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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.
  
MAY-FLOWERS.
  
MY SUMMER.
  
MORNING GLORY.
  
A PAINTED FAN.
  
LONG IS THE WAY.
  
AUTOMNE.
  
OUT IN THE SNOW.
  
A WEED.
  
A QUEST.
  
SOME DAY OR OTHER.
  
THROUGH A WINDOW.
  
WAITING.
  
WIFE TO HUSBAND.
  
AFTER THE MOUNTAINS.
  
ALONE BY THE BAY.
  
MIDSUMMER IN NEW ENGLAND.
  
AT ETRETAT.
  
THE HOUSE OF DEATH.
  
“SHE WAS WON IN AN IDLE DAY.”
  
A LIFE'S LOSS.
  
THE SINGER.
  
HOW LONG?
  
THE SONG OF A SUMMER.
  
IF.
  
FIAT JUSTITIA.
  
AT THE LAST.
  
WHAT SHE SAID IN HER TOMB.
  
A SUMMER'S GHOST.
  
LOVER AND FRIEND HAST THOU PUT FAR FROM ME.
  
BEAUTY FOR ASHES.
  
TO MY HEART.
  
ALIEN WATERS.
  
LOOKING BACK.
  
A PROBLEM.
  
AT A WINDOW.
  
TO A LADY IN A PICTURE.
  
MY CAPTIVE.
  
ROSES.
  
DOWN THE RIVER.
  
LOVE'S LAND.
  
HER WINDOW.
  
A MADRIGAL.
  
QUESTION.
  
I FAIN WOULD GO.
  
THE SPRING IS LATE.
  
SELFISH PRAYER.
  
AD TE DOMINE.
  
IF I COULD KEEP HER SO.
  
ANNIE'S DAUGHTER.
  
LOOKING INTO THE WELL.
  
LIKE A CHILD.
  
A SONG IN THE WOOD.
  
MY BOY.
  
TROTHPLIGHT.
  
THE HOUSE IN THE MEADOW.
  
FROM DUSK TO DAWN.
  
THERE.
  
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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SONNETS.
  
THE NEW DAY.
  
ONE DREAD.
  
AFAR.
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LAST YEAR.
 1. 
[I. You thought, O Love, you loved me then, I know]
 2. 
[II. You surely must remember, though to-day]
  
FIRST LOVE.
  
LOVE'S FORGIVENESS.
  
IN TIME TO COME.
  
A SUMMER'S GROWTH.
  
MY BIRTHDAY.
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IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS.
  
[dedication]
  
IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS.
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Lyrics.
  
COME BACK, DEAR DAYS.
  
LOVE'S RESURRECTION DAY.
  
THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS.
  
“IF THERE WERE DREAMS TO SELL.”
  
IN THE RANKS.
  
EROS.
  
LAUS VENERIS:
  
PARLEYING.
  
IN BOHEMIA.
  
TO NIGHT.
  
WHEN DAY WAS DONE.
  
MAUD'S ROSES.
  
“THEIR CANDLES ARE ALL OUT.”
  
TO MISTRESS ROSE.
  
AT MIDNIGHT.
  
IN A BOWER.
  
ROSES.
  
THE GHOST'S RETURN.
  
AS I SAIL.
  
A GIRL'S FUNERAL IN MILAN.
  
IN A GARDEN.
  
AT END.
  
THE COQUETTE'S DEFENCE.
  
DO NOT GRIEVE.
  
OLD JONES IS DEAD.
  
GRANDMAMMA'S WARNING.
  
MAID MARION.
  
A LITTLE COMEDY.
  
IN AUTUMN.
  
AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
  
BESIDE A BIER.
  
RED AND WHITE ROSES.
  
MY SAINT.
  
WARNING.
  
THE ROSE SHE WORE IN WINTER.
  
SHALL I NOT KNOW?
  
FOR A BIRTHDAY.
  
A MOOD OF LOVE.
  
NAY.
  
THE ROSES OF LA GARRAYE.
  
NOW AND THEN.
  
“THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING.”
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Sonnets in Many Moods.
  
HELEN'S CUP.
  
SILENT SORROW.
  
A CRY.
  
LOVE'S EMPTY HOUSE.
  
AFTER DEATH.
  
VOICES ON THE WIND.
  
THE CUP OF DEATH.
  
TO A MODERN POET.
  
THE LAST GOOD-BY.
  
LOVE IS DEAD.
  
HIC JACET.
  
LEFT BEHIND.
  
FUTURE FORGIVENESS.
  
IN PACE.
  
A WOMAN'S KNOWLEDGE.
  
IN SOLITUDE.
  
BEYOND SIGHT AND SOUND.
  
TO ONE WHO HAS LOVED OFTEN.
  
BEFORE THE SHRINE.
  
ROSES AT SEA.
  
A GHOST'S QUESTION.
  
SISTER SORROW.
  
HE LOVED.
  
HEREAFTER.
  
AT WAR.
  
NEAR, YET FAR.
  
A FALLEN HOUSE.
  
MY MOURNER.
  
AT SEA.
  
LAURA SLEEPING.
  
TO ONE MOST UNHAPPY.
  
IN THE COURT OF THE LIONS:
  
MY CASTLE.
  
BY MARCH WIND LED.
  
MY MOTHER'S PICTURE.
  
AT A RUINED ABBEY.
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His Second Wife Speaks.
 1. 
I. A PARABLE.
 2. 
II. SILENT.
 3. 
III. A SECOND PLACE.
 4. 
IV. ALONE IN DEATH.
 5. 
V. FACE TO FACE.
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The Still Hour.
  
IN THE PINE WOODS AT MARIENBAD.
  
HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!
  
SHALL I LOOK BACK?
  
STRAIGHT ON TO PORT.
  
A PRAYER IN SORROW.
  
ON HOMEWARD WING.
  
IN MID-OCEAN.
  
AS IN VISION.
  
A PRAYER FOR LIGHT.
  
COME UNTO ME.
  
A RAINY AFTERNOON:
  
HARK, TEN THOUSAND HARPS AND VOICES!
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Rosemary.
  
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
  
AN OPEN DOOR.
  
BEHIND THE MIST:
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HER GHOST.
 1. 
[I. Her gentle ghost is with me everywhere]
 2. 
[II. Now with the summer she has come again]
 3. 
[III. Thou wilt not speak! Day after silent day]
  
AT END OF PAIN.
  
A SILENT GUEST.
  
LOUISA M. ALCOTT.
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French Tunes.
  
THE SPRING IS HERE.
  
EASTER SUNDAY.
  
HEART, SAD HEART.
  
TWO RED ROSES.
  
THE SHADOW DANCE.
  
IN FEBRUARY.
  
THE OLD BEAU.
  
TO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER,
  
“WITH THOSE CLEAR EYES.”
  
LOVE'S GHOST.
  
HOW COULD I TELL?
  
WHEN LOVE WAS YOUNG.
  
IF LOVE COULD LAST.
  
O SWEETEST MAID!
  
IF YOU WERE HERE.
  
SUCH JOY IT WAS.
  
WE LOVED SO WELL.
  
SO BLITHELY ROSE.
  
THISTLE-DOWN.
  
LOVE PLUMES HIS WINGS.
  
IN WINTER.
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AT THE WIND'S WILL.
  
AT THE WIND'S WILL.
  
TO HOPE.
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Lyrics.
  
SONGS AT SEA.
  
ON A ROSE PRESSED IN A BOOK.
  
THE SUN IS LOW.
  
THE SECRET OF ARCADY.
  
AT NIGHT'S HIGH NOON.
  
THE VOICE OF SPRING.
  
IN EXTREMIS.
  
WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG.
  
AT THE END.
  
TO SLEEP.
  
WHEN YOU ARE DEAD.
  
THE BIRDS AND I.
  
THE BIRDS COME BACK.
  
A WINTER'S DAWN.
  
THE LURE.
  
DEAD MEN'S HOLIDAY.
  
WHEN YOU WERE HERE.
  
BECAUSE IT IS THE SPRING.
  
HER PICTURE.
  
A VIOLET SPEAKS.
  
LEGEND OF A TOMB IN FLORENCE.
  
THE SUMMER'S QUEEN.
  
BEND LOW AND HARK.
  
A SONG FOR ROSALYS.
  
THE GENTLE GHOST OF JOY.
  
WHEN I WANDER AWAY WITH DEATH.
  
HAS LAVISH SUMMER BROUGHT THE ROSE?
  
A LOST EDEN.
  
THE MOOD OF A MAN.
  
JUNE'S DAUGHTER.
  
A SUMMER WOOING.
  
I HAVE CALLED THEE MANY A NIGHT.
  
A WHISPER TO THE MOON.
  
IN VENICE ONCE.
  
MY QUEEN OF MAY.
  
WHERE THE NIGHT'S PALE ROSES BLOW.
  
AND YET.
  
I HEARD A CRY IN THE NIGHT.
  
THE NAME ON A DOOR.
  
VAIN WAITING.
  
A WISH.
  
THE COSTLIEST GIFT.
  
TO HER WHO KNOWS.
  
IN THE OFFING.
  
WITH A BOOK.
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Sonnets.
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Love's Rosary.
 1. 
I. LAND OF MY DREAMS.
 2. 
II. THOUGH WE WERE DUST.
 3. 
III. THE ROSE OF DAWN.
 4. 
IV. THOU REIGNEST STILL.
 5. 
V. TIME'S PRISONER.
 6. 
VI. “HAVE I NOT LEARNED TO LIVE WITHOUT THEE YET?”
 7. 
VII. A HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY.
 8. 
VIII. LETHE.
 9. 
IX. A SILENT VOICE.
 10. 
X. WERE BUT MY SPIRIT LOOSED UPON THE AIR.
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Of Life and Love.
  
AT MIDSUMMER.
  
THE LIFE-MASK OF KEATS.
  
SOUL TO BODY.
  
AT REST.
  
SHALL I COMPLAIN?
  
PARTING.
  
VAIN FREEDOM.
  
THE NEW YEAR DAWNS.
  
ASPIRATION.
  
OH, TRAVELLER BY UNACCUSTOMED WAYS.
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GREAT LOVE.
 1. 
I. GREAT LOVE IS HUMBLE.
 2. 
II. GREAT LOVE IS PROUD.
  
HER YEARS.
  
MIDWINTER FLOWERS.
  
HER PRESENCE.
  
WHEN WE CONFRONT THE VASTNESS OF THE NIGHT.
  
ON MEETING A SAILING VESSEL IN MID-OCEAN.
  
MIDNIGHT AT SEA.
  
INTER MANES.
  
YET, STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL YOUR FACE I FIND.
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A SUMMER'S DREAM.
 1. 
[I. What that dead summer was my heart knows well]
 2. 
[II. So Summer, with her slow, reluctant feet]
  
MY MASTERS.
  
TO PRINCE ORIC.
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A POET'S SECOND LOVE.
 1. 
[I. I share your heart with her, its former Queen]
 2. 
[II. Not mine the spell to charm your lute to song]
  
FAIR LIFE.
  
A PLEA FOR THE OLD YEAR.
  
WHEN I AM DEAD.
  
ONE AFTERNOON.
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In Quest of Light.
  
AFAR FROM GOD.
  
MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
  
NEWLY BORN.
  
THE SONG OF THE STARS.
  
A QUESTION: AT SEA.
  
THE LAND OF GOLD.
  
A PRAYER IN THE DARK.
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At Death's Postern.
  
ACROSS THE SEA.
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ROBERT BROWNING.
 1. 
I. HIS STAR.
 2. 
II. THE POET OF HUMAN LIFE.
  
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
  
SUMMONED BY THE KING.
  
PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON.
  
THE CLOSED GATE.
  
A DREAM IN THE NIGHT.
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Rondels and Rondeaux.
  
VAGRANT LOVE.
  
THOUGH WE REPENT.
  
THE SPRING IS HERE.
  
TO THE GHOST OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.
  
AFTER SUPPING WITH A POET.
  
ROSAMOND'S ROSE.
  
TO A FAIR LADY.
  
TWO THRUSHES MET.
  
LOVE MAKES THE SPRING.
  
LIFE'S DAY.
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Quatrains.
  
THE LOST ROOM.
  
AUTUMN DAYS.
  
A DEAD POET.
  
IN A LIBRARY.
  
THE KING DETHRONED.
  
WHO KNOWS?
  
DAY'S MOCKERY.
  
YOU.
  
I STUDIED LIFE.
  
THE PRODIGAL.
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ADDITIONAL POEMS.
  
TO JULIA WARD HOWE.
  
WHY?
  
ALL IN ONE.
  
IF ONCE, JUST ONCE.
  
THE BOLD GHOST.
  
ONCE MORE.
  
ONE DAY.
  
“BEYOND.”
  
FOR EASTER MORN.
  
LIFE'S SEASONS.

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336

MY QUEEN OF MAY.

The laughing garlanded May-time is here;
The glad laburnum whispers at the gate:
“She comes! She comes! I hear her step draw near,
My Queen of Beauty, Arbitress of Fate!”
The lilacs look at her—“She is more fair
Than the white moon, more proud than the strong sun;
Let him who seeks her royal grace beware,
To be unworthy were to be undone.”
One wild sweet rose, that dreams the May is June,
Blooms for her; and for her a mateless bird
Thrills the soft dusk with his entrancing tune,
Content if by her only he is heard.
A curious star climbs the far heaven to see
What She it is for whom the waiting night,
To music set, trembles in melody;
Then, by her beauty dazzled, flees from sight.
337

And I—what am I that my voice should reach
The gracious ear to which it would aspire?
She will not heed my faltering poor speech;
I have no spell to win what all desire.
Yet will I serve my stately Queen of May;
Yet will I hope, till Hope itself be spent.
Better to strive, though steep and long the way,
Than on some weaker heart to sink content.
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