English

Her life was dwarfed, and wed to blight,
Her very days were shades of night,
Her every dream was born entombed,
Her soul, a bud, — that never bloomed.

Walk within thy own heart's temple, child, and rest,
What you seek abides forever in thy breast,
Closer than thy folded arm
Is the soul-renewing-balm,
Walk within thy own heart's temple, child, and rest.

Oh, my fancy teems with a world of dreams, —
They revolve in a glittering fire,
How they twirl and go with the tunes that flow
On the breath of my soul-strung lyre.

He went to live in far Japan, where life is like a dream;
Where cherry blossoms scent the air and care is dead, 't would seem;
Where sweet wisterias climb the porch up to the tiny roof
And fling their flowers to the air; where trouble holds aloof;
Where geisha girls and jinrickshas and fans and love and tea,
Make up the life of ease he sought, from worldly troubles free.

He went to live in far Japan, and there one day he bought
A little doll-house for himself — at least that's what he thought —

I MIGHT , of course, send violets by the score, dear,
(And stretch quite to the breaking point, my credit)
In verses, tell the story o'er and o'er, dear—
But “really” poets have much better said it.
I might send candy, books or songs, I know,
But all of these seem stupid commonplaces,
I 'd rather be a kid again and show
My love in gorgeous hearts and paper laces!
“If you love me as I love you—”
Is best of all, when it is true!

You might disguise your hand and shyly send me
A dainty volume, filled with sentiment,

The petals of the faded rose
Commingle silently,
One with the atoms of the dust,
One with the chaliced sea.

The essence of my fleeting youth
Caught in the web of time,
Exhales within the springing flowers
Or breathes in love sublime.

Fierce is the conflict — the battle of eyes,
Sure and unerring, the wordless replies,
Challenges flash from their ambushing caves —
Men, by their glances, are masters or slaves.

If you had never come into my life —
Had never let me look into your eyes,
Reading therein the hope that never dies
But glows resplendent through all bitter strife —
Then I had never known what Faith can do —
Had I not you!

If you had never walked close by my side,
And with those wondrous eyes, seen in my breast

When June gits here
I cal'culate t' take
A day or two, an' lay around th' farm,
Jest listenin' to the birds an' bees an' things
That work so hard — it won't do them no harm.
I 'm goin' to loaf a few days of the year
When June gits here!

When June gits here
Th' craps kin grow awhile
Without me gittin' up afore daylight

I'm tired, days and nights to me
Drag on in slow monotony,
With not a single star in sight
To lend a gleam of cheering light.

I'm tired, there are none to care
That I am drifting to despair:
O shadows! take me to your breast
For I am tired — I would rest.