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The poems and sonnets of Louise Chandler Moulton

Moulton, Louise Chandler (1835-1908)

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SWALLOW-FLIGHTS

SWALLOW-FLIGHTS.

LONG IS THE WAY.

OUT IN THE SNOW.

SOME DAY OR OTHER.

THROUGH A WINDOW.

WIFE TO HUSBAND.

AFTER THE MOUNTAINS.

ALONE BY THE BAY.

MIDSUMMER IN NEW ENGLAND.

THE HOUSE OF DEATH.

“SHE WAS WON IN AN IDLE DAY.”

THE SONG OF A SUMMER.

WHAT SHE SAID IN HER TOMB.

A SUMMER'S GHOST.

LOVER AND FRIEND HAST THOU PUT FAR FROM ME.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES.

TO A LADY IN A PICTURE.

DOWN THE RIVER.

I FAIN WOULD GO.

THE SPRING IS LATE.

SELFISH PRAYER.

IF I COULD KEEP HER SO.

ANNIE'S DAUGHTER.

LOOKING INTO THE WELL.

A SONG IN THE WOOD.

THE HOUSE IN THE MEADOW.

FROM DUSK TO DAWN.

SOMEBODY'S CHILD.

A WOMAN'S WAITING.

JOHN A. ANDREW.

THE COUNTRY OF “IF.”

FOR CUPID DEAD.

WE LAY US DOWN TO SLEEP.

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LOVE'S FORGIVENESS.

IN TIME TO COME.

A SUMMER'S GROWTH.

IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS.

AT THE WIND'S WILL.

ADDITIONAL POEMS.

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199

A WOMAN'S KNOWLEDGE.

A rose to smell a moment, then to leave,
Chance strain of song you smile at as you pass,
Bubble that breaks before you lip the glass,
Chain frail as the frail thread that spiders weave;
Oh, do not think that I myself deceive!
Thus, and not otherwise, to you am I,—
A moment's pleasure as you pass me by,
Powerless, at best, to make you joy or grieve.

And you, to me, my sun-god and my sun,
Who warmed my heart to life with careless ray!
Forever will that burning memory stay
And warm me in the grave when life is done:—
What farther grace has any woman won?
Since your chance gift you cannot take away.