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