I J\ LJGHG LPAD • PO€MS B* 
 | DOLL1G RADFORD-wicm D€- 
 I -signs By ae/usRice €. parsons.^ 
 
 PUBLISH€D BY €LKIM MAT5H€WS 
 VIOO SGR£€0 . LONDON »W •• *S§7
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 J& Ct^ |pu*^ <^V^cx. cx^LTd-uul, 
 
 K- XS * '*V
 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Spring-Song 
 
 Song — " If I were in the valley-land" 
 
 Song — " Why am I singing all alone " 
 
 My Sweetheart ....... 
 
 Song — " Below the rocks where the samphire 
 blows" 
 
 Song — " She comes through the meadow yonder " 
 
 Song — " Amid a crowd of radiant hills " . 
 
 In Yonder Bay ....... 
 
 Song — " When first I saw your face, love " 
 
 Song — " I am wanting to send you a song, love " 
 
 Song — " The birds sang from the tree " . 
 
 Song — " Love my heart is aching, aching *' 
 
 Violets 
 
 Spring-Time ....... 
 
 v 
 
 PAGE 
 I 
 
 5 
 6 
 
 7 
 8 
 
 9 
 ii 
 
 12 
 
 i5 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 19 
 20 
 
 5
 
 Song — " Why seems the world so fair " . 
 
 
 P \r,H 
 2 I 
 
 Song— "The golden gorse and the heather" . 
 
 22 
 
 Song—" In the first light of the morning " 
 
 24 
 
 "What Song shall I Sing?" . 
 
 • 
 
 
 27 
 
 On the Moor 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 29 
 
 Little Maiden . 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 3° 
 
 The Snow Queen 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 3' 
 
 Westleigh Chimes 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 32 
 
 Cold Stone. 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 34 
 
 To- Night .... 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 36 
 
 Evening .... 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 37 
 
 Out on the Moor 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 38 
 
 Two Songs. 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 40 
 
 My Palace- Home 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 43 
 
 Night. 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 44 
 
 Heart and Home (by E. R 
 
 •) 
 
 • 
 
 
 • 46 
 
 When You Are Lonely 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 47 
 
 My Friend . 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 . 48 
 
 Orpheus 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 50 
 
 By the Sea. 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 53 
 
 In the Woods . 
 
 
 
 
 55 
 
 Return of the Troops. 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 57 
 
 March 
 
 
 • 
 
 
 • 53 
 
 June .... 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 59 
 
 VI
 
 Chrysanthemums . 
 
 To the Unknown Author of Obiter Dicta 
 
 A Bride .... 
 
 My Songs .... 
 
 In Our Square . 
 
 Soliloquy of a Maiden Aunt 
 
 A Modern Polypheme 
 
 A Dream of " Dreams " . 
 
 PACE 
 60 
 
 6l 
 
 62 
 64 
 
 66 
 70 
 
 73 
 
 75 
 
 YU
 
 H love, the sweet spring 
 blossoms cling 
 To many a broken wind- 
 tossed bough, 
 And young birds among 
 branches sing, 
 That mutely hung till now. 
 
 The little new-born things which lie 
 In dewy meadows, sleep and dream 
 Beside the brook that twinkles by 
 To some great lonely stream. 
 
 And children, now the day is told, 
 From many a warm and cosy nest, 
 Look up to see the young moon hold 
 The old moon to her breast* 
 
 Dear love, my pulses throb and start 
 To-night with longings sweet and new, 
 And young hopes beat within a heart 
 Grown old in loving you. 
 
 u
 
 SONG 
 
 F I were in the valley- 
 land, 
 And you far up the 
 
 mountain blue, 
 Would you just turn and 
 wave your hand, 
 And bid me strive to follow you ? 
 
 If I were in the tossing" sea, 
 And you upon the quiet shore, 
 
 Would you send out your help to me, 
 And bid me to my life once more. 
 
 If I were cast from Heaven's gate, 
 And you within so glad and fair, 
 
 I know you would come forth and wait 
 Beside me, love, in my despair.
 
 SONG 
 
 T\77HY am I singing all alone, 
 
 '" Outside your window here ? 
 Because the roses are all blown, 
 And all the sky is clear. 
 
 Because the glen I passed was fair, 
 And fresh with morning dew, 
 
 Because the gold shines in your hair, 
 Because your eyes are blue. 
 
 Because for many a sunny mile 
 The hills stretch out, and furled 
 
 Is every cloud : because God's smile 
 Is shining through the world.
 
 MY SWEETHEART 
 
 TV /T Y sweetheart lays her hand in mine 
 ^** When she would have me glad, 
 She sings and sings, she never knows 
 What music makes me sad. 
 
 My sweetheart holds my heart to hers 
 \\ hen she would have me rest, 
 
 She never hears the heavy sigh 
 Which breaks within my breast. 
 
 Her sweet lips press my tired lids 
 When she would have me sleep ; 
 
 Alas, they have no power to stay 
 The burning tears I weep.
 
 SONG 
 
 IDE LOW the rocks where the sam- 
 
 *~^ phire blows, 
 
 The pebbled beach in an inlet shows 
 A quiet cave, where a green fern grows 
 By the summer sea. 
 
 'T would cheer and brighten my home 
 
 alway, 
 But fades if far from the fresh sea spray, 
 It could not live for a single day 
 In the town with me. 
 
 Below the hill where the heather lies, 
 A maiden sings, and her smiling eyes 
 Say love's a blossom that never dies, 
 By the town or sea.
 
 SONG 
 
 CUE comes through the meadow 
 ^ yonder. 
 
 Her face is turned to the west. 
 And I divine how her clear eyes shine 
 
 With the light of a lasting rest ; 
 And the rays of the sun-set wander 
 
 To bless her, and she is blest — 
 
 By touch of their golden splendour, 
 By beauty of earth and sky, 
 
 Her spirit waits at the western gates, 
 No music can pass her by 
 
 That Heaven or Earth may send her, 
 I watch where I stand, and sigh.
 
 SONG 
 
 AMID a crown of radiant hills, 
 A little wood with blossoms rare 
 Breathes sweetly, while the young lark 
 
 trills 
 His new learnt melody and fills 
 The fragrant air. 
 
 O 
 
 Among its boughs the fresh winds play, 
 
 And, where the spreading branches 
 
 part, 
 
 The sun-light drops from spray to spray, 
 
 And seeks the ferny streams which stray 
 
 Within its heart. 
 
 And there the wild bee fills his cells, 
 And murmurs through the golden 
 hours, 
 And charmed fancies and sweet spells, 
 Are woven in the tall blue-bells 
 And cuckoo-flowers.
 
 There many a mossy bank entwined 
 
 With shining leaves awaits our choice, 
 Come swiftly, love, my soul unbind 
 With thy dear looks, that it may find 
 Its prisoned voice. 
 
 IO
 
 IN YONDER BAY 
 
 IN yonder bay the waves find rest, 
 They die along the great shore's 
 breast, 
 
 With one low sound 
 
 Of loncrinor for the fuller breeze 
 Which rode across the trackless seas, 
 And swept them round. 
 
 Ah, love, if I might find their rest, 
 Might end my wanderings on thy breast, 
 I should not sisfh 
 
 •fc> 
 
 For fuller life, so I might stay 
 My heart's throb on thy heart some day, 
 Before I die. 
 
 ii
 
 SONG 
 
 MEN first I saw your face 
 love, 
 I knew my search was 
 
 done, 
 You passed my lonely 
 place, love, 
 The ligfht I sought was won, 
 When your steadfast eyes looked down 
 
 on me, 
 And I arose to follow thee. 
 
 And something in your smile, love, 
 
 I knew to be a part 
 Of joy that for a while, love, 
 
 Had slumbered in my heart : 
 To what sweet music it awoke, 
 When first you turned to me and spoke! 
 
 12
 
 SONG 
 
 T AM wanting to send you a song, love, 
 
 * From over the sea, 
 
 But the way, Oh the way is so long, love, 
 
 Between you and me, 
 All the music would die, 
 In the waves and the sky, 
 
 Before it reached thee. 
 
 I am wanting to tell you my love, love, 
 
 But you will forget 
 How you lifted your sweet eyes above, 
 love, 
 
 How their lashes were wet 
 When you wished me good-bye, 
 While the stars filled the sky, 
 
 And my sad sails were set. 
 
 15
 
 50XG 
 
 PHE birds sang From the tree, 
 *■ " Sweetheart 
 
 Go forth across the silent hills. 
 For, in the vale their shadow fills, 
 Thy love awaiteth thee 
 
 With lonely heart." 
 
 She wound a wreath of flowers 
 
 So sweet, 
 And, while the birds still sang their son*'', 
 Across the hills, she passed along 
 In the fair sunrise hours, 
 
 Her love to meet. 
 
 16
 
 But when the sun, asleep 
 
 At eve, 
 Lay hid behind a purple cloud, 
 Each little bird in leafy shroud 
 Saw her return and weep, 
 
 " And dost thou grieve ?" 
 
 "Ah no, I am not sad," 
 
 She said, 
 ' He did not know me when I came, 
 But I have crowned him all the same, 
 And how can I be sad? 
 
 My heart is glad."
 
 SONG 
 
 LOVE my heart is aching, aching, 
 While the soft sea-wind is making 
 Music in the aspens, breaking 
 
 Silence in my soul. 
 With its sad-voiced singing blending 
 With my sighs, while stars befriending, 
 Beams to mid-night seas are sending 
 As they eastward roll. 
 
 18
 
 VIOLETS 
 
 \T 10 LETS, sweet violets, 
 
 * I can find the fairest, 
 In a little ferny glen 
 
 Blossom all the rarest, 
 I can reach the leafy beds 
 Where they hide their dewy heads. 
 
 From the mossy stones and rocks 
 Where the pools are deepest, 
 
 I can leap across the stream 
 Where the banks are steepest, 
 
 And beneath the hawthorn get 
 
 Many a scented violet. 
 
 19 c — 2
 
 SPRINGTIME 
 
 [ N the distant woods are blowing 
 * Tender buds and blossoms sweet, 
 Fragrant leaves and grasses glowing 
 
 From the touch of fairy feet : 
 In the woods a spirit singing 
 
 Stays and touches every tree, 
 And to loving branches clinging, 
 
 Flowers open tremblingly. 
 
 2u
 
 SONG 
 
 WHY seems the world so fair, 
 Why do I sing ? 
 Why ? in the meadow there 
 
 When it was Spring, 
 There when all fair things were 
 
 Clearer to see, 
 All the young dreams I'd lost 
 Came back to me. 
 
 TfT v|t *f* *K 
 
 I may not enter now, 
 
 But there's a Spring 
 Somewhere beyond the sun, 
 
 So I can sing, 
 So I can wait and sing, 
 
 While I prepare 
 My soul to welcome thine, 
 
 When we meet there. 
 
 21
 
 SONG 
 
 THE golden gorse and the heather 
 Bloom down the whole hill side, 
 And below in the rocks are lying 
 
 Still pools where the sea-flowers hide, 
 And all the day 
 The shadows play 
 In the cliffs and the chasms wide. 
 
 The hedges are decked with berries, 
 
 The lanes gleam with yellow and red, 
 And the pale blue endive blossoms, 
 And the oolden-rod lifts its head, 
 And poppies shine, 
 And wild wood-bine 
 Scents the air round the fern's green 
 bed. 
 
 22
 
 And Time passes by like a dream, 
 
 And birds sing the whole day long, 
 And bripfht-winofd insects fill the air 
 With murmurs, and flash along 
 When the green leaves part, 
 And my own heart 
 Is full of a happy song. 
 
 23
 
 SONLr 
 
 N the first light of the 
 morning", 
 
 When the thrush sang 
 loud and clear, 
 And the black-bird hailed 
 day's dawning", 
 How I wished my love could hear. 
 
 When the sun shone on the sand there, 
 And the roses bloomed above, 
 
 And the blue waves kissed the land there. 
 How I longed to see my love. 
 
 Now the birds good night are calling, 
 And the moonbeams come and go, 
 
 And my tears are falling, falling, 
 Because I want him so. 
 
 24
 
 WHAT SONG SHALL I SING? 
 
 YV7HAT song shall I sing to you 
 
 W Now the wee ones are in bed, 
 What books shall I bring to you 
 
 Now each little sleepy head 
 Is tucked away on pillow white, 
 All snug and cosy for the night ? 
 
 Many, many singers now, 
 
 Sing their new songs in the land, 
 Many writers bring us now 
 
 Many books to understand, 
 But I can sing, these evening times, 
 Only the children's songs and rhymes 
 
 27
 
 All the day they play with me, 
 
 My heart grows full of their looks, 
 
 All their prattle stays with me, 
 And I have no mind for books, 
 
 Nor care for any other tune 
 
 Than they have sung this golden June. 
 
 28
 
 ON THE MOOR 
 
 /~\UT on the moor the sun is bright, 
 ^— ' And the gorse is yellow, 
 The sky is blue and the air is light, 
 
 And a little fellow 
 May walk for miles in the grassy way, 
 On a holiday. 
 
 Out on the moor the wild bee dips 
 
 In the sweet fresh heather, 
 And through the bracken the young hare 
 slips, 
 
 In the autumn weather, 
 And all around shine the tiny wings 
 Of a thousand things. 
 
 29
 
 LITTLE MAIDEN 
 
 ITTLE maiden, are you lonely, 
 *~* Standing there beside the sea, 
 Are your blue eyes sad or only 
 
 Filled with dreams too fair for me? 
 Are the summer breezes making 
 
 Fairy music on the sand, 
 And the quiet ripples breaking, 
 
 From some sea girt fairy-land ? 
 
 Ah, the fragrant flowers never 
 
 Fade in that sweet sunny air, 
 And the fairy people ever 
 
 Send you dreams and fancies rare, 
 Little maiden, you must only 
 
 Keep your blue eyes clear and free, 
 And you never will be lonely, 
 
 Standing there beside the sea. 
 
 30
 
 THE SNOW-QUEEN 
 
 ~^HE snow-queen passed our way last 
 A night, 
 
 Between the darkness and the light, 
 And flowers from an enchanted star, 
 Fell showerlike from her flying car. 
 
 And silently, through all the hours, 
 The trees have borne their magic flowers, 
 And now stand up with dauntless head, 
 To catch the morning's gold and red. 
 
 t> -" t> 
 
 3*
 
 WESTLEIGH CHIMES 
 
 T T OW gently this evening the ripples 
 * * break 
 
 On the pebbles beneath the trees, 
 With a music as low as the lull leaves 
 make, 
 
 When they stir in some soft sea-breeze. 
 
 And as day-light dies, if I rest my boat 
 'Neath this bough where the blossoms 
 fall, 
 I shall hear the curlew's last gfood-nififht 
 note, 
 As he answers the sea-gull's call. 
 
 And there where the wheat lies in golden 
 sheaves, 
 In the fields across the river, 
 And wood-bine creeps over porches and 
 eaves, 
 And fuchsia and myrtle quiver, 
 
 32
 
 Lives my love, my love ; 'tis her case- 
 ment see, 
 Where the light glimmers to and fro. 
 If she were my love she would come -to 
 me 
 This evening, I long for her so. 
 
 I long for her so, that to linger near, 
 
 Her home as I do sometimes, 
 And send her blessings across from here, 
 When they ring the Westleigh chimes, 
 Makes mv summer gflad, so I stav mv 
 boat 
 'Neath this bough where the blossoms 
 fall, 
 While the curlew flies with his good- 
 night note, 
 To the sea where the white pfulls call. 
 
 33 d
 
 COLD STONE 
 
 /^OLD, quite cold, I could only see 
 ^-^ Beauty of curve and line, 
 I could not find that deeper thing 
 That secret which dwells in everything. 
 
 I could not make it mine. 
 The marble stood so cold and still, 
 
 And yet, within her breast, 
 1 knew lay hid a wondrous spell 
 To open dreams too fair to tell, 
 
 Where I might stay and rest. 
 I find it ever in the flowers, 
 
 In tints and perfumes sweet, 
 And in the silent stars at nicrht, 
 And in the rays of sun-set light, 
 
 Their meaning is complete. 
 I cried for light to find it here, 
 
 34
 
 And waited, till, one day, 
 The hand that hid the wondrous gift. 
 Came from the past the clouds to lift, 
 
 And drew the veil away. 
 
 35 D— 2
 
 TO-NIGHT 
 
 I 'I IE hours of the day have departed, 
 * They folded their wings to rest, 
 When the last red ray of sun-light 
 
 Faded away in the west, 
 And fleecy clouds cover the stars, 
 
 And beyond is a world of blue. 
 And my soul awakes from a slumber 
 
 To-night, and I see right through — 
 
 Away to a world of azure, 
 
 Where white-wing'd spirits meet, 
 While the clouds float and fade below 
 them, 
 
 And the stars shine at their feet. 
 They hold out their hands in welcome, 
 
 And now, for a moment of time, 
 Limitless worlds and boundless space, 
 
 And planets — they all are mine. 
 
 36
 
 EVENING 
 
 I ST EN and we shall hear the voice 
 ^ Of Evening, her name she told, 
 When we stayed our boat by the shore 
 
 to know 
 What wee flower shone 'neath the willow 
 so, 
 And her hair was radiant gold. 
 
 Now veiled in grey with silent step, 
 She walks where shades are deep, 
 
 And the great trees hear, and the blos- 
 soms know, 
 
 The song she sings, and her music low 
 Is charming them to sleep. 
 
 My unseen brother and sister 
 
 Who dwell 'neath the roofs we pass, 
 Are you sad and weary with toil and care, 
 My rest is full, I have rest to spare, 
 I whisper it through your grass. 
 
 37
 
 OUT ON THE MOOR 
 
 1 1 AVE been wandering to-day 
 * Out on the moor, and have seen 
 The country stretching far away, 
 
 In stony slopes and wastes of green. 
 
 And watched the distant hill-tops lie 
 Far in the sun-set fair and free, 
 
 Like purple clouds across the sky, 
 — And further still the line of sea. 
 
 And heard the lark above me sing, 
 And seen the plover Hying near, 
 
 And many a little hidden spring, 
 
 And twinkling water brown and clear. 
 
 And brightest sun, and darkest shower, 
 And day and night-time come to rest. 
 
 And toiling wind and tender flower, 
 Upon the moor's untiring breast. 
 
 38
 
 We falter in our smiles and tears, 
 
 And faint with joys and sorrows won. 
 
 The moors stretch out through all the 
 years, 
 In perfect peace — till Time is done. 
 
 And peace is love, dear love I know 
 There is no greater thing than this, 
 
 It is the utmost love can show, 
 It is the utmost love can miss. 
 
 The love within my soul for thee 
 Before the world was had its birth, 
 
 It is the part God gives to me 
 Of the great wisdom of the earth. 
 
 39
 
 TWO SONGS 
 
 INDS blow cold in the 
 1 night March weather, 
 \ et I heard her sing in 
 the street to-day, 
 And the tattered garments 
 scarce hung together 
 Round her tiny form as she turned 
 away. 
 She was too little to know or care 
 Why she and her mother were singing 
 there. 
 
 Skies are fair when the buds are spring- 
 ing, 
 When the March sun rises up fresh 
 and strong, 
 
 And a little maid, with her mother, sing- 
 ing, 
 Smiled in my face as she skipped along, 
 
 She was too happy to wonder why 
 
 She laughed and sang as she passed me 
 by. 
 
 4"
 
 MY PALACE-HOME 
 
 GIVE me thy hand, dear friend, and let 
 me take thee 
 Into my palace-home and garden fair, 
 Beside me follow close, ah, it will make thee 
 Still dearer, sweetest friend, to see thee 
 there. 
 
 Give me thy hand, dear friend, and let me 
 show thee 
 The peaceful resting places in the shade, 
 Where the stream, flowing pleasantly below 
 thee, 
 Stills each unquiet thought the day has 
 made. 
 ***** 
 
 No, no, dear friend, my palace-home is lonely, 
 No hand but mine may pluck the flowers 
 there, 
 
 And, since for me they bud and blossom only, 
 Thou canst not tell me that they are not fair. 
 
 43
 
 NIGHT 
 
 A ND art thou come again, Oh Night; 
 -**- I know thee by thy starry crown, 
 And by the mists of violet light 
 
 Which gather where thy robes fall 
 down. 
 I know thee by the purple clouds 
 
 Thy strong wings spread around the 
 moon, 
 And by the stillness which enshrouds 
 
 Thy presence, thou art come too soon, 
 Too soon, for lo thy fair love sleep 
 
 Turns not her sweet face to the skies, 
 She lingers where the shadows creep, 
 And stays to kiss our children's eyes. 
 
 But when her gentle hands have blest 
 Our homesteads, she will come to thee, 
 
 And through the; holy hours of rest 
 Thine arms will hold her safe, and she 
 
 Will hear the promises again 
 
 Thoubringest from the distant spheres, 
 
 44
 
 And learn the reason of our pain, 
 And meaning of our bitter tears. 
 
 Thine eyes are steadfast and I dare 
 Their mighty mystery to read, 
 
 But mine are dimmed by thought and 
 care, 
 And fail me in my greatest need. 
 
 I watch for thee, wilt thou not bring 
 
 One message to my fainting heart ? 
 Through summer-time and snow and 
 spring 
 
 I watch for thee, must thou depart 
 Thus silently — when will it come, 
 
 That perfect day which we await ? 
 For us thy lips are ever dumb, 
 
 And voiceless is thy calm estate. 
 Ah ! tell thy fair love Sleep, that she 
 
 May touch me when she passes by, 
 And whisper what she hears from thee 
 
 In some sweet lullaby. 
 
 45
 
 HEART AND HOME 
 
 /""^vH, what know they of harbours 
 ^-^ Who toss not on the Sea! 
 They tell of fairer havens 
 But none so fair there be, 
 
 As Plymouth town outstretching 
 Her quiet arms to me — 
 Her breast's broad welcome spreading 
 From Mewstone to Penlee. 
 
 And with this home-thought, darling. 
 Come crowding thoughts of thee — 
 Oh, what know they of harbours 
 Who toss not on the Sea ! 
 
 46
 
 WHEN YOU ARE LONELY 
 
 YVYHEN you are lonely, full of care, 
 W Or sad with some new sorrow, 
 And when your tired fancy hides 
 
 The brightness of the morrow, 
 Ah, turn your footsteps to the woods 
 
 And meadows, where the rills, 
 Are quietly flowing, when the moon 
 
 And stars shine on the hills. 
 
 Upon your brow the great wise trees 
 
 Will breathe, and something sweet 
 Will reach you from the fragrant grass 
 
 You press beneath your feet, 
 And some fair spirit of the fields, 
 
 Peaceful and happy-eyed, 
 Will find a way into your heart, 
 
 I think, and there abide. 
 
 47
 
 MY FRIEND 
 
 TH E tender touch of a gentle hand 
 To-night on my aching brow, 
 The sound of a loving low-tuned voice, 
 
 How pleasant they would be now ; 
 I think they would send the shadows 
 
 away 
 Which hang so closely around me to-day. 
 
 .And, sitting idly, I close my eves 
 
 And dream how perhaps one day, 
 In my lonely hours, mv lonef-souefht friend 
 
 Will come to my home and say : 
 " Bring all your tired thoughts to me, 
 
 dear, and rest, 
 No shadow will touch you here on my 
 breast." 
 
 48
 
 I shall not tell her, but she will know ; 
 
 My rest will be very sweet, 
 And all the shadow and gloom will go, 
 
 Caught up in the toiling street ; 
 And I shall thank her and clasp her hand, 
 And she will smile and understand. 
 
 And if on the morrow we chance to meet 
 With others, her face will be 
 
 Happy and bright for them all, and just 
 A little kinder for me, 
 
 And once I shall look in her eyes, and so, 
 
 Learn something there no other may 
 know. 
 
 49
 
 ORPHEUS 
 
 E wandered in that shadow- 
 land, 
 My fair love, you and I, 
 Through all its strange- 
 ness hand in hand 
 We journeyed silently. 
 
 My lyre is hanging cold and dumb, 
 Mute with our triumph song, 
 
 1 have no voice now you are come, 
 \\ horn I have sought so long. 
 
 But I will bring you in Love's land, 
 
 Into Love's highest place, 
 And crown you there, and understand 
 
 The wonder of your face. 
 
 And then my joyous song shall rise 
 
 To sun and moon and star ; 
 And all the worlds beyond the skies 
 
 Shall tell how fair you are. 
 
 so
 
 BY THE SEA 
 
 PHE clouds have gathered soon to- 
 * night, 
 They hang above the quiet sea, 
 And through the air a muffled sound 
 Is borne to me. 
 
 From that dim island where the souls 
 
 Of all the Ages lie at rest. 
 It beats upon my throbbing brain 
 
 And troubled breast. 
 
 If thou wert standing on the shore 
 Beside me now, and held my hand, 
 
 I think that I should hear it plain 
 And understand. 
 
 For there is one note in it all, 
 
 Which loud and clear has come to me, 
 And I have caught it in my heart 
 
 To tell to thee. 
 
 53
 
 •• Eyes steadfast from the watch of worlds, 
 1 1 carts big with secrets of the spheres. 
 
 We have no power to move you now 
 With hopes or fears.'' 
 
 " No power," thy soul has tilled my soul, 
 Thy life has rounded all of mine, 
 
 Thy love has girt me with a strength 
 Which is divine. 
 
 And when that sound perchance one day- 
 Comes to us with a mighty roll, 
 
 We two shall stand unmoved, and hear 
 And learn the whole. 
 
 54
 
 IN THE WOODS 
 
 ARE your grave eyes graver growing ? 
 Sweetheart, may I look 
 At the treasured thoughts which move you 
 
 In the poet's book ? 
 Stay not in the lazy shade 
 With the drowsy roses ; 
 Come into the woods and see 
 Where I find my posies. 
 
 Has the buried singer left us 
 
 Songs to make you weep ? 
 Are you saddened by the sorrow 
 
 Which his numbers keep ? 
 Or were all the songs he gave us 
 
 Born in happy hours ? 
 Come with me, he found his music 
 
 Where I find my flowers. 
 
 55
 
 Where a little mossy path-way 
 
 Lies beside the stream, 
 Long ago the poet lingered ; 
 
 Sim and pale star-beam 
 Touched his lips, while there he wan- 
 dered 
 
 Summer-time and Spring, 
 And the mighty woods and river 
 
 Taught him how to sing;. 
 
 56
 
 RETURN OF THE TROOPS 
 
 HP HE town is very gay to-day, 
 -*- And down our busy street 
 Flags wave, and all the balconies 
 Are filled, our men to greet. 
 
 One night, not very long ago, 
 I heard them marching down 
 
 To where their ship lay, and the sound 
 So filled the silent town 
 
 With farewell voices, that I wept 
 
 To know no word or deed 
 Of mine had stirred the sleeping night, 
 
 To bid our men God-speed. 
 
 The town is very gay to-day, 
 
 And, in our busy street, 
 My eyes are dim with tears for those 
 
 I neither sped nor greet. 
 
 57
 
 MARCH 
 
 "yilE March wind rises through the 
 * skies, 
 
 His great wings rustling as he flies, 
 And downward sweeps o'er plain and hill 
 
 The sunshine to the daffodil. 
 
 58
 
 JUNE 
 
 ' I 'HE skies arc blue 
 
 * O'er the meadows now, 
 And the leaves are new 
 
 On the willow -bough, 
 And the whole earth sings 
 
 In one joyous tune 
 All the happy things 
 
 Of the happy June. 
 
 Oh the golden time 
 
 Of the sweet fresh June, 
 And the happy rhyme 
 
 Dies away so soon ; 
 But again— again — 
 
 When the years are young, 
 Will the sweet refrain 
 
 Be sung — be sung. 
 
 59
 
 CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
 
 NOVEMBER with mysterious feet 
 Creeps slowly through the land. 
 And on the bridge and in the street, 
 Amid the town's tumultuous beat, 
 
 Spreads out a quiet hand ; 
 And wraps around us unaware 
 
 His mantle grey and cold, 
 But he has blossoms still to spare, 
 We find fresh flowers rich and rare, 
 
 H id in each misty fold. 
 
 Go
 
 TO THE UNKNOWN AUTHOR 
 OF OBITER DICTA 
 
 July, 1884 
 
 'T'HOUGH I may rest in some leafy 
 *■ place, 
 
 And read, through the summer day, 
 Thy pages penned in the busy town — 
 
 So busy and far away — 
 Though hills stretch out, and sunlight 
 falls 
 
 On acres of swelling land, 
 I seem to span the misty miles 
 
 Between us, and clasp thy hand ; 
 For thou hast bound with magic chain 
 The vagrant thoughts I chased in vain. 
 
 61
 
 A BRIDE 
 
 T SAW your portrait yesterday, 
 * Set in a golden frame ; 
 Around it twines a blossom-spray. 
 Beneath it is your name. 
 
 And tender smiles are round your mouth, 
 Miirh thoughts are on your brow, 
 
 The world is beautiful as Youth, 
 You are so happy now. 
 
 The shining gates are opened wide, 
 Love stretches forth his hand 
 
 And bids the bridegroom bring his bride 
 [ntO the promised land. 
 
 02
 
 And vou and he dwell there alone, 
 Beneath Love's radiant sky, 
 
 While all the world's great grief and moan 
 As a sad dream pass by. 
 
 Yet on Love's flowers strange and rare, 
 
 Your saddest tears may fall, 
 And in Love's country you may fare 
 
 The loneliest of all. 
 
 63
 
 MY SONGS 
 
 THERE is no unawakened string, 
 No untried note for me to ring, 
 No new-found song for me to sing. 
 
 Old numbers round my day and night. 
 When summer comes my heart is light, 
 Tis heavy, when the birds take flight. 
 
 My love is young, her face is fair, 
 The sun- light never leaves her hair, 
 Her beauty fills me with a prayer. 
 
 64
 
 And many a tryst and watch I keep, 
 With those who laugh and those who 
 
 weep, 
 Between the hours of work and sleep. 
 
 The songs I strive to sing have rolled 
 Through times and ages manifold, 
 A mighty chorus fully told. 
 
 65
 
 IN OUR SQUARE. 
 
 AST night again we saw 
 
 him there, 
 Beneath the plane-tree 
 in the Square, 
 Our student neighbour. 
 
 He watches every evening now 
 Our garden tennis, and somehow 
 It seemed a labour 
 
 The running round, and futile stretching 
 At random balls, while he was sketching 
 That foolish Pollv, 
 
 4 
 
 Who quietly stood, with arm up-raised. 
 The while her junior partner praised 
 Her style of volley. 
 
 I passed so near him as we played, 
 
 He looked so peaceful in the shade. 
 Amid our bustle. 
 
 66
 
 He draws and sketches all the day, 
 And studies through the night, they say, 
 Some bone or muscle. 
 
 And is this why his cheek is pale. 
 And whv he looks so thin and frail, 
 And is such labour 
 
 The reason that his coat is bare, 
 And worn, and marks him everywhere— 
 Our student neighbour ? 
 
 I know that I shall almost cry 
 To-morrow when we pass him by. 
 
 All bound together 
 
 'ft 
 
 For Cornish seas, while he — but there 
 Miss Polly's always in the Square 
 This summer weather. 
 
 69
 
 SOLILOOUY OF A MAIDEN 
 
 AUNT 
 
 T 
 
 HE ladies bow, and partners set, 
 And turn around and pirouette 
 And trip the: lancers. 
 
 But no one seeks my ample chair, 
 Or asks me with persuasive air 
 To join the dancers. 
 
 They greet me, as I sit alone 
 Upon my solitary throne, 
 
 And pass politely. 
 
 Yet mine could keep the measured heat, 
 As surely as the youngest feet, 
 And tread as lightly. 
 
 No other maiden had my skill 
 In our old homestead on the hill — ■ 
 That merry May-time 
 
 70
 
 When Allan closed the flagfgfingf ball, 
 And danced with me before them all, 
 Until the day-time. 
 
 Again I laugh, and step alone, 
 And curtsey low as on my own 
 His strong hand closes. 
 
 But Allan now seeks staid delight, 
 His son there brought my niece to-night 
 These early roses. 
 
 Time orders well, we have our Spring, 
 Our songs, and May-flower gathering, 
 Our love and laughter. 
 
 And children chatter all the while, 
 And leap the brook and climb the stile 
 And follow after. 
 
 7 1
 
 \iul yet the step of Allan's son, 
 (s not .is light as was the one 
 
 That went before; it. 
 
 And that old lace. I think, falls down 
 l.'-ss softly on Priscilla's erown 
 Than when I wore it. 
 
 r-
 
 A MODERN POLYPHEME 
 
 A FLASH of colour through the trees, 
 -**■ A step upon the trembling plank, 
 A white sail flapping in the breeze, 
 And then a maiden leaves the bank. 
 
 Each day I watch her, as she guides 
 Her little boat with dexterous hand, 
 
 And like a river goddess rides 
 
 In gracious triumph through the land. 
 
 I watch her as she lightly tacks, 
 And marvel at the art which steers 
 
 Her boat into the quiet " backs," 
 And sorrow when it disappears. 
 
 Who, in the summer evening, knows 
 What gentle feelings fill her breast, 
 
 Or by what bower the water flows 
 Which bears her dingy to its rest ? 
 
 73
 
 Perchance a lover, dark and tall, 
 Awaits her in some flowery nook, 
 
 And gazing at her gathers all 
 
 Her thoughts, as from an open book. 
 
 Perchance — I have not learnt her name, 
 I know not where her home may be, 
 
 For one brief space alone I claim 
 Her beauty, as she passes me. 
 
 For then the Heaven-winged dreams, 
 which smile 
 
 And fade in youth's first golden hour, 
 Come back and soothe my soul awhile 
 
 As the sweet perfume of a ilower. 
 
 And so I watch for her nor care 
 
 Where Acis tarries down the stream — 
 
 Enough to see her, I forswear 
 Thy black emotions, Polypheme ! 
 
 74
 
 A DREAM OF "DREAMS" 
 
 To Olive Schreiner 
 
 A LL day I read your book ; at Eve 
 *■ *■ Your dreams into my dark sleep 
 
 stole. 
 Through the unbroken hours to weave 
 A picture for my soul. 
 
 Now from the deep inspired night 
 I rise, and, near and stretching far, 
 I see the earth lie clear and bright 
 Beneath one morning star. 
 
 The great World-Spirit watching still 
 Broods over all with folded wings, 
 And ever down-cast eyes until 
 
 The first bird wakes and sings, 
 
 And through the eastern clouds the sun 
 Breaks with a new unnumbered day 
 And now His watching is all done — 
 The night has passed away. 
 
 75
 
 He turns toward the dawn, and I 
 Wait as he breathes the sweet fresh air. 
 Then with a new-born joy I cry 
 
 I o see 1 I is tace so fair.
 
 Printed by R.ffolkard <&» Son, 
 32, Drsonshire Strict, Uloomsbury, London, ll'.C. 
 
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