THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES BIRD LYRICS AND OTHER POEMS BIRD LYRICS AND OTHER POEMS BY CHARLES E. JACKSON PORTLAND, ME. SMITH & SALE, PUBLISHERS 1909 COPYRIGHT 1909 BY SMITH ft SALE Cover design by Mrs. C. E. Jackson. iflij &on, WHOSE KEEN INTEREST AND LOVE FOR THE BIRDS HAVE BEEN A GREAT COMFORT TO ME I DEDICATE THIS BOOK O heart of mine, these songs of thine Are tokens of thine own good will; Call them now thine, friend of mine, I trust the good outweighs the ill. CONTENTS PAGE BIRD LYRICS: The Birds Come North . . v . 3 Good Morning, Robin . ;.- . - 4 The Awakening . . . . t 5 The Bird Chorus . . . . 6 A Matin Song . . . 7 The Mayflowers Serenade . . 8 Apple Blossoms . . . 9 Mother Love 10 Wee Bird, I m in Love with You . 11 The Warbler in the Pine Grove . 12 A Summer Morning . . . .13 A Rose- Breasted Grosbeak is Singing 14 On Seeing a Nest of Nearly Full Grown Verys . . . .15 Oriole s Nest 16 Bluebird .17 Goldfinch 18 Bobolink . . . ... 19 Redstart . . . . . .20 Oriole . . . . . . 21 Redwing . . . . . . 22 Tohee ... . < v . 23 Humming-Bird . . . 24 vii CONTENTS PAGE Sea-Gull . . ^ .. . .25 Crow . . . V . . 26 Catbird ..... . .27 Song-Sparrow . . . . .28 Hermit-Thrush .... 29 Whip-poor-will . . . .30 Chickadee ..... 31 Snow-Bunting 32 The Bobolink s Good Night . . 33 The Wood-Thrush at Eve . . 34 Lullaby ...... 35 OTHER POEMS : In May 39 Midsummer . . . . .40 November . . . . .41 The First Snowfall . . . .42 Seasons ...... 44 The Little Seed . . . .45 To the Mayflower . . . .46 Pansies 47 The Wild Rose .... 48 June 17 49 The Multi-millionaire . . .50 My Little Fellow . . . .51 My Life Pilgrimage . . . .52 The Father and His Child 53 vm CONTENTS PAGB A Stormy Night at Home . . .54 My Life at Forty . , . . 55 My Church . ... .56 In Him We Live . " . , . -. .57 Faith . . . . . . 58 Invocation . . ... 59 Two Singers 60 Dedicatory Poem . . .61 To Hermann Kotzschmar . . 63 St Valentine s Day . . . .64 Coquette 65 My Library 66 Madonna 67 Alpha and Omega . . . .68 Poetry 69 Sunset . . . . .70 Impulse ...... 71 With a Wedding Gift ... 72 Wedding Anniversary . . .73 Doris 74 Baby 75 Life 76 Easter 77 A Foreword 78 Lincoln 79 McKinley . . . . .80 George W. Marston . . . .81 be CONTENTS PAGE Memorial Day . . . . 82 Good Night . . . . .83 Sacrifice . . . . . .84 From the Depths . . . .85 Which One is Dead . . . .86 The Still Small Voice ... 87 The Passing Day . . . .88 The Conflict 89 A Touch of Nature . . . .90 To Work 91 Soliloquy 92 BIRD LYRICS The eagle suffers little birds to sing. SHAKESPEARE THE BIRDS COME NORTH "D URDEN of bloom on the drooping trees, *- Over yonder the orchard way. A wealth of sun and a southern breeze Welcome the lovers home to-day. White throat and oriole faintly seen, Flitting about with tireless wings, Hidden by blossom and mist of green, Hark ! the music a glad heart flings. GOOD MORNING, ROBIN A CROSS the lawn at early dawn * ^- He comes with tripping pace; His bearing pert, the little flirt, Embodiment of grace. Break ! break to hear ! O morning clear ! The redbreast s chirping call ; He pipes a true, " How do you do ? Good morning, one and all." THE AWAKENING OWEET ! Thy loved voice wakes the roses, ^ And each perfumed heart discloses All the glory and completeness Of the summer s joy and sweetness. Listen bird ! the rose is singing ! Her responsive heart is bringing Thee a message, sweet and tender, True as thine own voice doth render. Bird and blossom, sister, brother, God ordained you for each other ; Beauty, sweetness, freely given, Flower of earth and flower of heaven. THE BIRD CHORUS I V HROUGH the green see the songsters * winging, Winging about from limb to limb ; O the chorus the birds are singing, Singing to all a morning hymn. Fair and clear is the sky above us ; June, I welcome thy new-born day ! Grass and flowers and the green trees love us ; Birds are greeting the Sun s first ray. A MATIN SONG A WAKE ! awake ! the birds are calling, * ^- Faint upon my ear are falling Sounds of heavenly notes enthralling, Hail ! Hail ! the dawn. Flee thy bed, the light supernal Greets a glory ambient, vernal ; Ah, the thrill of life eternal ; Day, day is born. THE MAYFLOWERS SERENADE in their little snowy bed, O, but the air is sweet ; A hint of white, a glint of red, And warm hearts neath each sheet. Sing, bluebirds, sing, thy sweetest lay Awaken the flowers of spring ; Call, robin, call, the day is long, Sing, serenaders, sing. APPLE BLOSSOMS A GENTLE breeze woos the apple trees, * ^- There are huge bouquets, love, amaking ; All pink and white, ah, the keen delight, E en the cold, cold earth is awaking. Come, robins, come, to thy love-lit home, For love tells the same old story. Wonderfully blest, may little ones rest, While spring decks thy home with her glory. MOTHER LOVE OVE sit on thy throne ! Ah ! shine on thy nest ! Dear little wonder, Reign, reign not alone ! Love throbs neath thy breast. Ah, what is under ? But hark to her lord ! Resplendent the song, The song that greets her. Love, love is the word, And the day is long, And love grows sweeter. 10 WEE BIRD, I M IN LOVE WITH YOU I V RILL and twitter ! What voice is fitter *- Than thine, clear and fresh as the dew, Come, stay near me ; O, do not fear me, Wee bird, I m in love with you. Akin in heart, let us dwell apart, Apart from the maddening crew ; Do not doubt me ; O do not flout me, Wee bird, I m in love with you. I ll not linger, light-hearted singer, Mine, too, is the world of the blue. Your free pinion knows no dominion, Wee bird, I m in love with you. 11 THE WARBLER IN THE PINE GROVE TjVVINT perfumes sweet and at one s feet, * A dainty carpet all outspread ; And willing breeze and generous trees, Acrooning love songs overhead. See, see, the sprite, striped black and white, Flitting his way, the grove along ! Sing, trees alway, join breeze the lay, He warbles not, he has no song. 12 A SUMMER MORNING and buttercups, nodding together, Praise ye your God for a morning like this. Life-giving, love-giving, bright summer weather, Greet thou the world with a delicate kiss. Light southern wind o er the meadowland tripping, Sweeten the day as you journey along, While deep in the bloom, ah, the bee is a sipping, And hark ! crowning all, a redbreast s glad song. 13 A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK IS SINGING "^HE glory of June set my bound heart *- free, And it hastened to yonder tree-top swinging ; Ah, list to the sound of rich minstrelsy, A rose-breasted grosbeak is singing. And my heart and that voice are in perfect tune ; O but my soul to the songster is winging ; Filled is the day with the glory of June, A rose-breasted grosbeak is singing. 14 ON SEEING A NEST OF NEARLY FULL GROWN VERYS A H, dear little dreamers contented there ! * ^ Have you learned the song you re to sing to me? The song that bespeaks a Father s care, And gives to your life its serenity? Dear little dreamers, so patient and still, You can wait the joys that will be thine own ; For your song-laden throats will one day thrill With harmony matchless, and sweetest tone. 15 ORIOLE S NEST OEE, high on summer boughs to-day, ^ A tiny hammock swinging : Where song and beauty holdeth sway An rrirJ<=> ic cinrrmrr An oriole is singing. He sings, this jewel of the air, His parent heart upleaping. The baby birds ? Ah, mother-care ! A parent love is keeping. 16 BLUEBIRD I V HY little wings reflect the sky, * Thy breast reflects the earth ; Thy coming is a prophecy, Thy voice proclaims Spring s birth. Sing ! little songster, sing to me Me, of the common sod ; My soul gains strength because of thee Singing the praise of God. 17 GOLDFINCH MAY time ! Play time ! Oh, but the full of each day time ! Together quite, Feather light, And a glint of gold in the weather bright. Wing time ! Sing time ! And all the glory of spring time. Sound of spring, Bound of spring, Rush of spring, Flush of spring, With smile the while o er each living thing. With soft advance, And kindly glance, The south wind sings while the violets dance,- Per-chic-o-ree, Per-chic-o-ree, Per-chic-o-ree. 18 BOBOLINK T3OBOLINK ! Bobolink ! Scatter thy song, *-* Rippling, rollicking, all the day long, Singing and winging and eddying near, Thy sunny self part of June s atmosphere. Bobolink ! Bobolink ! Thy fleeting lay Rings with a challenge ; " Be happy to-day ! " Heart ! O wild heart ! Yes, mine own, stop and think, Blend then thy cares with the blithe bobolink. 19 REDSTART BLACK-COATED minstrel with flash of the fire, Tell her she s " sweet ! sweet ! sweet ! " Flitting on wings that seem never to tire ! Call, call again to your heart s own desire, "Sweet! sweet! sweet!" And calm on the nest shines mother-love true, Ah ! but she s " sweet ! sweet ! sweet ! " He s singing the old song forever new He sings love for me as well as for you, "Sweet! sweet! sweet!" 20 ORIOLE \ T 7ARBLE the strain again to me, Cadence of love-lit melody ; Warble the tune of laughing flowers, Orchard s bounty and sunny showers ; Breathe once more to my listening ear The glorious sound of festal cheer; Gladly I d linger the whole day long To hear thy heart pour forth its song ; Sweet-voiced atom, with plumage gay, Carol the cares of life away. 21 REDWING f~^HE whir of a wing, he alights on yon tree, O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! The redwing is calling, is calling to me, O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! Is calling, is calling with flute-throated voice, The call translated means simply rejoice ! O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! Ah, Nature s a lover and Nature is gay ; O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! And I, too, am singing the love songs of May ; O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! The odor of springtime is borne on the breeze, And he s calling to me, to me, if you please, O-ka-lee! O-ka-lee! 22 TOHEE ! Tohee ! I hear ! I see ! Bird, I cannot resist thy plea, Cannot resist the wildwood free Tohee ! Tohee ! We both agree. June is holding her jubilee; Hark, hear the rich, rich minstrelsy ! Tohee ! Tohee ! Each bush and tree Is spilling music for you, for me, Life is joyous as it can be ; Tohee ! Tohee ! My love to thee ; Bird and flower and bumblebee, Breaks out in fitful ecstasy, Tohee ! Tohee ! What witchery ! 23 HUMMING-BIRD UEST of the noon-day hour, Jeweled and fair ; Poised o er each wondering flower, Light as the air. Blossoms in gorgeous pride Welcome the sprite, Play with him, bid him hide, Lost to my sight. Use, Oriole, use thy voice, Make glad the day ! Sing, Hermit ! sing, rejoice ! Cares drift away. Still, neath a rose-hued breast, Pure as a prayer, Throbs a true heart in quest Of sweetness rare. Heart, then, if not the throat, Yields a rich song, E en though no thrilling note Fills the day long. 24 SEA-GULL \T7lLD is the night; the sea is lashed to foam; The furies of the storm disturb the deep. All through the din, as if it soothed to sleep, The sea gull neath the creviced rock finds home. What though I find my soul by cares distrest, What though life s path arouse my inmost fears, What though my eyes are dimmed with bitter tears, The bird doth strengthen faith ; I ll calmly rest. 25 CROW MANKIND has called the crow a common thief; Strange belief. He is charged with having trials, juries, laws, He seems human with his caw s, caws, caws, Why? because, Being charged with base deception, cunning, sly, Sly ? oh, my ! He is shrewdness for a fact, And resents the base attack With his coat of iridescent black On his back. His man-brother shows the blackest, blackest heart, Basest part ; We share the rain, the sunshine and the dew, We two, Eat freely then from my small garden plot; Eat a lot. 26 CATBIRD DESCRIBE him? No! I cannot find a word! Ill-named is he, this mellow-throated bird ; So modest in his quiet suit of gray, So prodigal of voice the live-long day, And yet, so filled is he with mimicry, The air rings with his joyous revelry. Strange that his own song does not grace his throat, The rascal borrows nearly every note. 27 SONG-SPARROW A LITTLE brown-winged bird am I, * * But hear me sing ! A little brown-winged bird am I, But songs I fling ! I sing, I sing my music rare, As light and free as the summer air, A little brown bird am I. A little brown-winged bird am I, Hear my refrain. A little brown-winged bird am I, Spring wakes again. A pure-toned voice in golden flow, A long-drawn cadence thrilling low, A little brown bird am I. 28 HERMIT-THRUSH TNNATE sweetness and completeness Is that voice of thine. From heaven s portals, down to mortals, Comes thy song divine. Full and tender, thou dost render Homage unto Him. And my spirit, too, doth share it, Shares thine evening hymn. 29 WHIP-POOR-WILL T3RIGHT folds of gold and crimson drape "* the west ; A hush falls on the earth and daylight dies, The twilight gently comes and soothes to rest ; And silence reigns and, reigning, glorifies. A plaintive voice breaks on the air so still, It is the lone call of the whip-poor-will. 30 CHICKADEE TN old time breezy fashion, -* With fury and with passion, The Ice King lays his lash on ; Ah, tis cold ! Ah, tis cold ! While redstarts, nervous, winging, With the orioles are singing, Southern groves are ringing, ringing Memories old ! Memories old ! But list ! A voice belies thee ; A wonder-mite defies thee ; A brave, warm heart denies thee, Winter bold ! Winter bold ! Chickadee ! thy quaint appealing Opens my faint heart, revealing Glory of a fellow feeling ; Love is told ! Love is told ! 31 SNOW-BUNTING JACK FROST is calling, is calling, Snowflakes are falling, are falling, Whirring through air, Life puff-balls, rare, Into the white drifts are sprawling. Over and over and over, Like tumbling bees in the clover; Cheer, cheer the days, Light-hearted fays ; Warm the cold heart of thy lover ! 32 THE BOBOLINK S GOOD NIGHT EAR rollicker, tuck head beneath thy wing ! Night s curtain falls ; Dear angel, sleep, a heart is fluttering ; Soothe till day calls ! And may the dreamy, blissful hours of sleep Bring peace and quiet. For, lo, when god of day begins his sweep, A heart runs riot. 33 THE WOOD-THRUSH AT EVE VESPERS forth thy song to her, Melody true ; Proud is the listener, I listen, too. Pour forth thy song to her ; Plaintive the strain ; No song like thine to stir Pleasure or pain. Pour forth thy song to her ; Thy song doth bless, All through thy notes recur His righteousness. 34 LULLABY A H ! wind of the south and wind of the * ^ west, Blow, softly blow, there are babes in the nest. Lull to their slumber hearts cradled in peace, Dreams of the summerland never shall cease. 35 OTHER POEMS IN MAY THE new life I discover As around the fields I hover ! Spring is calling me her lover All the day. Earth with new impulse is beating ! And the green fields send me greeting ! Spring is calling, yes, entreating Me to play. O the dainty flowers upspringing ! O the songs the birds are singing ! Nature everywhere is ringing ! It is May. 39 MIDSUMMER A LL the birds have sought the deepest -* ^ shadow, Lulled to sleep by breath of warm July, All the flowers are drooping in the meadow, Dreamy, dreamy slumberland is nigh. Loved the elms that spread its shade above me Full length on the grassy bank I lie : Silence broken only how I love thee, Wakeful, romping brook ! run chattering by ! 40 NOVEMBER T HEAR the sigh of trees that sway * Their branches overhead ; Their sad moan seems to tell that they Are filled with winter s dread. And everywhere, earth shows decay Grass, flowers and leaves all dead. Think thou to claim me, gloomy day ? My heart is spring instead. 41 T THE FIRST SNOWFALL RANSFORMATION since last night ! Nature dons a mantle white. Yesterday the leafless trees Seemed to feel the northern breeze; Now their white forms look serene As when gayly clothed in green. See the snowflakes dance and play, Backward, forward, on their way. Watch one flake, it seems to rise, Yet finds earth in glad surprise. See each branch and tiny spray Clad in their sublime array ; See the path in yonder wood Latticed in its solitude I bethought me in that hour, This from Him who tints the flower. This from Him who doth disclose All the sweetness of the rose. Thought I, He controls the spring, All its glad awakening. Thought I of the summer days, Knee-deep grass and tangled maize. 42 Thought I of the autumn yield Ripened harvest of the field. Now pure snowflakes at my feet Crown another year complete. 43 SEASONS C PRINGTIME loves the joyous mood, **-* Autumn loves the sober; May foretells the coming good ; " Harvest ! " sings October. Summer with her sunny smile, Culls from earth its sweetness; Christmas comes ! The old year dies ! I have found completeness. 44 THE LITTLE SEED f HOLD within my hand this little mystery, * It is so small it trembles at my lightest breath ; Beneath its husk indeed lies power infinity; For in its tiny form are hid Birth, Life and Death. 45 TO THE MAYFLOWER T^\EAR little flower, why hide thy face? *~^ Thy tender life doth fill its place As worthily as aught that grows. Thou art the harbinger of spring ; Of flowers, thou first of all doth bring To me new life from neath the snows. 46 PANSIES F LOVE to see them blinking there, * Beautiful, blue-eyed pansies fair. I love those great, full, longing eyes, Looking at me so wondrous wise. Nodding so friendly all the while With comradeship of look and smile ; An open face, an honest heart, Pansies, we will not live apart. 47 THE WILD ROSE HINE eye of gold mirrors the sun in the * sky As radiant thou beamest on each passer-by. Adorning the dry barren road with thy beauty, Art thou filled, little flower, with a keen sense of duty? So sweetly dressed too, in thy pink trimmed with green, Among even roses we hail thee the queen ! Thy lot would seem worthy some cool fresh retreat, Thou rt so frail and so modestly blushing and sweet. 48 JUNE 17 T3IRDS are singing to-day, dear, *"* Singing a round-a-lay. Love came winging to-day, dear, Bright is our wedding day. Vows were plighted to-day, dear, Ah, but my own heart sings ! Heaven was sighted to-day, dear, Love came with golden wings. 49 THE MULTI-MILLIONAIRE ~^HE sun shines bright in the tranquil skies, * And warms the good old earth ; God s beauty greets my smiling eyes, My soul has found its worth. I threw me down on the grassy bank, And gazed far out to sea ; My mind to the cares of life a blank, I, rich as I could be, For the world in all its beauty That moment was given to me. The grass is green, and a nesting song From yonder tree is heard ; The breath of summer is borne along, The wild flower s heart is stirred. Men sailing boats (with their fishy smell) Owned them, yes, so they did ! I owned them, too, more than tongue can tell, For I from care was rid ; I owned the boats, I owned the sea, I claimed them and who could forbid ? 50 MY LITTLE FELLOW \\ 7 HO runs to greet me home at night, * * And makes my weary day seem bright, And hails my presence with delight? My little fellow. Who is it, when his eyes half close, Strives hard to cheat well-earned repose, Unwillingly to bed he goes ? My little fellow. Who is it, at the peep of day When, O how good in bed to stay ! Says : "Take me, Parp, I want to play? " My little fellow. Ah, may thy cares be ever mine, And my love, interlinked with thine, With ever-growing lustre shine, Thou little fellow ! And when my head is framed in white, And life with me approaches night, On Memory s page thou lt still shine bright, My little fellow. 51 MY LIFE PILGRIMAGE /"VER desert drear, through glassy plain, ^^ The path leads on neath changing skies ; Mid burning heat or cooling rain I plod along ne er back again. Light, Lord, by faith my anxious eyes. May be I near my earth-life s span And soon shall pause for final rest ; Press on then, Soul, survive whilst thou can, For life, not death, should be thy quest : Lose self and find a grander man. 52 THE FATHER AND HIS CHILD T T E holds my love secure, fast friends are we, * * My little boy and I. The roguishness, the mischief, the activities Of his young life, but make my love for him Still more intense. He who can think of God as aught but love Stern, just, severe, Has yet to know, in truth, a father s care. Look to thyself, thou art not more than God, He holds thee in His boundless love. Thy love Is human, His divine. 53 A STORMY NIGHT AT HOME T^IERCE, like a wolf, the howling gale, * Around my home so warm, Is striving hard, with tooth and nail, To enter and do harm. Ah, old Storm ! I am tucked within And can bid defiance ! What care I for thy noisy din? Home proves my reliance. O home ! my home ! from storms of life Kindly shield me ever ! Firm bar without all care and strife 1 Let them enter ? Never ! 54 w MY LIFE AT FORTY HAT ! youth there dead before thy feet ! The springtime passed, and time so fleet ! Life was indeed a living rhyme, While we walked down the aisles of time. But why crave youth, now youth is dead ? Pray God for manhood s strength instead. Leaving the ashes of bygone days, To tasks ahead turn full thy gaze ; Facing the future, misty, gray, Crave thou a man s heart day by day ; Turn from the path thy feet have trod ! Who is leading ? The living God ! 55 MY CHURCH T LISTEN while the daisies sing * A tender, sweet refrain ; And wee, bright, blue-eyed violets Glance wistfully again. I hear the gentle southern winds Make music in the trees ; And the clover and the bluebell Make companions of the bees. I linger there among my friends, I hear the bluebird call ; I hear the breath of nature make Glad music for us all. And as I muse I hear a clang Bid me to praise my God ! It summons me to join a priest. Me, lover of the sod ; Me, lover of the bush and flower, Me, willing listener. The great broad dome, the fields for me ; I am a worshiper. 56 IN HIM WE LIVE P^HE hand of God is a human hand, * And the hand of God is strong; You may shirk the fight or may take your stand, The battle will not be long. The voice of God is a human heart, And the voice of God breathes love ; You may wound that love by sin s foul dart, Or work with the power above. Then use God s hand, aye, and use God s voice, Aye : cling to your manhood true ; Love for your brother will prompt the choice ; Humanity calls for you. 57 FAITH S, I have faith; what though I fail to see With clearness all God hath in wisdom planned ; God is ! Enough for me to understand That goodness reigns behind all mystery. Yes, I have faith. Yes, I have faith ; for what hath been revealed But hints of greater things yet unfulfilled, Things that my longing soul hath wished and willed, Something I know doth live, though yet concealed ? Yes, I have faith. Yes, I have faith; though night obscure my way, And, groping round, I sometimes lose the road ; I Ve come thus far in trust and borne my load. Faith tells me night will soon give way to day. Yes, I have faith. 58 INVOCATION in Heaven, Be near, I pray, while my frail bark is gliding Adown life s stream ; the current s swift that s bearing me along ; Thou see st dangers neath the surface hiding. Hard have I striven, Thou King of Kings, to shape my course with Thine from conscious wrong. Father in Heaven, I pray my heart be stayed on Thee forever, Each wish be lifted up to Thee, Thou mighty King of Love, And faith that seeth Thee in all endeavor To me be given ! Lord, God ! tis my desire to blend my will with Thine above. 59 TWO SINGERS /"\NE labored long with patient thought, ^^ Then sang his song ; The muse to him came not unsought, He wooed her long. The other from his subtle mind Flashed forth a strain ; Songs came as free as summer wind From heart and brain. Both sang what human hearts desired, Words true and strong ; His method hid, each seemed inspired To sing his song. 60 DEDICATORY POEM 1C\\THER, whose mercy gleams through all, Thy name we bless, Thy name we call ! Ours not to boast of victory. Ours but the humble ministry ; Ours but the youth-time work begun, The glow of morn, not setting sun. O Father ! in this glorious hour Reveal to us our strength and power ! Tis not by skill which art can show Where softened tinted windows throw Strange light into the chancel dim, Picturing saint and cherubim ; Nor boasting pride in human things, Nor kingdoms patronized by kings ! Ah ! nearer to Thy heart are laid The suppliant prayers the poor have made ; Lord, God ! we come with willing feet, And bend before Thy mercy seat, And wonder not ; tis holy ground Where Light Eternal beams around. What soul could step to yonder wood, And resting in its solitude, And hearing bird-song fill the air, Could doubt a holy presence there ? 1 Read at dedication of North Deering Church. 61 Or who could upward look in night To where the million worlds gleam bright, And think the all-wise loving Mind Could be in any space confined ? None, gracious Lord ! Thy generous hand Doth scatter what Thy wisdom planned ; Whilst all that charms the lonely thought Comes to us with Thy blessing fraught. Yet somehow, souls the stronger feel When each dependent child doth kneel To claim his blessings from above, Receiving light in trusting love. And Love has bid this building rise, May it grow holy in our eyes ! May that grand influence light the shrine, Which bears the impress of Divine ! That Love which charity bestows ; That Love which sorrows for all woes And weeps with mourners o er the dead, May Love Divine its radiance shed ! Lord, God ! in whom we live and move, And daily Thy rich blessings prove, This house we dedicate to Thee ! May souls here find tranquillity ! And this is yours who seek the good, Firm children of God s Fatherhood ! The goodliest gift the heart can make, Baptized in God s great blessing, take. 62 TO HERMANN KOTZSCHMAR 1 lY/TUSICAL Portland! musical indeed; ! Thanks be to thee, whose genius sowed the seed. To-night, through vistas garlanded with gold, Emblazoned clear, we see thy name enrolled. Young faces look in thine, and young hearts teach, Who owe their power to thy inspiring speech. Grand privilege thine, confronting all the years To live once more the hours thy heart endears. Again the morn of toil and joy and fret Again youth s skies are bright with promise set And later, manhood, with its fair renown, That won for thee the splendid laurel crown. Comrades ! a bumper to our President And may his years be filled with sweet content ; We pay him tribute tribute but his due Honor him, comrades, he has honored you. 1 Read at annual meeting of the Kotzschmar Club, May 14, 1903. 63 ST. VALENTINE S DAY T TEIOH-O, my lads and lasses ! *- -* Heigh-o, my lovers gay ; Come ! see, the sly imp passes Dan Cupid reigns to-day. Soon will the birds be mating Lovers will fleck the sky; Look lad, a lass is waiting Ah, lass, a lad is shy. Cupid, all hearts adore thee God speed thy work divine ; Light be the task before thee, Send all a valentine. 64 COQUETTE T3 RIGHT eyes neath long lashes dance, *~* While a lover looks askance. He may plead and plead the while, Yet she listens with a smile. Ah, you teaze ! he lives for this, Just to taste your ardent kiss. Pretty, winsome, sweet coquette, Will you stay your lover yet? Yes ! I claim from him my due ! Would he win me ? He must woo. 65 MY LIBRARY T TKRE, in this room, live men of lofty aim; * * And they, why, they are friends ! are friends of mine ! Tried friends who cling to me through length ening years, Alike indifferent to praise or blame. Loved friends ! true friends ! I ponder line on line As you, confessing all, grave, gay, smiles, tears, Laid bare a human heart, then signed your name. 66 MADONNA HEAVEN-DOWERED genius gave it birth ! Story all may understand ! Pictured glory ! Heaven and earth ! Prattle of babyland. Sweet, calm trust on mother s face, Love is speaking, gentle, mild ; Hope transcending heavenly grace, A mother and her child. Deep calls deep ! Ah, loved eyes meet ! Light and life are in accord ; Tempered by a vision sweet, Her baby and her Lord. Cuddle, then, to Mary s breast ! Press Him, Mary, to thy heart ! Love s deep, longing wish expressed, The wonderment of art. 67 ALPHA AND OMEGA OD breathed ; and from the Eternal pres- ence veiled, Sprang man! all crowning mystery; proud one; And then inhaled what He had once exhaled, The soul returns ! its brief, swift journey run. 68 POETRY A DREAMER dreamed and a soul, * * A poet soul awoke, While that same hour from heaven stole The love-lit word he wrote. Strong, strong appeal ! what inborn sense Is quickened in this hour ! Not head, but heart s intelligence Is yielding to its power. 69 SUNSET of crimson and of gold Curtained gainst the sky of blue ; Gorgeous scene mine eyes behold, Fading fast to sombre hue. Good-bye, day, about to creep Through the shadows of the west ; Night will lull a world to sleep, God grant all a peaceful rest 70 IMPULSE /^THERS may quibble and plod along ^-^ But I with my impulse run ; Impulse is life, sudden thought is strong And would see new work begun ; Brave child of truth it would give the lie To seeming truth before it : With the heart in tune suspicions die, A doubting mind ! Ignore it. 71 WITH A WEDDING GIFT * I V HINK not alone of self and only self, * For happiness hath wings ; Society of two, and solitude of two, Are vastly different things. 72 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 1857 NOVEMBER 19 1907 IFE S afternoon ! Life s sunset grand ! *- God s glory for His children, men; Children and children s children stand Jewelled in love s diadem. 73 DORIS NOVEMBER 10, 1906 \\ /HEN baby comes with winsome grace, A regal splendour fills the place. Our selfish thoughts take sudden wings For lo, a queen rules over things, When baby comes. 74 BABY ever home know full content And radiance all around disclose Till came that joy by angels sent ? True love is found where baby goes. The heart that leaps when baby cries And folds the child in tenderness ; Hath found the deep where true love lies Close linked with babe is happiness. 75 LIFE A SOB ! a cry ! * ^~ It is a babe, a little life is born. A moan ! a sigh ! An aged man by want and pain is torn. Filled was the interval between With groping for the hand unseen. And ever rang those words, " Press on, Nor rest until thy journey s done." What then means life? What then means death ? Turmoil and strife? A fleeting breath ? Search thine own heart And thou wilt find a purpose planted there ; Act well thy part And life will rise above a world of care. 76 EASTER A GAIN the fair spring in its birth * * Is witness to God s holiness. Another miracle, no less ; The dead fields live o er all the earth. With new life seen in plant and tree, Dear Lord, we feel Thy presence near, Through nature s heart the words ring clear ; " O grave where is thy victory ! " 77 A FOREWORD 1 IFE leaps from death ! ah, who can under- " stand ; The organ peals, we sense the guiding hand ; The organ peals, herein the triumph lies, Fine souls he urged to finer enterprise ! Fond memory lingers with that soul of thine, Lingers o er days and hours of Auld Lang Syne ; Calls back the time when, with consummate skill, Thy genius flashed and worked the Master s will. We see thee now in larger fulness grown ; We take thy life and make it all our own. Thou art not gone ; we call, we hesitate, And calling, note thy presence at the gate. We walk with reverent steps and holy fear, We feel the power of thy strange guidance here. Still linger with us for thy presence thrills ! Thy soul has sensed the sunset from the hills. Written for the Kotzschmar memorial book. 78 LINCOLN 18091909 J3RAISE ye the Lord ! A nation s glory think on ! All homage pay ! Salute the valiant Lincoln ! Hail to the Martyr s crown ! Hail liberty ! Hail North ! Hail South ! A people strong and free. O ye, mergered in the world s mad rush for power, Who stoops to gain the triumph of an hour Call evil good, be blind to wickedness Still God demandeth righteousness. Ah ! brave, brave heart, obey thine own behest, Pity a race in sorrow s raiment drest. The still small voice calls thee calls thee alone Meet thou thy task with valor all thine own. Learn then from heart crushed by a world he warned By ingrates stung, by small minds cursed and scorned Learn this, O preacher, sage or artisan ; He serves God best who serves his fellow man. 79 MCKINLEY SEPTEMBER 19, 1901 T TlS was a life with love and all the gifts * That God can give, all that the soul uplifts. A valiant servant true as heaven is wide, A man of God subdued and sanctified. " May God forgive him ! " hear the gentle plea ! O wondrous heart grown rich in sympathy ! " Good-bye ! It is God s way ! His will be done ! " O what a goal to reach life s race well run ! Brave soldier, statesman, Christian, aye, a man Blending all good, a true American. "Good-bye! God s will be done!" The smile of joy ; God builds anew, He never does destroy. 80 GEORGE W. MARSTON P\EAD ! No ! he lives ! His melodies are *~* ringing, His soul-inspiring songs the world is singing. Though his loved form has vanished from the earth, His spirit hovers o er us round the hearth, His pure soul made faith seem a little clearer ; He drew men to their God, a little nearer. His was a triumph o er the spectre grim. Weep for the friends bereft, weep not for him. 81 MEMORIAL DAY TILING banners to the breeze to-day, *- Let each bright star Shine o er the Blue, shine o er the Gray, Peace reigns, not war. Peace reigns, war troubles us no more, And freedom s power Will guard on ocean and on shore, Ah, tyrant s cower ! Let war-worn glories fade away ! Uncovered stand ! It is the hour for men to pray, Triumphant, grand. O, comrades ! o er the sacred fields, With tender hands, Strew what the wealth of springtime yields ; Love understands. Amid the pomp of flags and drums They sleep ! They sleep ! Yet, to all hearts the message comes, A vigil keep. They sleep mid flowering seeds of love, A patriot s worth, That blossoms in a world above, The higher birth. Brave heroes, then, march on, march on ! The ages share The glories of the victory won, The answered prayer. 82 GOOD NIGHT OOD night, sweetheart ! good night ! good night ! May rose-hued dreams be thine; And on the morrow, radiant, bright, Awake refreshed with morning light, Good night, sweetheart ! good night ! 83 SACRIFICE ~^HE bud foretells the withering flower, - * The crib, the bier, A smile, a tear, Are changes, changes of an hour. The fragrance that a rose hath blown, Give rose ! give ! give ! Die rose and live ! What life lives for itself alone ? 84 FROM THE DEPTHS T FOLLOWED where an unseen spirit led * To memory s fane, that charnel of the dead. While I companion made of wild-eyed fear, Forms ghostly mocked, mocked me with cruel leer. What frightful havoc greets my straining eyes ! In anguish now my once proud spirit cries. Ah, what availeth now your friends are gone ? Can you bring back a life by murder done ? Regretful now ? ah, yes, I understand ; See Faith, Hope, Trust, mute there, slain by your hand. Ah, cruel dream, you held me firm and fast ! But now, thank God, the long, long night is past. You, unseen spirit, led me back again ; Though faint in heart I journeyed not in vain. 85 WHICH ONE IS DEAD? ONE the light from the eyes that shed Glory rivalling the heaven s blue. Gone the light from a soul that led The lone one left, ah, one of two, Which one is dead ? Silent, alone, uncomforted, Pity, O God ! we say he lives ; Lives, we say ! oh the fearful dread ; Think, the homage an Angel gives ! Which one is dead ? 86 THE STILL SMALL VOICE SOUL be still, and hear the voice revealed ! The song-bird breathes it through the notes he sings To cheer his silent dame, whose brooding wings Doth give her offspring all that love can yield, Come, hearken to those flowers that grace the field, And catch the glorious message each one brings ; The voice is speaking from yon star that clings To its given space within the heavenly shield. Whenever hearts in sympathy are stirred, And men enrich their longing souls in prayer, The voice, so still, will give an answering word The message is responsive everywhere; Be still then soul, and let the voice be heard, It bears the truth from realms divinely fair. 87 THE PASSING DAY "1 \ 7 AS ever day more precious than this day ? Day born of God, created for man s use? Why spurn its promise by thy vain excuse ? Block not ambition s path with thy delay, When trumpet calls be foremost in the fray. Be of decision prompt, when called to choose, Better defeat than active life refuse. Remember deeds more than thy words convey The inspiration that alone is thine. O Soul, be strong this day, strong in content ; Say to thyself : " All life is linked with mine ; All life is God s, and for a purpose lent, And I must work this day, work is divine." And Love will tell thee what thy labor meant. 88 THE CONFLICT / I V HOU demon Hate, hell-born, how earnest -* thou here Here in a human soul, Love s rightful place ? Thy cruel, uncouth, devilish grimace Hath fearful look in his own atmosphere ; Still Love dethroned and driven, hovereth near. Can mother pressing babe to breast efface What lieth hid behind her soft embrace ? Not thine to hide behind a single tear, O Love, who yet will blatant Hate destroy ! But, oh ! why was his shadow ever cast Across thy path ? Thou who wouldst fain employ Thy patient toil until the very last To clear the heart of all its base alloy ! O Soul, slay not the dearest friend thou hast ! 89 A TOUCH OF NATURE T^ROM a cleft in the rock a bit of earth * From its own scant life gave a wee flower birth ; And the flower drank sunshine and bathed in dew, And lifted its face toward the dome of blue; And of all the flowers, none more fond and true Than the lone one, sympathy drew me to. Twas only a flower and a bit of earth, But, they yearned for God from the common dearth. Then, wondering I turned, from the better part, To a tenderer blossom, a human heart. More frail, it contrasted the flower s grand trust; For, look ! how tis eaten by idle rust. Consumed by the heat of its own foul lust; See ! tis drooping amid its own dry dust. I woke from my muse with a sudden start, I was reading my own unconquered heart. 90 TO WORK AWAKE ! awake ! and greet the new-born day; With night now past lay all thy cares away. Yonder the rising sun in splendor gleams, Tis time to act, away with idle dreams ! See opportunity s wide-open gate Pass through ere Time shall say to thee, " Too late!" Courage is born of faith and lives in deeds ; He who is filled with "Dare" and "Do" succeeds. Yes, though a thousand doubts encompass thee, The onward path leads straight to victory. Press on through toil and sweat of blazing noon ; Time s flight will bring the cool of evening soon ; Trudge on and on while yet the day shines bright ; Swift pass the hours that bring returning night. 91 SOLILOQUY SOUL of mine, thou loftier part of self, From out thy tabernacle, deep from sight, What fancies and what pleasures yet undreamed Spring forth to bless and dignify my life ? The energies that touch my sluggish brain ; That tune my heart above its outward sense, Struggling and dreaming, ever up and on, O Soul, what means our vague existence here ? How cam st thou to this crude house formed of clay ? For parents never yielded thee to me. All that I am thou art, yet strangely real Another force controls, a mighty force Despotic Will has power to crush or raise ; To bid thee walk with God, or quench thy light, To live amid the glories of the world, Or sink to nothingness, a fallen star. What then avails exertion ? What the toil Of high ambition struggling for the van ? The winner pays the forfeit with his life ; Time places her strong chain upon his heel And trips him when he panteth near his goal, Or maybe checks him ere the race begins. What motive then has power to lead thee on ? What bids all grumbling cease, turns sighs to song, And maketh for thy feet a path of peace ? What prompts the zeal of study, bringing home To thy stern court, O sovereign Memory, The pictured life and light of other days, 92 Filling the brain with rules to spur it on ? O Memory ! thy power so strange doth make My yesterdays more real than to-day ; With thee, a backward glance, I plainly see The winding path through which I Ve wonder ing passed. What of that greatest power of all, that fire Which shoots forth tongues of flame, imagina tion; That power contented not with things that are, But every instant starting new creations. What am I and who am I ? questions these Mankind has asked through all the ages past. THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES A 000924456 7