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The poetical writings of Elizabeth Oakes Smith

Second edition
Smith, Elizabeth Oakes Prince (1806-1893)

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THE SINLESS CHILD.
  
INSCRIPTION.
 1. 
PART I.
 2. 
PART II.
 3. 
PART III.
 4. 
PART IV.
 5. 
PART V.
 6. 
PART VI.
 7. 
PART VII.
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SONNETS.
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THE POET'S LIFE, IN SIX SONNETS.
 1. 
I. POESY.
 2. 
II. THE BARD.
 3. 
III. THE UNATTAINED.
 4. 
IV. RELIGION.
 5. 
V. A DREAM.
 6. 
VI. AN INCIDENT.
 7. 
VII. ERROR.
 8. 
VIII. MENTAL SOLITUDE.
 9. 
IX. DISTRUST.
 10. 
X. ILLUSTRATION OF A CAMEO:
 11. 
XI. THE RUSTIC.
 12. 
XII. THE RUSTIC.
 13. 
XIII. WAYFARERS.
 14. 
XIV. TWILIGHT
 15. 
XV. TO THE OPAL.
 16. 
XVI. DUTY.
 17. 
XVII. THE PILGRIM.
 18. 
XVIII. SYMPATHY.
 16. 
XIX. SYMPATHY.
 20. 
XX. SELF RENUNCIATION.
 21. 
XXI. TO THE HUDSON.
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LIFE.
 22. 
XXII. CHILDHOOD.
 23. 
XXIII. YOUTH.
 24. 
XXIV. MANHOOD.
 25. 
XXV. OLD AGE.
 26. 
XXVI. LIFE-LONG MARTYRDOM.
 27. 
XXVII. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
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ATHEISM,
 28. 
XXVIII. FAITH.
 29. 
XXIX. REASON.
 30. 
XXX. ANNIHILATION
  
THE ACORN.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
  
THE APRIL RAIN.
  
THE WATER.
  
THE PARK FOUNTAIN.
  
THE LAST SHOT.
  
“THOU HAST LOVED.”
  
PRESAGES.
  
THE LOVE OF LADY ANN.
  
CHILDHOOD'S LAUGH.
  
THE CHILD AND THE ROSE.
  
TO A BABE.
  
THE CHILD'S BENEDICTION.
  
LOVE SHELTERED.
  
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.
  
THE FIRST LEAF OF AUTUMN.
  
MINISTERING SPIRITS.
  
FAREWELL TO FANCY.
  
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
  
THE APPEAL.
  
THE JEWISH CAPTIVE.
  
SONG. I.
  
SONG. II.
  
SONG. III.
  
THE BROOK.
  
THE SLEEP OF PLANTS.
  
THE FLOWER OF INNOCENCE,
  
THE OLD MAN.
  
THE DROWNED MARINER.
  
THE SUMMONS ANSWERED.
  
THE TWICE-TOLD SEAL.
  
THE VOICE OF THE AGE.

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114

XX.
SELF RENUNCIATION.

Shake thou thy spirit free; first learn to feel
That love doth bring its own exceeding good.
Cry not the “give,” this selfishness of mood,
Will bind thee down with bands of tempered steel.
Renounce thyself; from every loop-hole spurn
The dustiness of care; fresh as thy youth,
Child-like as in thy primal years, oh, learn
The meekness and the majesty of truth!
Thus unto thee shall light arise; thy trust,
Thy reverent lodgement of a holy guest,
Shall bring a blessing to thee; and the dust
Of earthly care no more shall on thee rest.
Thy love pure and eternal thus shall be
Perchance to bloom on earth—most sure in heaven for thee.
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