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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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DUO IN DESERTIS.

PAUL, when the fable of Christ crucified
He dreamt, into the desert from the throng
Of men withdrew himself and three years long
Did with the sands and solitudes abide,
Wrestling in loneliness with lust and pride
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And wearying to sift out right from wrong,
Till in his heart faith flowered high and strong
And forth he fared, to sow it far and wide.
—Not so with thee, my soul! Though years, not three,
But three score, in Life's deserts hast thou dwelt
And watched the dull suns rise and set and felt
The sand-wind scorch the marrow up in thee,
Yet in thy core no faith hath flowered out,
No certitude of aught save only doubt.
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