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If pain for peace prepares
If pain for peace prepares Lo, what "Augustan" years Our feet await! If springs from winter rise, Can the Anemones Be reckoned up? If night stands fast -- then noon To gird us for the sun, What gaze
Heaven--Haven: A Nun Takes The Veil
I have desired to go Where springs not fail, To fields where flies no sharp and sided hail And a few lilies blow. And I have asked to be Where no storms come, Where the green swel
For Death -- or rather
For Death -- or rather For the Things 'twould buy -- This -- put away Life's Opportunity -- The Things that Death will buy Are Room -- Escape from Circumstances -- And a Name -- With Gifts of Life H
We talked as Girls do --
We talked as Girls do -- Fond, and late -- We speculated fair, on every subject, but the Grave -- Of ours, none affair -- We handled Destinies, as cool -- As we -- Disposers -- be -- And God, a Quiet
The waters chased him as he fled,
The waters chased him as he fled, Not daring look behind -- A billow whispered in his Ear, "Come home with me, my friend -- My parlor is of shriven glass, My pantry has a fish For every palate in the
In The Green And Gallant Spring
IN the green and gallant Spring, Love and the lyre I thought to sing, And kisses sweet to give and take By the flowery hawthorn brake. Now is russet Autumn here, Death and the grave and winter drear,
167. Epitaph for Mr. William Michie, Schoolmaster
HERE lie Willie Michie’s banes; O Satan, when ye tak him, Gie him the schulin o’ your weans, For clever deils he’ll mak them!
Go not too near a House of Rose --
Go not too near a House of Rose -- The depredation of a Breeze -- Or inundation of a Dew Alarms its walls away -- Nor try to tie the Butterfly, Nor climb the Bars of Ecstasy, In insecurity to lie Is
Fragment: 'Methought I Was a Billow in the Crowd'
Methought I was a billow in the crowd Of common men, that stream without a shore, That ocean which at once is deaf and loud; That I, a man, stood amid many more By a wayside..., which the aspect bore
Estranged from Beauty -- none can be --
Estranged from Beauty -- none can be -- For Beauty is Infinity -- And power to be finite ceased Before Identity was leased.
Not One by Heaven defrauded stay --
Not One by Heaven defrauded stay -- Although he seem to steal He restitutes in some sweet way Secreted in his will --
Jesus! thy Crucifix
Jesus! thy Crucifix Enable thee to guess The smaller size! Jesus! thy second face Mind thee in Paradise Of ours!
Had I presumed to hope --
Had I presumed to hope -- The loss had been to Me A Value -- for the Greatness' Sake -- As Giants -- gone away -- Had I presumed to gain A Favor so remote -- The failure but confirm the Grace In furt
A chilly Peace infests the Grass
A chilly Peace infests the Grass The Sun respectful lies -- Not any Trance of industry These shadows scrutinize -- Whose Allies go no more astray For service or for Glee -- But all mankind deliver he
Epitaph. Intended for Sir Isaac Newton, in Westminster Abbey.
ISAACUS NEWTONUS: QUEM IMMORTALEM TESTANTUR TEMPUS, NATURA, COELUM: MORTALEM HOC MARMOR FATETUR. Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night God said, Let Newton be! and all was light
Bless God, he went as soldiers,
Bless God, he went as soldiers, His musket on his breast -- Grant God, he charge the bravest Of all the martial blest! Please God, might I behold him In epauletted white -- I should not fear the foe
Good-Night
Good-night? ah! no; the hour is ill Which severs those it should unite; Let us remain together still, Then it will be GOOD night. How can I call the lone night good, Though thy sweet wishes wing its
To mend each tattered Faith
To mend each tattered Faith There is a needle fair Though no appearance indicate -- 'Tis threaded in the Air -- And though it do not wear As if it never Tore 'Tis very comfortable indeed And spacious
The Leaves like Women interchange
The Leaves like Women interchange Exclusive Confidence -- Somewhat of nods and somewhat Portentous inference. The Parties in both cases Enjoining secrecy -- Inviolable compact To notoriety.
The name -- of it -- is "Autumn" --
The name -- of it -- is "Autumn" -- The hue -- of it -- is Blood -- An Artery -- upon the Hill -- A Vein -- along the Road -- Great Globules -- in the Alleys -- And Oh, the Shower of Stain -- When Wi
Which is the best -- the Moon or the Crescent?
Which is the best -- the Moon or the Crescent? Neither -- said the Moon -- That is best which is not -- Achieve it -- You efface the Sheen. Not of detention is Fruition -- Shudder to attain. Transpor
The Bird her punctual music brings
The Bird her punctual music brings And lays it in its place -- Its place is in the Human Heart And in the Heavenly Grace -- What respite from her thrilling toil Did Beauty ever take -- But Work might
One Life of so much Consequence!
One Life of so much Consequence! Yet I -- for it -- would pay -- My Soul's entire income -- In ceaseless -- salary -- One Pearl -- to me -- so signal -- That I would instant dive -- Although -- I kne
Teach Him -- When He makes the names
Teach Him -- When He makes the names -- Such an one -- to say -- On his babbling -- Berry -- lips -- As should sound -- to me -- Were my Ear -- as near his nest -- As my thought -- today -- As should