OMEGA ET ALPHA 
 
 BY 
 GREVILLE D'ARVILLE
 
 ROBERT ERNEST COWAN
 
 OMEGA ET ALPHA 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 GREVILLE D'ARVILLE 
 
 D. P. ELDER AND MORGAN SHEPARD 
 SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 1899
 
 COPYRIGHTED 1899 
 
 GREVILLE D ARVILLE.
 
 P5 
 
 T 
 
 O 
 
 ci 
 
 $ 
 
 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 
 
 TO THOSE THAT READ, YEA, THOSE THAT WILL, 
 AND MAY ITS PAGES LOVE INSTILL. 
 
 CO 
 CO 
 
 CD 
 03 
 
 274403
 
 TO MY CRITICS. 
 
 I fain would ask of thee, 
 As critics, true and brave, 
 If I a poet be ; 
 And not a rhyming knave? 
 
 For if I fail in rhyme, 
 With mind intent on high, 
 The lofty heights to climb ; 
 Forgive me then I die.
 
 OMEGA 
 
 ET 
 ALPHA.
 
 OMEGA.
 
 THE OMEGA. 
 
 jt "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi." 
 
 QERAPHIC blasts the trumpet sounds afar, 
 
 Again it sounds and awe it struck with chill ; 
 An awful stillness swept the earth about ; 
 The mighty billows ceased their plunge and roar, 
 And like a mirrored glass, silently lay 
 The oceans, lulled beneath impending doom. 
 The sky with clouds fast gathered thick, 
 Then darker yet, in somberness, they grew. 
 The joyous birds in midst their singing ceased, 
 Their matins left unfinished, yet from fear 
 And anguish they were free, for no distrust 
 Of Him had ever filled their loyal breast ; 
 They sang His praises it their daily task 
 The beasts of prey now docile stood and heard, 
 Attentive lest a sound should 'scape their ear. 
 The rippling streams their babbling ceased and flowed 
 On silently, expectant of the just 
 Decree (intuitively learned of Him). 
 The lilies of the marsh seem glad and list, 
 
 ii
 
 And flowers scattered o'er the universe 
 Are wreathed in smiles of coming joy, tho' dark 
 And frowning is the sky, they see beyond 
 Earth's Paradise restored and fresh as in 
 Its former magnitude and heav'nly prime. 
 The murmur of the trees, the moaning pines 
 Were hushed for want of zephyrs playing thro'; 
 The winds obeying slunk in peace away, 
 And gathered for the final tragedy. 
 The briars and the brambles that offend 
 With evil omen heard the piercing blasts, 
 Since Sin its shadow cast upon the earth, 
 Unequal they beside the fairest flow'r 
 Had thrived, and from them health and vigor drew 
 Illicit, sapping life vitality. 
 The muttering thunder, culminating crash, 
 Vibrating swift another breaks afresh. 
 The lurid flames of lightning zigzagged forth, 
 From north to south, their strange allurement lent ; 
 From east to west the earth is reeling now 
 To and fro, swinging like a pendulum. 
 The finny tribe, inhabitants beneath 
 The deep cerulean seas, the surface seek, 
 12
 
 With conscious sense of awe and honor due, 
 
 Their quest for food and prey forgotten is ; 
 
 From caverns fair, 'and caverns dark they come. 
 
 Palatial homes of shell, deserted are, 
 
 Resplendent in their iridescent hues, 
 
 The mossy dells no roaming stranger lures. 
 
 Another blast the thunder rolls and crash 
 
 A Voice from Heaven sounds and all is still 
 
 The veil is rent and heaven opens as a scroll 
 
 And He, the Son, the Christ, the living God appears, 
 
 His radiant face aglow with intense light ; 
 
 Fair New Jerusalem, its dazzling walls, 
 
 Its golden streets, before the world now lies. 
 
 Arch- angel Gabriel, his voice of might 
 
 The staid foundations of the earth does quake, 
 
 From near, it sounds unto the distant far, 
 
 From starry heights, unto the stretching deep 
 
 " AWAKE YE SILENT DEAD. COME FORTH TO LIFE." 
 
 And lo, from out the bowels of the earth 
 
 The Sabaoth of nations rose to sight : 
 
 The nether parts of Hell, her victims, gave. 
 
 From seas' unfathomed depths, unnumbered rise': 
 
 The mighty and the great, the little all ;
 
 Death's ebon portals swing unlocked unbound. 
 " CEASE FOREVER BABBLING TONGUES OF HYPOCRISY ; 
 
 WEEP FOR WHAT IS LOST YE CANNOT SHARE THE GAIN." 
 
 Great the sorrow, they flee they beg the mountains fall 
 And cover up their sin, their nakedness and shame: 
 They fear His Holy Look, they tremble quail. 
 Compassionate, He will not doom them pain ; 
 Yet they had spurned His love, their thoughts were self, 
 They gave no thought to those that hungered were, 
 They cared not for the cold and houseless poor. 
 His love for those in sin no hate contained, 
 His kindness kills repaid in coin unknown. 
 No hell in torment did he cast away, 
 Those that were lost had gone astray, their soul, 
 Their anguished spirit dies because of His 
 Pure holy eyes : Their sins in terror now 
 Before them stand, their conscious guilt, the ban 
 That dooms them unto earth again decay. 
 The sea is sad and mourns the dead it moans ; 
 The sky o'er cast with dark and sombre clouds 
 Hides light from day. The earth in travail groans. 
 The Bride is safe in Isaiah's Chamber housed 
 Till, purified and cleansed, the earth is made. 
 
 H
 
 The just from ev'ry nation, great and small, 
 
 Those that lived their faith their conscience obeyed. 
 
 The multiplex Faiths of Christendom stand 
 
 Rewarded justified by zeal and deed. 
 
 Peace and grace to those that love Jehovah God, 
 
 And Christ, His Son Redeemer of the race. 
 
 Followers of Mohammed true to him 
 
 The precincts of the Koran kept in truth : 
 
 The Buddhists, who thro* self inflicted woes, 
 
 (Unasked penance) have gained their sought abode. 
 
 Disciples of the tri-fold Bramin Creed, 
 
 Re-incarnated Him they knew, unknown 
 
 Staid Theurgists, their mystic shrine dissolved 
 
 In liberated vision see but Him ; 
 
 The barbarous savages, who worshiped Sol, 
 
 The God of truth, His knowledge does " ajudge, 
 
 Their works, their faith, tho' simple, He rewards. 
 
 Those ignorant no God no conscience have, 
 
 No law transgressed, since law they had not had, 
 
 He shares His Kingdom with, 'neath sunny skies, 
 
 With turmoil strife forever put away. 
 
 Those serving Mammon dead are lying now, 
 
 Their odorific, fetid deeds ascend,
 
 See now their nascent smoke is curling high 
 Lost to them Paradise they cannot share. 
 Those enlightened knowing and doing not 
 Agonizing full realization comes, 
 With Hell they both precipitate and end. 
 
 16
 
 ALPHA.
 
 THE ALPHA. 
 
 ' I ^HE clouds in islands break disperse : the earth 
 From out her long and purging curse appears. 
 The smoke of the World's funereal pyre 
 The dark abyss from darkness turns to mist ; 
 The mist precipitating falls and Oh ! 
 Bleak and barren the plain o'er cast with dearth. 
 The mountains, with their sleek and lavaed sides 
 No life contained a cenotaph they stood. 
 The calid deep its sibulating ceased, 
 And cooling winds its ardor fanned to sleep.
 
 The earth in pregnancy, awaiting pains 
 
 Of labor, till its womb inflated yields 
 
 The offspring of a fairer land than was. 
 
 The mountains swell, till like a mother's breasts 
 
 They burst with milk to nurse her scion's health ; 
 
 The rills break forth and trickle down the slopes, 
 
 In merriment of joy to now escape ; 
 
 They kiss the earth, in amorous love, till to 
 
 Their soft embraces Earth but yields, and brings 
 
 Her fruit a token of the union's worth. 
 
 The dormant seed now breaks its fragile cell, 
 
 And verdure clads the hill-land and the dale. 
 
 Soft zephyrs breath their mystic power o'er 
 
 And charm, to ope, the flowers shooting forth. 
 
 A crystal stream, from northward, bends its sway, 
 
 Transparent to its deep recessed below ; 
 
 On either side of which grew tree-ferns, tall ; 
 
 And palm trees, upright standing, ripe with fruit, 
 
 Entrellesed round about the grape-vine grew, 
 
 Rich hung in purple clusters, 'midst its green. 
 
 20
 
 Here peacocks spread their gorgeous eye-full tails ; 
 
 And unmolested lie beneath the shade, 
 
 While tigers leap and frolic in their play. 
 
 The air was sweet with melody of birds, 
 
 Who sang their tuneful songs of freedom clear. 
 
 But see ! a light out dazzling fills the air ; 
 
 A brightness spreads its glory o'er the earth. 
 
 What music every where in joyous strain ! 
 
 Ten thousand times ten thousand yea and more, 
 
 In choral grandeur, sing the praise of Him. 
 
 Fair New Jerusalem descending comes 
 
 And rests upon the earth's foundations new. 
 
 Its walls of jasper entermixed with gems : 
 
 The jacinth, chrysolyte and amethyst, 
 
 The chalcedony and the emerald, 
 
 Sardonyx, pinken hue, with topaz weld, 
 
 The blue-green beryl and the sardius, 
 
 The chysoprasus laid with sapphire blue, 
 
 Each shade and color of the rainbow's hue. 
 
 On golden hinges swing twelve massive pearls : 
 
 21
 
 The north, the south, the east and west, each three ; 
 
 As gates unto the City of our God. 
 
 Within a Light of Holy Splendor shone, 
 
 Reflecting, from the walls, prismatic gleams, 
 
 Which, then rebounding, cast upon the streets 
 
 Mosaics of empyric blend and hue. 
 
 Enrobed in garments, snowy white, were those, 
 
 That, purged from lust and sin, had been, by Him ; 
 
 And thro' the gateways, in and out they pass. 
 
 Around the throne of Him, who gave them life, 
 
 They stood and homage pay, with songs of praise, 
 
 While harpers harp their sweet majestic lays. 
 
 The throne, a marvel dream undreamt nor thought 
 
 Where sat Jehovah, God, the Father of 
 
 The righteous just, thro' Him upon His right, 
 
 His smile of approbation resting on 
 
 His Son, the King of Kings, the Great High Priest, 
 
 Who took the yoke of man that all might live, 
 
 Who conquered sin and burst the gates of Hell 
 
 That myriads of dead might live again. 
 
 22
 
 Moses, Daniel, Job, Ezekiel, Isaiah, 
 
 Samuel, Elijah, Jacob, David, 
 
 Abraham, Isaac, Jeremiah, John, 
 
 The twelve apostles all around the throne, 
 
 And hosts of those that led in truth and light. 
 
 Then Christ, descending, mingles with the throng 
 
 A brother and a succor, yea a friend. 
 
 The angels, sing the song of love and triumph, 
 
 In symphonic tongue ; musicians deftly, 
 
 With ethereal touch accompanying 
 
 The city's walls vibrating sweet with tune : 
 
 All heaven Earth resounding with its ring. 
 
 From streets of buhl and aulic splendor of 
 
 The Temple, they, that live without the gates, 
 
 Their homeward journey went, some beside streams, 
 
 Where trees o'er hang and shed their sweet delight, 
 
 And swans o'er glide, the mirrored pool, unharmed, 
 
 In regal majesty. The trees with fruits 
 
 And blossoms are to charm and satisfy. 
 
 Some upon the sunlit mountain slopes dwelt,
 
 Where cattle grazed or slept, when full, content : 
 Where fig-trees spread their cooling leaves, and held 
 Beneath its treasured gift, when ripe to fall. 
 Where eye could reach, in peace and joy, they dwelt. 
 
 24
 
 A REMEMBRANCE. 
 
 ^C To the only woman in history of whom these 
 lines could be written, ^t 
 
 /^ O ! bring ye flowers, rich and rare ! 
 
 Bring only those the white and fair ; 
 The saintly iris purity, 
 And emblem of virginity : 
 Close the shutters ! lest the light 
 Cast a shadow of the night ; 
 Toll the church bells slow and long ; 
 Hush the minstrels' merry song : 
 Muffle soft the beating drums, 
 Angels now a legion comes, 
 To gather up her scattered dust : 
 To last her valiant love and trust 
 Her Country God ; to each was true, 
 From childhood both in spirit grew. 
 Each flame a saintly halo cast 
 Illumed her face as in the past ; 
 She saw beyond this earthly sphere, 
 And soft a sound it reached her ear 
 A voice had called her, she had gone, 
 And darkness spread the smiling dawn. 
 
 25
 
 WHIP-PO-WIL. 
 
 TJARK! a bird 
 
 Quaintly sings, 
 Loud and shrill : 
 " Whip-po-wil. " 
 
 In the field, 
 Ere the dawn, 
 Breaks the still 
 "Whip-po-wil." 
 
 Children shout 
 "William" rout, 
 With their taunt 
 "Whip-poor-Will." 
 
 Happy swains 
 Wend their way, 
 To the lay 
 "Whip-po-wil." 
 
 26
 
 Lowing kine, 
 Fresh with wine, 
 Know the sad 
 "Whip-po-wil." 
 
 Twilight's gleam 
 Lures him forth 
 With his shrill 
 " Whip-po-wil. " 
 
 Darkness now 
 Light enwraps : 
 Hush ! be still 
 "Whip-po-wil." 
 
 27
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 "O OLLING billows crash and splash- 
 Against the rocky quay, 
 
 Higher now in frenzy dash 
 
 And sweep with vengeful sway. 
 
 Tossed and oarless, drifting on, 
 A boat is seen to rise ; 
 
 See ! a child is clinging God ! 
 
 Then gone to gazing eyes. 
 
 " Launch the life-boat, quick, ye men ! 
 
 A lad is drifting, say ! 
 Stand ye idly gawking then ! 
 
 Heave ho, heave ho, away ! " 
 
 28
 
 Riding billows, swept by gale, 
 
 The men with steady stroke,- 
 
 Daunted not they would not fail 
 Speed on ; and God evoke. 
 
 Rising, falling, closer now - 
 
 They veer, the sea is mad, 
 
 Closer yet then prow to prow 
 
 They grasp and save the lad. 
 
 29
 
 MUSIC, ITS POWER. 
 
 ' I \HE stone-front mansion was ablaze with light 
 
 Without 'twas gloomy a dreary night ; 
 Yet cab after cab, the pavement, rolled 
 And stopped before 
 
 This mansion's door. 
 The ladies gowned in silk-stuffs were 
 And, o'er their shoulders, capes of fur; 
 An awning, from the landing, led 
 Up to the doorway, arched o'er head. 
 The merry ripple of laughter Hark ! 
 Now music's dulcet harmonies pervade the air, 
 A growl, a sniffle, the watch dogs bark 
 A man was standing, silent, in the shadow's lair,
 
 His garments were tattered and torn, 
 
 They were seedy and sheeny worn ; 
 
 Yet he stood entranced, and why 
 
 Did he heave a longing sigh ? 
 
 The rain was falling he was wet and cold, 
 
 The wind was blowing, gusty, raw and bold. 
 
 A strain of music, now and again, he hears, 
 
 His bloated face brightens and tears, 
 
 His eyes, made dim his chord of love revives again 
 
 The days of youth, smiling disdain. 
 
 Each note his jealous ear imbibed 
 
 Now echoes 'woke with phantoms strived. 
 
 The street cars whizzing by, annoy distract ; 
 
 He closer leans toward the fence : 
 
 He grasps and floats, the tide is high 
 
 It rises falls its billows die 
 
 The ripples cease, the tideway backed, 
 
 The gloom appalls, the night intense.
 
 THE WIND. 
 
 TY 7TTH a whirl, she whizzing comes 
 
 Bringing rain and bringing snows. 
 With a rush she rustling goes, 
 While the pine tree mournful hums. 
 
 Comes the witch, 
 On a switch, 
 Thro' the air ; 
 Or a-daft, 
 On a shaft, 
 From her lair ? 
 
 But she goes and answers not 
 Thro' the meadows, o'er the bluff, 
 Chasing on with angry puff, 
 Till expiring she is not.
 
 IN NATURE'S GARDEN. 
 
 T>ESTREWN the ground with "butter-cups" 
 
 Deep hid behind entwining vines 
 Of jassmine, intermingling, sweet, 
 Its breath of Eden with the pink : 
 Where ferns frondesce, and shade from sun 
 The dainty lilies of the vale, 
 The columbine upshooting meets 
 And piercing thro' protrudes to view. 
 Azaleas, pink and yellow blend, 
 In rich profusion, with the white. 
 And butterflies, how oft they light ! 
 To whisper of a mutual friend, 
 Of love they whisper, good and true, 
 And each the other loving greets ; 
 When off he goes a fickle male 
 To compliment a fairer one, 
 And stops anon to honey drink. 
 He lingers fondly how discreet ! 
 Till drunk, he reels, with Love's own wines 
 
 33
 
 From bud to bud from each he sups. 
 
 A cowslip carpet farther on, 
 
 In gold mosaics, lend their charm ; 
 
 And rising high, a wall from view, 
 
 The grape-vine swings upon the oak, 
 
 Its em'rald clusts anon to full, 
 
 With rare ambrosia to tempt. 
 
 And lucious ripe upon their stems 
 
 Are berries kissed a blushing red, 
 
 Awaiting but the picking off. 
 
 And luring on a nidor rare, 
 
 The violet perfumes the air, 
 
 And dandelions loving doff 
 
 Their silken caps from off their heads. 
 
 The dew-drops sparkle see like gems ! 
 
 On green, on red a dream undreamt. 
 
 And orrised marigolds do mull 
 
 The air, with fir, and love evoke ; 
 
 While pine trees shed, their sweet-meat strew, 
 
 For squirrels, 'gainst a drouth alarm : 
 
 And timid lies the spotted fawn. 
 
 34
 
 A murmur of sweet melody, 
 The ripple of the forest stream : 
 And merging forth we spy its banks 
 Its rock strewn course of stepping stones 
 And tufts of rarest maiden-hair 
 Are peeping from among the grass. 
 Entranced we wander with the brook 
 And drink of Nature's hidden treat. 
 Now twisting thro' and on, past all, 
 Becaught by rose thorns as we pass, 
 As if to stay our onward path, 
 Behold ! the gods' own palace hall, 
 Encentered with a placid sheet 
 The sacred of the sacred look ! 
 Reflecting like a mirrored glass, 
 The trees, the sky and clotted air 
 Their color each in faithful tones 
 Above nor with no painting ranks, 
 A mockery they are and seem 
 For nature, go and nature see. 
 
 35
 
 The willows drooping shed their cool, 
 Where fish are darting in the blue : 
 And skimming close, the swallow flies, 
 Then soaring high above it glides. 
 The tom-tits hang fantastic nests, 
 Protection to its growing young, 
 On cross twigs of a lowly branch. 
 Where ruddy-breasted linnets sing 
 And carol while the blue-jays chirp ; 
 And humming birds inject their bills 
 Into the honey suckle 's frills. 
 No foe encrouched, none dared usurp, 
 'Twas free from lusty woodman's fling : 
 'Twas Nature's gift to earth enhance, 
 Where echoes oft resounding rung 
 And brought us back our playful jests. 
 With reverence and careful strides, 
 Lest tread we on blue "baby-eyes," 
 We homeward trod alas, too true ! 
 Like children going, first, to school.
 
 THE ANTIQUARIAN. 
 
 T TE sits enrapt in what he sees 
 
 Some past historic script he reads 
 Which tells of former grandeur fame ; 
 When young in years the earth was rich 
 In splendor of barbaric kings, 
 Their temples, gods and gorgeous shrines ; 
 How wars were fought, where honor shines ; 
 How for his Love a lover sings, 
 Or where some sage an honored niche 
 Had gained, in learning, for his name ; 
 Of sacred rites and fabled creeds, 
 Where all is lost in mysteries. 
 About him lie the treasured bits 
 Of tablets found entombed where once, 
 In might, a city's walls arose 
 And sacred kept within her gates, 
 Against the foe's opposing force, 
 The art and culture of her prime. 
 Escutcheoned armor dark with time, 
 
 37 
 
 sr-
 
 Inlined a boar or prancing horse. 
 
 Another gift of kindred fates, 
 
 A lamp instudded round in rows, 
 
 With gems that long have stood the brunts 
 
 Of kings ancestral lines and flits. 
 
 A spear that once a chieftain brave 
 
 Had winged against his enemy : 
 
 A shield that bore the scars of use 
 
 And turned the shaft of death to earth : 
 
 Papyrus writ at time unknown, 
 
 A treasured relic of the past. 
 
 Encased, from hands, a sculptured cast 
 
 Of some fair maiden, hewn from stone ; 
 
 And emblematic of past mirth, 
 
 A dancer's timbrel hangs in truce : 
 
 And hung the walls hi tapestry 
 
 That once had graced a cloister's nave.
 
 IF WE ONLY KNEW. 
 
 TTF we only knew, 
 
 The future as an open book, 
 The snares of life its pits 
 To the bottom could we but look 
 Beyond the mists what lies ? 
 If we only knew. 
 
 / 
 If we only knew, 
 
 At daybreak, of impending doom, 
 
 Of cares unbid, their strife 
 
 And the shadows that cast a gloom, 
 
 Our faith in all would fail ; 
 
 If we only knew. 
 
 If we only knew, 
 
 When labor and our work was o'er 
 
 That we would climb the heights 
 
 Of the mountains or above them soar- 
 
 Our songs to swell the choir ; 
 
 If we only knew. 
 
 39
 
 HARVEST. 
 
 j* 1840 jt 
 
 R' 
 
 EAPERS sweeping, 
 
 Faster creeping, 
 Cut the golden grain : 
 Sweet its nidor fills the air, 
 Blessing nature unaware. 
 
 See ! the happy swain, 
 Robust flinging, 
 Sythe-blades swinging. 
 
 Rakers piling, 
 Mounds beguiling, 
 Follow in their trail ; 
 Merry jesting, spinning yarns 
 'Bout the fish in yonder tarns ; 
 Or the speckled quail, 
 After chasing, 
 Lost in placing. 
 
 40
 
 Birds are mating, 
 Vows are stating, 
 In the orchard by. 
 List, their happy ringing note 
 As they past you wafted float 
 Upward to the sky, 
 Disappearing, 
 Lost in veering. 
 
 Haulers crawling, 
 Teamsters bawling 
 To the lazy team. 
 Ever onward going they, 
 Working, toiling all the day, 
 Till the twilight's gleam 
 Bids them hauling 
 Cease, till morning.
 
 Home-ward going, 
 Cows are lowing 
 In the pasture field, 
 Wistful looking at the hay, 
 Till it, sweet, before them lay. 
 Happy in the yield, 
 Lays in-toning, 
 Bees are droning. 
 
 42
 
 THE JESTER'S TOAST. 
 
 TTERE'S to the health of die porcupine, 
 
 Gurgle and swizzle the sparkling wine ; 
 Beds of ease amid sweet eglantine, 
 Underneath ambrosia's juicy vine, 
 'Wait for thee when drunk with love divine. 
 Mansions of dreams, tinted carnadine, 
 Fill every cup of the foaming stein. 
 Once to the health of the friends of thine, 
 Once to the health of the friends of mine 
 Drink and be merry ! for this we dine. 
 
 43
 
 MAIDENHOOD. 
 
 IKE the bloom of a regal flower, 
 
 Peeping forth from its leafy bower, 
 Buds and bursts to a full blown rose, 
 So the child to a maiden grows ; 
 Beauty, grace, are her potent power 
 Crowned by wit, 'tis an envied dower.
 
 AMBITION. 
 
 ^t Etude de Lyon Verse 
 
 / ~T~ V READ he must upon frail rounds, 
 
 On, up, winding, ever high'r, 
 Now oft clinging, hearing sounds 
 Faint below ; till lost entire. 
 
 45
 
 THE POET OF THE SUBLIME. 
 
 k John Milton jit 
 
 1p\ARE I tread thy lofty height, 
 Shedding pure its holy light. 
 
 Dare I lift my voice to sing, 
 When I hear thy music's ring. 
 
 List each cadence, high or low, 
 Throbbing rife with Nature's glow. 
 
 Noble, full, its upward climb, 
 Grand, enchanting and sublime. 
 
 46
 
 TT NEST "Hers of the soil, 
 
 Thy life with gold is gilded ; 
 Birds and trees commune with thee, 
 Not liars, thieves and rascals ; 
 Till thy farm, tho' tired be, 
 Nature breathes her life for thee ; 
 Drink the draught until it thralls 
 Thy soul to sweet tranquility ; 
 When to nature thou art wed 
 Lighter grows thy burd'some toil. 
 
 47
 
 THE SOWER. 
 
 T?URROWS plowing, 
 
 Earth endowing, 
 'Rich with golden grain. 
 
 Sunlight streaming, 
 Blackbirds screaming, 
 Follow in his wake. 
 
 Nearer coming 
 Hear him humming, 
 Soft, a joyous strain. 
 
 Then a-veering, 
 Lost to hearing, 
 In the vast opake. 
 
 48
 
 THE BRIDE OF THE SEA. 
 
 * I MiE lights of the city glimmer in the far, 
 
 The moon its lucid pathway casts 
 Upon the calm and peaceful sea. 
 Sweet music floats from shores alea, 
 And vessels, with their gay trimmed masts, 
 Glide over the water, skimmer as a star. 
 
 The strength of the tide, re-ceding from the bay, 
 
 Out carries merry couples, swift, 
 
 And half heard jests and snatches heard 
 
 Of songs a kiss the maid demurred, 
 
 Yet lets -permits, the youth's sweet gift. 
 
 They pass from our hearing, drifting in the gray. 
 
 The night from its darkness bursts and in the East, 
 
 The morn, its ochered dawn, peeps forth 
 
 And with it comes the tide's return. 
 
 The harbor lights have ceased to burn 
 
 And light of day now sheds its worth. 
 
 The tide from the sea returning gave its feast. 
 
 49
 
 It brings on its heaving bosom, in the light, 
 
 Its bride of but the night before 
 
 And firm it holds her to its breast, 
 
 Lest others would its sweet caress ; 
 
 Its prize it bears from sea to shore 
 
 There heaps on her kisses, frenzied with delight.
 
 IDOLS, 
 
 OR 
 
 HERO WORSHIP. 
 
 T)UT not thy trust in mortal flesh, 
 
 It topples, falls when seen at best 
 Tho' strong its pedestal may seem, 
 There comes a time a flash, a gleam 
 It shows to you the broken rest, 
 Which crumbles then to dust a-thresh.
 
 PARTED. 
 
 OHE lies beside the ivied church 
 
 Up on the hill ; 
 Where mornings, birds their matins trill, 
 
 From silv'ry birch : 
 Where evenings, when with darkness cloaked, 
 
 The stars evoked, 
 And plaintive vespers swelled, to fill, 
 
 From chancel rail, 
 The church-yard, weird and pale. 
 
 She lies entombed in earthly clay, 
 
 With others dead ; 
 Yet living in a heart, by grieving bled, 
 
 She is to-day. 
 The tolling church-bells tolling, now, 
 
 Means sorrowed brow : 
 Where Love does darkened pathways tread ; 
 
 Alone to leave, 
 To memory, its bitter grief.
 
 DAVID'S PRAISE. 
 
 Psalm cvii 8 k 
 
 ' I ^HY hand, O Lord, is upon me. 
 
 It maketh me bold : 
 
 As a lion goeth forth to feed its cubs ; 
 As an eagle soareth the sky, and feareth not 
 So I' walk with upright head. 
 My heart is full ; I sing thy songs : 
 I maketh harmonies, in tune to thy praise, 
 With harp and instruments of string. 
 Sweet incense of love I burn to thee 
 Almighty, Just, the God of gods Jehovah, 
 Mighty and great is thy name, O God ! 
 Let children of men fall before thee : 
 Let sack-cloth be their garments 
 And let them cease not praising thy name forever. 
 Thy love, O God, exceedeth understanding ! 
 It maketh the heart, of the sorrowful, glad. 
 Praise thee, O Lord, forever ! 
 
 53
 
 As the rain, when it falleth on parched ground, 
 
 Is drunk with eager lips, 
 
 So thy Spirit is received by thy people. 
 
 Let angels, in legion, sing thy praise ; 
 
 Let the stars protrude through darkness ; 
 
 Let the sun paint thy glory in the skies ! 
 
 As the flowers attest their homage, 
 
 And breathe their perfume, as incense, to thee, 
 
 Let men, creatures of dust, bow before thee, 
 
 And sing of thy goodness and love. 
 
 The wind moaneth and weepeth not, 
 
 The sea dashes its fury against the rocks, 
 
 Its anger a froth they moveth not, 
 
 So let thy servant be staid 
 
 Amid the warfare of life. Selah. 
 
 54
 
 AUTUMN'S GIFT. 
 
 'VTATURE with her artist-brush 
 
 Tints the leaves a ruddy blush- 
 Golden edged with flaming red, 
 Brown with red or gold instead, 
 Yellow centered green, they fall ; 
 Unalike they one and all. 
 
 55
 
 MODERN ART, 
 
 OR ART FOR ART'S SAKE. 
 
 k A Satire k 
 
 f I ^HEY brazen forth for vulgar show, 
 
 They paint without the base and low 
 A harlot's form, her very grace, 
 And inspiration's gift eface. 
 Their brush is dipt in flaring scobs 
 Which but destroys its beauty robs 
 Why paint a form with soulless eyes 
 When they alone would draw a prize ? 
 Unhasp thy fettered wings and soar 
 O Angelo ! of ancient yore, 
 And breathing o'er, not lust but love 
 That leads the mind to look above. 
 Would artists paint the semi-nude, 
 With deft like hand omit the rude, 
 But catch a glimpse -when she unseen 
 How chaste and pure ! enarmoured glean 
 And Love's undying mistress sits a queen.
 
 A ROSARY. 
 
 PRELUDIUM. 
 
 ' I V HE candles gleaming, brightly shed 
 
 Topazic light ; a halo o'er His head ; 
 And incense burning, sweet with spicy scent, 
 Perfumed the air ; and subtile lent, 
 Its fragrance to the sacred hour, 
 As did the rarest Easter flow'r. 
 
 PRIMA. 
 
 With feelings deep her breast was stirred, 
 Her sins, with prominence, her virtue blurred. 
 O God ! how would or could He her reprieve, 
 
 Yet she had faith to it believe ; 
 
 With contrite heart and flowing tears, 
 
 She kneels to Him, who, loving, cheers. 
 
 57
 
 SECUNDA. 
 
 Her azure eyes shy glances stole, 
 And smiling did a youthful heart cajole ; 
 The lesson read, the chanting, all unheard, 
 
 The anthem sung, no thought inferred : 
 
 Intent, enrapt in all she saw, 
 
 The service failed her mind to draw. 
 
 TER.TIA. 
 
 Devout she sat, in hazy mist, 
 Half hearing what the preacher said, I wist ; 
 The thought of those she loved, now past and gone ; 
 She saw them rise, by angels drawn, 
 And He enthroned on High, above, 
 Receive them all, with equal love.
 
 INTERLUDIUM. 
 
 Glory, Glory, to the Father, God ; 
 
 Allelulia, Allelulia : 
 To the Son, Glory and Praise 
 
 Allelulia, Allelulia : 
 Glory and Praise, to the Lord, forever : 
 
 Mirabile dictu, 
 The Holy Ghost, Glory, Amen ; 
 
 Mirabile dictu, 
 Forever and ever Aman ; 
 Glory, Allelulia, Glory 
 
 Forever, 
 Glory, Allelulia, Amen. 
 
 &UATRA. 
 
 She gazed about unconscious where ; 
 Her ruddy face was stoic, free from care : 
 Her beads were hanging listly from her hand,- 
 
 A daughter of the poorer band ; 
 
 And wond'ring why the others tears ? 
 
 While she, her conscience, has no fears. 
 
 59
 
 QUINTA. 
 
 Intent, her soul with rapture fills 
 With words of cheer, that peace and love instills. 
 Each word, each thought, divine, to Heaven led ; 
 
 The music, sweet, her longings fed, 
 
 Her heart was full, she saw the far, 
 
 Its pearly gates, for her, ajar. 
 
 SEXTUS. 
 
 With hoary grace he knelt and prayed ; 
 His faith and hope in Christ were firmly laid ; 
 Each bead, his lips in holy prayer moved, 
 
 As well, for sin it now behooved : 
 
 He blind to doubters' rudeful stare 
 
 He sees Madona, saintly fair. 
 
 POSTLUDIUM. 
 
 The organ pealed forth, its tune 
 Of sweetness, while the chorus sang its lay ; 
 Higher, louder, now majestic is its sway, 
 Softer, sweeter, floating thro' the air, 
 Running, chasing fairies from their lair ; 
 Mighty, swelling, climbing to the height, 
 Crashing, dashing, ending with delight. 
 
 60
 
 A STORM AT SEA. 
 
 ' I ^HE sky was somber and lowering, 
 
 The day far spent, 
 And the sea o'er the deck was flowing ; 
 
 The mizzen sail rent 
 
 And the gallant ship had sprung a leak in the hold : 
 The wind was blowing a terrific gale, 
 Gaining in force as o'er the open sea it bowled, 
 And the hearts of the bravest men did quail, 
 As peal after peal of the distant thunder rolled, 
 And the lightning lit the sky with its lurid flame. 
 The ship now on the crest of a mountainous wave, 
 Half out then down down the watery course she 
 
 came, 
 Half submerged, trembling she rose for another to 
 
 brave. 
 The sturdy seamen, tho' faint at heart, 
 
 Loud laughed and joked 
 As they told of the mermaids' art 
 How "Davy" was stoked 
 
 61
 
 And then "What a royal spread we'll make for 
 
 the fish?" 
 
 But as the water in the hold increased 
 Faster they spake not of the mermaids' witching 
 
 wish, 
 
 No, nor of the fishes' awaiting feast, 
 But rather they thought of the dear loved ones 
 
 at home, 
 And with this thought in -their minds, renewed 
 
 energy 
 They put into their work, and ere dawning of 
 
 day, 
 When the fierce winds and the angry sea lost 
 
 their sway, 
 The staunch ship, proud, on her journey, safe 
 
 speeded away. 
 
 62
 
 THE COQUETTE AND THE 
 YOUTH. 
 
 AS the dew-drop loves to linger on the petals 
 , . , 
 or a pink, 
 
 Till the sun's outbursting splendor takes its sparkle 
 
 to itself, 
 So the youthful lover lingers at the gateway of his 
 
 love, 
 Till the merry stars, their twinkle fills the heavens 
 
 all above. 
 
 How the creaking of the hinges told the neighbors 
 
 of a call 
 (And the number of the callers would a modest 
 
 maiden pall) 
 And her merry ringing laughter at the question of 
 
 the youth : 
 " Would she ever, could she ever be his helpmate 
 
 be his wife ? ' '
 
 But the answer to his question was evaded by a 
 
 jest, 
 Yet he loved her all the better and attentive 
 
 lingered near. 
 Was he jealous of a rival ! she would calm him 
 
 with a kiss ; 
 Then forgotten was his doubting ; she his darling, 
 
 she his miss. 
 
 64
 
 THE REFORMER. 
 
 A RISE ! desires of perfected state, 
 
 Tumultuous swell with justful hate 
 My breast, (too oft in peaceful rest) 
 Against the evils that infest 
 My brothers, sisters, children all. 
 Accursed let the mighty fall 
 And crumbled lie beneath the dust, 
 If they forsake their honest trust. 
 Must we stand with shackled feet 
 Pinioned arms and see defeat ? 
 Rather by the sword and blood, 
 Than sink beneath this awful flood, 
 We perish ; equal rights the gain 
 To share intact the rest remain. 
 We dare appeal to honesty 
 The heart of magnaminity 
 Support and help down trodden man, 
 Romove the cause and burst the ban.
 
 A TRAVELER'S VISION. 
 
 J* Washington Irving ,jt 
 
 o 
 
 ( VER the sea, 
 
 To the land beyond ; 
 America, my country free. 
 
 Home of my youth 
 And of inurned sires ; 
 America, I love in truth. 
 
 Pride of a heart 
 That is loyal true ; 
 America, to thee my art. 
 
 There to the end, 
 Of a life in trust ; 
 America receive a friend. 
 
 66
 
 LA LUNA. 
 
 1 
 
 A 
 
 SILVER disk amidst the clouds 
 Now out shining, now in shrouds. 
 
 Enthroned she glides with regal grace 
 While the stars each gain their place. 
 
 The Queen of Love enamoured they 
 After trailing leave the day.
 
 EQUALITY. 
 
 T TNEQUAL is the race, 
 
 Yet such the Will, till they apace, 
 By dint of education, gain the goal. 
 Time may go, its surges roll ; 
 Each must work their destiny 
 And Wisdom's will their potent power be 
 Till then remain they as they are 
 The goal from them afar. 
 
 68
 
 THE HUNT. 
 
 ' | ^HE bugle sounds from o'er the lea, 
 
 The hounds are barking mad with glee 
 
 Nearer, nearer, 
 Thro' the coppice crashing come : 
 
 Louder, louder 
 Sounds the eager huntsman's hum. 
 
 The horses nearing now a rail 
 
 With graceful ease, the scantling scale ; 
 
 Faster, faster, 
 Reynard gains and leaves the field, 
 
 To the woodland : 
 Fate apparent doom is sealed. 
 
 Now plunging thro' the mucky bog, 
 Then leaping o'er the mossy log ; 
 
 Eager after, 
 Follow hounds that lead the chase, 
 
 Gaining slowly 
 Nearer now within a pace. 
 
 69
 
 The fox's strength begins to go ; 
 He turns and facing meets his foe 
 
 Closer, closer, 
 Fear a dash and all is o'er 
 
 Mad with frenzy 
 Reynard, limb from limb is torn. 
 
 70
 
 LO, AM I. 
 
 T>ENEATH the earth, the sea, the sky 
 
 Where e'er thou look, above or high, 
 Within, without, and always nigh 
 Lo, am I. 
 
 Unuttered tho' thine anguished cry 
 Lo, am I. 
 
 The grass you pass a-going by, 
 The autumn leaves that falling lie ; 
 Forsaken left alone to die 
 Lo, am I.
 
 NERO'S COMMANDS. 
 
 Jit The Burning of Rome ^t 
 
 TTIGHER! Higher! 
 Build the pyre. 
 
 Quenchless fire, 
 
 'Curst behold! 
 
 Princes' gold 
 
 Shall rise in smoke away, 
 Their homes in ashes lay." 
 
 " Higher ! Higher ! 
 
 Hear, I say ! 
 
 Ere the day. 
 
 I do rule 
 
 Thou my tool, 
 
 To touch the blazing torch 
 And they to feel its scorch." 
 
 72
 
 " Leap ye ! Leap ye ! 
 Crackle flames 
 Thro' the frames. 
 I will build, 
 Friezes guild 
 The envy of the world 
 Ye ashes, smoke encurled." 
 
 73
 
 THE TWO LOVERS. 
 
 P 
 
 BATTER, patter, 
 
 On the roof. 
 Clatter, clatter, 
 
 Horses' hoof. 
 Matter, matter, 
 
 All enough ; 
 Hatter, Hatter 
 
 Sniffs his snuff. 
 Hannah, Hannah ; 
 
 All a-fluff; 
 Ana, Ana ; 
 
 Sleeves a-puff; 
 Dana, Dana ; 
 
 Stern and gruff : 
 
 74
 
 ' Undeceive me, 
 For you grieve me ; 
 Laughing, fooling, 
 Loved unruling : 
 Thou and Ana, 
 Stately Hannah, 
 Fix this matter 
 With old Hatter 
 
 Bid him go ! " 
 Clatter, clatter, 
 
 Let him know, 
 Patter, patter, 
 
 Thou and he 
 Chatter, chatter, 
 
 One will be. 
 
 75
 
 PERDU. 
 
 T"\IRT and mire 
 
 Filth and scum- 
 None admire 
 All are dumb 
 Yet they sire, 
 Nature's fairest, 
 Flowers rarest. 
 
 From the mere, 
 Waxen leaved, 
 Lilies pere, 
 Golden sheaved 
 Left to sere 
 Where the grasses 
 Sing their masses.
 
 SO CALLED REALISTS VS. POETS. 
 
 ^* A Satire t 
 
 / ~1T V HEY flout the poet's sylvan lays 
 
 And call him daft unfit for modern ways, 
 
 Yet tear him from the weary heart 
 And buoyant Hope from all would soon depart. 
 
 His sympathetic hand, the clouds 
 Dispells or shows beyond their somber shrouds, 
 
 A vision fair and beauteous. 
 
 Untrue, unreal to life they say 
 (Untutored, blind they see no sunny day ; 
 
 No soul inspiring men are brutes, 
 And made to live and die as dusky Utes. 
 
 No Golden temple lies within 
 Where peace and quiet reigns above the din, 
 
 Instead a dark and gloomy cell.) 
 
 77
 
 A poem dipt in flame sublime, 
 Its heights in scaling call a senseless rhyme ; 
 
 Would do for women or a few, 
 But they they want but journalistic brue. 
 
 Their skies are dark o'er streaked with red, 
 The breasts they suck protrude, by vitrol fed 
 
 Which burns away or sears their soul.
 
 AN INCA QUEEN. 
 
 t On the unearthing of a mummy of an Inca Queen 
 
 f I V HOU, Queen of once a haughty race, 
 Thy smile is now a weird grimace ; 
 Thy hair which hung in glossy fold 
 Was interwoven rich with gold ; 
 While now disheveled, wild and dull, 
 'Tis hanging wanton from thy skull : 
 Once lovers true thy fair hand sought, 
 For thee and honor bravely fought ; 
 Alas ! for now with thee are they, 
 Thy friends and foes, alike are clay. 
 
 79
 
 A GLIMPSE OF EDEN. 
 
 /^RAPE-VINES swinging, 
 
 Clusters clinging, 
 Purple are with wine. 
 
 Golden apples, 
 Red in dapples, 
 Tempt the palate's glee. 
 
 Bird-notes ringing, 
 Praises winging, 
 Fill the garden's shrine. 
 
 Fair a river, 
 God its giver, 
 Winds upon the lea. 
 
 Now dividing, 
 Four are gliding, 
 Each a regal stream. 
 
 80
 
 Chaliced bowers, 
 Hued with flowers, 
 Deep are hid with trees. 
 
 Bees out plucking, 
 Stamens sucking, 
 Gather honey's cream. 
 
 Ardor wafted, 
 Love ingrafted, 
 Breathes the balmy breeze. 
 
 Nought disturbing, 
 Love uncurbing, 
 Adam there and Eve. 
 
 81
 
 IS HONOR DEAD? 
 
 TTUMANITY ! Humanity ! 
 
 Thy fate hangs in the scale 
 Thy cheeks are blanchen pale 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Where is thy guiding star ? 
 It gleams, unseen, afar ; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Thy plumed wings are frail 
 And soaring sink to trail ; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 82
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Weep, wail and cry for peace, 
 Let not thy pleading cease ; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Thy luxuries are dross 
 And counteth to thee loss ; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Thy sires' ashes mold, 
 Thy love has waxen cold ; 
 Humanity, humanity.
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 To action and to self; 
 Away with cankered pelf; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Thy songs belie their name, 
 A dirge would fit thy shame ; 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 Humanity ! Humanity ! 
 Forget 'tis night and wake ; 
 For Honor is at stake : 
 Humanity, humanity. 
 
 84
 
 EMERSON IN THE WOODS. 
 
 ^TATURE, Nature, ev'ry where 
 
 God Eternal breathes the air. 
 Mountains raise their hoary heads, 
 Flowers blooming in their beds 
 All thro' All and He thro' All- 
 Song-birds, sweet, obey His call. 
 Red and green autumnal leaves, 
 Garnered trophies, golden sheaves ; 
 Silvered fishes in the pool, 
 Darting in and out the cool : 
 Moss that, lace-like, hangs on trees ; 
 Bells that bloom on sheltered leas ; 
 Cones that fall from spicy pines ; 
 Ruddy berries on frail vines ; 
 Sunset with its vari-hues ; 
 All attest and pay their dues. 
 Nature, Nature ev'ry where 
 God Eternal breathes the fair.
 
 THE HAUNTED CHURCH. 
 
 CHILDREN passed with dreaded fear, 
 Older people said 'twas queer. 
 
 Since the death of Deacon Brown, 
 Loved by all within the town, 
 
 Wails and screeches could be heard, 
 (Vouched by trusted person's word.) 
 
 How at night when passing by 
 They were startled by a cry. 
 
 And for years it now had stood, 
 Reft of chancel rail and rood. 
 
 Rocks demolished window panes ; 
 Wind and rain the room profanes. 
 
 Midnight trav'lers quaked with fear, 
 When they passed the church-yard near. 
 
 86
 
 Youth and sweetheart, walking nigh, 
 Speak not love but heave a sigh. 
 
 There the bats, in somber glee, 
 Pass within, from out the free. 
 
 Spiders hang their byssine nets, 
 Glow-worms act as candle jets. 
 
 Swallows, on the rafters tall, 
 
 Build their mud nests, free from all. ' 
 
 Beetles chirp the vesper song ; 
 Frogs join in and help along. 
 
 JVhen one night, when all was still, 
 Rang the bell, it sent a chill. 
 
 People talked and gossips said : 
 "Deacon Brown was six years dead." 
 
 "On that very day he passed 
 To where Saints are all amassed."
 
 Some one said, " Investigate 
 
 Who would dare and chance their fate ? ' ' 
 
 Some it favored, others, "No," 
 They refused to trust and go. 
 
 Six in all made ready soon ; 
 Ere the rising of the moon. 
 
 Armed with candles, guns and spear, 
 Ropes and ladders Harken ! Hear ! 
 
 Screeches filled the vaulted room, 
 Fancied thought did form assume. 
 
 Candles lit were soon out put, 
 Some one stumbled, hit his foot. 
 
 Lit again, with beating heart, 
 
 Thro' the church they onward start. 
 
 Up the belfry stairway, they, 
 Creaking now with Time's decay. 
 
 88
 
 Screech ! an owl, from towered perch, 
 Echoes woke within the church. 
 
 In the moonlight wings outspread 
 They had thought it walking dead. 
 
 And what caused that startling peal, 
 They that went in public weal, 
 
 Found a rotted beam that fell 
 Struck and rung that silent bell. 
 
 89
 
 SHAKESPEARE. 
 
 " O now, forever 
 
 Farewell the tranquil mind." 
 
 (Othello.) 
 
 TV /TIGHTY man of genius rare, 
 
 Well knowing all the ills and good 
 That Nature's kin are heir. 
 
 Love's or Melancholy's mood 
 Portray thou in a master hand, 
 Which critic's eye withstood. 
 
 Pleasures sweet and sorrow's pangs 
 Created thou from England's land, 
 Amid the warsome clangs. 
 
 Fancies flitted thro' thy brain, 
 
 And well thou knew and understood, 
 
 The fairies' hid domain. 
 
 90
 
 Passions swelling thro' the breast, 
 Thou culminate with wit and care, 
 And crown with merry zest. 
 
 Rising oft in tragic might : 
 Our mind in wonder sways, 
 Thou giver of delight.
 
 SCIENCE. 
 
 ^t A Satire ^t 
 
 1 REAT men of science, named as such ; 
 (Inflated minds of learning much) 
 Yet with audacity they claim, 
 
 Superior, their knowledge than the One, 
 
 Who made the earth, the sea and skies : 
 They doubt the Godhead's simple truth 
 And rear with diction doting whys : 
 
 Their own egregious suppositions tell, 
 
 And ask us faith and credence give 
 Some absonant and startling tale ; 
 They tell us how in complex strain, 
 
 ' In the vast backward and abysm of time ; ' 
 The earth and moon together one 
 Conglomerate and viscous mass, 
 Rotating swift in empty space, 
 
 Together with, and aggravated by 
 
 92
 
 The solar tides, which swaying thro', 
 Dividing made the moon and earth : 
 (They claim the earth from chaos came, 
 
 But whence came chaos ne'er can they explain.) 
 E'en man they try to catenate ; 
 His form and value underrate, 
 And credit give to shiftless chance ; 
 
 From tadpoles wriggling in the slimy pool, 
 From larvae of Ascidians too : 
 Thro' apes and monkeys earnest thou, 
 So loud declaim these learned few. 
 
 How myriads of years, now past remote, 
 With snail like gait we came the way, 
 Anon to man perfected grew, 
 While tracing deep our earthly tomb : 
 
 Yet lack they still the needed abreuvoir 
 Completing long their fragile chain, 
 (Or monumental massive frame, 
 Ambiguous in language claimed.) 
 
 93
 
 IN LOVE'S DOMAIN, 
 
 OR 
 
 THE POET'S WOOING. 
 
 OOFT gliding o'er the glassy pool, 
 
 They linger 'neath the willow's cool 
 How drinks he to his pleasure's full 
 Angelic, sweet and fair her face 
 To earth again ; another pull, 
 They disappear and leave no trace. 
 
 The by-path, long forsaken now, 
 
 Save by some youth or straying cow, 
 
 They stroll in silent extacy, 
 
 O'er brimmed with love's eternity, 
 
 Where babbling brooks forth songs evoke, 
 
 And lazy frogs awake and croak. 
 
 A fallen tree they rest and shy 
 He slips his arm about but why 
 Intrude ! the happy scene profane ! 
 How long the monarch there had lain ! 
 Its bosom nurtured many dream, 
 Betraying not by word or gleam. 
 
 94
 
 They wander by the mossy brook, 
 Coquetting, it their picture took 
 A slender maid with golden hair, 
 And laughing eyes, all debonair ; 
 A youth, Adonis like in grace 
 But ripples come and both eface. 
 
 95
 
 THE THREE ANGELS. 
 
 ^t A Birth t 
 
 T TER angel hovers, that the pain to bear 
 Be softened by a holy, loving care. 
 
 His angel watches o'er, with spreading wings, 
 Proclaiming joy in music's gladest strains. 
 
 Its angel guards and laurel brings 
 
 To crown the sweetest name that earth contains. 
 
 96
 
 UNIMPASSIONED SERVICE. 
 
 /^> LICK click click 
 
 The myriad of voices sound, 
 Tales of woes, of hopes and fears, 
 Uncanny tales that all astound, 
 Crimes of youth, of ageing years, 
 Draws no sympathizing tears ; 
 Be the message that of love 
 
 Tick tick tick 
 
 The murmur harshly sounds above ; 
 A fortune lost, a duel fought, 
 A belle of former years insane, 
 It hears but hearing all unsought 
 Expresses naught but calm disdain ; 
 The battle fray, its slaughtered slain 
 
 Click click click 
 With merry zest and wanton mirth 
 It tells the tale of famish dearth. 
 
 97
 
 A BACHELOR'S CONTENT. 
 
 T? MPURPLED curtains arabesque ; 
 Antique a carved writing desk : 
 Reclining, sweet with comfort brought, 
 He sits content in dreamy ease ; 
 Fantastic grows his mind unsought 
 With visions best that loving please. 
 
 Soft hazy grows the air and why ? 
 As circles up the circles high : 
 Ethereal his fancies are 
 Deep azure eyes and golden hair 
 Are floating past him in the far, 
 Alluring him to Beauty's lair. 
 
 98
 
 He smells the subtle perfume sweet, 
 Of times when he was indiscreet ; 
 How thought he then his passions true, 
 His love undying, she his queen : 
 Yet time with love and feeling flew, 
 Alone remaining mem'ry's sheen. 
 
 Another floats in fancy by, 
 And tender grows his loving eye ; 
 Tho' wrinkled now her saintly face 
 And streaked with gray her chestnut hair- 
 He gazes long, its features trace, 
 As circles high it in the air. 
 
 99
 
 THE JOURNEY'S END. 
 
 TT 7HEN on the shore of hallowed time, 
 
 When locks are gray and tinged with rime, 
 We look back o'er our trodden path, 
 Where lies our follies there a scath. 
 If but we could the scars eface ! 
 If but we could perfection trace ! 
 Alas ! we knew nor thought in youth 
 That age would carve unwelcome truth. 
 Our bacchic pleasures tasted sweet ; 
 We did our will were indiscreet. 
 But now ere life has closed its day, 
 And feeble steps attend our way, 
 We see that when the sun was bright 
 'Twas dark and somber, day was night ; 
 And sorrow was refining fire 
 To fill us with a soul's desire. 
 
 100
 
 ODE TO YO SEMITE. 
 
 TJAIL! 
 
 Yo Semite, 
 
 Sublime and grand : 
 Thy rising rocky cliffs, 
 Thy deepen sunken rifts, 
 Thy verdured hills ; 
 Thy rippling rills ; 
 My praise command 
 Yet awes my praises still. 
 Thy mystic "Bridal Veil," 
 The rarest gem 
 Of thy bejewelled crown, 
 With filmy splashing spray, 
 Its iridescent hue 
 Of rainbows showing thro', 
 As speeds it on its way. 
 "El Capitan " whose massive walls 
 The gazer's mind appalls : 
 
 101
 
 Thy rushing, crashing water-falls, 
 Thy rich beflowered mountain trail 
 My soul with longings fill. 
 
 Hail! 
 
 "South Dome," the throne 
 
 Of once fair Tissaack, 
 
 The Valley's Goddess great ; 
 
 Whose feathered wings 
 
 Have left behind their trace, 
 
 For springing from the dale 
 
 Below, thou honored dome, 
 
 White violets of purest grace, 
 
 Beside the meadow's mere, 
 
 Attest her presence dear : 
 
 How once Tutockanula, Chief, 
 
 To 'scape his melancholy grief 
 
 From " Capitan " to South Dome track, 
 
 A 
 
 Bedecked as for some gaysome fete, 
 With painted face and golden rings 
 From peak to peak and trail 
 He onward hies, 
 Away she flies 
 
 102
 
 In vain his love was wasted, 
 
 Its sweetness never tasted. 
 
 Thy ribboned name sake fall, 
 
 The highest of them all ; 
 
 With just affinity 
 
 Lays claim to trinity : 
 
 Thy " Glacier Point," the view 
 
 From overhanging rock 
 
 More wonderful and new : 
 
 Thy mirrored lake, 
 
 Reflecting tall and great 
 
 The valleys beaks in state ; 
 
 The massive walls, the trees 
 
 Their primal tint partake. 
 
 Fair Illilouette, 
 
 Thy shooting stream, 
 
 At noon a seething jet 
 
 Prismatic in its gleam : 
 
 Nevada rushing forth 
 
 In regal splendor falls 
 
 And crashes deep below, 
 
 Then running swiftly onward cool, 
 
 In cataract of diamonds flash, 
 
 103
 
 Then still and deep in "Em 'raid Pool" 
 
 It gathers fresh for final crash 
 
 When off and o'er again 
 
 Now "Vernal" is its name. 
 
 And laughing white, 
 
 Below it whirls 
 
 'Mid "Happy Isles"; 
 
 Soft singing yet the whiles 
 
 With pure delight 
 
 As thro' the meadows green it curls. 
 
 Hail! 
 
 Again, * thrice hail ! 
 
 Yo Semite : 
 
 Thy praises ring 
 
 From vale 
 
 To trail ; 
 
 Thy waters sing 
 
 As ripple they 
 
 In joyful play ; 
 
 Thy flowers sweet 
 
 Doth strangers greet 
 
 And "Welcome" say. 
 
 104
 
 Alas ! due justice not 
 I give to thee 
 I fail am lost 
 In passions tossed. 
 
 105
 
 A MODERN BELLE. 
 
 TJELINDA with a jaunty grace, 
 
 Smiling eyes and saucy face ; 
 Coquetting with a native born 
 
 Lightly trips the terraced lawn, 
 Elusive lest he think her tame 
 
 Off she goes as coming came 
 His rival, meeting, stops to talk 
 
 He alone, obliged to walk, 
 Else stand till she unwind her string 
 
 Scandal, gossip, both 'twill bring. 
 Unlucky he or lucky say 
 
 He who stays who stays away. 
 
 106
 
 THE HERMIT. 
 
 T HAVE no friends 
 
 I want no friends 
 
 Save nature in its myriad of countless forms ; 
 A butter-cup, or better yet, a spray of ferns- 
 The butter-flies, the garden worms 
 My love for them with fervor burns. 
 I see in them a friend of truth 
 They love and answer not 
 They speak and murmur not 
 Away ! ye babbling rabble away ! forsooth. 
 
 107
 
 THE GLORY OF OUR FLAG. 
 
 TT7HEN flung to breezes, sunlight lit 
 
 How swells the breast, with passions swift, 
 In love and valor closely knit, 
 Till lost the sense does drifting drift. 
 
 Our sires' blood has stained the red 
 Which gleams with glory of the past 
 We hear again the deeds of dead 
 That slumber now where gloom is cast. 
 
 The stripes of white, sweet purity, 
 
 Are mothers' pray'rs for peace and good 
 
 For Freedom, Love and Unity, 
 
 For God and Country, both, they stood. 
 
 The tears of loved ones glist as stars, 
 Inset in heaven's azure moat, 
 Which, tri-fold, crowns co-equal bars, 
 That winds, unfurling, glories float. 
 
 108
 
 GOLD. 
 
 /^OLD, Gold, 
 
 The goal, from birth to death, behold ! 
 It lures the youth, it lures a host ; 
 They grasp its shimmering form, 
 Alas to some alas to most ; 
 It fades, beyond the mad storm. 
 Some unscathed have reached and held, 
 (Avarice with purpose weld) 
 Elusive, past it you glide, 
 Anew you try, anew you fail ; 
 Old age has come to deride 
 Becalmed you have a flapping sail 
 You drift, awaiting winds too late. 
 
 109
 
 Gold, Gold, 
 
 Its throne, a cradle does enfold 
 
 Where some are lulled, in drowsy sleep 
 
 And hear not murmuring want 
 
 The harvest theirs which others reap. 
 
 No wolf, a hungering gaunt 
 
 Stands before their well latched door. 
 
 Storms of life, their angry roar 
 
 Sweeps by and over their head. 
 
 From gemmate youth to manhood's height 
 
 They feel nor hear haunting dread, 
 
 Their songs are airy, gaysome, light 
 
 Their night is starry, roseate cast. 
 
 no
 
 DIANA'S HUNT. 
 
 THE PREPARATION. 
 
 Ii^ORTH, from the stream, ye naiads, fair, 
 
 Diana bids thee hasten pace ! 
 Forth from the woodland's sylvan lair, 
 Come dryads, too, to join the chase ! 
 See ! on the mountain slopes are stags 
 Lost to the one that loiters lags. 
 Hark ! to the baying of the hounds, 
 They leap with joy to hear the horn ; 
 Eager for sport, each, woodward bounds 
 To rout the deep sequestered fawn. 
 
 in
 
 THE HUNT. 
 
 Off, through the wood with dart and bow, 
 Alert lest game escape away. 
 On, through the vale they deeper go, 
 Till, high, they climb the mountain way. 
 Swift, through the air their arrows dart 
 Straight to the mark, each, cleaves a heart. 
 Loud, do the dogs, with barking stay 
 The pathway leading to retreat ; 
 Keeping, in fear, the doe at bay, 
 Till piercing missies calm defeat. 
 
 THE RETURN. 
 
 Borne, by the breeze, announcing gain, 
 To those that had from hunting staid, 
 Songs of the victors swept the plain, 
 Till they emerging filled the glade. 
 Each from the hunt a trophy had, 
 Over her shoulder, like a lad. 
 Proudly they bore their anthers high ; 
 As soldiers, when returning, come 
 Straight from the field with triumph's cry, 
 In martial step to beating drum. 
 
 I 12
 
 IN BONDAGE. 
 
 T\ yTY heart doth yearn, 
 My spirits burn : 
 I would be free, 
 Yet dare not flee 
 Before are walls 
 I cannot scale ; 
 Behind appalls 
 My cheek doth pale 
 Unfathomed depths, 
 Where to descend 
 Would be to end.
 
 WAKING THE WILD FLOWERS. 
 
 A URORA comes, 
 
 And lambs proceed 
 Attached to cords, 
 Of pinken silk ; 
 They frisk thro' grass, 
 Thro' meadows green, 
 Thro' valleys, dales, 
 O'er hilly slopes, 
 And bids them forth 
 Their flowers ope : 
 Small baby-eyes, 
 Of sky blue hue, 
 Forth petals shoot, 
 To charm and lure ; 
 And poppies rare, 
 In orange dye, 
 Awake and nod ; 
 
 114
 
 While butter-cups, 
 Of golden tint, 
 With equal grace, 
 Their faces show : 
 And "jonnie-jumps " 
 Tho' deeply hid, 
 In grasses tall, 
 Obey her call : 
 The sweet wild rose, 
 Of dainty pink, 
 'Mid leaves of green, 
 With pleasure smiles 
 Upon the train : 
 And lilies fair, 
 Of snowy white, 
 On tallen stems 
 Of texture light ; 
 Their beauty add, 
 The scene enhance :
 
 Shy daisies, small, 
 Their utmost try, 
 To catch a glimpse ; 
 To see her smile : 
 Empurpled bells, 
 Of silken text, 
 In ecstasy 
 
 Peal forth their thanks 
 The fruit trees, too, 
 With blossoms sweet, 
 The pathway scent, 
 With perfume rare : 
 And singing birds, 
 With joyful songs, 
 Announce the news 
 Aurora comes ; 
 As flying they, 
 From tree to tree, 
 Are wont to go. 
 
 116
 
 THE IDEAL. 
 
 ~j\ yf"Y fond ambition lies beyond, 
 
 Entowered, high, above the clouds, 
 I follow on I grasp 'tis gone ; 
 Again I grasp a mist enshrouds 
 Yet still I hope and follow on. 
 
 117
 
 TO A SNUFF BOX. 
 
 jt A Sonnet t 
 
 ECEPTACLE of that once fond delight 
 
 Of dear ancestral sires and kith of blood ; 
 Who oft were wont to bring thee forth in trite 
 A pinch to sniff, while tears would flush and flood 
 The uninitiated loud cachoos, 
 One followed by another, till the last. 
 It was, (in troth) a fond and loving ruse 
 Oft played on children and the gentler cast. 
 Thy sweet vignetted face, now dim with years, 
 With puffed hair in odd and quaint design 
 Recalls to memory, as mystic seers, 
 That rare, exquisite, gracefulness benign, 
 Enhancing maiden beauty of thy time, 
 When nature tinted, pink, thy cheeks with clime. 
 
 118
 
 THE PASSING CENTURY. 
 
 /^\UT on the iron crane of time, 
 
 Swung by the smith with his mighty arm, 
 Swings the century, hoary with rime, 
 Moulden and shapen beneath its barm. 
 
 Swift as it moves to its graven place, 
 A shadow it cast on the pregnant earth : 
 Darkly the dawn, of an age, we trace ; 
 Dumb at the thought of its awful birth. 
 
 119
 
 WHERE SHADOWS FALL. 
 
 T1ENEATH the shade of spreading trees, 
 In nook sequestered from the breeze, 
 Where birds their songs of praises sing, 
 As from the ground to branch they wing, 
 And ripples of the streamlet near, 
 Are heard with sweetness to the ear. 
 
 The sunlight here a shadow there : 
 A dream of forms then vanished where ? 
 On trailing vines that cling to oak, 
 Where nectar hangs 'neath purple cloak ; 
 Where lilies rise with saintly grace 
 And incense breathe a lover's place. 
 
 A long deserted trail or path, 
 Now thick o'er grown an aftermath 
 A space a well reflected joys 
 Here nature, nature's lover, cloys 
 With buzz of bees as to and fro 
 From buds and blossoms oft they go.
 
 THE POETESS OF LOVE. 
 
 < Elizabeth Barrett Browning t 
 
 LOVE that love is good and true 
 
 That loving love is both and two ; 
 And ranging sweet in sweetest strain 
 Is ventured forth, but not in vain. 
 
 121
 
 LOVE'S POET. 
 
 ^8 Robert Browning 
 
 TT7"E read thee once our duty do, 
 
 We read again with pleasures new 
 Thy love is true to Nature's art 
 It pierces thro' into the heart. 
 
 122
 
 AT GATES OF SONG. 
 
 T LINGER at the gates of song, 
 
 I fain would stay and linger long. 
 
 The melodies, sweet, fill the air ; 
 The harmonies are rich and rare. 
 
 Here winged songsters, swift in flight, 
 With tragic lays, pierce thro' the night. 
 
 Here love with sweetest jealousies 
 With love unsullen best agrees. 
 
 And dreams, of songs enchantment, lure 
 Poetic thoughts from prose demure. 
 
 Spero Meliora. 
 
 123
 
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