANIONED 
 
 A Something near me in the mystic Night 
 Keeps watch and ward as well as Angels bright. 
 It is my Thought of thee — more white its wing 
 Than boughs of honeyed snow the Aprils bring! 
 
 A Something by me thro' the toilful Day, 
 Leads on and ever on to show the way. 
 It is my Thought of thee — as sure and sweet 
 As old remembered paths to homing feet! 
 
 43 
 
MOTHER 
 
 Oh, sweetest word that Language ever knew^ 
 Which Love and Peace and Duty whisper through ! 
 Oh, tender name that wakes to life again 
 In many a silenced heart the olden strain; 
 And holy name that like unto a prayer 
 Slips over lips bereft and pale with care. 
 Oh, joyful name that little children shout! 
 And blessed name that Sorrow puts to rout, 
 When breathed by one who clasps the mother-hand, 
 This deeming dearest joy by Heaven planned! 
 Ah,^ Music, Poetry, Beauty, all breathe through 
 This sweetest word that Language ever knew! 
 
 44 
 
A BIRTHDAY 
 
 Each year she sweeter grows, and tenderer, — 
 For hers the mother-eyes, the mother-hands, 
 
 The mother-heart! And each year lovelier, 
 As on the uplands, on the hills she stands — 
 
 A little higher, nearer to the light 
 
 Of far-off splendors that like hints of dawn 
 
 Enhallow her, and consecrate my sight. 
 Lest I forget that we must both pass on. 
 
 For Oh, so sweet this mothered way that lies 
 All still as vales hill-sheltered night and day — 
 
 The while her heart, abrim in loving-wise 
 
 With mother-care, doth teach my heart Its way! 
 
 45 
 
THE HERITAGE OF THE NOBLE ONE 
 
 Joy! 'Tis the light of the eyes 
 
 That reflect the divineness of living: 
 
 Just the one overwhelming surprise, 
 E'en the bliss of outgiving! 
 
 Joy! 'Tis the throb of the heart 
 
 Love itself only once Comprehending, — 
 If on earth love be ever apart, 
 
 Still the grace is unending! 
 
 Joy! 'Tis the glow of the soul: 
 
 Prophet-flame of an immanent Seeing, 
 
 Which foretells, as the ages onroU, 
 The Fulfilment of Being! 
 
 46 
 
THE MIRACLE 
 
 Beloved, thou wert ill. And all of space 
 
 Was blotted out, and time ! Thee, only thee ! 
 
 Thee, thee! Ah, was it thee whose pallid face 
 My heart was wounding past all remedy ? 
 
 Oh, darkest hour! O'er both Death's shadowy rod! 
 
 That love-lit gaze withdrawn from me — from 
 me! 
 Low, low I crouched at last remembering God : 
 
 Together — we had loved Him tenderly. 
 
 "Not yet — not yet — O Jesus, spare!" I prayed. 
 
 **Ah, ne'er shall I forego my Need of her: 
 But wait — O wait — the plan is not yet made 
 
 That I had dreamed for all — while loving her! 
 
 ''And wait — till stronger grow this heart of mine 
 To bear relinquishment, to yield to Thee : 
 
 For Thy command — this passion deep, divine, 
 That thrills my being with its agony!" 
 
 And He, the Tender-Merciful, did Spare. 
 
 May voice or pen outbear my spirit's bliss 
 When straightway back to me thy Soul did fare? — 
 
 Joy's self could tell no sweeter tale than this! 
 
 Thou art, Belov'd, the mother of my Soul ! 
 
 Stupendous truth, relation infinite ! 
 All steadfast burning when I reached the goal — 
 
 My Star of Love, unquenchable, God-lit! 
 
 47 
 
Thou art my faithful guardian, gentle-stern! 
 
 Ah, could I bear thy tender yoke to lose? 
 To fly alone I care not now to learn — 
 
 E'en though thou art anear — unless thou choose! 
 
 Since first thou heldest me against thy breast 
 To bless me with the first all-holy kiss; 
 
 Since I, thy loveling, in mysterious quest. 
 Found there my earliest thirst's unconscious 
 bliss ; — 
 
 Oh, have I proved my love? Do I repay? 
 
 Behold — I rest on thee, Foundation Stone! 
 Pillar of Fire by night, and Cloud by day : 
 
 I walk by thee, for thou the way hast shown! 
 
 My light, my safety, in thy Shadow here: 
 
 Thou guide, thou shelterer, thou dove-like good; 
 
 Thou Angel militant, with mien austere. 
 
 Who hold'st aloft the Sword of Motherhood! 
 
 48 
 
THE CRY OF THE DAUGHTER 
 
 'Twas yestermorn she sang to me 
 The old sweet nursery rhymes; 
 
 Her mother-smile caressing me, 
 Her voice like silver chimes! 
 
 'Tw^as yestereen she told to me 
 
 The old sweet fairy tales, 
 Her mother-arms enfolding me 
 
 Thro' elfland hills and dales! 
 
 'Twas yesternight she taught to me 
 The old sweet prayers to Heaven, 
 
 Her mother-eyes enhallowing me, 
 My every fault forgiven. 
 
 But this New day — what change to me! 
 
 I kneel beside her yet: 
 Her mother-heart is speaking me, 
 
 Mine eyes with tears are wet. 
 
 And this strange motherhood in me? 
 
 O long, O shadowed way! 
 And yet — her bosom bearing me, — 
 
 'Twas only yesterday! 
 
 49 
 
THE LULLABY OF THE LEAVES 
 
 Nod-a-by, dream-a-by, 
 
 Sweet little Mother! 
 Dream in your chair by the window wide; 
 Curtain the love-lights more true than all other, 
 That deep in your eyes abide! 
 
 Rest, little Mother, rest. 
 
 Nod-a-by, dream-a-by. 
 
 Sweet little Mother! 
 Softly we breathe of far fairy days : 
 Dawn-light and flower-light more gay than all 
 
 other. 
 With butterflies' teasing ways! 
 
 Sleep, little Mother, sleep. 
 
 Nod-a-by, dream-a-by, 
 
 Sweet little Mother! 
 Whisper we shyly of Youth's white Dawn; 
 Coming of one far more dear than all other, 
 Who Sandals of Love put on ! 
 
 Sleep, little Mother, sleep. 
 
 Nod-a-by, dream-a-by, 
 
 Sweet little Mother! 
 Low do we sing of your Holy Hour: 
 Budding a Joy then more deep than all other, 
 Straight out of your heart to flower! 
 
 Sleep, little Mother, sleep. 
 
 50 
 
Nod-a-by, dream-a-by, 
 
 Sweet little Mother! 
 Chant we the peace of the Life Fulfilled: 
 Calm that is lovelier far than all other, 
 A sunset of gold o'erspilled! 
 
 Stir, little Mother, stir — 
 
 Nod no more, dream no more, 
 
 Wake, little Mother! 
 Shed moonlight smiles that your heart express, 
 Wind-whispers, flow'r-breaths, more sweet than all 
 
 other, — 
 The waiting ones near to Bless: 
 
 Wake, little Mother, wake! 
 
 51 
 
ALL MOTHERS 
 
 Ye myriad blessed ones, I sing 
 
 A tenderness bespeaks the dove, 
 The wonder of your welcoming, — 
 O greeting hearts, O souls of love! 
 
 Ye tireless watchers, warders true, 
 Who ever gaze where children rove 
 
 With eyes that softly pierce them through, — 
 O greeting hearts, O souls of love! 
 
 I sing your sweet near ministries; 
 
 Yet all the world such care doth move 
 To ever-deepening sympathies, — 
 
 O greeting hearts, O souls of love! 
 
 Ye myriad blessed ones, who live 
 
 With minds 'twixt earth and Heaven above, 
 Your only prayer that ye may Give, — 
 O greeting hearts, O souls of love! 
 
 52 
 
DEC 8 
 
 mo 
 
One copy del. to Cat. Div. 
 
 "^-^^ n i3'0