University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The poems and sonnets of Louise Chandler Moulton

Moulton, Louise Chandler (1835-1908)

collapse section 
SWALLOW-FLIGHTS
  
SWALLOW-FLIGHTS.
  
MAY-FLOWERS.
  
MY SUMMER.
  
MORNING GLORY.
  
A PAINTED FAN.
  
LONG IS THE WAY.
  
AUTOMNE.
  
OUT IN THE SNOW.
  
A WEED.
  
A QUEST.
  
SOME DAY OR OTHER.
  
THROUGH A WINDOW.
  
WAITING.
  
WIFE TO HUSBAND.
  
AFTER THE MOUNTAINS.
  
ALONE BY THE BAY.
  
MIDSUMMER IN NEW ENGLAND.
  
AT ETRETAT.
  
THE HOUSE OF DEATH.
  
“SHE WAS WON IN AN IDLE DAY.”
  
A LIFE'S LOSS.
  
THE SINGER.
  
HOW LONG?
  
THE SONG OF A SUMMER.
  
IF.
  
FIAT JUSTITIA.
  
AT THE LAST.
  
WHAT SHE SAID IN HER TOMB.
  
A SUMMER'S GHOST.
  
LOVER AND FRIEND HAST THOU PUT FAR FROM ME.
  
BEAUTY FOR ASHES.
  
TO MY HEART.
  
ALIEN WATERS.
  
LOOKING BACK.
  
A PROBLEM.
  
AT A WINDOW.
  
TO A LADY IN A PICTURE.
  
MY CAPTIVE.
  
ROSES.
  
DOWN THE RIVER.
  
LOVE'S LAND.
  
HER WINDOW.
  
A MADRIGAL.
  
QUESTION.
  
I FAIN WOULD GO.
  
THE SPRING IS LATE.
  
SELFISH PRAYER.
  
AD TE DOMINE.
  
IF I COULD KEEP HER SO.
  
ANNIE'S DAUGHTER.
  
LOOKING INTO THE WELL.
  
LIKE A CHILD.
  
A SONG IN THE WOOD.
  
MY BOY.
  
TROTHPLIGHT.
  
THE HOUSE IN THE MEADOW.
  
FROM DUSK TO DAWN.
  
THERE.
  
SOMEBODY'S CHILD.
  
A WOMAN'S WAITING.
  
JOHN A. ANDREW.
  
THE COUNTRY OF “IF.”
  
FOR CUPID DEAD.
  
WE LAY US DOWN TO SLEEP.
collapse section 
SONNETS.
  
THE NEW DAY.
  
ONE DREAD.
  
AFAR.
collapse section 
LAST YEAR.
 1. 
[I. You thought, O Love, you loved me then, I know]
 2. 
[II. You surely must remember, though to-day]
  
FIRST LOVE.
  
LOVE'S FORGIVENESS.
  
IN TIME TO COME.
  
A SUMMER'S GROWTH.
  
MY BIRTHDAY.
collapse section 
IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS.
  
[dedication]
  
IN THE GARDEN OF DREAMS.
collapse section 
Lyrics.
  
COME BACK, DEAR DAYS.
  
LOVE'S RESURRECTION DAY.
  
THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS.
  
“IF THERE WERE DREAMS TO SELL.”
  
IN THE RANKS.
  
EROS.
  
LAUS VENERIS:
  
PARLEYING.
  
IN BOHEMIA.
  
TO NIGHT.
  
WHEN DAY WAS DONE.
  
MAUD'S ROSES.
  
“THEIR CANDLES ARE ALL OUT.”
  
TO MISTRESS ROSE.
  
AT MIDNIGHT.
  
IN A BOWER.
  
ROSES.
  
THE GHOST'S RETURN.
  
AS I SAIL.
  
A GIRL'S FUNERAL IN MILAN.
  
IN A GARDEN.
  
AT END.
  
THE COQUETTE'S DEFENCE.
  
DO NOT GRIEVE.
  
OLD JONES IS DEAD.
  
GRANDMAMMA'S WARNING.
  
MAID MARION.
  
A LITTLE COMEDY.
  
IN AUTUMN.
  
AT FIVE O'CLOCK.
  
BESIDE A BIER.
  
RED AND WHITE ROSES.
  
MY SAINT.
  
WARNING.
  
THE ROSE SHE WORE IN WINTER.
  
SHALL I NOT KNOW?
  
FOR A BIRTHDAY.
  
A MOOD OF LOVE.
  
NAY.
  
THE ROSES OF LA GARRAYE.
  
NOW AND THEN.
  
“THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING.”
collapse section 
Sonnets in Many Moods.
  
HELEN'S CUP.
  
SILENT SORROW.
  
A CRY.
  
LOVE'S EMPTY HOUSE.
  
AFTER DEATH.
  
VOICES ON THE WIND.
  
THE CUP OF DEATH.
  
TO A MODERN POET.
  
THE LAST GOOD-BY.
  
LOVE IS DEAD.
  
HIC JACET.
  
LEFT BEHIND.
  
FUTURE FORGIVENESS.
  
IN PACE.
  
A WOMAN'S KNOWLEDGE.
  
IN SOLITUDE.
  
BEYOND SIGHT AND SOUND.
  
TO ONE WHO HAS LOVED OFTEN.
  
BEFORE THE SHRINE.
  
ROSES AT SEA.
  
A GHOST'S QUESTION.
  
SISTER SORROW.
  
HE LOVED.
  
HEREAFTER.
  
AT WAR.
  
NEAR, YET FAR.
  
A FALLEN HOUSE.
  
MY MOURNER.
  
AT SEA.
  
LAURA SLEEPING.
  
TO ONE MOST UNHAPPY.
  
IN THE COURT OF THE LIONS:
  
MY CASTLE.
  
BY MARCH WIND LED.
  
MY MOTHER'S PICTURE.
  
AT A RUINED ABBEY.
collapse section 
His Second Wife Speaks.
 1. 
I. A PARABLE.
 2. 
II. SILENT.
 3. 
III. A SECOND PLACE.
 4. 
IV. ALONE IN DEATH.
 5. 
V. FACE TO FACE.
collapse section 
The Still Hour.
  
IN THE PINE WOODS AT MARIENBAD.
  
HELP THOU MINE UNBELIEF!
  
SHALL I LOOK BACK?
  
STRAIGHT ON TO PORT.
  
A PRAYER IN SORROW.
  
ON HOMEWARD WING.
  
IN MID-OCEAN.
  
AS IN VISION.
  
A PRAYER FOR LIGHT.
  
COME UNTO ME.
  
A RAINY AFTERNOON:
  
HARK, TEN THOUSAND HARPS AND VOICES!
collapse section 
Rosemary.
  
RALPH WALDO EMERSON.
  
AN OPEN DOOR.
  
BEHIND THE MIST:
collapse section 
HER GHOST.
 1. 
[I. Her gentle ghost is with me everywhere]
 2. 
[II. Now with the summer she has come again]
 3. 
[III. Thou wilt not speak! Day after silent day]
  
AT END OF PAIN.
  
A SILENT GUEST.
  
LOUISA M. ALCOTT.
collapse section 
French Tunes.
  
THE SPRING IS HERE.
  
EASTER SUNDAY.
  
HEART, SAD HEART.
  
TWO RED ROSES.
  
THE SHADOW DANCE.
  
IN FEBRUARY.
  
THE OLD BEAU.
  
TO JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER,
  
“WITH THOSE CLEAR EYES.”
  
LOVE'S GHOST.
  
HOW COULD I TELL?
  
WHEN LOVE WAS YOUNG.
  
IF LOVE COULD LAST.
  
O SWEETEST MAID!
  
IF YOU WERE HERE.
  
SUCH JOY IT WAS.
  
WE LOVED SO WELL.
  
SO BLITHELY ROSE.
  
THISTLE-DOWN.
  
LOVE PLUMES HIS WINGS.
  
IN WINTER.
collapse section 
AT THE WIND'S WILL.
  
AT THE WIND'S WILL.
  
TO HOPE.
collapse section 
Lyrics.
  
SONGS AT SEA.
  
ON A ROSE PRESSED IN A BOOK.
  
THE SUN IS LOW.
  
THE SECRET OF ARCADY.
  
AT NIGHT'S HIGH NOON.
  
THE VOICE OF SPRING.
  
IN EXTREMIS.
  
WHEN LOVE IS YOUNG.
  
AT THE END.
  
TO SLEEP.
  
WHEN YOU ARE DEAD.
  
THE BIRDS AND I.
  
THE BIRDS COME BACK.
  
A WINTER'S DAWN.
  
THE LURE.
  
DEAD MEN'S HOLIDAY.
  
WHEN YOU WERE HERE.
  
BECAUSE IT IS THE SPRING.
  
HER PICTURE.
  
A VIOLET SPEAKS.
  
LEGEND OF A TOMB IN FLORENCE.
  
THE SUMMER'S QUEEN.
  
BEND LOW AND HARK.
  
A SONG FOR ROSALYS.
  
THE GENTLE GHOST OF JOY.
  
WHEN I WANDER AWAY WITH DEATH.
  
HAS LAVISH SUMMER BROUGHT THE ROSE?
  
A LOST EDEN.
  
THE MOOD OF A MAN.
  
JUNE'S DAUGHTER.
  
A SUMMER WOOING.
  
I HAVE CALLED THEE MANY A NIGHT.
  
A WHISPER TO THE MOON.
  
IN VENICE ONCE.
  
MY QUEEN OF MAY.
  
WHERE THE NIGHT'S PALE ROSES BLOW.
  
AND YET.
  
I HEARD A CRY IN THE NIGHT.
  
THE NAME ON A DOOR.
  
VAIN WAITING.
  
A WISH.
  
THE COSTLIEST GIFT.
  
TO HER WHO KNOWS.
  
IN THE OFFING.
  
WITH A BOOK.
collapse section 
Sonnets.
collapse section 
Love's Rosary.
 1. 
I. LAND OF MY DREAMS.
 2. 
II. THOUGH WE WERE DUST.
 3. 
III. THE ROSE OF DAWN.
 4. 
IV. THOU REIGNEST STILL.
 5. 
V. TIME'S PRISONER.
 6. 
VI. “HAVE I NOT LEARNED TO LIVE WITHOUT THEE YET?”
 7. 
VII. A HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY.
 8. 
VIII. LETHE.
 9. 
IX. A SILENT VOICE.
 10. 
X. WERE BUT MY SPIRIT LOOSED UPON THE AIR.
collapse section 
Of Life and Love.
  
AT MIDSUMMER.
  
THE LIFE-MASK OF KEATS.
  
SOUL TO BODY.
  
AT REST.
  
SHALL I COMPLAIN?
  
PARTING.
  
VAIN FREEDOM.
  
THE NEW YEAR DAWNS.
  
ASPIRATION.
  
OH, TRAVELLER BY UNACCUSTOMED WAYS.
collapse section 
GREAT LOVE.
 1. 
I. GREAT LOVE IS HUMBLE.
 2. 
II. GREAT LOVE IS PROUD.
  
HER YEARS.
  
MIDWINTER FLOWERS.
  
HER PRESENCE.
  
WHEN WE CONFRONT THE VASTNESS OF THE NIGHT.
  
ON MEETING A SAILING VESSEL IN MID-OCEAN.
  
MIDNIGHT AT SEA.
  
INTER MANES.
  
YET, STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL YOUR FACE I FIND.
collapse section 
A SUMMER'S DREAM.
 1. 
[I. What that dead summer was my heart knows well]
 2. 
[II. So Summer, with her slow, reluctant feet]
  
MY MASTERS.
  
TO PRINCE ORIC.
collapse section 
A POET'S SECOND LOVE.
 1. 
[I. I share your heart with her, its former Queen]
 2. 
[II. Not mine the spell to charm your lute to song]
  
FAIR LIFE.
  
A PLEA FOR THE OLD YEAR.
  
WHEN I AM DEAD.
  
ONE AFTERNOON.
collapse section 
In Quest of Light.
  
AFAR FROM GOD.
  
MY FATHER'S HOUSE.
  
NEWLY BORN.
  
THE SONG OF THE STARS.
  
A QUESTION: AT SEA.
  
THE LAND OF GOLD.
  
A PRAYER IN THE DARK.
collapse section 
At Death's Postern.
  
ACROSS THE SEA.
collapse section 
ROBERT BROWNING.
 1. 
I. HIS STAR.
 2. 
II. THE POET OF HUMAN LIFE.
  
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES.
  
SUMMONED BY THE KING.
  
PHILIP BOURKE MARSTON.
  
THE CLOSED GATE.
  
A DREAM IN THE NIGHT.
collapse section 
Rondels and Rondeaux.
  
VAGRANT LOVE.
  
THOUGH WE REPENT.
  
THE SPRING IS HERE.
  
TO THE GHOST OF MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS.
  
AFTER SUPPING WITH A POET.
  
ROSAMOND'S ROSE.
  
TO A FAIR LADY.
  
TWO THRUSHES MET.
  
LOVE MAKES THE SPRING.
  
LIFE'S DAY.
collapse section 
Quatrains.
  
THE LOST ROOM.
  
AUTUMN DAYS.
  
A DEAD POET.
  
IN A LIBRARY.
  
THE KING DETHRONED.
  
WHO KNOWS?
  
DAY'S MOCKERY.
  
YOU.
  
I STUDIED LIFE.
  
THE PRODIGAL.
collapse section 
ADDITIONAL POEMS.
  
TO JULIA WARD HOWE.
  
WHY?
  
ALL IN ONE.
  
IF ONCE, JUST ONCE.
  
THE BOLD GHOST.
  
ONCE MORE.
  
ONE DAY.
  
“BEYOND.”
  
FOR EASTER MORN.
  
LIFE'S SEASONS.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section The poems and sonnets of Louise Chandler Moulton
next section
324

WHEN I WANDER AWAY WITH DEATH.

This Life is a fleeting breath,
And whither and how shall I go,
When I wander away with Death
By a path that I do not know?
Shall I find the throne of the Moon,
And kneel with her lovers there
To pray for a cold, sweet boon
From her beauty cold and fair?
Or shall I make haste to the Sun,
And warm at his passionate fire
My heart by sorrow undone,
And sick with a vain desire?
Shall I steal into Twilight-Land,
When the Sun and the Moon are low,
And hark to the furtive band
Of the winds that whispering go—
Telling and telling again,
And crooning with scornful mirth,
The secrets of women and men
They overheard on the earth?
325

Will the dead birds sing once more,
And the nightingale's note be sad
With the passion and longing of yore,
And the thrushes with joy go mad?
Nay, what though they carol again,
And the flowers spring to life at my feet,
Can they heal the sting of my pain,
Or quicken a dead heart's beat?
What care I for Moon or for stars,
Or the Sun on his royal way?
Only somewhere, beyond Earth's bars,
Let me find Love's long-lost day.
previous section The poems and sonnets of Louise Chandler Moulton
next section