Reuben and Other Poems by Robert Leighton |
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TO JANET,
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 | Reuben and Other Poems |  |
TO JANET,
On her Forty-second Birth-Day Anniversary.
It is your natal-day,—and Time has harried
Some youthful dreams from both your heart and mine;
Yet do we feel as young as when we carried
Pea-hules for Herrit's swine.
Some youthful dreams from both your heart and mine;
Yet do we feel as young as when we carried
Pea-hules for Herrit's swine.
And we can still the same old pennies be—
Among the lower classes or the upper—
As when we sang of tuskers to our tea,
And soor-dook to our supper.
Among the lower classes or the upper—
As when we sang of tuskers to our tea,
And soor-dook to our supper.
Though leagues of weary land and wearier brine
Have parted us since then, forget we cannot;
And who so fit to sing of auld langsyne
As I should be to Janet?
Have parted us since then, forget we cannot;
And who so fit to sing of auld langsyne
As I should be to Janet?
Our memories are harps—the passing winds
Awake in each the notes that harmonize;
An incident is mentioned—in our minds
The self-same pictures rise.
Awake in each the notes that harmonize;
An incident is mentioned—in our minds
The self-same pictures rise.
236
And far-back names beat on the chords, and draw
Sweet music out, as of a distant lute:—
The Murraygate, Monikie, and The Law;
Or Mickie with his flute.
Sweet music out, as of a distant lute:—
The Murraygate, Monikie, and The Law;
Or Mickie with his flute.
Some touch the chords of pathos, some as soon
Bring back long-buried humour to new life:—
Paulina, Tibbie Neish, or Toorin Broon;
The Auld Gudeman and Fife.
Bring back long-buried humour to new life:—
Paulina, Tibbie Neish, or Toorin Broon;
The Auld Gudeman and Fife.
But why revive old memories to one
Whose mind's a chronicle—whose every day
Is anniversary of lives begun,
Or others pass'd away?
Whose mind's a chronicle—whose every day
Is anniversary of lives begun,
Or others pass'd away?
Since each one's day you never fail to count,
Above them all your own day shall be reckon'd;
And for your sake my tartan breeks I'll mount—
The gallant forty-second.
Above them all your own day shall be reckon'd;
And for your sake my tartan breeks I'll mount—
The gallant forty-second.
If many years be much to be desired,
May you outwear the tartans of the north,
And ere you don the last garb, be attired
In famous ninety-fourth!
May you outwear the tartans of the north,
And ere you don the last garb, be attired
In famous ninety-fourth!
All life should be a heritage of bliss;
And early pass from earth, or long remain;
The deepest thought says life lives on from this,
The first link of the chain.
And early pass from earth, or long remain;
The deepest thought says life lives on from this,
The first link of the chain.
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Then let us waste no soul on worthless ends,
But largely love and live our highest truth;
Be fill'd with sentiment, give heart to friends,
As in our greenest youth.
But largely love and live our highest truth;
Be fill'd with sentiment, give heart to friends,
As in our greenest youth.
And walk with Nature; let her beauty move
The heart to ready joyance: praise the Giver—
Believing that as much as we can love,
Is ours now and for ever.
The heart to ready joyance: praise the Giver—
Believing that as much as we can love,
Is ours now and for ever.
| Reuben and Other Poems | |