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The Poems of Richard Watson Gilder

Gilder, Richard Watson (1844-1909)

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THE NEW DAY
  
PRELUDE
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PART I
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PART II
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PART III
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 1. 
I—“THE PALLID WATCHER OF THE EASTERN SKIES”
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II—“MY LOVE FOR THEE DOTH MARCH LIKE ARMÈD MEN”
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III—“WHAT WOULD I SAVE THEE FROM?”
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IV—“WHAT WOULD I WIN THEE TO?”
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V—“I WILL BE BRAVE FOR THEE”
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VI—“LOVE ME NOT, LOVE, FOR THAT I FIRST LOVED THEE”
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VII—BODY AND SOUL
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VIII—“THY LOVER, LOVE, WOULD HAVE SOME NOBLER WAY”
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IX—LOVE'S JEALOUSY
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X—LOVE'S MONOTONE
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XI—“ONCE ONLY”
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XII—DENIAL
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XIII—“ONCE WHEN WE WALKED WITHIN A SUMMER FIELD”
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XIV—SONG
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XV—LISTENING TO MUSIC
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XVI—“A SONG OF THE MAIDEN MORN”
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XVII—WORDS IN ABSENCE
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XVIII—SONG
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XIX—THISTLE-DOWN
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XX—“O SWEET WILD ROSES THAT BUD AND BLOW”
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XXI—THE RIVER
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XXII—THE LOVER'S LORD AND MASTER
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XXIII—SONG
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XXIV—“A NIGHT OF STARS AND DREAMS”
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XXV—A BIRTHDAY SONG
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XXVI—“WHAT CAN LOVE DO FOR THEE, LOVE?”
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XXVII—“THE SMILE OF HER I LOVE”
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XXVIII—FRANCESCA AND PAOLO
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XXIX—THE UNKNOWN WAY
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XXX—THE SOWER
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XXXI—“WHEN THE LAST DOUBT IS DOUBTED”
  
INTERLUDE
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PART IV
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THE CELESTIAL PASSION
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LYRICS
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TWO WORLDS AND OTHER POEMS
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THE GREAT REMEMBRANCE AND OTHER POEMS
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IN PALESTINE AND OTHER POEMS
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POEMS
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“IN THE HIGHTS”
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THE FIRE DIVINE
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IN HELENA'S GARDEN

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XI—“ONCE ONLY”

Once only, Love, may love's sweet song be sung;
But once, Love, at our feet love's flower is flung;
Once, Love, once only, Love, can we be young;
Say shall we love, dear Love, or shall we hate!
18

Once only, Love, will burn the blood-red fire;
But once awakeneth the wild desire;
Love pleadeth long, but what if love should tire!
Now shall we love, dear Love, or shall we wait!
The day is short, the evening cometh fast;
The time of choosing, Love, will soon be past;
The outer darkness falleth, Love, at last;
Love, let us love ere it be late—too late!
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