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Flower o' the thorn

A book of wayside verse: By John Payne
Payne, John (1842-1916)

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[section]
  
[dedication]
  
[Flower o' the thorn]
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ARCADIA IN URBE.
  
INGATE.
  
THE LAND OF THE MORNING-CALM.
  
A FRIEND FROM OVERSEA.
  
THE STREETS IN FLOWER.
  
THE PEACOCK.
  
THE CANAL.
  
LIGHTED WINDOWS.
  
THE GODS IN VICTORIA PARK.
  
ON THE RAILWAY BRIDGE.
  
WIND, RAIN, SUN.
  
THE LILAC.
  
THE HUSH OF DUSK.
  
BIRDS IN SNOWTIME.
  
FELLOW-EXILES.
  
THE SPIRIT-HOUR.
  
A PAUSE OF PEACE.
  
MIST.
  
THE LIMES.
  
NOON.
  
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
  
FACES.
  
ORGAN-DANCERS.
  
SUNDOWN.
  
SNOW FALLS.
  
PIGEONS.
  
LONDON LIGHTNING.
  
RHODODENDRONS.
  
THE CUCKOO'S CALL.
  
BELLS AT DAWN.
  
OUTGATE.
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SUN AND SHADOW.
  
[Out of the shadow into the sun]
  
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
  
THE SEVEN SPELLS.
  
THE AIM OF LIFE.
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BRITANNIA CORAM BARBARIS.
 I. 
[I.]
 II. 
II.
  
THE LEAVES' LESSON.
  
TIME AND HIS TENDERLINGS.
  
THE COMMON HOPE.
  
UNSEASONABLE SUMMER.
  
CORPOSANTS.
  
A VOICE FROM DREAMLAND.
  
SEA-DRIFT.
  
HOMING DREAMS.
  
MAY-MAGIC.
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VARIATIONS ON AN ALPINE THEME.
 I. 
I. THE HOPE OF THE HILLS.
 II. 
II. THE HUSH OF THE HILLS.
 III. 
III. THE HALLUCINATION OF THE HILLS.
 IV. 
IV. THE HONOUR OF THE HILLS.
 V. 
V. THE HUNGER OF THE HILLS.
 VI. 
VI. THE HORROR OF THE HILLS.
 VII. 
VII. THE HALLOWING OF THE HILLS.
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MARTYRS OF HISTORY.
  
XIV. CAIN.
  
XV. JOAB.
  
XI. JESUS OF NAZARETH.
  
XVII. GALLIO .
  
XVIII. VASCO NUNEZ DE BALBOA.
  
XIX. DON QUIXOTE.
  
XX. RALEIGH.
  
XXI. A NAMELESS HERO.
  
VOCES VANAE.
  
FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE.
  
THE HONEYSUCKLE.
  
THE SANCTUARY LAMPS.
  
QUEM DEUS VULT PERDERE.
  
DUO IN DESERTIS.
  
THE SOUL'S COLOUR.
  
OLD CYNICS AND NEW.
  
ANNUS VOLUBILIS.
  
THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES.
  
FREDERICK BURNABY.
  
FELIX, INFELIX.
  
PHANTOM QUEST.
  
NESSUN MAGGIOR DOLORE.
  
WALLS OF SEVERANCE.
  
DATUR HORA QUIETI.
  
RESURGENT SORROW.
  
LIFE TRIUMPHANT.
  
DIMENSIO QUARTA.
  
RONSARD TO HIS MISTRESS.
  
ÆTAS PERVERSA.
  
MELIUS SIC.
  
ABRANYI.
  
“NACH RAUM!”
  
LETHE.

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viii

[Flower o' the thorn]

Flower o' the thorn,
The flower that bloweth of scaith and scorn!
Though foul of faring and stern of sight,
The thorn-path leads to the place of light.
Flower o' the thorn!
What if with plucking the hands be torn?
Was ever blossom so blithe and gay
As that which mantles the thorn in May?
Flower o' the thorn!
Though rough the wreath to the brows forlorn,
No crown, bethink thee, my soul, for less
Than God or poet with thorns they tress.
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