AN IDEAL. HILE the grey mists of early dawn And the dew was still upon the flowers, And the earth lay calm and still, A winged Spirit came to me, Noble, and radiant, and free. Folding his blue and shining wings, He laid his hand on mine. I know not if I felt, or heard Which woke the trembling air to sighs, The word he spoke, within my heart To chain it evermore; Making the cold dull earth look bright, When noon ruled from the heavens, and man Through busy day toiled on, My Spirit drooped his shining wings; His radiant smile was gone; His voice had ceased, his grace had flown, Bitter, oh bitter tears, I wept, I would not understand That this pale Spirit never more Could it be so? My heart stood still. I strove; but my despair was vain; Now stars are rising one by one, He speaks and smiles, but never sings, With thankful, true content, I know Is not a faithful spirit mine Mine still-at close of day? Yet will my foolish heart repine For that bright morning dream of mine. N OUR DEAD. OTHING is our own: we hold our pleasures One by one life robs us of our treasures; Nothing is our own except our Dead. They are ours, and hold in faithful keeping Cruel life can never stir that sleeping, Cruel time can never seize that prey. Justice pales; truth fades; stars fall from Heaven; No true crown of honour can be given, : How the Children leave us and no traces Gone, for ever gone; and in their places, Yet we have some little ones, still ours; When our Joy is lost-and life will take itThen no memory of the past remains; Save with some strange, cruel sting, to make it Bitterness beyond all present pains. Death, more tender-hearted, leaves to sorrow Is Love ours, and do we dream we know it, Bound with all our heart-strings, all our own? Any cold and cruel dawn may show it, Shattered, desecrated, overthrown. Only the dead Hearts forsake us never; So when Fate would fain besiege our city, A WOMAN'S ANSWER. WILL not let you say a Woman's part Must be to give exclusive love alone; Dearest, although I love you so, my heart Answers a thousand claims besides your own. I love what do I not love? earth and air Find space within my heart, and myriad things You would not deign to heed, are cherished there, And vibrate on its very inmost strings. I love the summer with her ebb and flow Of light, and warmth, and music that have nurst Her tender buds to blossoms. . . and you know It was in summer that I saw you first. I love the winter dearly too, . . . . but then I love the Stars like friends; so many nights I gazed at them, when you were far from me, Till I grew blind with tears.... those far off lights Could watch you, whom I longed in vain to see. I love the Flowers; happy hours lie Shut up within their petals close and fast : |