 | [Poems by Piatt in] Poems of two friends |  |
22
THE LOST SONGS.
He lived and died: he sang sweet songs
Of flower that blooms—of bird that sings—
Of feelings sweet that through the dust
Of life lift their forgotten wings.
His earth was God's: he deemed he saw
In every path His image stand;
On every flower unseen by all,
He saw the Sabbath-resting Hand!
Of flower that blooms—of bird that sings—
Of feelings sweet that through the dust
Of life lift their forgotten wings.
His earth was God's: he deemed he saw
In every path His image stand;
On every flower unseen by all,
He saw the Sabbath-resting Hand!
All things to him were dear—the voice
Of childhood-glee, of mother-love—
He clasped the dear world to his heart,
And lifted eyes to bless above,
The brother-world—he knew so well—
Their brother saw and knew him not:
He roamed an exile in their land;
He died without their doors—forgot.
Of childhood-glee, of mother-love—
He clasped the dear world to his heart,
And lifted eyes to bless above,
The brother-world—he knew so well—
Their brother saw and knew him not:
He roamed an exile in their land;
He died without their doors—forgot.
Years passed: the sunshine seemed more bright—
The Mays more blithe—the earth more young.
Years passed: oh, sweetest lips grew sweet
When many an orphan song was sung.
Flowers human grew, to musing men,
By those song-children plucked and given;
All mornings gladdening took the pulse
Of those strange skylarks in their heaven!
The Mays more blithe—the earth more young.
Years passed: oh, sweetest lips grew sweet
When many an orphan song was sung.
23
By those song-children plucked and given;
All mornings gladdening took the pulse
Of those strange skylarks in their heaven!
Now many a little orphan child
Of song looks up into the eyes
Of Pride, and Hate, and Wrong, and sings
Till tears of love and pity rise.
These are the songs the poet sang
Unnoticed o'er the earth long years—
And the world wonders where he lies:
They seek to name his grave with tears!
Of song looks up into the eyes
Of Pride, and Hate, and Wrong, and sings
Till tears of love and pity rise.
These are the songs the poet sang
Unnoticed o'er the earth long years—
And the world wonders where he lies:
They seek to name his grave with tears!
None knows: no rose was planted there,
Remembering him—no lettered stone:
Those little songs, that wandered lost,
Are all that knew the poet lone.
“Ah,” the world cries, “our brother died
Without—we heeded not his call.”
The proud world sighs: “These orphan songs
May live within the hearts of all.”
Remembering him—no lettered stone:
Those little songs, that wandered lost,
Are all that knew the poet lone.
“Ah,” the world cries, “our brother died
Without—we heeded not his call.”
The proud world sighs: “These orphan songs
May live within the hearts of all.”
| [Poems by Piatt in] Poems of two friends | |