P S 3523 A77 M67 1912 MAIN *B 251 GIFT OF OCIM 1 1 m POEMS MAY C. LASSEN WM. M. ALLEN. PRINTER. RED BLUFF. CAL. s=-n I COPYRIGHT. 1912 BY MAY C. LASSEN a 5/: P33523 TO MY HUSBAND THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED 2801GO INFLUENCE OF POETRY ON LIFE SOME years ago, when wiseacres were trying to find the cause for the growing dissatisfaction which resulted in divorce, one of them said it lay in the fact that men and women needed to read more poetry. At first this seems an absurd thing to say, but look into it a little. .Poetry is ideality. Imagin ation gives expression, and. the development of these qualities brings the power to put one s self into an other s place, to understand that other s view point. It is easy to be patient, to forgive when one has insigat into the offender s heart, and can see as he sees. Imagination is a useful characteristic for family comfort. Poetry cultivates the sweeter side of one s nature, and the more practical a person may be in character, or by reason of daily work, a few moments with a great poet are like a breath of fresh air after sitting in a crowded hall. The rhythmic arrange ment of words, born from a heart of feelings, influ ences as only music does. One little verse carried in the mind through the day, will charm impatience away. It uplifts one to where petty things lose their power to annoy. Our grandmothers found this same effect from one or two of the psalms, the grandest poems ever written. CONTENTS 1 If Thou Could st Know 2 (My Love (A Kiss 3 The Dove Song 4 Advice 5 Memories 6 The Parting 7 A Plea to Cupid 8 Longing 9 Resignation 10-11 Love Revealed 12-13 Sweet Eventide 14-15 Release 16-17 The Egotist 18 A Gem 19 Pansies 20-21 A Poem 22 Buried Love 23 To a Flower 24 Despair 25 A Prayer 26-27 Despondency 28 Warning 29 Dreaming 30 Inconstant Man 31 (A Thought (A Request IF THOU COULD ST KNOW If thou could st know The love I bear to thee, Is boundless and as free As great Eternity, Thou would st love me. If thou could st know The thoughts I bear of thee, That cherished memory, So full of sympathy, Thou would st love me, If thou could st know The love that is so slain, That all enduring pain I bear for thee in vain, Thou would st love me. MY LOVE TO MISS CHRISTINE STEVENS A love I harbor, shelter true, A love I love, my love, tis you; And so the World I can not miss, Since all the World is in your kiss. i A KISS F ever you could love as I, With passion deep And passion tender, Your soul to me you would surrender, With ecstacy and untold bliss In one long, lingering, fervent kiss. THE DOVE SONG TO VICTOR HARRIS. New York City (In Song and Verse) OTILL is the night, while nature sleeps, ^ And all at peace, the twinkling stars Are shining bright, guiding the night-bird On its lonely flight, to forests wild. The faintest Siirring of a breeze Steals silently among the trees. Rustling leaves awake the dove, \Vhose mournful cry is for its love. Then through the quiet night is heard The plaintive voice, the echoing word. Coo, Coo, my love so true, My love so gentle, I would \voo. Coo, Coo, I am thy mate Tho e er anon 1 do await, Coo, Coo, my love for you, ADVICE TO CHARMING YOUTH A LTHO your weary soul is aching, ** Your thoughts are e er so sad, E en tho your heart is torn and breaking To the World be always glad. Trust not your friends, tho* these are many You think are thine in need; A silent tongue is ne er an en my, *Tis wiser much indeed. For envy is the World s true malice, W r ith hate, goes hand in hand, E en noble hearts and minds grow callous, And greed hard to withstand. Ah, Time will tell to all the doubting, If my maxim be not true; Experience is a guiding master, His followers ne er rue. MEMORIES WHEN evening shadows come, And cast fantastic forms O er wooded hill and dale And silv ry lake forlorn: - Where gentle zephyrs sigh And to night winds give way:- Their murm ring echoes tell The death of closing day:- When peace and quiet reign At mid -night s lonely hour:- Oh, when the soul does claim New strength from higher Power: When all fond hope has fled And love within is dead:- Will you remember me, In lonely days to be, Dream o er the happy past, Regret it could not last. i THE PARTING will forgive: - You must forget:- Our lives must be, As we d ne er met The World so wide, We ll drift apart; Then mem rys heart Will fade away Like mist, before The new-born day. The wounds, tho deep, Will heal in time:- You will forget That I was thine I will forgive:- Fate so unkind. A PLEA TO CUPID , with thy bow and arrow, Thou pierced my heart with Love s true sorrow, And spoiled my tender hopes divine; Had st thou ne er touched this heart of mine, Not lured it on with thy sweet lure, But left me still as cold and pure, As snow on yonder mountain crest, No anguish would now pain my breast. Cupid, with thy bow and arrow, Oh! pierce with Love s own pining sorrow Deep down into that other heart, And let it know the cruel smart I ve felt, and make it feel quite true, The truth of Life s despairing hue, The pangs of unrequited love, Hopeless to reach as stars above. LONGING Lovingly To My Friend BARBARA PENDLETON Red Bluff, Cal. In all this vast world, F^\OES there not live one single heart, *-^ In unison with mine could beat, With no desire to ever part? One that would breathe pure love divine, Exalting ever soul and mind To truest and most noble thoughts, To speak and dream of heavenly ways, And sacrifice each, day by day One s self, for pleasures of the other, And share the sorrow, grief and pain, Forgetting earth and all things vain. This love so true, this constant claim, Would make us one and never twain. RESIGNATION TO MRS. COMAN So long I ve slept F) L T the soul s awak ning true hath come at last, *-** And into my burdened heart there silently crept Complete forgiveness of the painful past. Sweet resignation calms my weary mind, And all the clouds that blighted many days Are rent asunder, drifting far away. On pinions light my restless spirit soars Beyond the distant sky, and find its home In Heav ns pure dome, where joy and peace abide. LOVE REVEALED OVER the sloping hills we rode, You and I together. Through grassy fields on spirited steeds, You and I together. We saw the beautiful wild flowers bright, Nodding their heads in warm sunlight, You and I together. We followed the meadow lark, That soared so high, into white clouds Of the bright blue sky; And we looked at each other with a tell-tale eye, You and I together. Into the thicket we did ride, Pacing our horses side by side, You and I together. We heard the distant thunder roar, And saw the wind sweep ail before, You and I together. On and onward our steeds we sped, Through brushwood and grove we madly Pied And hoped escape, from the storm o er-head You and 1 together. 10 Torrents of rain from the heav ns did pour, And Hashes of lightning sent o er and o er A thrill to our hearts, deep to the core, You and I together. Galloping on with our prancing steeds Under close shelter of thickest trees You and I together. When we at last halted fore a wild rocky cave As cold and silent as a grave We entered, protected from the storm s rage You and I together. We waited and watched, till the storm had passed You and I together. And naught was heard, save the sobbing wind In the trees without, and the troth within Of two beating hearts, who vowed to impart Their true plight forever, Ah! you and 1 together. SWEET EVENTIDE Lovingly To My Sister SISTER MARY BERCHMANS Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Red Bluff, Gal. O WEET eventide, so full of calm repose, M With flitting shadows of the coming night, No fairer scene could one e er thus behold, Than thy grand beauty steep d in pale sunlight. While clouds of gold and silver fleck the sky, And cast their shining hues upon the stream, The twittering swallows dart then quickly by, And early evening stars come forth and gleam. A soft caressing breeze of balmy air, Is filled with sweetest fragrance of the flowers, So lulls the senses to forget all care, And beckons one to dreams of fairy bowers. The vesper bells from yonder convent, chime The peaceful soothing hour of prayer and sleep, And peal forth to the world the passing time, Proclaim that Heav n o er all will vigil keep. 12 Thus twilight passes, giving night its birth, And tenderly a mantle doth enfold So tranquilly, around the dreaming earth, And sets the night-watch forth, in stars of gold. 13 RELEASE Respectfully Dedicated To My Father MY work on earth at last is done, The sunset of my life begun; And I upon a lonely way Wend feeble steps at close of day. The dying sun in tender light Kisses the earth a soft good-night; Darkness of night comes on apace, Millions of stars in boundless space Come gleaming with the rising moon, Whose silv ry lustrous shining ray Makes night more beautiful than day. And over hill and over dale Resounding echoes from the vale Carry the moans of human wail; And near a hidden quiet nook, I lay me down with one last look. As in a dream I cross a shore, Me thinks I ve dwelt there long afore, And see the portals all ajar, While music greets me from afar, Sweet spirits beckon on and on The restless wand rer they have won. My chastened soul unbound, set free, Floats forth of all captivity, Oblivious of the weary past, Redeemed, and safe at home at last. 15 THE EGOTIST Dedicated to the Man Whom the Cap Pits r*HE Egotist is such a man Who deems himself the great " I am," The world to sin and vice is prone While he, consummate, stands alone. He sees in others every fault- Commenting he could ne er be brought To err in any human way, For he s above the common clay. But you should watch his little game- You ll find it s not so very tame. His constant pose of a grand good man Is just a he, an artful sham. He lives along in sly disguise, A martyred man whose connubial ties Are irksome to a high degree, And with slander, against his mate goes free. 16 He speaks about his virtues rare Boasts he is ne er seen anywhere With maiden pure, nor virtuous wife, It might destroy his prestige in life. Yet he enters the home of a trusting friend, Betrays all faith, to gain his end, Thinks nought of wrecking lives of both:- To destruction (of others) he s nothing loath. Of charities then you ll later hear, Which he endows with thousands mere. With this he seeks to ease his mind For many acts of the basest kind. The world looks on, the world looks wise, To the light of truth it shuts its eyes; But a day will come, Oh, the world s surprise, The wolf will be shorn of his sheep s disguise. 17 A GEM Respectfully Dedicated To MR. FRANK T. HUNTOON Of New York City WITHIN my jewel casket, I have a gem most rare, It does outshine all others, And has my constant care. And when I m sad and weary, With Life and Life s stern part, And all the World seems dreary, I place it next my heart. Its clearness seems to cheer me, And give me strength each day, To guide my faltering footsteps O er Life s hard stormy way. It brings thy voice quite near me, In whispers, sweet and low, Be brave, be bright, be cheerful, As down Life s path you go. It is our truest friendship, This jewel very rare, That does outshine all others; God bless me with its care. 18 PANS1ES To My Son FRANK W. STECHHAN COME future day when I am dead, ^ And you will know I am no more, Alone and silently you ll tread The winding pain, to the old church door. Trie past will meet you as a dream, A tide of awakening mem ries seem As though to overwhelm you. Forgotcen love you thought at rest Will hold full sway wilhin your breast; Then tears will flow and dim your eyes From trembling lips a prayer will rise For me, asleep, in the church-yard nigh, My name you ll whisper o er and o er While strewing parties o er my mound. But tho mine ear be deaf to sound My Spirit bending o er thee will forgive, And be thy guardian angel while you live. 19 A POEM To MRS. FRANK1E R1CHET WALKER Portland, Ore. 1 watched the birth of each fair dawn, The rising sun, in glorious light, Grow into rosy mom. (A wond rous, beauteous sight) All through the valley, And o er the mountain heights Dewy mists kept nsing Veiling with vapors grey, The mighty trees, and approach of coming day. But as the ascending sun grew stronger, Its piercing rays cleared Mists and clouds alike away. And as some fairy magic wonder Earth s loveliness revealed, Superb, by perfect day. Now from the woodland hills nearby Commingling voices of the birds, With the cuckoo s cry Rend the air with untold melodies. Thus all drowsy earth awakes And lives and breathes In silent woods, among the trees, 20 In mossy dells, and streaming brooks, Along the hills, in quiet nooks, And like one long, enchanting dream, So doth appear fair nature s scene. I watched the coining twilight hour Forc-hadowing the night. The wonders of a Supreme Power, In countless stars that shown so bright, The climbing moon, behind the hill Shed silv ry beams o er rock and rill. And evening, now quite calm and still Calls forth the nightingale s sweet trill. I listen to tiie passionate song Of love s young dream, life s cruel wrong. Of faith betrayed, love buried, dead, All cherished hopes forever fied. A^as! that song of love and woe, Bungs back dear days of long ago. Then sighing oft , my eyes grow wet, And dreaming, I would fain In endless sltep, the World forget. 21 BURIED LOVE To a Departed Fri;:nd Only Acrott the River O HE buried her love as in a dream, ^ Where lonely nature reigns supreme, Where daisies nod and grasses grow, And sighing branches whisper low; She buried her love here years ago. Ah, Time has come, and time has flown. Together the bleeding wound has grown; Yet mem ries live, the scar is left And telis forever the love bereft, The love she buried years ago. 22 TO A FLOWER Dedicated To HARRISON FISHER Of New York City P\EAR little flower, so pure and white, Blooming alone, on this green site, Tender, sweet, and very fair. How I should love to pluck and wear Thee to-night, in my nut brown hair! Twould only be but an hour or so:- 1 hus I ll pass on, and leave thee to grow. Leave thee to bloom in the v. arm sunlight And close your eyes in the shades of night And breathe your breath of fragrance rare. Yet, how I d love to pluck and wear Thee to-night, in my nut-brown hair! Alas! twould be but an hour or so:- Thus I ll pass on, and leave thee to grow. 23 DESPAIR 1 stood upon the brink Of silent, mute Despair; No Future could I see, But one of mystery And /lever ceasing care. The Past s sweet tender thoughts Then flitted like a dream Before my aching eyes. This rush of memories So made my bosom heave With untold, stiffied sighs, Regrets, that Life forsooth Is constant hope impaired, With e er a cross to bear. A PRAYER To my Friend EUGENIE RICHET Portland, Ore. IN silent prayer on bended knee, * I lift my soul, Oh, God, to Thee; Thou see st my heart; know st my despair. To thee I do confide all care; On bended knee, Oh, God, I pray To rightly guide me on my way. In silent prayer, on bended knee, I bow, Oh, God, most high, to Thee; Oh, cleanse my soul, make pure my heart, And give me strength to bear Life s part; In woe or weal, on bended knee, Oh, let me never doubt in Thee. 25 DESPONDENCY To ALEX. X/ OU came when hope was sinking fast, * And bade me listen and be strong, You told the story of your wrong; With sorrow in my tender heart, And all the love I could impart, In sacred trust I gave to you. Thus in your arms my life was cast, Content that all our days should pass Within the haven of sweet love. But as the fleeting years rolled by, Me-thought a shadow in your eye Disclosed a sadness, a regret. Its meaning you would ne er unfold, Altho my soul grew dark with fear, My heart was wrung with woe untold, But I did love and trust in you. Ah me, ---I love you dearly still, And when I see those sad, sweet eyes, With unshed tears from grief so fill, 26 My very being aches with pain. My accusations had been vain. With open arms again I plead For memory of a!l the past, For did you not then come to me When my last hope was sinking fast. 27 WARNING OOME day your day will come:- ^ My day has long gone by:- And now in looking back, I tremble and I sigh, Remembering well nigh, How you left me alone, With crushed and bleeding heart, So desolate to die:- Left me despairing love, Which racked my very soul, Eyes dimmed with tearc of blood, That down my blanched cheeks flowed. Oh, those remorseful sighs Pierced my poor heart with cries: - Some day your day will come, Mine has gone by. A^am, I tremble arid I sip;h, Remembering Death s cold clasp, Which threatened, yet passed by, Sad pangs rny soul did know, Anguish, and Oh, such woc:- Some day your day will come, My day has long gone by. 23 DREAMING To My Young Girl Friend* , dream, loved ones, dream on, And may you happy be, Thus borne on wings of love, Caressed so tenderly, O er pathways strewn with flowers To Love s own world of bliss, Where heart and heart doth share The raptures of a kiss. There arms are ever open, And smiles are ever thine, Pure gladness and devotion Make life a joy sublime. So dreaming, thus dream on, And may you happy be, For when awakening comes, All dreams forever flee. 29 INCONSTANT MAN (From Keen Observation) T ET the man be who he may * I m seeking character he ll say And in his toil of work and strife And in the ups and downs of life He will succumb in many a way, Yet change his mind ere break of day, To beauty, passing quite serene, He ll fondly bend there to be seen In any form of love divine To worship at the earthly shrine. And when he s had his very best He yet contented will not rest For having gained her, not in vain He ll grow indifferent just the same. Then non-comprehension inflicts psin Upon them both, and so makes tame All the man starts out to gain. 30 A THOUGHT WERE I to kill the flesh To set my spirit free, Think st thou, that ne er in Heaven A place for me would be ? Would God be so unkind Ne er to forgive the deed, If I my tortured soul From earthly clay had freed ? A REQUEST WHEN I am dead and gone, Let there be no song, No flowers, pure and white, Or Vigils kept at night, When I am dead and gone. Weep not, at my lone bier, E en you, who hold me dear, Deem me at last blest To find the sleep of rest, When I am dead and gone. 31 U.C.BERKELEY LIBRARIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY