f^;. SD THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES POEMS AND CAROLS BY SELWYN IMAGE. 6^ CAROLS n-Dccc -xc • IV London • by-Elkin* Published Mathews treet'^w rfc ^ rv TO HERBERT P. HORNE, I DEDICATE THESE POEMS. A 2 ti "»■ ,-; n' 4B" ENGLISH POEMS & CAROLS. ^ ^ ^ THE INSCRIPTION. D I but wealth, had I but fame, What prize were either joy to me ; Save at the shrine of thy dear Name They each should dedicated be ? So I might lay The gold, the crown of bay, To find acceptance there of thee. Dearest, I have nor wealth, nor crown ; Nor aught, save my fond verse, to bring For offring ! Say, thou wilt not frown, Disdainful of so poor a thing ! Oh ! do not scorn This, of thy sweetness born, A heart thou hast inspired to sing ! THE PROTESTATION. DEAR Eyes, set deep within the shade Of Love's pale, alabaster, brow ; Of what strange substance are ye made. That such enchantments on me now, Resistless, by your grace are laid ? Ye are the stars, that do control The tides of my obedient mind : Ye are the founts, whereat my soul In thirst may cool assuagement find : The soothing balm to make me whole. Ye are the deeps, in whose retreat Refuge I find from hounding sin : Ye are the paths, by which my feet Move onward to God's peace within : The abode, where all pure memories meet. Dear Eyes, dear Eyes, my health ye bring 'Mid every circumstance of fate ! In what true numbers shall I sing The glory and virtues of your state, Whence for my soul all grace doth spring ? VAIN COMPARISONS. IF I shall say thy brows are fair As alabaster ; and thine eyes Do rival, in those hues they wear, Mom's azure, pale complexioned, skies ; If, the warm tangles of thy hair, I vow, Gleam, as a streamlet's depth the sun doth show : If I shall call thee by the name Of some chaste Nymph, or classic Dear, Meaning, hereby, to make thy fame Beyond all rivalship appear ; If I shall search for every curious word Wherewith f express thee, that the world has heard : Yet there remains that, last, untold. Eluding all our art to tell. By whose sweet magic thou dost hold Me, body and soul, within thy spell : Th' ineffable Virtue, by whose grace thou art Thyself, my Dearest ; and Thyself apart ! A SUMMER S DAY. OVERHEAD a sapphire sky ; Blossom of the may-trees round : On the warm, lush, meadow-ground, Where the sorrel blooms, we lie. Psyche-winged, in gold and white, Butterflies float past : the earth, 'Neath the charm of summer's birth, Thrills with delicate delight. Softly breathes a southern wind ; Sings for joy a lark above : Oh ! what paradise of love Fairer may our spirits find ! Far away is London town, As a world unknown, forgot ; Misery and sins are not ! Nothing now for tears or frown ! Lean, my Dearest, lean your head Quietly against me. So ! Listen, while I whisper low Words, that hardly may be said. Nay, your spirit lifts the veil From love, trembling to confess : In this summer peacefulness Silence better tells his tale. Your free senses have discerned, Ere his stamm'ring lips can part, That, for which but heart to heart Knows a language, yet unlearned. lo Lean, my Dearest, lean your head Quietly against me : lay Little hand in mine, to say, " Thus, indeed, the heart is sped." Ah ! a cloud across the sun ! Ah ! a chill within the breeze ! Ah ! a shiver through the trees ! And the flower-land is dun ! Nothing ! see the light return, Clearer from the gray eclipse ! And the smile about your lips Tells a spirit's unconcern. Foolish, verily, was I, Dreaming you should thus divine Secrets of this heart of mine. Love for you comes by-and-by. Here, enough, to-day you feel This bland sununer hour's content ; Magic music, colour, scent. Through your happy senses steal. Only, Dearest, lean your head Quietly against me. So ! Leave me, when these moments go, Ah ! what memories instead ! II love's confessional. WHY art thou sad, dear Lady? whose sweet ways Do cleanse and gladden all the paths thou treadest ; Making rebellious spirits calm, and praise To spring before thee, wheresoe'er thou threadest Thy gracious path, 'mid mortal sins and pain ; Till at thy presence hearts take hope again. Why art thou sad to-night, withdrawn, apart ? Save from one only, whom thy love approveth : Save from one only, in whose sentient heart Vibrates each pain or joy, thy soul that moveth. Draw near, sweet Penitent ; confess thy fears : 'Twere surely sin to mar such grace with tears ! 12 A PRAYER. D! I EAR, let me dream of love, 'Ah ! though a dream it be ! I'll ask no boon, above A word, a smile, from thee : At most, in some still hour, one kindly thought of me. Sweet, let me gaze awhile Into those radiant eyes ! I'll scheme not to beguile The heart, that deeper lies Beneath them, than yon star in night's pellucid skies. Love, let my spirit bow In worship at thy shrine ! I'll swear, thou shalt not know One word from lips of mine. An instant's pain to send through that shy soul of thine. 13 B A MAY MORNING. AMID the tender boughs of green The young sun laughs for joy : between Slim, silver, mottled, stems of birch A throng of saffron butterflies, New-born to greet the morning, search, Where the pale bluebell's honey lies. How still they settle, softly float, To music of the blackbird's note ! To undertone of early bees. That hum from flower to flower, and quaff New nectar ! Insects, blossoms, trees. Alert, to greet the sun-god's laugh ! Awake, my soul, arise, rejoice ! Join universal nature's voice, In glad Te Deum for the spring ! Forget the winter's miry ways ! Forget the least uncleanly thing, That saddened, soiled, those vanished days ! 14 URBANUS LOQUITUR. LET others sing the country's charm : The whispering- trees, the tangled lane, The perfume-burdened air, the trills Of lark and nightingale ; the wain, That homeward brings the scented hay, When evening's peace absorbs the day. Let others laud those primal cares, Which fill the country hours with bliss : The timely rest ; clear eyes, that greet Earth waking 'neath Aurora's kiss ; The easy, sauntering, walk ; the toil, That waits upon the bounteous soil. Let others paint with fresh delight The country maiden's cheek of rose ; Her lover's artless, amorous, gifts. Which pure affection's heart enclose ; The children nestling round their sire At night-fall, by the wintei-'s fire. For me, for me, another world's .,- Enchantments hold my heart in thrall : These London pavements, low'ring sky. Store secrets, on mine eyes that fall. More curious far, than earth or air By country paths can make appear. The stem reformer scowls aghast, 'Mid the doomed city's trackless woe : Apelles veils his shuddering gaze, Its ugliness "offends him so" : The dainty-eared musician dies In torment, of its raucous cries. 15 Yet are there souls of coarser grain, Or else more flexible, who find Strange, infinite, allurements lurk, Undreamed of by the simpler mind, Along these streets, within the walls Of cafds, shops, and music halls. 'Twixt jar of tongues, at endless strife On art, religion, social needs, How many a keen thought springs to birth In him, this dubious book that reads ! For curious eyes no hours are spent, That bring not interest, content. I'll call not these the best, nor those ; The country fashions, or the town : On each descend heaven's bounteous rains, On each the impartial sun looks down. Why should we gird and argue, friend ; Not follow, where our natures tend? The secret's this : where'er our lot. To read, mark, learn, digest them well, The devious paths we mortals take, To gain, at length, our heaven or hell : Alike in some still, rural, scene. Or Regent Street and Bethnal Green. i6 HER CONFIRMATION. WHEN my Clorinda walks in white Unto her Confirmation Rite, What sinless dove can show to heaven A purer sight ? Beneath a lawn, translucent, crown Her lovely curls conceal their brown ; Her wanton eyes are fastened, even, Demurely down. And that delicious mouth of rose No words, no smile, may discompose r All of her feels the approaching awe, And silent grows. Come, then, Thou noiseless Spirit, and rest Here, where she waits Thee for her Guest : Pass not, but sweetly onward draw, Till heaven's possessed ! 17 B 2 L SUAVIS ET DECORA. I KE a willow, like a reed, Is my Love's grace : And her face. Like a soft, pale-petalled, rose : And my Love's breast, Like the rest Of a snow-drift, calm and white And to kiss there ! Ah ! what compare, Can I find in rhyme for that ; Where is Love's own Jewelled throne? i8 PRAISES. WOULDST thou praise Her as a rose, Honied and fair ! Beware ! Sweetest flower in garden-close Just buds, and goes. Wouldst thou praise Her as a star In heaven's blue : And sue Morning and night ? Too far Such star-lights are. '9 AMANTIUM IRAK. WHITE Chloe lay sleeping Under a beechen shade ; Worn with bitter weeping For Daphnis, who had strayed To woo another maid. White Chloe fell dreaming Of hours, that once had been : She felt the sunlight streaming Across the forest green, The dappled leaves between. She heard soft notes ; and, playing, The kids around her leapt ; While boys and girls a-maying In dances nimbly stept : Till Daphnis by her crept ! He kissed her on the shoulder. He kissed her golden head ; His arms they would enfold her, Her timid feet he led Unto a flow'ry bed ! White Chloe, awaking, Lifted her heavy eyes : There at her feet, forsaking All newer loves' surprise, Repentant Daphnis lies ! " Oh ! Chloe dear, my Chloe ! " 'Twas nothing else he cried : But straight she flung her snowy, Soft arms about him, sighed, And — so, the trouble died ! 20. love's garden. IN a Roses' bower Sweet Philomel sat, singing All her night-long passion to those lovely hearts : Only the Moon looked on them, Heard what she sang ; and the Roses Answered, breathing their perfumes back from edioing depths. A PARTING. I GAVE her all 'twas mine to give, And fondly thought she smiled : Nor can I even now believe, Those lips my soul beguiled. Surely, some answering spirit woke, And with that dearest accent spoke ! Ah! but 'twas yesterday we met, My trembling heart aflame : So many a tedious month had set, Since last she breathed my name ! Gone were the hours of aching sense I Here, here, at length, my recompense ! God ! she but passed me, passed me ! Yea, With eyes, that met mine eyes ; Unlit by one, faint, tremulous, ray, One movement of surprise ! Stranger from stranger, thus we part : She, reckless ; I, with broken heart. 22 LA ROSE DU BAL. THIS poor flower of the rose ; All its pride, its fashion, spent ; Shrivelled up ; bereft of scent ; Once such sweetness could unclose ! This sad blossom, that hath lain, For an hour or so of grace, 'Twixt her bosom and her face ! Dare we treat it with disdain ? Dainty was its shell-like hue. As her shell-like ears, I vow. Dainty texture, tincture, now Vainly for your grace we sue ! Think of all, that Nature wrought, Studious of this pretty flower ; Prodigal of sun and shower ; Careless, though its end be naught : Careful only it should grow Into worthiness to deck, Fair itself, a fairer neck ; Flourish there an hour, and go. Dropped amid the dancing feet ! Saved to turn a verse like this ! Lay it gently, with a kiss, 'Mid the fire's absorbing heat : Into elemental dust Watch it purely burn away. Julia, when we've had our day, Chastely so we'll pass, I trust 1 23 IN MEMORIAM A. B. DRAW wide the curtain, let the day be plain. All, all is over ! All the care, the pain, The fearful watching, while one hope was left : Death has accomplished quite his cruel theft. How still, composed ! In how profound a peace He's wrapped at last ! Bid every tear to cease Now, in this awful silence. Life is gone ! Here's left but mem'ry, and the tomb's gray stone. Farewell, dear Brother ! On the worlds must roll, Though fate ordain, that soul be torn from soul. Our paths are sundered : who may dare foretell, If they shall meet again ? Farewell, Farewell ! 24 A MEDITATION FOR CHRISTMAS. CONSIDER, O my soul, what mom is this ! Whereon the eternal Lord of all things made, For us, poor mortals, and our endless bliss. Came down from heaven ; and, in a manger laid, The first, rich, offerings of our ransom paid : Consider, O my soul, what morn is this ! Consider what estate of fearful woe Had then been ours, had He refused this birth ; From sin to sin tossed vainly to and fro, Hell's playthings, o'er adoomed and helpless earth! Had He from us withheld His priceless worth, Consider man's estate of fearful woe ! Consider to what joys He bids thee rise. Who comes, Himself, life's bitter cup to drain I Ah ! look on this sweet Child, Whose innocent eyes, Ere all be done, shall close in mortal pain, That thou at last Love's Kingdom may'st attain : Consider to what joys He bids thee rise ! Consider all this wonder, O my soul : And in thine inmost shrine make music sweet ! Yea, let the world, from furthest pole to pole. Join in thy praises this dread birth to greet ; Kneeling to kiss thy Saviour's infant feet ! Consider all this wonder, O my soul I 25 GABRIEL AND MARY. " I-J AIL ! Lady Mary !" said Gabriel : JLJl Sing all the world, cmd all the world : " God sends me now good news to tell." •' And what is the news, O Gabriel ? " " Lady Mary, God gives you grace : " Sms;^ all the world, and all the world: " For a Child you shall bear within a space, " And look on God to His very face." " Nay, Gabriel, how may this thing be ? " Sing all the world, and all the world : " Since there's never a man, that knoweth me." Said Gabriel, " Sooth, and you shall see." The Lady Mary, she bowed her head : Sing all the world, and all the world : Nor ever an answer more she said. Till all things were accomplished. For the Lady Mary, she bare her Son : Sing all the world, and all the world : When tile days' full course at length was run, God's Self was born for her Little One. Then the Lady Mary, she wept and spake ; Sing all the world, and all the world : "I have borne my Child for the world's sake, "And the cruel world His life will take !" But the Lady Maiy, she laughed and said ; Sing all the world, and all the world: "My Child shall rise again from the dead, " Lord of all by His great Godhead ! " 26 Now, Lady Mary, we pray you say. Sing all the world, and all the world : Some gracious thing to your Son that day, When we, poor creatures, pass away. Yea, Lady Mary, Mother of God, Save us from sin's rod ! Lady Mar)', Mother of Grace, Bend on us your sweet face ! O Lady Mary, bring us at length By strength of Jesus to Jesus' strength I Amen. 27 THE HEAVENLY HOST. DEEP and hard the snow lay, Deep was the ice on the water-way : Dens 7nisericordiae ! On their frozen fingers the shepherds blew, And the wolf-skins round them tighter drew. God, how the wind cut ! huddled low, Herdsmen and herds lay shelt'ring so. Dens tnisericordiae ! Ve7iti fiirorem reprime, Ne pereavius frigore. Suddenly, hark ! what sound breaks ? And the heaven's aglow with golden flakes, Archangelorum Doiniiie! As the quiv'ring tongues of a mighty fire : From the midst whereof, in choir on choir. What Sons of the Lord of heaven and earth Are these, that herald a God's birth ? Archangeloruni Domiiie .' Mortalium quis intime Spectabit, Lux tremenda, te ? The wild wind's stayed, the earth's warm : O herdsmen and herds, what thought of harm ? Omnipotenti gloria / On their knees they're fallen : an angel cries, " The winter's over, O shepherds, rise ! " Be not afraid : to Bethlehem Town " This night is the very God come down ! " Omnipotenti gloria ! Qui natus nobis omnia Vertisti in pacifera. 28 What the sight they find there ? A Child new-born, in a stable bare : Jesii^ Detis deinississime ! A Child in a manger, a Mother-Maid, By Whom shall the terrors of hell be laid ; The proud fly scattered, the weak prevail ! Sweet Child and Mother, we cry you. Hail ! Jesu, Detis deinississime / Finito inuiidi tempore In coeli dotmim accipe Hiimiles nos, Rex altissime / Amen. 29 C 2 GAUDEAMUS. /~^A UDEAMUS, gaude amies, ^Born is God's Son ; Gaudcaimis, gaudeatnus. Hell's reign is done : Gaudeanius omnes, Heaven is begun ! Gat we up this night, Hearing angels cry ; Marvellous their sight, And their minstrelsy. Gat we straight away Unto Bethlem Town ; For we heard them say, There was God come down. O'er a Babe so small Leaned His Mother-Maid ! And in ox's stall Her dear burden laid. On the golden straw Lay God's golden head ! This we shepherds saw In the cattle-shed. Ave, Mary Maid ! Ave, Jesu ! so Spake we, sore afraid, Kneeling very low. 30 Then God smiled, and straight From us, one and all, Passed our woeful state ; And a peace did fall ! So, gaudeamtis, gaudeamus, For born is God's Son : Gaudeamus^ gaudeamus^ Hell's reign is done : Gaudeainus onines^ Heaven is begun ! 3» A CAROL FOR CHRISTMAS EVE. WAKE ! arise ! Good shepherds, hie To Bethlehem ! From out the skies There draweth nigh An Angel, and an Angel throng ! Oh I hearken to their blessed song ! And haste Across the snows and waste To Bethlehem ! See the Star, That glistens clear O'er Bethlehem ! From heaven afar Your hearts to cheer, And change the wint'iy world to spring ! Away your cares and sorrow fling ! And haste Across the snows and waste To Bethlehem ! 'Neath a shed. Where cattle feed, In Bethlehem God lays His head. For human need. Upon a Virgin Mother's breast : A little, helpless. Babe at rest ! Then haste Across the snows and waste To Bethlehem ! 32 " Peace on earth " Proclaim to-day- Through Bethlehem ! With pipe and mirth Drive gloom away : The Master Shepherd's here to dwell, And guard His flock from rav'ning hell I So haste Across the snows and waste To Bethlehem ! Good people all, Now shout His praise From Bethlehem ! Bedeck the stall, Where Mary lays Her Infant, with your choicest gifts ! The morning breaks, the darkness lifts Oh! haste Across the snows and waste To Bethlehem 1 33 NOEL. SEE, the lovely Babe asleep On His Mother's milky breast : Ah ! how tenderly caressed ! Let us kneel, and vigil keep At this quiet cradle-side : Mother ! may we here abide ? Verily, we've naught to bring For an off' ring at His feet, Neither gold, nor incense sweet : Nor a voice, wherewith to sing Lullaby to His repose, 'Mid the winter storm and snows. Only let us kneel, and pray Quietly, sweet Mother, here, Till the darkness disappear : Till the Blessed One at day Waken; till He hear us cry, Jesu^ nobis stibveniJ 34 THE SHEPHERDS SONG. DEEP, deep snow ; Wild, wild wind ; Dark, dark night : and lo ! Where shall we shepherds go, God's Son to find ? See, shepherds, see ! O'er Bethlehem Town What may this glory be ? Faint not, but hasten ye ; Thither go down. Hark ! what sound O'er yonder shed ? Gloria ! the Lord is found. In swaddling clothes all bound, As Gabriel said. Bend knees and fall ; Here is God's Son, Here in the cattle-stall : Ave ! say we, great and small ; Death's day is done ! 35 A CHRISTMAS SUMMONING. ALL Angels, gaze, 'Mid wond'ring songs of praise. On this so fair a sight : On God's great Son, With mortals made at one This blessed night ! Hie, shepherds, hie ! Kneel, chant a lullaby ! Your Shepherd's here asleep. Hell's rav'ning Beast No more shall rend or feast On us, poor sheep. Wise Men and Kings, All your most precious things On Him, Who gave them, spend ! His kingdom's come : Bringing of joys the sum, Of ills the end. O World, arise ! No longer in the skies Your King aloof remains. See here the sign : To house Him with the kino The Lord God deigns ! 36 AT BETHLEHEM : FOR A DRAWING BY FLAXMAX. IN what low estate Lies the God of all ! Cattle in their stall Round about Him wait, And His sweet Mother. Who are these, that come ; Kneel, and bow the head, Round His rude bed ? Earth, or Heaven, their home ? Say, sweet Mother ! Child or angel ? Who On this blessed night Is it, till the light, Shareth watch with you Quietly, sweet Mother? What is left unsaid, Ask not. Spirits pure Only may endure Watch at this Child's bed, With His sweet Mother. Grant us. Child, Thy grace, With child's or angel's heart, Here to do our part ! Grant us here a place With Thy sweet Mother ! 37 THE INN. OLORD, our God, and is it thus we greet Thee first on earth ! Yea, Thee, the Mighty One, Brought low, made outcast, laid here at our feet This winter's night, whose raging wind and sleet Bid Thee grim welcome to a world undone ! Ah ! Thou hast emptied Thyself indeed, dear Lord, That in a Babe's lone weakness we should view Thee. O bitter ransom's price ! O Great Heart, stored With love heroic ! And shall sin's abhorred, Rude presence thus through all life's hours pursue Thee ? Hark 1 in the hostel how men laugh and sing, Round the heaped fire carousing through the night ! They house Thee not ; they heed not anything Of Thine : some foolish shepherds only bring Their offerings here by yon faint lanthorn's light. Adorable Creator, Babe New-born, With these poor herdsmen let me kneel and pray ! The world without Thee is a thing forlorn. Vexed wand'rer 'mid a night that knows not mom : From Thee, alone from Thee, streams full the Day ! 3S A HYMN OF VICTORY. THE eternal God from heaven descends Our mortal world to tread ; And stay with sinful men for friends, Till all be finished. All ! From the serene heights of joy He sees our dismal state ; Sees us with sin's dire witchcrafts toy, The fools and doomed of fate. Then, through that tend'rest heart of love. Fierce pangs His love compel : Straightway He leaves the calm above, For gloom and noise of hell : Shrinks from no sacrifice of peace. No torment of disdain ; Asks not one moment's sweet decrease Of undeserved pain : Sees His Own charity blasphemed, His beauty laughed to scorn ; His matchless mercies vain, or deemed But sorcery, Satan-born. Ah ! and at last deserted He By friends, in bitterest loss. Hangs for a jeering world to see. Their victim on the cross : Naked and pierced, it hangs in shame, God's spotless body, dead I Even to this Love's glory came, When all was finished. 39 Yea, but in death our victory's won, Yea, in defeat our prize ! Yea, through His shame th' Eternal Son UpHfts us to the skies ! Lo ! the black doom of fate and hell We'll scorn for harmless things : In the new life of Jesus well Our life's unfathomed springs. Glory to Thee, great Lord, our Life ! Glory to Thee, our Love ! Glory for shame, and peace for strife. Our grateful lives shall prove ! 40 DE PROFUNDIS. BECAUSE the world is very stern ; Because the work is very long ; Because the foes are very strong, Whatever side I turn : Because my courage ebbs away ; Because my spirit's eyes are dim ; Because with failures to the brim My cup fills day by day : Because forbidden ways invite ; Because the smile of sin is sweet ; Because so readily run my feet Towards paths, that close in night : Because God's face I long to see ; Because God's Image stamps me yet Oh ! by Thy Passion, Christ, forget Me not, who fly to Thee ! 41 D 2 HOLY WEEK. BOW thyself down in silence. Who shall speak ; When He, the Immortal Word, hangs speechless, dead, This awful Holy Week.? Bow thyself down in anguish. Where is joy ; When He, the Eternal Sun,'s eclipsed in night '{ What heart to feast and toy ? Bow thyself down in penitence. Who shall sin ; When, from Sin's thrall, even God might find no way Save this, our ease to win ? Bow thyself down in praises. Hence, Despair ! Lo ! from the lowest depths He 'Id bid thee rise To heaven ; and keep thee there ! 42 GOOD FRIDAY. HE hangs a dead corpse on the tree, Who made the whole world's life to spring And, as some outcast, shameful, thing The Lord of all we see. Darkness falls thick to shroud the time : Nature herself breaks up, and cries : Even from the grave shocked ghosts arise, At this tremendous crime. Speak not : no human voice may tell The secrets, which these hours enfold : By treacherous hands to traitors sold, God yields Himself to Hell. Speak not, draw close : through stricken heart Drink in the sense of all that's here : The shame, the cross, the nails, the spear, Rending His soul apart. Ah ! and far crueller, far, than they, (Tools, and mere symbols these) our sin ! Breathe to thyself, soul, deep within,- '"Twas I, that caused this day." Speak not : He speaks not : no reproach Falls from Those dying lips on thee : No vengeance, muttering ills to be. Bars thy devout approach. Stricken, unmurmuring, dead, divine. This day He hangs, as He hung of old : Only the dire sight cries, " Behold ! Was ever love like Mine?" 43 EASTER DAY. o VACANT Tomb ! Where is He gone, That was thy treasure ? Now is thy darkness wholly without measure Of cureless gloom. Nay, thou art free For heaven's own light to enter, and suffuse thee : Causeless the curse, with which we did abuse thee, Since risen is He ! This the New Year ! All things arise with Him, Who once hath left thee Lo ! thy defeat of ills hath wholly reft thee, And heaven breaks clear ! Vacant of ills, Home of sweet rest henceforth to hearts believing ; Stored with brave hopes, O thou, the all-receiving. For whoso wills ! 44 CANTICUM BEATAE MARIAE DEIPARAE SEMPER VIRGINI. MOTHER of God on high ! We kneel at thy feet, dear Maid and Mother, Who hast borne us God for our very Brother. Mother and Maid ! we He Here at thy feet, who cry to thee, love thee : Praising none but the Lord above thee. Mother of God's Own Child ! We, who are called by His Name, belong to thee ; We, thy children, chanting our song to thee. Mother ! the days are wild : Oh ! let those arms, and that sweet smile, round us, Cherish and guard, or our sins confound us. Star of the Sea ! we drive, Drenched and drowned, 'mid the waves, that deride us ; Lost on the rocks, if thou shine not, and guide us. How may we pass alive Through the desert world, but with thee, the Rose of it? By thy fragrance stayed, till the dim, parched, close of it. Vine, and Lily, and Rose ! In His garden, lo ! thy Beloved sets us : Scorn not thou, though the earth forgets us. Lady of Grief! unclose Thy stricken soul to our souls, that cry to thee : Stricken of grief, that grief may fly to thee. Lady of Joys ! though seven Times seven are the charms of sin to beguile us, Lost in thy charm, what sin shall defile us ? 45 Lady and Queen of Heaven ! Here, on earth, we would serve before thee ; In thy very court at last to adore thee. Mary, Mother and Queen ! Bring us at length, where the angels lean, Choir on choir beneath thy grace ; Bring us all to that hidden place, Where face to face thyself thou art seen : O Mary Queen ! 46 FINIS. A LITTLE while, and all in silence ends My best or worst ! On each at last descends The fatal curtain ! Soul, thy part is played : No voice thou heedest now of foes or friends ! In one strait space of clinging earth I lie, Unmoved for storm or sunHght drifting by : Yea, though one praise and love, or all forget, That stark thing recks not, that but now was I. Ah ! so in dreams tired life affects content, And wakes rebellious. " Not for this were sent. My God," she cries, " Thy beauty and Thy love, That strave within me towards accomplishment ! " 47 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below ^^^ JUN 9 1^75 IITERLIBBA]IY LOAJra APR 2 8 1975 THREE fiCCrg NON-REN EWAB nis(r£ OF RECBPT •**1^13I975; 5ni-6,'41(3644) L) i -< J. » *•- - LOS AiNGELES fiM PR 4818 Image - I3U17 Poems (Se c axels 1 t UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 369 883 4 '^^^.::-i:3^iiI||P