按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Love lit her eyes with lovelier hues
Than the eve…star was shedding。
She looked a sweet good…bye to me；
And o'er the stile went singing。
Down all the lonely night I heard
But bridal bells a…ringing。
III
I met a mother on the moor；
By a new grave a…praying。
The happy swallows in the blue
Upon the winds were playing。
〃Would I were in his grave；〃 I said；
〃And he beside her standing！〃
There was no heart to break if death
For me had made demanding。
Cale Young Rice ＇1872…
EPITAPH OF DIONYSIA
Here doth Dionysia lie：
She whose little wanton foot；
Tripping （ah； too carelessly！）
Touched this tomb； and fell into 't。
Trip no more shall she； nor fall。
And her trippings were so few！
Summers only eight in all
Had the sweet child wandered through。
But； already； life's few suns
Love's strong seeds had ripened warm。
All her ways were winning ones；
All her cunning was to charm。
And the fancy； in the flower；
While the flesh was in the bud；
Childhood's dawning sex did dower
With warm gusts of womanhood。
Oh what joys by hope begun；
Oh what kisses kissed by thought；
What love…deeds by fancy done；
Death to endless dust hath wrought！
Had the fates been kind as thou；
Who； till now； was never cold；
Once Love's aptest scholar； now
Thou hadst been his teacher bold；
But； if buried seeds upthrow
Fruits and flowers； if flower and fruit
By their nature fitly show
What the seeds are； whence they shoot；
Dionysia； o'er this tomb；
Where thy buried beauties be；
From their dust shall spring and bloom
Loves and graces like to thee。
Unknown
FOR CHARLIE'S SAKE
The night is late； the house is still；
The angels of the hour fulfil
Their tender ministries； and move
From couch to couch in cares of love。
They drop into thy dreams； sweet wife；
The happiest smile of Charlie's life；
And lay on baby's lips a kiss；
Fresh from his angel…brother's bliss；
And； as they pass； they seem to make
A strange； dim hymn； 〃For Charlie's sake。〃
My listening heart takes up the strain；
And gives it to the night again；
Fitted with words of lowly praise；
And patience learned of mournful days；
And memories of the dead child's ways。
His will be done； His will be done！
Who gave and took away my son；
In 〃the far land〃 to shine and sing
Before the Beautiful； the King；
Who every day doth Christmas make；
All starred and belled for Charlie's sake。
For Charlie's sake I will arise；
I will anoint me where he lies；
And change my raiment； and go in
To the Lord's house； and leave my sin
Without； and seat me at his board；
Eat； and be glad； and praise the Lord。
For wherefore should I fast and weep；
And sullen moods of mourning keep？
I cannot bring him back； nor he；
For any calling； come to me。
The bond the angel Death did sign；
God sealed … for Charlie's sake； and mine。
I'm very poor … this slender stone
Marks all the narrow field I own；
Yet； patient husbandman； I till
With faith and prayers； that precious hill；
Sow it with penitential pains；
And； hopeful； wait the latter rains；
Content if； after all； the spot
Yield barely one forget…me…not …
Whether or figs or thistles make
My crop； content for Charlie's sake。
I have no houses； builded well …
Only that little lonesome cell；
Where never romping playmates come；
Nor bashful sweethearts； cunning…dumb …
An April burst of girls and boys；
Their rainbowed cloud of glooms and joys
Born with their songs； gone with their toys；
Nor ever is its stillness stirred
By purr of cat； or chirp of bird；
Or mother's twilight legend； told
Of Horner's pie； or Tiddler's gold；
Or fairy hobbling to the door；
Red…cloaked and weird； banned and poor；
To bless the good child's gracious eyes；
The good child's wistful charities；
And crippled changeling's hunch to make
Dance on his crutch； for good child's sake。
How is it with the child？ 'Tis well；
Nor would I any miracle
Might stir my sleeper's tranquil trance；
Or plague his painless countenance：
I would not any seer might place
His staff on my immortal's face；
Or lip to lip； and eye to eye；
Charm back his pale mortality。
No； Shunamite！ I would not break
God's stillness。 Let them weep who wake。
For Charlie's sake my lot is blest：
No comfort like his mother's breast；
No praise like hers； no charm expressed
In fairest forms hath half her zest。
For Charlie's sake this bird's caressed
That death left lonely in the nest；
For Charlie's sake my heart is dressed；
As for its birthday； in its best；
For Charlie's sake we leave the rest
To Him who gave； and who did take；
And saved us twice； for Charlie's sake。
John Williamson Palmer ＇1825…1906＇
〃ARE THE CHILDREN AT HOME？〃
Each day； when the glow of sunset
Fades in the western sky；
And the wee ones； tired of playing；
Go tripping lightly by；
I steal away from my husband；
Asleep in his easy…chair；
And watch from the open doorway
Their faces fresh and fair。
Alone in the dear old homestead
That once was full of life；
Ringing with girlish laughter；
Echoing boyish strife；
We two are waiting together；
And oft； as the shadows come；
With tremulous voice he calls me；
〃It is night！ are the children home？〃
〃Yes； love！〃 I answer him gently；
〃They're all home long ago；〃 …
And I sing； in my quivering treble；
A song so soft and low；
Till the old man drops to slumber；
With his head upon his hand；
And I tell to myself the number
At home in the better land。
At home； where never a sorrow
Shall dim their eyes with tears！
Where the smile of God is on them
Through all the summer years！
I know； … yet my arms are empty；
That fondly folded seven；
And the mother…heart within me
Is almost starved for heaven。
Sometimes； in the dusk of evening；
I only shut my eyes；
And the children are all about me；
A vision from the skies：
The babes whose dimpled fingers
Lost the way to my breast；
And the beautiful ones； the angels；
Passed to the world of the blest。
With never a cloud upon them；
I see their radiant brows；
My boys that I gave to freedom； …
The red sword sealed their vows！
In a tangled Southern forest；
Twin brothers bold and brave；
They fell； and the flag they died for；
Thank God！ floats over their grave。
A breath； and the vision is lifted
Away on wings of light；
And again we two are together；
All alone in the night。
They tell me his mind is failing；
But I smile at idle fears；
He is only back with the children；
In the dear and peaceful years。
And still； as the summer sunset
Fades away in the west；
And the wee ones； tired of playing；
Go trooping home to rest；
My husband calls from his corner；
〃Say； love； have the children come？〃
And I answer； with eyes uplifted；
〃Yes； dear！ they are all at home。〃
Margaret Sangs