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The poetical writings of Elizabeth Oakes Smith

Second edition
Smith, Elizabeth Oakes Prince (1806-1893)

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THE SINLESS CHILD.
  
INSCRIPTION.
 1. 
PART I.
 2. 
PART II.
 3. 
PART III.
 4. 
PART IV.
 5. 
PART V.
 6. 
PART VI.
 7. 
PART VII.
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SONNETS.
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THE POET'S LIFE, IN SIX SONNETS.
 1. 
I. POESY.
 2. 
II. THE BARD.
 3. 
III. THE UNATTAINED.
 4. 
IV. RELIGION.
 5. 
V. A DREAM.
 6. 
VI. AN INCIDENT.
 7. 
VII. ERROR.
 8. 
VIII. MENTAL SOLITUDE.
 9. 
IX. DISTRUST.
 10. 
X. ILLUSTRATION OF A CAMEO:
 11. 
XI. THE RUSTIC.
 12. 
XII. THE RUSTIC.
 13. 
XIII. WAYFARERS.
 14. 
XIV. TWILIGHT
 15. 
XV. TO THE OPAL.
 16. 
XVI. DUTY.
 17. 
XVII. THE PILGRIM.
 18. 
XVIII. SYMPATHY.
 16. 
XIX. SYMPATHY.
 20. 
XX. SELF RENUNCIATION.
 21. 
XXI. TO THE HUDSON.
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LIFE.
 22. 
XXII. CHILDHOOD.
 23. 
XXIII. YOUTH.
 24. 
XXIV. MANHOOD.
 25. 
XXV. OLD AGE.
 26. 
XXVI. LIFE-LONG MARTYRDOM.
 27. 
XXVII. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
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ATHEISM,
 28. 
XXVIII. FAITH.
 29. 
XXIX. REASON.
 30. 
XXX. ANNIHILATION
  
THE ACORN.
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MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.
  
THE APRIL RAIN.
  
THE WATER.
  
THE PARK FOUNTAIN.
  
THE LAST SHOT.
  
“THOU HAST LOVED.”
  
PRESAGES.
  
THE LOVE OF LADY ANN.
  
CHILDHOOD'S LAUGH.
  
THE CHILD AND THE ROSE.
  
TO A BABE.
  
THE CHILD'S BENEDICTION.
  
LOVE SHELTERED.
  
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL.
  
THE FIRST LEAF OF AUTUMN.
  
MINISTERING SPIRITS.
  
FAREWELL TO FANCY.
  
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
  
THE APPEAL.
  
THE JEWISH CAPTIVE.
  
SONG. I.
  
SONG. II.
  
SONG. III.
  
THE BROOK.
  
THE SLEEP OF PLANTS.
  
THE FLOWER OF INNOCENCE,
  
THE OLD MAN.
  
THE DROWNED MARINER.
  
THE SUMMONS ANSWERED.
  
THE TWICE-TOLD SEAL.
  
THE VOICE OF THE AGE.

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156

THE CHILD AND THE ROSE.

When stirring bud and songful bird
Brought gladness to the earth,
And spring-time voices first were heard
In low, sweet sounds of mirth;
A little child, with pleasant eyes,
Reclined in tranquil thought,
And, half-communing with the skies,
His pretty fancies wrought.
He turned where cased in robe of green
A rosebud met his eye—
And one faint streak the leaves between,
Rich in its crimson dye.
The warm light gathereth in the sky—
The bland air stirreth round—
And yet the child is lingering by,
Half-kneeling on the ground:
157

For broader grew that crimson streak,
Back folds the leaf of green—
And he in wonder still and meek
Watched all its opening sheen.
“'Tis done, 'tis done!” at length he cried,
With glad amazement wild—
The rose, in new-created pride,
Had opened for the child.
Oh! had we hearts like thine, sweet boy,
To watch creative power,
We too should thrill with kindred joy
At every opening flower.
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