my SOLDIGR BOV MRS.JOHN ARCHIBALD MORISON THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES My Soldier Boy And Other Poems BY MRS. JOHN ARCHIBALD MORISON BOSTON: THE GORHAM PRESS TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY MRS. JOHN ARCHIBALD MORISON All Rights Reserved The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS PAGE My Soldier Boy 7 A Soldier s Wife 8 Ypres 9 Somewhere in France " 10 Are Ye Worthy? n God Save Our Empire 12 June 13 Success 14 August 15 November ..... 16 Autumn 17 Winter 18 Summer 19 Death 20 The Mountains 21 Morning 22 A Summer Evening 23 The Evening of Life 24 March 24 Indian Summer 25 Baby Mine 26 Spring Days 27 The True Friend 28 A Recollection 29 626080 CONTENTS PAGE Music 30 Remembrance 31 I Love Thee 32 Love 33 Lines for a Guest Book 34 An Autumn Night 34 Springtime in the City 35 Life s Requirement 35 Goldenrod 36 An Easter Greeting 37 A New Year s Greeting 38 A Child s Prayer 39 Easter 40 Christmas 41 Only a Teacher 42 Hope 43 The New-Mown Hay 44 When Autumn Comes 45 White Caps 46 MY SOLDIER BOY MY SOLDIER BOY SOLDIER boy, O soldier boy, Strong and brave and true, You re off to fight for England And for the Empire too. soldier boy, I m proud, I m proud, I don t deny, Tho in my throat a tightness And tears will fill my eyes. 1 give him up to England England don t you see I love, I love thee, England, My heart I send to thee. My brave and true and strongest Pure gold without alloy, O England, England, England, 1 gave my soldier boy. A SOLDIER S WIFE HE S gone! It seems as if the world stood still Time s lost its rhythm: Lengthening hours too long, To-morrow I must work, I ll have my fill To-day of loneliness, it may be wrong But naught s worth while when he s away, His chair and book are wrapt in silence And seem to wait and listen all the day, With loneliness and waiting that is tense I strive to hear the step that comes not, And then I fall asleep and think he s near, I wake and smother back the tears : the sought Is far away O GOD, TO HIM BE NEAR. YPRES Ypres, April 22-24, I 9 I 5- IMMORTAL they who won Ypres! O Canada! Thy sons untried, Died as heroes ever died. Was it the blood of all their sires Calling them on and on through fire? Exhaustion, agony, despair, A deadly gas that filled the air. Nor flinched, nor ever thought retreat, These lads who did not know defeat, Fought on and on until they won. O Canada, thy worthy sons! The midnight hour in that dark wood Their souls in exaltation stood ; They vanquished death : Immortal they, Who saved the Empire at Ypres. "SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE" SOMEWHERE in France Marked by a cross That is all, save the heart loss, Still in his grave he lies Smiled on by sunny skies Wept on by cold bleak rain While on clear nights in vain The silent stars are tapers lit While here I sit lone, lone and knit. Somewhere in France No hope, no chance I see Can ever bring him back to me Only a silence without despair Proud he lies a hero there. The rainbow will smile above it The wild rose too will bloom a bit Somewhere in France. France and my soul are knit Richer the soil of it Where thousands of brave men die There side by side they lie Never again to his native land Always to rest with that noble band Lilies of France with hearts of gold Stand guard o er the graves of these heroes bold. 10 ARE YE WORTHY? ARE ye worthy, ye of the British Empire, Are ye worthy the men that die? Worthy the pain and suffering Worthy the sacrifice? Ye of the British Empire, are ye worthy All this for you; They are willing and glad to do. There are wounded and suffering in Flanders And out on the Dardanelles, Not to speak of the gallant sailors Their vigil ye know it well. Are ye worthy, ye of the British Empire Are ye worthy we ask it again Worthy such sorrow and pain? And after they ve saved the Empire Are ye worthy to make and to frame (Worthy the blood and the fire) An Empire untarnished in name? Worthy the pain and the suffering Worthy the men who die. . . . Worthy the blood and the sorrow Worthy the sacrifice? II GOD SAVE OUR EMPIRE * GOD save our Empire now And let her never bow At tyrant s knee Preserve her ; strong for right And ever brave to fight Defending truth with might While Empires be. God guard our Empire long Keep her both great and strong Dauntless and free Send her a gracious dower Help her in danger s hour Protect her mighty power On land and sea. *God Save Our Empire, My Soldier Boy, A Soldiers Wife and "Somewhere in France" have received Honourable Mention with High Commendation in the Prize Competi tion in the "Bookman," London. 12 JUNE O JUNE so fair! O June so fleet! Your hours go by on winged feet. O June so blue! O June so green! With just some fleecy clouds between. O June so sweet! O June so fair! While buds are bursting everywhere. O June for love! O June for joy! And June for beauty, unalloy. SUCCESS To wake while yet the day is young, To feel that there are songs unsung, To find your work each rising sun, To know the joy of work well done. To catch the joy each passing day, The throbbing joy of life, I say, In sun and wind and rain and sky, And lift a thankful heart on high. To know always that life is sweet With love and home there s no defeat Success in life ! You ve found the clue, Believe me, friend, I tell you true. AUGUST FULL to the brim is summer s cup With sunshine joy filled up, The sun beats down on sandy shores The waters lap idly o er and o er, The earth is warm and dry and sweet All is bathed in a solar heat; Neath great wide stretch of sunny sky The vast broad sweep of waters lie. Now are summer s hopes complete Now the rest of contentment sweet. NOVEMBER THERE S always a promise of better things Tis November that holds the buds of spring. There s always a promise of better things Tho over your life the shadows cling. When all the summer s joy is gone And clouds hang thick for days along, The fog is damp and cold and gray The joy of life is behind you say; Just look at the bushes and buds on the way, The buds are forming already for May, They are the promise of coming spring There s always a promise of better things. In the winter that makes your life so bare Look well and you ll find the buds hidden there. 16 AUTUMN THERE is magic in her colors and witcheries abound And soft the leaves are whispering that drop upon the ground. The maple trees are making to crown her noble head A floating scarf, of crimson, of gold and flaming red. While fading ferns give fragrance, the strong and sturdy oak Will toss upon her shoulders his own deep colored cloak. The beeches and the birches are weaving yards of gold, And the bittersweet and woodbine make draperies untold. While out upon the silent hills that only seem to wait The long blue veils are making to wrap her up when late. The color and the witchery that everywhere abound. O close your eyes and listen to that soft rustling sound. The witchery of color! What joy there is in sight ! But tis what autumn makes me feel that gives my heart delight. WINTER OFT have I pitied one and all Who shut themselves in city wall And know not that though summer s fled Winter and beauty now are wed. Oft have I seen the sky as blue And seen the river run as true, Or loved the golden sunny noon As in fair June. I ve seen the sunshine on the hill And heard the birds in joyous thrill And seen the sunset O so tender! In bleak December. The frozen road makes easy pace The cold clear air upon my face And I ani gay and young, remember, Tis cold December. 18 SUMMER O WHY was the summer so sweet? Twas made of dawns and of calm noontides And sunsets where colors reside. The beautiful peace of the deep purple night And the glorious joy of sunlight: The friendship of stars, of wind and of trees Good comrades indeed were these; The sound on the pane of the sweet gentle rain That comes like an old refrain, The soft night breeze that sang in the trees And told of the murmuring sea: The love in your eyes that time did defy Twas that made a summer for me. DEATH O DEATH! come not near, Take not from me the one so dear. Is there no bribe you take? Is there no challenge I can make Will keep thee back? O Death! stand back, Cans t thou not wait? Beyond thy gate, eternal silence is the fate. My gold, my all with thee I stake The price of just one day. O Death cans t thou not wait But one more day? 20 THE MOUNTAINS THE mountains lift their heads on high To hear the music of the sky They stand so strong, so firm, so still The storms break over them at will They care not for the tempest blow For stormy blast or icy snow: Serene, let all the world go by They hear the music of the sky. 21 MORNING SUNSHINE on the river Shining on the mill, Just a little mist Hanging on the hill; Cattle seek their pasture Where the grass is new, Every bird is singing Of its love anew; Pretty little white sails Fallen fast asleep Wait for morning breeze To make them dance and leap; All the grass and daisies Wet with shining dew, Wonderful the sunshine Every day renewed. 22 A SUMMER EVENING THE summer sun is setting And the winds are quiet and still While the shades of blue are deepening On the slope of yonder hill. The little birds are singing In the trees an even song And I hear the bells a-tinkling As the cattle come along; The light so quiet and pleasing And the fragrance from the flowers : My heart to beauty yielding Feels the sweetness of the hour. THE EVENING OF LIFE WHEN the sun of life is setting And the strife of life is still, And we know our journey s over, And we are waiting for His will, May that even be as peaceful As a summer eve is calm, While we come into the harbor At our gracious Lord s command. MARCH O MARCH, we love thy lengthening days With lovely sunshine gladdening rays And though the winter to thee cling We ll journey with thee to the spring. 24 INDIAN SUMMER SUMMER S gone : We said good-bye Saw her going with a sigh Saw the birds fly south away Saw the sky grow sad and grey Then upon our mist and rain Summer turned her face again; There was pathos in her gaze In her eyes a misty haze But twas summer, and her smile Into gladness did beguile. Those who have no vision clear Said "Ah! Indian Summer s here." We who knew her face so well Knew she d turned to say farewell. BABY MINE WHERE did that little baby go I used to love and cuddle so? She did not die or run away But just grew bigger day by day; And now in place of Baby Mine I ve got a child to run and climb. Where did that little baby go I used to love and cuddle so? Then came a child with books and skates Would rather play with little mates, She s grown so big, she s grown so tall I wonder if she s mine at all. Where did that little baby go I used to love and cuddle so? 26 SPRING DAYS THE sun is beaming Water streaming Cocks are crowing Cattle lowing Birds are singing Earth is ringing With the glad springtime. Clouds are flying Fields are drying Flowers are budding Sunshine flooding Buds are bursting Earth is thirsting For the glad springtime. THE TRUE FRIEND YOUR friendship has not faltered And your kindness never altered Nor in your thinking aught but true No need explain it all to you In storm and stress you stood beside Fortune frowned when scandal lied Friends forsook and hope denied "Now let me help whate er betide" Though fortune smiles still you are true I thank the Lord each night for you. A RECOLLECTION WHEN I was just a little tot We sisters slept in one small cot: Our granny dear would come upstairs "O Bairnies, have you said your prayers?" And this each night was what she said And snugly tucked us up in bed Then patting back my wayward hair "O Bairnies, have you said your prayer?" But sorrow crept inside our door: Then first I learned the face she wore My heart was filled with pain and fear "Come say a prayer, my Bairnie dear." Since then the years have passed away Yet still I seem to hear her say, When days are dark and filled with care "O Bairnie, have you said your prayer?" 29 MUSIC IT is singing all around overhead I hear it in the wind I have said. In the rustling of the leaves that are dead It is singing everywhere. At the dawn, You can hear it in the twilight pale and wan And in the golden sunshine all day long. In the storm, in the mist and in the rain Though you may not know the sound there s the strain Of music. If you catch it you have gain In the waters as they break on the shore In the bloom of the rose bush by the door You can hear it singing o er and o er. In the moonlight as it floods through the trees When it shines upon the waters of the seas Everywhere it s whispering in the breeze. Everywhere around it s afloat Sometimes, I catch far off just a note Or perhaps it s an echo, so remote, Of those heavenly songs that fly Like sweet incense to the sky; For it s everywhere on earth and on high. REMEMBRANCE FORGET! Ah no, life s cares dispel But always it comes back to me The thought of thee ! Ah well, The thought of thee, like music sweet Heard mid the din of city street Then lost amid the strife, So memory breaks into my life. I LOVE THEE I LOVE thee, O I love thee, as the sunrise loves the morn, I love thee as the birds love when the golden light is born, I love thee, ah I love thee, as the night clouds love the star, I love thee, yes I love thee, though thou shine un- dimmed afar, I love thee, O I love thee, as the wavelets love the shore, I love, I love, I love thee, I love thee and adore. I love thee, yes I love thee, as the color loves the rose, I love thee, as the sun a hilltop, when the day is near its close, I love thee with the tenderness of sunset s after glow When all the warmth of color breaks o er my soul. I know, I love thee with the steadfastness of cliffs where oceans sweep I love thee and eternally my love for thee will keep. LOVE WHEN the mount to Mahomet has run When the earth has forgotten the sun When the work of the world is all done Then shall I cease to love thee. When I ve mortgaged my castles in Spain When laughter and life are in vain When dreams come true in the main Then shall I cease to love thee. When the birds come not back in the spring When the lilacs no perfume shall bring When the moonlight no magic shall fling Then shall I cease to love thee. When my ships come home from the sea When the tides all run and are free And time itself shall not be Then shall I cease to love thee. 33 LINES FOR A GUEST BOOK I THANK thee for thy kind behest Which bade me be thy welcome guest For hospitality so fair Of which I ve had a royal share. For thy hospitalitie To this goodly companie Ere we make our farewell bow, Let us thank thee here and now. AN AUTUMN NIGHT THE brilliant silent stars look down Upon the sleeping wind-swept town The dead leaves fall upon the ground Whirl through the streets with dreary sound. 34 SPRINGTIME IN THE CITY ONLY a bunch of violets wild Pinned on the coat of a little child As she passed me by in the dusty street But it opened to me a vista sweet. LIFE S REQUIREMENT A LITTLE work, a little play, A few friends true upon the way, Enough to eat, enough to wear And just a little bit to share, Some one to love and be beloved A faith and trust in God above. A roof my own above my head, A place to lie in when I m dead; With health and hope and courage grand What more from life can kings command. 35 GOLDENROD PRETTY little Goldenrod Shakes her graceful head and nods, Nods farewell to summer gay Autumn now is on the way. Straight and graceful does she stand First of autumn s heralds grand Bright and beautiful are they Autumn now is on the way. Like the sun when day is done Thou art summer s setting sun; Soon the tints will fade to grey Autumn now is on the way. AN EASTER GREETING MAY all your griefs and sorrows Be buried deep to-day; And all your pain and sadness Lie low in the grave for aye : But may there rise triumphant Into your heart anew A joy and love and gladness And peace, sweet peace, for you. A NEW YEAR S GREETING MAY joy and hope and happiness Be yours this coming year ; May love of those that you love Bring to your heart much cheer. May you have the best of blessings That this round year contains, May you know much of its gladness And but little of its pain. A CHILD S PRAYER O JESUS! Thou who loved the children And held them in thine arms Look on me and love me And keep me safe from harm. Thou who blessed the children That gathered round thy knee Look on me and bless me And keep my life for thee. 39 EASTER THE garden grave, Gethsemane, are past Easter morn! And joy had come at last. False friends forgot: And the crown of thorn In the glory of the resurrection morn. A garden grave, Gethsemane, for me? An Easter morn for those who trust in thee? Sorrow and pain are o er, then by His grace Hail Easter morn! To wake and see His face. 40 CHRISTMAS THE spirit of Christmas! O come let it reign In church and in market In street and in lane. So long as the earth Has sadness and tears So long as the Christ Brings comfort and cheer To hearts that are weary And lonely, I hold The spirit of Christmas Shall never grow old. ONLY A TEACHER ONLY a teacher But to her it is given To open the eyes To a glorious vision And no one again Can close out the light To minds opened once To a heavenly sight. Only a teacher But to her it is given To plant in fresh souls Some seeds from heaven That shall glow in the darkness And even in strife That shall blossom for aye In eternal life. HOPE HOPE is a lovely maiden That comes to us all laden With joy and love and sweet success And all that seems in life to bless. Sometimes she does deceive us And then we bid her leave us But if she really does depart Night settles down upon the heart; But soon she comes back creeping And soothes away our weeping And thus while times we doubt her We cannot live without her This lovely little maiden With gifts of life so laden. 43 THE NEW-MOWN HAY SWEET is the smell of new-mown hay The reapers are cutting so gaily to-day It smells of sunshine of showers and dew Clover and daisies and buttercups too It smells as if the grass had caught Some of the south breeze fragrance that brought Spring s frail blossoms out of the trees Kept it all summer, now lends it to me The smell so sweet of the new-mown hay Is the garnered sweetness of summer days. 44 WHEN AUTUMN COMES THERE S a crimson leaf in the maple tree There s a song in my heart this sight to see For autumn I love so fair is she. There s a touch of gold in my garden fair There are golden thoughts in my heart so rare For autumn is here her beauty I share. There s a purple touch by the highway road There s joy for my heart s forgotten its load For autumn yields beauty where no man sowed. There s a bracing breath by the west wind sent There are shadows deep on the hills cloud lent Autumn has come and my heart s content. 45 WHITE CAPS THE wind came out of the north and blew And then on the waters the white caps grew, The water was black and the caps were white And it looked like an army coming in sight; Helmets gleaming, on, on, they came Wave upon wave yet always the same And all the armies of days gone by Came up to me and passed me by And the noble deeds of the days of yore Came with the white caps to the shore. 46 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY LOS ANGELES A fee of 3c per day u charged for this book which was withdrawn on the last date stamped below. Book slip-lm-1, 49 (82574)483 THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA I. OS Moris on - 3525 My soldier boy, M817m fUL , PS 3525 M817m ;^/ r -r^ $ML / ._ -sO&i