English

Sweet Child of Sensibility!
Haste thee from mirth and noise and folly,
And o'er sad scenes of melancholy,
Come, and muse, and mourn with me.

The early spring say hast thou seen,
All nature smiling at her birth,
Bestrew the moisten'd lap of earth
With fairest flowers and herbage green:

And o'er the branches late so bare,
The swelling buds profusely spread,
And clust'ring blossoms gaily shed,
Fair promise of a fruitful year—

Then from the dark o'er-loaded skies
Hast seen the heavy showers descend,

The ark of God has hidden strength;
Who reverence or profane,
They, or their seed, shall find at length
The penalty or gain.

While as a sojourner it sought
Of old its destined place,
A blessing on the home it brought
Of one who did it grace.

But there was one, outstripping all
The holy-vestured band,
Who laid on it, to save its fall,
A rude corrective hand.

Read, who the Church would cleanse, and mark
How stern the warning runs;
There are two ways to aid her ark—
As patrons, and as sons.

A GOOD book is a friend; the best of friends,
That cannot be estranged or take offence
Howe'er neglected, but returns at will
With the old friendship.

I dance to forget life,
For I have had enough of love and roses,
And I would feel the blood riot in my veins
Warm as a Summer wind!

Bring the music!
Let us dance till our dreams lie dead,
And the haggard dawn shivers
On the shining floor!

Let there be wild song
And false mirth to fill the heavy air;
As careless boys in carnival
Let us be glad!

Let me be full of rhythm
Until I am drunk unto forgetting!
Unfurl the pageant of color
That I may drown therein.

I dance to forget life,

Thoughtful little Willie Frazer
Carved his name with father's razor;
Father, unaware of trouble,
Used the blade to shave his stubble.
Father cut himself severely,
Which pleased little Willie dearly—
“I have fixed my father's razor
So it cuts!” said Willie Frazer

Mamie often wondered why
Acids trouble alkali—
Mamie, in a manner placid,
Fed the cat boracic acid,
Whereupon the cat grew frantic,
Executing many an antic,
“Ah!” cried Mamie, overjoyed,
“Pussy is an alkaloid!”

Arthur with a lighted taper

Fair partner of my Nancy's heart,
Who feel'st, like me, love's poignant dart;
Who at a frown can'st pant for pain,
And at a smile revive again;
Who doat'st to that severe degree,
You're jealous, e'en of constancy;
Born hopes and fears and doubts to prove,
And each vicissitude of love!
To this my humble suit attend,
And be my advocate and friend.
So may just heav'n your goodness bless,
Successful ev'n in my success!
Oft at the silent hour of night,
When bold intrusion wings her flight,

O HAPPINESS ! where art thou to be found?
What bow'r is blest with thy perpetual gleam?
From court, from cot, ev'n while they seek thy stay,
On thy soft pinions, rapid is thy slight.
Thy name, not substance, is to mortals known.

Repulse from thee makes drunkards stand aghast,
Who nightly revel o'er the flowing bowl.
In vain they seek thy progress to retard,
A guest too noble to be thus detain'd.
Thy quick elopement shews their sad mistake;
Baulks hope, and certain disappointment brings.

Lured as the Earth lures Summer,
Wooing as Sunlight the Seed—
I am the mystical Comer,
I am the Will and the Deed!

Over and over forever
The glad sad story is told;
Fleeing, escaping me never,
I am your Shower of Gold.

Subtle as April creeping
Flower-shod out of the South,
I am the dream of your sleeping,
Fever am I at your mouth.

I am the sap-lift singing
The hope of a last glad birth:
I am the May-Fog clinging—
You are the Earth!

And mine are the pangful kisses

He is a bad sleeper and it is a joy to me
To feel him well when he is the proud prey
And the strong neighbour of the best of sleep
Without false covers—no need—and without awakenings.
So near, so near to me that I believe he enflames me
In some way, with his overwhelming desire, that I feel
In my ravished and trembling body.
If we find ourselves face to face, and if he turns
Close to my side, as lovers are wont to do,
His haunches, deliriously dreamy or not,
Sudden, mutinous, malicious, stubborn, whorish,

It may be that, hidden in the shade of the trees,
Tea-pickers too are listening to the cuckoo.