The Home Book of Verse Volume Ii Part 45

George Edward Woodberry [1855-1930]

THE CYCLAMEN

Over the plains where Persian hosts Laid down their lives for glory Flutter the cyclamens, like ghosts That witness to their story.

Oh, fair! Oh, white! Oh, pure as snow!

On countless graves how sweet they grow!

Or crimson, like the cruel wounds From which the life-blood, flowing, Poured out where now on gra.s.sy mounds The low, soft winds are blowing: Oh, fair! Oh, red! Like blood of slain; Not even time can cleanse that stain.

But when my dear these blossoms holds, All loveliness her dower, All woe and joy the past enfolds In her find fullest flower.

Oh, fair! Oh, pure! Oh, white and red!

If she but live, what are the dead!

Arlo Bates [1850-1918]

THE WEST-COUNTRY LOVER

Then, lady, at last thou art sick of my sighing?

Good-bye!

So long as I sue, thou wilt still be denying?

Good-bye!

Ah, well! shall I vow then to serve thee forever, And swear no unkindness our kins.h.i.+p can sever?

Nay, nay, dear my la.s.s! here's an end of endeavor.

Good-bye!

Yet let no sweet ruth for my misery grieve thee.

Good-bye!

The man who has loved knows as well how to leave thee.

Good-bye!

The gorse is enkindled, there's bloom on the heather, And love is my joy, and so too is fair weather; I still ride abroad, though we ride not together.

Good-bye!

My horse is my mate; let the wind be my master.

Good-bye!

Though Care may pursue, yet my hound follows faster.

Good-bye!

The red deer's a-tremble in coverts unbroken.

He hears the hoof-thunder; he scents the death-token.

Shall I mope at home, under vows never spoken?

Good-bye!

The brown earth's my book, and I ride forth to read it.

Good-bye!

The stream runneth fast, but my will shall outspeed it.

Good-bye!

I love thee, dear la.s.s, but I hate the hag Sorrow.

As sun follows rain, and to-night has its morrow, So I'll taste of joy, though I steal, beg, or borrow!

Good-bye!

Alice Brown [1857-

"BE YE IN LOVE WITH APRIL-TIDE"

Be ye in love with April-tide?

I' faith, in love am I!

For now 'tis sun, and now 'tis shower, And now 'tis frost and now 'tis flower, And now 'tis Laura laughing-eyed, And now 'tis Laura shy!

Ye doubtful days, O slower glide!

Still smile and frown, O sky!

Some beauty unforeseen I trace In every change of Laura's face;-- Be ye in love with April-tide?

I' faith, in love am I!

Clinton Scollard [1860-1932]

UNITY

Heart of my heart, the world is young: Love lies hidden in every rose!

Every song that the skylark sung Once, we thought, must come to a close: Now we know the spirit of song, Song that is merged in the chant of the whole, Hand in hand as we wander along, What should we doubt of the years that roll?

Heart of my heart, we can not die!

Love triumphant in flower and tree, Every life that laughs at the sky Tells us nothing can cease to be; One, we are one with a song to-day, One with the clover that scents the wold, One with the Unknown, far away, One with the stars, when earth grows old.

Heart of my heart, we are one with the wind, One with the clouds that are whirled o'er the lea, One in many, O broken and blind, One as the waves are at one with the sea!

Ay! when life seems scattered apart, Darkens, ends as a tale that is told, One, we are one, O heart of my heart, One, still one, while the world grows old.

Alfred Noyes [1880-

THE QUEEN

He loves not well whose love is bold!

I would not have thee come too nigh: The sun's gold would not seem pure gold Unless the sun were in the sky: To take him thence and chain him near Would make his glory disappear.

He keeps his state,--keep thou in thine, And s.h.i.+ne upon me from afar!

So shall I bask in light divine, That falls from love's own guiding star; So shall thy eminence be high, And so my pa.s.sion shall not die;