University of Virginia Library

[Earth's night is where she rolls]

Earth's night is where she rolls
In her own shade;
And even thus the Soul's
Dark hours are made.

[By and by, we shall meet]

[Here they are: how little they are!]

Here they are: how little they are!
Here they were: how wondrous they were!
Once they were: what were they?

[Pleasure, torture, victory, crime,—]

Pleasure, torture, victory, crime,—
A time, a time, a little time,
Soothes and smooths all away.
Is this our hardness, dulness, blame?
Human privilege? human shame?
Or does the blank Night, all-surrounding,
All-absorbing, all-confounding,
Thus leak in?—and who shall say?

[“Weary your life was, day by day]

“Weary your life was, day by day,
You groan that these are pass'd away:
What would you have, or have had, say?”—
“Leave me my discontent, I pray!”

[How swift the days do pass!]

How swift the days do pass!
And bring no gift, alas!
That is the bitter thing.
Joys take they, sorrows bring.
—Hush, know you not these joys
In sooth were only toys?
Griefs, too, like shadows fly.
And all of us can die.

[Hast ever chanced to stare aghast]

Hast ever chanced to stare aghast
Into that gulf we call the Past,
Fill'd with shapes or shades which fancy
Raises by her necromancy,
Waving shadows of our thought
On the cloudy dimness wrought,
And through those forms of vapour spy
Heaps of rags and bones that lie
In sordid twilight scatter'd round
Old Dustman Time's shot-rubbish ground?
Such a dream I had last night.
It blackens all this morning's light.
And thus are soul's wings prest and pent
At times by grosser element.

[Dull and dumb]

Dull and dumb,
Sad and slow;
Such moods come,
Such moods go.

[Perception, Will, Personality]

Perception, Will, Personality:
Metaphysical facts enough for me.

[Why ever asking “why?” you cry; and I]

Why ever asking “why?” you cry; and I
Can't tell you why my soul asks ever why?
“Deny—rely—I can't, and must ask why?
Of every man and thing I'm passing by,
“Why? why? why? why?” though never they reply.

[Needs and greeds and ties and lies]

Needs and greeds and ties and lies
Eating up our industries,
Sluttish sloth and paltry pleasure
Drinking up our priceless leisure,
These postpone to dereliction
Wish and purpose and conviction.
How many a man says “Here am I—
I think—would—will—ah me, I die!”

[Out of the land of dreams and youth, alas!]

Out of the land of dreams and youth, alas!
At the cold touch of morning light I pass,
And see a greybeard in the looking-glass.

[Lost chance—never again]

Lost chance—never again;
Lost hours—bitter pain;
Lost grief—waste of breath;
Lost life—welcome death!

[Soon life ends]

Soon life ends;
Have I any friends?
Or even enemies,
Mightier than fleas?
Would I had a foe
Worth blow for blow!
Would I had a friend,
Ere life end!

[Who will sorrow when I die?]

Who will sorrow when I die?
Tell me who, and tell me why?
He whose leasehold void is made;
He who cheats me in his trade;
He who reckons on mine alms;
He, being older, that feels qualms.
Some, for snap of custom's tie,
Wer't but the seeing of the eye,
Some for old times will draw a sigh.
Others, name and date being redd,
Will feel a pleasure that I'm dead.
Perhaps a tear may, after all,
On my lower'd coffin fall.

[Do what wilt with me]

Do what wilt with me,
Destiny!
If no,—so! if yes,—bless!
In any case whatever
I am the bubble, not the river,
Much less the source:
Slight my knowledge, small my force.
And howsoever things may be,
The self-same World holds me and thee,
Destiny!

[“I'm learning, every day.”]

“I'm learning, every day.”
“O happy chance!
What art thou learning, say?”
“My ignorance:
That all man's pride must bend
And in a reverence end.”