 | Later Lyrics |  |
79
STREET YARN.
Roses caged in windows, heighten
Your faint blooms to-day;
Silks and sheeny satins, brighten;
He has passed this way!
Your faint blooms to-day;
Silks and sheeny satins, brighten;
He has passed this way!
Could ye keep his fleeting presence
Gone beyond recall,
But a little of his essence,
I would have you all.
Gone beyond recall,
But a little of his essence,
I would have you all.
Arabesque so quaint and shady,
That mightst catch his eye
To adorn a stately lady
Ere her hour went by,
That mightst catch his eye
To adorn a stately lady
Ere her hour went by,
80
Canst assure me that his glancing
Rested on thy fold?
Did that set your purples dancing?
Wake the sleepy gold?
Rested on thy fold?
Did that set your purples dancing?
Wake the sleepy gold?
Ye neglected apple-venders
Mouldering in the street,
Did he curse between your tenders,
Spurning with his feet?
Mouldering in the street,
Did he curse between your tenders,
Spurning with his feet?
Then must I an alms deliver
For his graceless pride;
Could I buy his sins forever,
I'd not be denied.
For his graceless pride;
Could I buy his sins forever,
I'd not be denied.
Paying patiently his ransom
Never conscience-pricked;
Cheating Justice of her handsome
Heartless derelict.
Never conscience-pricked;
Cheating Justice of her handsome
Heartless derelict.
81
Did he view thee, ancient steeple,
With thy weird clock-face,
Frowning down on sinful people
Passing out of grace?
With thy weird clock-face,
Frowning down on sinful people
Passing out of grace?
Nay, respond not to my question
With thy prate of time:
Things to which my soul must hasten
Lie beyond thy chime.
With thy prate of time:
Things to which my soul must hasten
Lie beyond thy chime.
With no circumstance to screen us,
We must meet again:
I shall bid God judge between us,
Answering Amen.
We must meet again:
I shall bid God judge between us,
Answering Amen.
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