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Poems

By the author of "The Patience of Hope" [i.e. Dora Greenwell]
Greenwell, Dora (1821-1882)
  
[epigraph]

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[section]
  
CHRISTINA.
  
GOD'S SINGER.
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A STORY OF OLDEN TIME.
 I. 
[[FIRST PART.]]
 II. 
SECOND PART.
  
SEEKING.
  
THE KISS.
  
WHEN THE NIGHT AND MORNING MEET.
  
THE SOUL'S PARTING.
  
RECONCILIATION.
  
GONE.
  
HAUNTED GROUND.
  
POETS.
  
A COMPARISON.
  
THE ETERNAL NOW.
  
CONSOLATION.
  
PENCIL-MARKS IN A BOOK OF DEVOTION.
  
“FAINT, YET PURSUING.”
  
ENTREAT FOR ME.
  
A VISION OF GREEN LEAVES.
  
TO A LONG-PARTED FRIEND.
  
“SO IT HAPPENS.”
  
THE PICTURE AND THE SCROLL.
  
TO A YOUNG GIRL.
  
A SONG OF MEMORY.
  
TO JOSEPHINE.
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THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS.
 I. 
I. AGNES AT HER WINDOW.
 II. 
II. THE SERENADE.
 III. 
III. AGNES AMONG THE SISTERS.
 IV. 
IV. And oft upon me is the fancy borne
  
WITHOUT AND WITHIN.
  
MADANA.
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VALENTINES AND SONGS.
  
LUISA.
  
THE SUMMER FRIEND.
  
“QUI SAIT AIMER, SAIT MOURIR.”
  
THE BROKEN CHAIN.
  
A VALENTINE.
  
A VALENTINE.
  
“ICH DIEN.”
  
THE BABES IN THE WOOD.
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SONNETS.
  
ASCENDING.
  
LIFE TAPESTRY.
  
LOVE BIRDS.
  
TO ELIZABETH BARRET BROWNING.
  
TO A REMEMBERED STREAM, AND A NEVER FORGOTTEN FRIEND.
  
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM.
  
RESERVE.
  
DREAMS.
  
THE SOUL'S WOOERS.
  
HOPE.
  
TO A FRIEND.
  
TO L. M.
  
TO THE AUTHOR OF ZISKA.
  
REST.
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PART FIRST
  
TO THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
  
TO AN EARLY FRIEND.
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OLD LETTERS.
  
[section]
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
  
AFTER PARTING.
  
IN ABSENCE.
  
THE FIRST LETTER.
  
SILENCE.
  
IN ILLNESS.
  
VII.
  
VIII.
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TO A LONG-PARTED FRIEND.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
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TO --- ---.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
  
TO A DISTANT FRIEND.
  
TO MY FRIENDS AT ------.
  
MEETING.
  
PARTING.
  
TO A DEPARTED SPIRIT.
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PART SECOND.
  
THE RECONCILER.
  
THE QUESTION.
  
FORSAKEN.
  
THE LESSON.
  
THE TWO RELIGIONS.
  
LOVE.
  
IN SADNESS.
  
THE SUMMONS.
  
PAX IN NOVISSIMO.
  
A MEDITATION.
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EARLIER POEMS.
  
ASPIRATION.
  
MARY.
  
CHILDHOOD.
  
WINTER.
  
THE DEFORMED CHILD.
  
THE DAUGHTER OF THE HALL.
  
THE LOVER'S QUARREL.
  
THE OLD FAMILY.
  
“REJOICE EVERMORE.”
  
BALLAD.
  
THE IRISH EMIGRANT'S SONG.
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SONGS OF FAREWELL.
  
PARTING.
  
DEATH.

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158

II.

Oft have I bent my gaze
Adown our Life's steep edge with eye-balls dim
And thirsting soul, a-weary of the day's
Hot parching dust and glare; this Well is deep,
Too seldom rise the waters to its brim,
And I had nought to draw with! oft in sleep
I felt them touch my very lips, and flow
All o'er my forehead and my hands, but, lo!
I waked and thirsted; looking down, I knew
Each pebble lying at the base, that drew
A glimmer from the sunbeam; round the rim
I knew each flower, each forkéd fern that through
The stone did thrust its tongue, each moss that grew
Far down its cool and slippery sides—I knew
All but the water's freshness.
Now I yearn
No more in vain, no longer need I stoop
So wistful o'er the well, for like an urn
Is thy pure soul to me, wherein I scoop
The waters as I list, and still return.
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