University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb]

With Portrait engraved by E. Stodart ... in two volumes
Fane, Violet (1843-1905)
  
[epigraph]

collapse section1. 
VOLUME THE FIRST
collapse section 
1872. EARLY POEMS.
  
TO HIM.
  
WRITTEN ON SAND.
  
“OH, SING THAT SONG YOU SANG BEFORE!”
  
“SPEAK OF THE PAST.”
  
“FOR EVER AND FOR EVER!”
  
THE SECRET.
  
A THOUGHT.
  
BURNING LETTERS.
  
HIS NAME.
  
THE COQUETTE.
  
“I LIVE MY LIFE AWAY FROM THEE!”
  
NEW YEAR'S DAY.
  
MY KING.
  
IN YEARS TO COME.
  
SO LATE!
  
LOVE IN WINTER.
  
“HE WILL NOT COME!”
  
ON A GLOOMY DAY.
  
MY RECORDS.
  
LONDON.
  
“TOUT VIENT À QUI SAIT ATTENDRE.”
  
“AFTER LONG YEARS.”
  
COMPENSATION.
  
BEFORE AND AFTER.
  
NOW.
collapse section 
1876
  
THE SHRINE OF THE THREE KINGS.
  
A LAWLESS CREED.
  
THE KISS.
  
THE PLAIN WOMAN.
  
REST.
  
THE RIDDLE.
  
A MEMORY.
  
TO TIME.
  
TO A GARDEN.
collapse section 
1880.
  
A REVERIE.
  
“GOING SOUTH.”
  
TOO LATE!
  
A FOREBODING.
  
TO A COUNTRY DAFFODIL.
  
A MAY SONG.
  
A REGRET.
  
THE KINGFISHER.
  
A WEDDING.
  
“IN GREEN OLD GARDENS.”
  
“IF ONLY WE HAD TIME TO SPARE.”
  
UNDER A LATTICE.
  
WAITING.
  
THE SILENT PLAYER.
  
DIVIDED.
  
ANOTHER SPRING.
  
THE PEAR-TREE.
  
“DOLCE FAR NIENTE.”
  
AT MIDNIGHT.
  
IN AN IRISH CHURCHYARD.
  
THE POET.
  
“TILL ALL THINGS FADE.”
  
AT TWILIGHT.
collapse section2. 
VOLUME THE SECOND
collapse section 
1880.
  
THE CENTENARIAN.
  
A LETTER.
  
THE GHOST STORY.
  
TIME.
  
AFTERWARDS.
collapse section 
1889
  
THE SCARAB.
  
LIFE'S AFTERNOON.
  
CONTRASTS.
  
TWO PICTURES.
  
VICTORIA.
  
LINES UPON A STATUETTE REPRESENTING LOVE AND DEATH.
  
THE MER-BABY.
  
THE LAMENT OF A WHITE ROSE.
  
A CHANCE LIKENESS.
  
CLARA.
  
HAZELY HEATH.
  
SOUVENIR.
  
AN EGOTIST'S CREED.
  
AN EQUINOCTIAL GALE.
  
ON CHRISTMAS-EVE.
  
WRITTEN IN A VOLUME OF “THE WORKS OF SHENSTONE,”
  
A FABLE.
  
SONG.
  
SNOW AT CHRISTMAS.
  
“SHE WILL NOT WAKE!”
  
A MAY MEETING.
  
THE GUEST-CHAMBER.
  
THE RETURN OF THE BELOVED.
  
FALSE OR TRUE?
  
IN MEMORIAM.
  
A HOMELESS LOVE.
collapse section 
SIX SONNETS.
 I. 
I. CONCENTRATION.
 II. 
II. LOVE'S VANITY.
 III. 
III. UNCERTAINTY.
 IV. 
IV. THE SLAVE TURNED TYRANT.
 V. 
V. THE VOW.
 VI. 
VI. THE VOW BROKEN.
  
MEMORIES.
  
A WISH.
  
THE BEST AND THE WORST.
collapse section 
1890–2.
  
THE LAST WORDS OF DON CARLOS.
  
“FIN DE SIECLE.”
  
THE OLD ROCKING HORSE.
  
FIRST LOVE.
  
BY THE SEA.
  
AN “OLD, OLD STORY.”
  
TO THE BIRDS.
  
A WIFE'S CONFESSION.
  
THE DORMOUSE.
  
A LATTER-DAY MARTYR.
  
TO A NEW SUNDIAL.
  
BY THE INDIAN MAIL.
  
ALL SOULS' DAY.
  
AT THE CLOSE OF A YEAR.

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb]
next section
86

THE GUEST-CHAMBER.

With bated breath, and falt'ring feet, I tread
The threshold of this room, and ever so
Must enter it! The cheerful fire-light glow
Falls softly on the rosy-curtain'd bed
Made ready for the guest;—the table spread
With snowy muslin, and with flow'rs that blow
And, e'en in this chill month, their fragrance shed,—
And all seems bright, to those who do not know!
But I am looking,—with mine inward eyes,—
Upon another sight;—the self-same room
Shrouded and darken'd, and a form that lies
Straighten'd upon the bed,—the seal of doom
For ever on her lips;—I hear low sighs
And smell sweet blossoms destined for a tomb.
previous section Poems by Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb]
next section