Of course nostalgia Of course brooding

Give me the missing scattered through twelve states & three continents
Give me those scattered as ash

Give them their places at the table I have set
For them as much as for those gathered

How little it takes: a year ten years
A shiver fast passing & the eye clears

What was love once casts off disguises

— A cardinal's flare against forsythia simplified by snow —

What once was love spurns shallow guises & returns
startling as love

How do I love you?
— I do not know.
Only because of you
— Gladly I go.

Only because of you
— Labor is sweet,
And all the song of you
— Sings in my feet.

Only the thought of you
— Trembles and lies
Just where the world begins —
— Under my eyes.

How did it happen that we quarreled?
We two who loved each other so!
Only the moment before we were one,
Using the language that lovers know.
And then of a sudden, a word, a phrase
That struck at the heart like a poignard's blow.
And you went berserk, and I saw red,
And love lay between us, bleeding and dead!
Dead! When we'd loved each other so!

How could it happen that we quarreled!
Think of the things we used to say!
“What does it matter, dear, what you do?
Love such as ours has to last for aye!”

1. Holy Father, great creator, Source of mercy, love, and peace,
2. Holy Jesus, Lord of glory, Whom angelic hosts proclaim,
Look upon the Mediator, Clothe us with his righteousness;
While we hear thy wondrous story, Meet and worship in thy Name,
Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father, Through the Saviour hear and bless;
Dear Redeemer, dear Redeemer, In our hearts thy peace proclaim,
Heavenly Father, Heavenly Father, Through the Saviour hear and bless.
Dear Redeemer, dear Redeemer, In our hearts thy peace proclaim.

3. Holy Spirit, Sanctifier,

Hide not thy love and myne shal bee
Open and free;
No mask dooth well upon thy face.
Lett those that meane more hurt provide
Love of a guide,
Or of some close retyring place.
A harmles kisse would make us thinck
Love hath no Nectar else to drinck.

Our loves are not of age to will
Both good and ill,
For thine, alas, is but new borne,
And myne is yett to yonge to speake.
How can they breake
Or hold Loves civill Lawes in skorne?
Wee might go naked if some spie,
Apt to traduce us, stood not by.

Here shadow lie
Whil'st life is sadd,
Still hopes to die
To him she hadd

In bliss is hee,
Whom I lov'd best
Thrise happie shee
With him to rest.

So shall I be
With him I loved
And hee with mee
And both us blessed

Love made me Poet
And this I writt,
My harte did doe yt
And not my witt.

1. Here, Lord, retired, I bow in prayer. Refresh my
2. Without this grace, I strive in vain, O God, re-
soul my heart prepare To preach thy word with
vive thy saints again; Convince poor sinners
power divine; If I succeed, the praise be thine.
of their case, Cause them to seek thy pardoning grace.

3. Draw thousands to thy mercy seat;
Their hearts renew their sins remit;
Fill them with joy of faith and love
To serve on earth, to praise above.

4. In tears I sow the precious seed;
Cause it to spring my work succeed.

Here lie I, once a witty fair,
Ill-loving and ill-loved;
Whose heedless beauty was my snare,
Whose wit my folly proved.

Reader, should any curious stay
To ask my luckless name,
Tell them the grave that hides my clay
Conceals me from my shame.

Tell them I mourned for guilt of sin
More than for pleasure spent:
Tell them, whate'er my morn had been,
My noon was penitent.

Here costive many minutes did I strain,
Still squeezing, sweating, swearing, all in vain;
When lo! who should pop by but mother Masters,
At whose bewitching look soon stubborn arse stirs.
No more my wanton wit shall whip thy wife,
Dear, doting Dick, for O! she saved my life.

Her love is true I know,
Much more true
Than angel's love;
For angels love in heaven
Where a thousand harps
Are playing.

She loves in a tenement
Where the only music
She hears
Is the cry of street car brakes
And the toot of automobile horns
And the drip of a kitchen spigot
All day.
Her love is true I know.