University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Flower o' the thorn

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

collapse section 
[section]
  
[dedication]
  
[Flower o' the thorn]
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
SUN AND SHADOW.
  
[Out of the shadow into the sun]
  
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
  
THE SEVEN SPELLS.
  
THE AIM OF LIFE.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
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.
collapse section 
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.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Flower o' the thorn
next section

LIFE TRIUMPHANT.

ONCE on a time, old legends tell, Life won
Th'unpartnered empery o'er the cowering earth.
All fair things shrank and shrivelled; nought of worth
Might bloom and breathe beneath the shadeless sun.
Against the ungovernable God was none
Might steadfast stand in all the round globe's girth.
The world with creatures of a monstrous birth,
East, West and South and North, was overrun.
No flowers there blew; but huge precocious fruits
Ripened and rotted on the stems of strife:
The world was given up unto the brutes;
Faith, Beauty, Honour, Hope, with bated breath,
Sheltered in darkness from Triumphant Life
And Love sought refuge in the arms of Death.
previous section Flower o' the thorn
next section