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LOVE SONGS 
 
LOVE SONGS 
 
 ^iLYDIA AVERY COONLEY 
 
 v\ a f ct 
 
 MDCCCXCVIII 
 
PS35^5 
 
 Copyright. iSoS, 
 By THE WIND-TRYST FRE: 
 
 O SI -"S ^1 ^^ 
 
 "^•^V^h-. 
 
To whoso loves, I dedicate 
 These simple little songs; 
 If they find echo in thy heart, 
 To thee their joy belongs. 
 
GREETING 
 
 Good morning, my beloved ! I say it when 
 Wide seas between us roll, as if close here 
 You stood beside me, strong and true and dear, 
 Working as ever for your fellow-men. 
 
 Good morning is God's morning too, dear heart; 
 Naught is withheld; I am your own, you mine, 
 And both are of the universe divine. 
 Where time and space have never power to part. 
 
 For we are God's. His children blest we stand 
 Surrounded by the angel hosts of heaven; 
 All that is good to us is freely given; 
 He holds us in the hollow of His hand. 
 
 The world is home; there is no foreign shore; 
 We are together, for this hour has brought 
 And carried the sweet message of our thought. 
 Dear love, good morning, now and evermore ! 
 
PRISMS 
 
 The prism of the new-born year 
 Is like a moonstone cold and clear; 
 But when the sun's warm rays appear, 
 Its rainbow flashes far and near. 
 
 So in life's prism, rainbow-driven, 
 Love's sun reveals the light of heaven. 
 
LOVE'S SIGN 
 
 When love, sweet love, is at its best, 
 It needs nor deed nor v7ord; 
 Though sundered far to east or west. 
 Love's message still is heard; 
 And we rejoice in fullest sense 
 Of freedom in love's confidence. 
 
 V/hen love is at its best, the eyes, 
 The lips, their tale may tell; 
 And sweet the questions and replies 
 That lovers know full well. 
 Yet at love's best a trust divine 
 Has silence for its sweetest sign. 
 
SPRING AND LOVE 
 
 Who is this that lightly skipping 
 Comes adown the green path tripping? 
 Trees on every side are blooming, 
 Fleecy clouds in blue skies looming, 
 Larks and thrushes gaily singing, 
 Wind-flowers on their light stems swinging. 
 See I she comes with pink cheeks flushing, 
 Skirts blown back by breezes rushing. 
 Shining eyes and fair hair flying, 
 To her lovers all replying: 
 ** I am Spring, a happy maiden, 
 With life's budding joy o'erladen." 
 
 Who is this that close behind her 
 Follows smiling, glad to find her? 
 Round his head soft locks are curling, 
 All about him dreams are whirling. 
 Arrows fill his shining quiver. 
 Springtime hears their silvery shiver. 
 Wings like rainbows opalescent 
 Curve to match his drawn bow's crescent. 
 And that bow its dart is aiming 
 At her heart, its rapture claiming. 
 'Tis sweet Love that woos the maiden 
 With life's flower of joy o'erladen. 
 
LOVE'S PARADISE 
 
 Sometimes she speaks a word; then ah, what 
 
 bliss ! 
 My happy heart no softest tone would miss ! 
 [ watch her face, am sad when she is sad, 
 A.nd all life smiles whene'er her smile is glad. 
 But when on me she turns her loving eyes, 
 Straightway my heart's at home in paradise. 
 
TO MY LAD 
 
 They say that I am fair ; I smile, 
 
 And quicker beats my heart; 
 
 My thoughts fly far, but all the while 
 
 From springs of joy they start; 
 
 For O my lad, my bonny lad, 
 
 It is for you that I am glad! 
 
 I care not for the words they say 
 
 To praise my beauty's power. 
 
 Blue eyes will fade, brown hair turn gray, 
 
 Cheeks lose their blushes' dower; 
 
 But O my lad, my heart is true. 
 
 My beauty makes me glad for you. 
 
 If in your eyes my face be fair 
 
 Let whate'er may befall, 
 
 For hoary Time may well despair 
 
 When youth disdains his call. 
 
 And O my lad, my bonny lad, 
 
 Your praises keep me young and glad. 
 
 12 
 
MY LOVE 
 
 My love is young, my love is fair, 
 The sunshine's net is in her hair. 
 The sunshine's reddest roses seek 
 To kiss the white rose on her cheek; 
 And when with joy her sweet lips part 
 She sings the sunshine in her heart. 
 
 Within the deeps of her dear eyes 
 The spirit of the sunshine lies, 
 And when she turns their light on me. 
 The shadows of a lifetime flee: 
 Spring, joy, and love become my part. 
 For she is sunshine in my heart. 
 
 13 
 
A VALENTINE 
 
 What shall I give to my lady fair 
 With the eyes of blue and the golden hair; 
 With the lily cheeks where come and go 
 The crimson tides as they ebb and flow; 
 With the ruby lips that smiling part 
 To fashion a bow for Cupid's dart ? 
 Oh, tell me, tell me, ere I despair, 
 What treasure to give to my lady fair ! 
 
 "Give her a rose," the flowers say, 
 "Give her a plume," the birdlings pray, 
 "Give her a pearl," the sea replies, 
 "Give her a star," say twilight skies. 
 
 I hear them and smile, for how little they know 
 The heart of my love when they answer so ! 
 The rose, the plume, the pearl, and the star, 
 She would give them all, though fair they are, 
 For a whispered message of love from me. 
 For I know that of darlings the dearest is she. 
 I love her! I love her I She's mine! she's mine! 
 And I give her my heart for a valentine ! 
 
THE QUEEN OF MY HEART 
 
 My love is a lady so fair 
 
 That Time is beset with despair ; 
 
 His years have no power 
 
 To sully the dower 
 
 Of beauty she ever will v/ear! 
 
 My love is a lady whose art 
 
 Of nature's own sweetness is part; 
 
 And in her blue eyes 
 
 My paradise lies, 
 
 For she is the queen of my heart. 
 
 15 
 
THY VALENTINE 
 
 sing, my heart, for joy is thine ! 
 
 1 am my love*s and he is mine ! 
 
 In sun and star that brightly shine, 
 In tree and flower, I see the sign 
 Of bliss supreme, of life divine. 
 So sing, my heart, for joy is thine; 
 Thy true love is thy valentine. 
 
 i6 
 
THE FASHION 
 
 There comes a saying olden 
 From heather hills aglow, 
 And where the lochs are shining 
 In valleys far below; 
 It sayeth naught of heather, 
 And naught of yellow broom, 
 But "Kissing's out of fashion 
 When the gorse is out of bloom.' 
 
 The yellow gorse it bloometh 
 Perennial to delight; 
 In winter as in summer 
 Its golden smile is bright. 
 Like love it knows no season, 
 Makes sunshine out of gloom; 
 So kissing's aye the fashion, 
 For the gorse is aye in bloom. 
 
MEETING 
 
 A soul is born in far-off land 
 Whose destiny is linked with mine; 
 All forces work in shade and shine 
 That we two face to face may stand. 
 
 A ship speeds on to cross the sea 
 Lest I, who never looked on her, 
 The blissful moment should defer 
 Till she, my love, be lost to me. 
 
 Then, stranger on a foreign shore, 
 I wait the halt of fiying train; 
 So brief the pause 'tis well-nigh vain, 
 Yet hastening, I swing the door. 
 
 The pregnant moment gives no sign, 
 Though life the horoscope had cast 
 That here we two should meet at last, 
 And my love's eyes look into mine. 
 
 x8 
 
A GIFT 
 
 'Twas many, many years ago 
 That on a winter morn 
 Winds blew a triumph note, for then 
 A little child was born. 
 
 He grew to work, to strive, to dream, 
 He lived to long and pray 
 That love might make the whole world kin, 
 And God would speed the day. 
 
 He touched the problems of the race. 
 He caught earth's rhythm free; 
 The world-love bloomed within his heart. 
 He gave its flower to me. 
 
 19 
 
AT THE PLAY 
 
 Do you remember, O my love, 
 
 That happy autumn day 
 
 When you and I sat side by side 
 
 And listened to the play ? 
 
 What was it, dear? I almost think 
 
 The name has slipped away! 
 
 "Behind the Scenes"? O yes I and how 
 
 The orchestra did play ! 
 
 O sweet was the waltz that they played, 
 
 But sweeter the words that you said, 
 
 For my heart held the clue, 
 
 And I listened to you, 
 
 Scarce heeding the waltz that they played! 
 
 20 
 
"Behind the Scenes"! Ah yes, well named ! 
 
 It moved as if afar, 
 
 While our dear drama hurried on 
 
 With love, sweet love, for star. 
 
 Behind the scenes! Before the scenes! 
 
 That was a double bill; 
 
 And when the curtain dropped, we heard 
 
 The violins' soft thrill. 
 
 That waltz with its magical tone, 
 
 The strings played it softly alone; 
 
 But I only could hear 
 
 Your low whisper, my dear, 
 
 •*I love you, my darling, my own! " 
 
THE ONE SONG 
 
 There is a song that stirs my heart, 
 Of every thought it is a part; 
 Whatever care the day may bring 
 I only sing, and sing, and sing: 
 
 I love you, darling, sweet, my own; 
 
 You are a king, my heart your throne! 
 
 When fall the shadows of the night 
 And stars look out with eyes of light, 
 I know they listen while I tell 
 The secret that I know so well: 
 
 I love you, darling, sweet, my own; 
 
 You are a king, my heart your throne! 
 
When first the light of morning breaks, 
 Again with song my heart awakes, 
 And even birds on happy wings 
 Must listen when a true heart sings: 
 
 I love you, darling, sweet, my own; 
 
 You are a king, my heart your throne! 
 
 When sorrow comes to chill the heart, 
 And joy and I are forced to part, 
 Ah ! then with cadences of pain 
 I sing that blessed song again: 
 
 I love you, darling, sweet, my own; 
 
 You are a king, my heart your throne I 
 
 23 
 
TRANSFORMATION 
 
 An ivory Atlas bearing- a crystal ball 
 
 Atlas, forever burdened, bears the world, 
 His shoulders bent, on heavy brows a frown; 
 In blue skies stars are shining, but he sees 
 The dust alone while sadly gazing down. 
 Yet while with pain and weariness he bends, 
 His burden changes to a crystal sphere 
 Reflecting hues of earth and lake and sky, 
 Till unaware the light of heaven draws near. 
 
 So when I bend beneath life's burden vast 
 And vainly try the universe to bear, 
 Gazing upon the dust beneath ray feet 
 And losing vision of the upper air, 
 Let me but see your face, beloved friend, 
 And gaze into the deeps of your dear eyes. 
 Straightway to crystal turns the world; I see 
 The love that makes of life a paradise. 
 
LOVE'S TELEPHONE 
 
 The scientists tell us of what can be done 
 If one stand on the top of old Mount Wash- 
 ington, 
 And another go up to a glorious peak 
 Of the Rockies : then each to the other can 
 
 speak, 
 And each, listening, hear all the delicate tones 
 Of his comrade ; for, rivalling our quick tele- 
 phones. 
 The strata of ether that lie overhead 
 Can carry the sound of the words that are said. 
 
 My darling, we laugh at them all — ^you and I — 
 For they climb to the ether of altitudes high 
 Just to talk across continents, when we can 
 
 prove 
 That earth, air and ocean are servants to love; 
 For I listen, beloved, across the far sea. 
 And I know that your dear voice is calling 
 
 to me; 
 And the words are as plain as was e'er light 
 
 of day: 
 *'I will love you, my darling, forever and aye." 
 
 25 
 
MY RING 
 
 O flashing lights of red and blue I 
 
 O flashing lights of gold I 
 
 Electric as I gaze at you 
 
 Gleams out a story told 
 
 One wintry day, when on the white 
 
 Of my heart's snow there fell your light. 
 
 It was a beacon light of hope 
 
 That sent its heavenly rays 
 
 To pierce life's sadness and to cope 
 
 With all despairing days; 
 
 To say : Sing, heart, forever sing I 
 
 Love is the guerdon that I bring. 
 
 So circling round the wondrous green 
 
 That fills the emerald's heart, 
 
 Your diamonds flash their light between 
 
 The shadows as they part; 
 
 And on swift wings my spirit flies, 
 
 And finds that love is paradise. 
 
 26 
 
A SEA SONG 
 
 I sail, I sail o'er the waters blue, 
 I fear not the dark, stormy wave; 
 I love the ocean, although I know 
 It flows over many a grave. 
 
 I love it so well 
 
 That never a knell 
 Do I hear over gray or blue, 
 
 For with every dip 
 
 Of the beautiful ship 
 I am coming, my lover, to you 1 
 
 I sing, I sing as the ship sails on, 
 
 My heart sets the tune for the sea, 
 
 Till the waves laugh out as they echo the song 
 
 That my lover will sing to me. 
 
 For I love the sea, 
 
 And naught to me 
 Doth it matter if gray or blue. 
 
 For with every dip 
 
 Of the beautiful ship, 
 I am coming, my lover, to you ! 
 
LOVE'S PLACE 
 
 It was a late October day; 
 A hush was in the air, 
 As if all nature resting lay 
 In her calm hour of prayer. 
 
 The sunshine lingering on the leaves 
 Their red and gold revealed; 
 The warmth of summer touched the sheaves 
 That stood upon the field. 
 
 The wind was but a light caress, 
 So softly did it stir; 
 The crickets echoed in the grass 
 The insects' ceaseless whirr. 
 
 Why did the earth all breathless wait 
 With autumn lips apart? 
 She listened for the hand of fate 
 To fall upon a heart. 
 
 Thrice looked a youth in maiden eyes, 
 Thrice waited for reply; 
 She only looked at fair blue skies 
 And thrilled — she knew not why. 
 
Then at the warm door of her heart 
 Love knocked and knocked again. 
 Alas, she little knew Love's art ! 
 She only said : '* 'Tis vain I " 
 
 She slipped the bolt across the door, 
 But Love was not afraid ; 
 He knew that she would give him more 
 Than ever he had prayed. 
 
 So, though awhile she sat apart, 
 Joy smiled away her gloom; 
 For by the fireside of her heart 
 Sat Love: it was his home. 
 
 29 
 
WHEN? 
 
 When will he come? O prophet, say 1 
 Will fair September bring the day? 
 Will glowing maples hear the beat 
 Of my heart's pulses, and repeat 
 Their quick delight till every breeze 
 Waves love's red roses from the trees, 
 And all the world, forgetting time, 
 Shall swear that June is in her prime? 
 
 When will he come? O winds, blow free 
 And fill the sails upon the sea! 
 Shine, sun, by day 1 Glow, stars, by night ! 
 Let dreams repeat each day's delight ! 
 Oh, come he east, or come he west, 
 Which way he comes is surely best, 
 For joy to meet his smile will start, 
 And swing the portals of my heart ! 
 
JUNE ROSES 
 
 O fly with all your posies, 
 Spring's darling, Lady May I 
 My heart no more reposes 
 In tranquil joy today; 
 For now each bud discloses 
 Between the rifts of green, 
 The red of June's red roses — 
 The fairest ever seen. 
 
 Haste, Time ! No longer dally ! 
 The birds are on the wing; 
 Your golden steeds now rally 
 To carry off the Spring. 
 Then fly with all your posies. 
 Spring's darling, Lady May; 
 Bloom, bloom, ye crimson roses, 
 June brings my wedding day 1 
 
HIS LOVE 
 
 He speaks to me ! he speaks to me ! 
 Across the sea, the deep blue sea ! 
 But ah, alas I alas the day ! 
 The east wind blows his voice away ! 
 
 He looks at me ! he looks at me ! 
 His eyes shine o'er the deep blue sea ! 
 But ah, alas 1 the twilight gray 
 Soon hides those shining eyes away ! 
 
 He loves but me I he loves but me ! 
 His love is like the deep blue sea ! 
 But wind or sky — ah, bless the day ! 
 Can never keep his love away ! 
 
 32 
 
A ROSE MESSAGE 
 
 Darling, I give thee a rose. 
 Deep as its warm heart glows, 
 
 Thou shalt divine 
 
 What is the sign 
 I give with this red, red rose. 
 
 Darling, no sharp sting knows 
 The thorn in this crimson rose. 
 
 Love is divine ; 
 
 My heart is thine I — 
 So says this red, red rose. 
 
 33 
 
THE ANSWER 
 
 Why, winds, do you blow so wild and so strong? 
 
 Have you come from a planet afar ? 
 Was your way over ocean and mountain high? 
 Did you sail on the dark clouds that shadow 
 the sky. 
 
 Embracing a golden star ? 
 
 Tell me why, winds, why 
 
 You are sweeping by 
 
 With a laugh and a sigh. 
 And the soft undertone of a wonderful song 
 That quickens my heart-beats as you rush 
 along ? 
 
 Maiden, we come from a far-away zone ; 
 
 We speed from the east to the west ; 
 Over ocean and mountain by tempest blown, 
 The clouds and the stars have our presence 
 known; 
 
 We hasten and never rest. 
 
 Our burden sublime 
 
 Is the message of time. 
 And the whisper of love is the soft undertone 
 That thrills and caresses your heart alone. 
 
 34 
 
MARCH 
 
 Here's March, and still without the door 
 Snow flies and sharp winds sting; 
 But matching the dear calendar 
 My heart says it is spring. 
 
MY LOVE'S A JEWEL 
 
 My love, he is a ruby, red 
 As roses in my garden-bed ; 
 The roses' perfume may expire, 
 But not my ruby's heart of fire. 
 
 My love's a sapphire deep and blue — 
 The symbol of the tried and true ; 
 His heart is faithful as the skies 
 That shine reflected in his eyes. 
 
 My love's an emerald dark and clear, 
 
 His love encircles all the year ; 
 
 To winter's snow and icy sheen 
 
 He brings the summer's glowing green. 
 
 My love's a rosy tourmaline, 
 
 Charged with a power from worlds unseen; 
 
 Its throb, prophetic as a star, 
 
 Tells that my love is near or far. 
 
 My love's a royal amethyst, 
 Its purple by the sunrise kissed ; 
 It sets my king upon his throne 
 And bids my heart allegiance own. 
 
My love's an opal ; o'er him steals 
 
 The varying mood his spirit feels, 
 
 To flame in splendor deep or pale, 
 
 As glows his cheek with love's sweet tale. 
 
 My love's a diamond, clear and cold 
 When other lovers are too bold, 
 But bright and warm as sunny skies 
 Whene'er he looks into my eyes. 
 
 My love I my love 1 he's everything 
 That maids adore and minstrels sing t 
 In him all glorious gems unite, 
 He is the prism for their light. 
 
 37 
 
THE LETTER 
 
 She sat with pen uplifted 
 Above the paper white ; 
 Across her face there drifted 
 A ray of happy light. 
 Her heart with words was ready: 
 *'My darling, write and send I" 
 She smiled, — her hand was steady; 
 She only wrote "My friend." 
 
 38 
 
TREASURE 
 
 7'here is a treasure never told 
 When misers count their yellow gold ; 
 No haunting curse to it was given, 
 It blesses earth and blesses heaven. 
 
 Sweet love ! it is the only gold 
 
 That sordid minds have ne'er controlled. 
 
 It lives in smiles of loving eyes 
 
 And in heart's sunshine multiplies. 
 
 It is the only gift to bring 
 With golden circled bridal ring ; 
 It is the only gift that may 
 Be crown for golden wedding day. 
 
LOVE'S HOME 
 
 Where is love's home, sweet-heart ? 
 
 Tell me, I pray ; 
 Is it Van Dieman's land ? 
 
 Is it Cathay ? 
 
 Why do you smile, sweet-heart, 
 
 Drawing me near. 
 Saying, "Love makes his home, 
 
 Darling, right here I" 
 
 Love has his home, sweet-heart, 
 
 By polar seas ; 
 Where the equator's zone 
 
 Welcomes each breeze ; 
 
 Where the dread simoon's blast 
 
 Seals hapless fate ; 
 Where fairest gardens shine 
 
 Through golden gate ; 
 
 Wherever blue skies arch. 
 
 Love claims his own, 
 Making the universe 
 
 Everywhere home. 
 
 40 
 
Ah ! still you smile, sweet-heart, 
 
 Drawing me near, 
 Saying, "Love's dearest home 
 
 Always is here ; — 
 
 Here where the heart's own key 
 
 Opens to bliss, 
 Locking the whole world out, 
 
 Dear, with a kiss." 
 
 4* 
 
SUNSHINE 
 
 What do you say, love? 
 Raining today? 
 Look out again, dear; 
 See I it is May I 
 
 Sunshine is weaving 
 Fold over fold, 
 Netv(rork of rainbows 
 Laced in with gold. 
 
 Why do you smile, dear? 
 Raining, you say? 
 Clouds frowning darkly? 
 Everything gray? 
 
 Ah I you are wrong, dear, 
 I only see 
 
 Sunshine when your love 
 Smiles upon me. 
 
 Hope's golden meshes 
 Gleam in the air, 
 Bright bows of promise 
 Arch everywhere. 
 
others may see, love, 
 Clouds drooping gray, 
 Shadows that cover 
 Sunbeams of May. 
 
 I look at you, dear. 
 And summer skies 
 Shine blue with blessing 
 In your blue eyes. 
 
 So in my life, dear, 
 Rain has no part; 
 You give me, darling, 
 Sunshine's own heart. 
 
 43 
 
A SEPTEMBER DAY 
 
 Do you remember, dear, the day^, 
 
 The bright September day, 
 
 When you and I had all of time 
 
 For hearts to take their way ? 
 
 The universe brought tribute then 
 
 To offer at love's shrine ; 
 
 White clouds looked out from blue of sky 
 
 That poets call divine. 
 
 I think the earth was robbed of flowers 
 
 To win our happy thanks ; 
 
 Hydrangeas beat their pink hearts out 
 
 On gently curving banks ; 
 
 The lotus left old Egypt's sands 
 
 To seek afar the links 
 
 That hold the answer still unguessed 
 
 To riddle of the sphinx. 
 
 Near by she raised her royal head 
 
 Rose-crowned and lifting high 
 
 The golden cup that guards the seeds 
 
 First grown for Pharaoh's eye. 
 
 *'In western world I find," she said, 
 
 ♦•The orient's secret hid ; 
 
 For love is older than the Nile 
 
 Or ancient pyramid." 
 
The crystal water heard her words, 
 
 The secret but half told, 
 
 And sang joy's cadence to the stones : 
 
 **Sweet love is never old." 
 
 Sweet love I sweet love 1 the forest trees 
 
 Wrote down the sunlit lines 
 
 On shadows flitting back and forth 
 
 Through branches of the pines. 
 
 All nature's voices harmonized 
 
 In chanting love's refrain; 
 
 Our hearts took up the melody 
 
 And sang, and sang again. 
 
 For who, O who could silent be 
 
 When earth conspired with heaven 
 
 To frame for all life's calendar 
 
 That day from morn to even I 
 
 Ah 1 look into my eyes, dear love, 
 
 And smile the while you say 
 
 Love ruled and time and space were naught 
 
 For one September day I 
 
 45 
 
A CHRISTMAS GIFT 
 
 What is the Christmas gift that I shall send, 
 Beloved friend, enshrined within my heart? 
 Shall silks and pearls in its embroidery blend ? 
 Shall it show wonders of the goldsmith's art ? 
 Or shall I look across the fair blue lake 
 And in its waves read tales so old, so new, 
 That with its thought the heart's quick thrill 
 
 doth make 
 The day more beautiful, the lake more blue? 
 
 Ah ! love is written here and everywhere, 
 Until it seems that all the world must read 
 The story that the birds and wild bees share 
 And sing within the trees and on the mead. 
 Day pencils it on clouds in dazzling white, 
 Night letters in her golden stars its name. 
 And never chime of bells the ear doth smite 
 But still that song of songs rings out the same. 
 
 46 
 
Dear friend, this is my gift for Christmas-tide — 
 The gift of love to lock within your heart, 
 The gift of love to scatter far and wide 
 Till it becomes of every day a part. 
 So may God's blessing be on holly wreath 
 And in its red of clustering berries shine, 
 Until on skies above and earth beneath 
 Sweet joy and hope are set in light divine. 
 
 Take then this gift unseen and yet most dear, 
 The Christmas evergreen for all love's year. 
 
 47 
 
RETROSPECTION 
 
 Come sit by the fire, my own sweet wife, 
 A story I'll tell to you; 
 I will take it out of the book of our life, 
 *Twas a beautiful dream that came true. 
 
 You know it is many and many a year 
 Since under the old elm tree 
 A youth said softly, "I love you, dear ; 
 Will you give your heart to me ?" 
 
 And a maiden lifted her sweet blue eyes 
 And gazed into eyes as true ; 
 Then, looking afar into evening skies. 
 Said : **The love of my heart is for you." 
 
 Your soft hair was brown then, my own dear 
 
 wife, 
 And now it is silvered with gray ; 
 But all through the years of our beautiful life 
 You have turned bleak December to May. 
 
 And now sitting here by the firelight's gleam, — 
 
 Just I, my own darling, and you, — 
 
 We know that far better than youth's bright 
 
 dream 
 Is our beautiful dream that came true. 
 
 48 
 
MY SWEETEST THOUGHTS 
 
 My sweetest thoughts, my dearest thoughts, 
 
 They fly across the sea 
 To meet the sweetest, dearest thoughts 
 
 That fly across to me. 
 
 Perchance beneath a bluer sky 
 
 My lover walks today; 
 Yet well I know he thinks of me 
 
 If skies be blue or gray. 
 
 Ah, blessings on the dear, sweet thoughts 
 
 That fly across the sea! 
 The eastward bound are mine to him, 
 
 The westward his to me. 
 
"TOUJOURS A TOI" 
 
 Today when I turned over papers old 
 That long had been untouched, from out a fold 
 There fell a narrow slip whereon three words. 
 Three little words, were penned. They flew 
 
 like birds 
 Into my heart again, as when first read 
 In bygone years; — when, darling, first you said 
 Those three short words that all my life should 
 
 bless : 
 '*Toujours i toi ! " "Toujours 4 toil" The 
 
 stress 
 Of all the past encompassed me with pain 
 As I looked at those little words again. 
 
 "Toujours i toi I " ''Toujours 4 toi ! " Thine ! 
 
 Thine I 
 Ah I from the far-off heights of heaven divine 
 Do you still love me? Are you ever mine? 
 Speak to me, darling I Give, this once, a sign ! 
 
 50 
 
I hear no sound ! My heart with questioning 
 
 beat 
 Waits for a voice, — but echoes cold repeat 
 Only my words — my question : tell me 1 tell ! 
 Answer from laurels and from immortelle I 
 Answer from heavenly fields of asphodel I 
 Are you still mine, beloved ? Is all well ? 
 
 No sign ! no sound ! The south wind softly 
 
 grieves, 
 Turning the edges of the fallen leaves; 
 The sun is hid; the sky is cold and gray; 
 My withered life's reflected in the day. 
 
 Speak, dearest love, my own, my very own ! 
 Let me no longer listen to the moan 
 Of my sad heart that weeps alone, alone, — 
 My heart that lies within my breast like stone I 
 Speak, and I shall forget the years of pain I 
 "Toujours a toi I " O say those words again ! 
 
DREAMS 
 
 You come to me in dreams, dear love, 
 With ever-new delight; 
 All wonder why the morning finds 
 My heart so glad and light. 
 
 They know that you are far away; 
 They count the weary miles, 
 And never guess why I sit by 
 With only happy smiles. 
 
 Ah, secret source of strength and joy I 
 How short each day-hour seems. 
 Because, dear heart, when sleep is sweet, 
 You come to me in dreams. 
 
SEPARATION 
 
 We met one day when skies were blue» 
 When autumn odors quivered through 
 The sun-bathed leaves of russet hue. 
 
 We parted ; but who swings the gate 
 On heavenly joys need only wait 
 To meet regret, or soon, or late. 
 
 The hearts which on that autumn day 
 Were thrilling with the hope of May 
 Are dying now in ashes gray; 
 
 And all those withered leaves were blown 
 To heap a grave where love made moan 
 For life that should have been his own. 
 
 53 
 
FAREWELL 
 
 Over the mountains, 
 Over the sea, 
 Beautiful secret 
 Whisper to me ! 
 Nobody listens, 
 Nobody tells. 
 Ring it ! O ring it 1 
 Chime the heart bells ! 
 
 *' Dearly he loves you," 
 Murmurs the star 
 In the blue heavens 
 Shining afar. 
 Breezes come bringing 
 Love songs to me, 
 Echo is singing, 
 *'Love, I love thee!" 
 
New moon is hanging 
 Low in the sky; 
 Wish now, my lover, 
 She will reply. 
 What will you have, dear? 
 Speak while you may. 
 "Silver moon bring it — 
 Sweet wedding day I" 
 
 Crescent is fading 
 In the gray skies. 
 Dark clouds are shading 
 Bright, starry eyes. 
 Echo is silent, 
 Mourning the sea, 
 Farewell, my lover, 
 Farewell to thee I 
 
 55 
 
APART 
 
 Dear, do you breathe this fragrant air 
 And look across these hills, 
 And this divine September share 
 With never thought that thrills ? 
 
 In your dear eyes does love's soft light 
 Shine on, though I can see 
 No blessed glimmer when the night 
 Shuts you av7ay from me? 
 
 Ah, dearest love I As well be still 
 Across the raging sea. 
 As over yonder little hill 
 That keeps you far from me. 
 
 56 
 
HEARTSEASE 
 
 The violet lifts its lovely head 
 
 By sunbeams kissed and bathed in dew; 
 
 The lily borrows sheen of snow 
 
 And golden stamens tremble through. 
 
 The honeysuckle blows afar 
 Its sweets through trumpet's curving grace ; 
 The red rose smiles when balmy winds 
 Caress her petals' velvet face. 
 
 Days, weeks, and months in silence wrought 
 To steep the perfume, tint the flower, 
 And bring the perfect blossom here 
 To consecrate to love its hour. 
 
 But there's a flower more fair that needs 
 No nurturing of weeks or days; 
 Its perfume's sweeter far than that 
 Of other flowers we love to praise. 
 
 It never withers, never dies, 
 It blooms perennial to delight. 
 It laughs at time who slowly tills, 
 For heartsease groweth in a night. 
 
 57 
 
WHY, LADY? 
 
 Why do you carry this seed, lady? 
 Why do you carry this seed? 
 
 To plant for a rose 
 
 And I'll watch till it blows 
 Into flower for my true lover's need, O I 
 Into flower for my true lover's need I 
 
 Why do you carry this thorn, lady? 
 
 Why do you carry this thorn? 
 For a poisonous dart 
 That will pierce to his heart. 
 
 And will leave my true lover forlorn, O ! 
 
 And will leave my true lover forlorn. 
 
 Why keep the thorn for the rose, lady? 
 Why keep the thorn for the rose? 
 
 Because life must bring 
 
 To true love its sharp sting, 
 And the thorn must lie under love's rose, O I 
 And the thorn must lie under love's rose. 
 
 58 
 
Shrivel the thorn in the fire, lady ! 
 
 Shrivel the thorn in the fire ! 
 So perish the dart 
 Ere it enter love's heart, 
 
 Lest love in its wounding expire, O ! 
 
 Lest love in its wounding expire ! 
 
 59 
 
An edition of five hundred and fifty copies of this 
 
 book was printed at the Wind-tryst Press, 
 
 Chicago, during December, eighteen 
 
 hundred and ninety-eight, and 
 
 January, eighteen hundred 
 
 and ninety-nine. 
 
 W 19 
 
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