 | Original Poems and Other Verse |  |
3
Meet me as you used to meet me
Meet me as you used to meet me
In the dusky twilight time,
When the stars steal out in heaven,
And the bells of evening chime.
Let mine eyes, so worn with watching,
On thy worship'd features rest,
Let them hold thee for a moment
Of thy beauty repossess'd.
In the dusky twilight time,
When the stars steal out in heaven,
And the bells of evening chime.
Let mine eyes, so worn with watching,
On thy worship'd features rest,
Let them hold thee for a moment
Of thy beauty repossess'd.
Scorn me not, I ask no favor,
Not a word, a sign, a deed.
Looks can tell thee all my sorrow,
All my suff'ring, all my need.
Silently as stars their greeting
Unto duteous planets give,
I shall know that thou still lov'st me,
Thou, that but in thee I live.
Not a word, a sign, a deed.
Looks can tell thee all my sorrow,
All my suff'ring, all my need.
Silently as stars their greeting
Unto duteous planets give,
I shall know that thou still lov'st me,
Thou, that but in thee I live.
4
In the Lovely Summer Night
In the lovely summer night
Softest music breathes around me,
Softest mem'ries have found me,
In the lovely summer night.
Softest music breathes around me,
Softest mem'ries have found me,
In the lovely summer night.
A star doth send his light,
A blazing diamond, pearl beset,
The brightest where the bright are met,
In the lovely summer night.
A blazing diamond, pearl beset,
The brightest where the bright are met,
In the lovely summer night.
In the lovely summer night,
Sharp-eyed sorrow waits to seize me,
Death from sorrow to release me,
In the lovely summer night.
Sharp-eyed sorrow waits to seize me,
Death from sorrow to release me,
In the lovely summer night.
9
Dreary is the Church Today
Dreary is the church today,
Beauty is not here,
O'er the altar where we pray
Shines the light less clear.
Beauty is not here,
O'er the altar where we pray
Shines the light less clear.
Columns that, demurely pair'd,
Guard the solemn aisles,
Seem to miss the sanction weird
Of responsive smiles.
Guard the solemn aisles,
Seem to miss the sanction weird
Of responsive smiles.
All the swifter, Friend of pain,
Flies my soul to Thee,
In Thy nearness Let me gain
Love's solemnity.
Flies my soul to Thee,
In Thy nearness Let me gain
Love's solemnity.
10
Heartbreak
Take, take the roses from my brow,
Untwine, untwine my braided hair,
The joy of my rapt soul is now
Above regret, beyond despair.
Untwine, untwine my braided hair,
The joy of my rapt soul is now
Above regret, beyond despair.
Say you that I was fair tonight,
Aye passing fair, and he look'd on.
Too tender were his words, his eye
With light all too unguarded;
I knew full well it was in vain
He felt with me love's nameless pow'r;
I knew that life was all too poor
To keep the promise of that hour.
With all the treasures of the earth,
With all the treasures of the main,
With all the birth-right of my soul,
I'd buy that hour back again.
Aye passing fair, and he look'd on.
Too tender were his words, his eye
11
I knew full well it was in vain
He felt with me love's nameless pow'r;
I knew that life was all too poor
To keep the promise of that hour.
With all the treasures of the earth,
With all the treasures of the main,
12
I'd buy that hour back again.
Take, take the roses from my brow,
Untwine, untwine my braided hair,
My soul was full of joy, but now,
The joy that leadeth to despair.
Untwine, untwine my braided hair,
My soul was full of joy, but now,
The joy that leadeth to despair.
22
Via Felice
'Twas in the via Felice
My friend his dwelling made,
The Roman via Felice,
Half sunshine, half in shade;
My friend his dwelling made,
The Roman via Felice,
Half sunshine, half in shade;
But I dwelt near the convent
Whose bells did hallow noon
And every lesser hour
With sweet recurrent tune,
Whose bells did hallow noon
And every lesser hour
With sweet recurrent tune,
They lent their solemn cadence
To all the thoughtless day;
The heart so oft it heard them
Was lifted up to pray.
To all the thoughtless day;
The heart so oft it heard them
Was lifted up to pray.
O not where he is lying
With dear, ancestral dust;
Not where his household leavings
Grow sad and dim with rust,
With dear, ancestral dust;
Not where his household leavings
Grow sad and dim with rust,
But in the ancient city,
And from the quaint old door,
I'm watching at my window
His coming ever more.
And from the quaint old door,
I'm watching at my window
His coming ever more.
For Death's eternal city
Has still some happy street;
'Tis in the Via Felice
My friend and I shall meet
Has still some happy street;
'Tis in the Via Felice
My friend and I shall meet
25
Seasons have passed away
Seasons have pass'd away
Since last we met,
Seasons have pass'd away
Since last we met.
Springs have to Summers flush'd,
Summers on Autumns rush'd,
Autumns fallen, Winter crush'd,
Love bloometh yet.
Since last we met,
Seasons have pass'd away
Since last we met.
Springs have to Summers flush'd,
Summers on Autumns rush'd,
Autumns fallen, Winter crush'd,
Love bloometh yet.
26
Kingdoms have pass'd away
Since last we met,
Kingdoms have pass'd away
Since last we met.
See from their thrones of pride
Monarchs like spectres glide;
Love's law doth still abide,
Love reigneth yet.
Since last we met,
Kingdoms have pass'd away
Since last we met.
See from their thrones of pride
Monarchs like spectres glide;
Love's law doth still abide,
Love reigneth yet.
Dear ones have pass'd away
Since last we met,
Dear ones have pass'd away
Since last we met.
Brother and friend we mourn,
Heart of twin heart is shorn,
Love laugheth Death to scorn,
Love liveth yet.
Since last we met,
Dear ones have pass'd away
Since last we met.
Brother and friend we mourn,
Heart of twin heart is shorn,
Love laugheth Death to scorn,
Love liveth yet.
| Original Poems and Other Verse | |