Short Poems

Never say more " good morning " , or " good day " ,
But ever say " good evening " and " good night " ;
For evening now surrounds me, and the night
Draws on apace — ah! would it now were here!

Say what thou wilt, the young are happy never;
Give me bless'd Age, beyond the fire and fever.
Past the delight that shatters, hope that stings,
And eager flutt'ring of life's ignorant wings.

TO-DAY a Singer is dead whose silence grieves
A distant Nation towering great and strong.
What hath he done that earns her love? He leaves
America's air the sweeter for his song.

Two songstresses have sung beneath the sun
As goldenly as thou dost — but not three!
Of those sweet twain the grass is green o'er one:
And blue above the other is the sea.

The beasts in field are glad, and have not wit
To know why leapt their hearts when spring-time shone.
Man looks at his own bliss, considers it,
Weighs, tests it; and 'tis gone.

When downward droops thine eye's soft lid,
Thine inner eye, from gazers hid,
Begins its vivid dreaming;
Thy glance is inwards beaming!

Red was the Might that sired thee,
White was the Hope that bore thee,
Heaven and Earth desired thee,
And Hell from thy lovers tore thee;
But barren to the ravisher,
Thou bearest Love thy child,
Immortal daughter, Peace; for her
Waits Man, the Undefiled.

Fain would I once more inherit
Thoughts from golden Fairyland,
But an all-commanding Spirit,
Whilst I play, controls my hand;
Freedom's now my chosen Fairy,
Right my knight, my champion good;
Up then, knight, be keen and wary,
Slay the dragon's hateful brood!

Little hath the glorious spring
Hitherto on me bestowed,
All its loveliness can bring
Naught to ease my spirit's load.
How can any heart be gay,
Torn, like mine, by ceaseless pain?
Now I first perceive 'tis May,
Now these flowers are crushed by rain.

Clouds I see at evening's hour
Tinged with sunset's loveliest glow,
Clouds as bright as gleaming snow
That but now were dark and grim;
Yes! my heart's prophetic power
Tells me that — tho' late its light —
Comes the sunset, rendering bright
Mists that now my soul bedim.