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Alas； Time stays； … we go！
Austin Dobson ＇1840…1921＇
AGE
Snow and stars； the same as ever
In the days when I was young； …
But their silver song； ah never；
Never now is sung！
Cold the stars are； cold the earth is；
Everything is grim and cold！
Strange and drear the sound of mirth is …
Life and I are old！
William Winter ＇1836…1917＇
OMNIA SOMNIA
Dawn drives the dreams away； yet some abide。
Once； in a tide of pale and sunless weather；
I dreamed I wandered on a bare hillside；
When suddenly the birds sang all together。
Still it was Winter； even in the dream；
There was no leaf nor bud nor young grass springing；
The skies shone cold above the frost…bound stream：
It was not Spring； and yet the birds were singing。
Blackbird and thrush and plaintive willow…wren；
Chaffinch and lark and linnet； all were calling；
A golden web of music held me then；
Innumerable voices； rising； falling。
O； never do the birds of April sing
More sweet than in that dream I still remember：
Perchance the heart may keep its songs of Spring
Even through the wintry dream of life's December。
Rosamund Marriott Watson ＇1863…1911＇
THE YEAR'S END
Full happy is the man who comes at last
Into the safe completion of his year；
Weathered the perils of his spring； that blast
How many blossoms promising and dear！
And of his summer； with dread passions fraught
That oft； like fire through the ripening corn；
Blight all with mocking death and leave distraught
Loved ones to mourn the ruined waste forlorn。
But now； though autumn gave but harvest slight；
Oh； grateful is be to the powers above
For winter's sunshine； and the lengthened night
By hearth…side genial with the warmth of love。
Through silvered days of vistas gold and green
Contentedly he glides away； serene。
Timothy Cole ＇1852…1931＇
AN OLD MAN'S SONG
Ye are young； ye are young；
I am old； I am old；
And the song has been sung
And the story been told。
Your locks are as brown
As the mavis in May；
Your hearts are as warm
As the sunshine to…day；
But mine white and cold
As the snow on the brae。
And Love； like a flower；
Is growing for you；
Hands clasping； lips meeting；
Hearts beating so true；
While Fame like a star
In the midnight afar
Is flashing for you。
For you the To…come；
But for me the Gone…by；
You are panting to live；
I am waiting to die；
The meadow is empty；
No flower groweth high；
And naught but a socket
The face of the sky。
Yea； how so we dream；
Or how bravely we do；
The end is the same；
Be we traitor or true：
And after the bloom
And the passion is past；
Death cometh at last。
Richard Le Gallienne ＇1866…
SONGS OF SEVEN
Seven Times One。 … EXULTATION
There's no dew left on the daisies and clover；
There's no rain left in heaven；
I've said my 〃seven times〃 over and over；
Seven times one are seven。
I am old； so old； I can write a letter；
My birthday lessons are done；
The lambs play always； they know no better；
They are only one times one。
O moon！ in the night I have seen you sailing
And shining so round and low；
You were bright！ ah； bright！ but your light is failing； …
You are nothing now but a bow。
You moon； have you done something wrong in heaven
That God has hidden your face？
I hope if you have； you will soon be forgiven；
And shine again in your place。
O velvet bee； you're a dusty fellow；
You've powdered your legs with gold！
O brave marsh marybuds； rich and yellow；
Give me your money to hold！
O columbine； open your folded wrapper；
Where two twin turtle…doves dwell？
O cuckoopint； toll me the purple clapper
That hangs in your clear green bell！
And show me your nest with the young ones in it；
I will not steal them away；
I am old！ you may trust me； linnet； linnet； …
I am seven times one to…day。
Seven Times Two。 … ROMANCE
You bells in the steeple； ring； ring out your changes；
How many soever they be；
And let the brown meadow…lark's note as he ranges
Come over； come over to me。
Yet birds' clearest carol by fall or by swelling
No magical sense conveys；
And bells have forgotten their old art of telling
The fortune of future days
〃Turn again； turn again；〃 once they rang cheerily；
While a boy listened alone；
Made his heart yearn again； musing so wearily
All by himself on a stone。
Poor bells！ I forgive you； your good days are over；
And mine； they are yet to be；
No listening； no longing shall aught； aught discover：
You leave the story to me。
The foxglove shoots out of the green matted heather
Preparing her hoods of snow；
She was idle； and slept till the sunshiny weather：
Oh！ children take long to grow。
I wish and I wish that the spring would go faster；
Nor long summer bide so late；
And I could grow on like the foxglove and aster；
For some things are ill to wait。
I wait for the day when dear hearts shall discover；
While dear hands are laid on my head；
〃The child is a woman； the book may close over；
For all the lessons are said。〃
I wait for my story； … the birds cannot sing it；
Not one； as he sits on the tree；
The bells cannot ring it； but long years； oh； bring it！
Such as I wish it to be。
Seven Times Three。 … LOVE
I leaned out of window； I smelt the white clover；
Dark； dark was the garden； I saw not the gate；
〃Now； if there be footsteps； he comes； my one lover； …
Hush； nightingale； hush！ O sweet nightingale； wait
Till I listen and hear
If a step draweth near；
For my love he is late！
〃The skies in the darkness stoop nearer and nearer；
A cluster of stars hangs like fruit in the tree；
The fall of the water comes sweeter； comes clearer：
To what art thou listening； and what dost thou see？
Let the star…clusters grow；
Let the sweet waters flow；
And cross quickly to me。
〃You night…moths that hover； where honey brims over
From sycamore blossoms； or settle or sleep；
You glowworms； shine out； and the pathway discover
To him that comes darkling along the rough steep。
Ah； my sailor； make haste；
For the time runs to waste；
And my love lieth deep； …
〃Too deep for swift telling； and yet； my one lover；
I've conned thee an answer； it waits thee to…night。〃
By the sycamore passed he； and through the white clover；
Then all the sweet speech I had fashioned took flight；
But I'll love him more； more
Than e'er wife loved before；
Be the days dark or bright。
Seven Times Four。 … MATERNITY
Heigh…ho！ daisies and buttercups！
Fair yellow daffodils； stately and tall！
When the wind wakes how they rock in the grasses；
And dance with the cuckoo…buds slender and small！
Here's two bonny boys； and here's mother's own lasses；
Eager to gather them all。
Heigh…ho！ daisies and buttercups；
Mother shall thread them a daisy chain；
Sing t