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Were hard to utter； as to see
That life had any pain。
No shade was on us then； save one
Of chestnuts from the hill；
And through the word our laugh did run
As part thereof： the mirth being done；
He calls me by it still。
Nay； do not smile！ I hear in it
What none of you can hear； …
The talk upon the willow seat；
The bird and wind that did repeat
Around； our human cheer。
I hear the birthday's noisy bliss
My sisters' woodland glee；
My father's praise I did not miss
When stooping down； he cared to kiss
The poet at his knee； …
And voices which； to name me； aye
Their tenderest tones were keeping； …
To some I nevermore can say
An answer till God wipes away
In heaven these drops of weeping。
My name to me a sadness wears：
No murmurs cross my mind …
Now God be thanked for these thick tears；
Which show； of those departed years；
Sweet memories left behind。
Now God be thanked for years enwrought
With love which softens yet：
Now God be thanked for every thought
Which is so tender it has caught
Earth's guerdon of regret。
Earth saddens； never shall remove
Affections purely given；
And e'en that mortal grief shall prove
The immortality of love；
And heighten it with Heaven。
Elizabeth Barrett Browning ＇1806…1861＇
THREESCORE AND TEN
Who reach their threescore years and ten；
As I have mine； without a sigh；
Are either more or less than men …
Not such am I。
I am not of them； life to me
Has been a strange； bewildering dream；
Wherein I knew not things that be
From things that seem。
I thought； I hoped； I knew one thing；
And had one gift； when I was young …
The impulse and the power to sing；
And so I sung。
To have a place in the high choir
Of poets； and deserve the same …
What more could mortal man desire
Than poet's fame？
I sought it long； but never found；
The choir so full was and so strong
The jubilant voices there； they drowned
My simple song。
Men would not hear me then； and now
I care not； I accept my fate；
When white hairs thatch the furrowed brow
Crowns come too late！
The best of life went long ago
From me； it was not much at best；
Only the love that young hearts know；
The dear unrest。
Back on my past； through gathering tears；
Once more I cast my eyes； and see
Bright shapes that in my better years
Surrounded me！
They left me here； they left me there；
Went down dark pathways； one by one …
The wise； the great； the young； the fair；
But I went on。
And I go on！ And bad or good；
The old allotted years of men
I have endured as best I could；
Threescore and ten！
Richard Henry Stoddard ＇1825…1903＇
RAIN ON THE ROOF
When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres；
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears；
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage…chamber bed；
And to listen to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead！
Every tinkle on the shingles
Has an echo in the heart；
And a thousand dreamy fancies
Into busy being start；
And a thousand recollections
Weave their air…threads into woof；
As I listen to the patter
Of the rain upon the roof。
Now in memory comes my mother；
As she used； in years agone；
To regard the darling dreamers
Ere she left them till the dawn；
And I feel her fond look on me；
As I list to this refrain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain。
Then my little seraph sister；
With her wings and waving hair；
And her star…eyed cherub brother …
A serene angelic pair …
Glide around my wakeful pillow；
With their praise or mild reproof；
As I listen to the murmur
Of the soft rain on the roof。
And another comes； to thrill me
With her eyes' delicious blue；
And I mind not； musing on her；
That her heart was all untrue：
I remember but to love her
With a passion kin to pain；
And my heart's quick pulses vibrate
To the patter of the rain。
Art hath naught of tone or cadence
That can work with such a spell
In the soul's mysterious fountains；
Whence the tears of rapture well；
As that melody of nature；
That subdued； subduing strain
Which is played upon the shingles
By the patter of the rain。
Coates Kinney ＇1826…1904＇
ALONE BY THE HEARTH
Here； in my snug little fire…lit chamber；
Sit I alone：
And； as I gaze in the coals； I remember
Days long agone。
Saddening it is when the night has descended；
Thus to sit here；
Pensively musing on episodes ended
Many a year。
Still in my visions a golden…haired glory
Flits to and fro；
She whom I loved … but 'tis just the old story：
Dead； long ago。
'Tis but a wraith of love； yet I linger
（Thus passion errs）；
Foolishly kissing the ring on my finger …
Once it was hers。
Nothing has changed since her spirit departed；
Here； in this room
Save I； who； weary； and half broken…hearted；
Sit in the gloom。
Loud 'gainst the window the winter rain dashes；
Dreary and cold；
Over the floor the red fire…light flashes
Just as of old。
Just as of old … but the embers are scattered；
Whose ruddy blaze
Flashed o'er the floor where the fairy feet pattered
In other days！
Then； her dear voice； like a silver chime ringing；
Melted away；
Often these walls have re…echoed her singing；
Now hushed for aye！
Why should love bring naught but sorrow； I wonder？
Everything dies！
Time and death； sooner or later； must sunder
Holiest ties。
Years have rolled by； I am wiser and older …
Wiser； but yet
Not till my heart and its feelings grow colder；
Can I forget。
So； in my snug little fire…lit chamber；
Sit I alone；
And； as I gaze in the coals； I remember
Days long agone！
George Arnold ＇1834…1865＇
THE OLD MAN DREAMS
Oh for one hour of youthful joy！
Give back my twentieth spring！
I'd rather laugh； a bright…haired boy；
Than reign； a gray…beard king。
Off with the spoils of wrinkled age！
Away with Learning's crown！
Tear out life's Wisdom…written page；
And dash its trophies down！
One moment let my life…blood stream
From boyhood's fount of flame！
Give me one giddy； reeling dream
Of life all love and fame！
My listening angel heard the prayer；
And； calmly smiling； said；
〃If I but touch thy silvered hair；
Thy hasty wish hath sped。
〃But is there nothing in thy track
To bid thee fondly stay；
While the swift seasons hurry back
To find the wished…for day？〃
〃Ah； truest soul of womankind！
Without thee what were life？
One bliss I cannot leave behind：
I'll take … my … precious … wife！〃
The angel took a sapphire pen
And wrote in rainbow dew；
The man would be a boy again；
And be a husband； too！
〃And is there nothing yet unsaid；
Before the change appears？
Remember； all their gifts have fled
With those dissolving years。〃
〃Why； yes；〃 for memory would reca