Debris

I LOVE those spirits
That men stand off and point at,
Or shudder and hood up their souls —
Those ruined ones,
Where Liberty has lodged an hour
And passed like flame,
Bursting asunder the too small house.

I love the bright bold birdling wild

I love the bright bold birdling wild,
The big tame social frog,
That oft have lonely hours beguiled
Beside me on the log.

I love the cat that rubs my cheek
In trustful confidence,
The big brown horse so old and weak
Beside my garden fence.

The simple joys are always best,
They leave no after sting,
They give to life the healthy zest
That joy was meant to bring.

And what are worldy riches worth
The wealthiest must know,
They come from earth and go to earth,
Just where we all must go.

Love That Lives

Dear face — bright, glinting hair;
Dear life, whose heart is mine —
The thought of you is prayer,
The love of you divine.

In starlight, or in rain;
In the sunset's shrouded glow;
Ever, with joy or pain,
To you my quick thoughts go

Like winds or clouds, that fleet
Across the hungry space
Between, and find you, sweet,
Where life again wins grace.

Now, as in that once young
Year that so softly drew
My heart to where it clung,
I long for, gladden in you.

The Unbeloved

Not a woman, child, or man in
All this isle, that loves thee, C[anni]ng.
Fools, whom gentle manners sway,
May incline to C[astlerea]gh,
Princes, who old ladies love,
Of the Doctor may approve,
Chancery lads do not abhor
Their chatty, childish Chancellor.
In Liverpool some virtues strike,
And little Van's beneath dislike.
Tho, if I were to be dead for't,
I could never love thee, H[eadfor]t:
(Every man must have his way)
Other grey adulterers may.
But thou unamiable object, —

On the Picture of a Fair Youth

TAKEN AFTER HE WAS DEAD .

As gathered flowers, while their wounds are new,
Look gay and fresh, as on the stalk they grew;
Torn from the root that nourished them, awhile
(Not taking notice of their fate) they smile,
And, in the hand which rudely plucked them, show
Fairer than those that to their autumn grow;
So love and beauty still that visage grace;
Death cannot fright them from their wonted place.
Alive, the hand of crooked Age had marred
Those lovely features, which cold death has spared.

I Loved You, Once

And did you think my heart
Could keep its love unchanging,
Fresh as the buds that start
In spring, nor know estranging?
Listen! The buds depart:
I loved you once, but now —
I love you more than ever.

'T is not the early love;
With day and night it alters,
And onward still must move
Like earth, that never falters
For storm or star above.
I loved you once; but now —
I love you more than ever.

With gifts in those glad days
How eagerly I sought you!

Lines Written During Sickness

WRITTEN DURING SICKNESS .

O MAY I hope that every tear
May be a beam of bliss above!
And every silent suffering here,
A precious pledge of heavenly love.

Then will I calmly bear my pain,
The piercing pain that wrings my breast;
Nor any sorrow think in vain,
That ends in everlasting rest.

WRITTEN DURING SICKNESS .

O MAY I hope that every tear

Chloris and Hylas

CHLORIS .

HYLAS , oh Hylas! why sit we mute,
Now that each bird saluteth the spring
Wind up the slack'ned strings of thy lute,
Never canst thou want matter to sing;
For love thy breast does fill with such a fire,
That whatsoe'er is fair moves thy desire.

HYLAS .

Sweetest! you know, the sweetest of things
Of various flowers the bees do compose;
Yet no particular taste it brings
Of violet, woodbine, pink, or rose;
So love the result is of all the graces
Which flow from a thousand several faces.

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