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Poems by Jean Ingelow

Ingelow, Jean (1820-1897)

collapse sectionI. 
VOLUME I.
  
DEDICATION
  
DIVIDED.
  
HONOURS—Part I.
  
HONOURS—Part II.
  
REQUIESCAT IN PACE!
  
SUPPER AT THE MILL.
  
SCHOLAR AND CARPENTER.
  
THE STAR'S MONUMENT.
  
A DEAD YEAR.
  
REFLECTIONS.
  
THE LETTER L.
  
THE HIGH TIDE ON THE COAST OF LINCOLNSHIRE.
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AFTERNOON AT A PARSONAGE.
  
Preface.
  
[section]
  
Afterthought.
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SONGS OF SEVEN.
  
SEVEN TIMES ONE. EXULTATION.
  
SEVEN TIMES TWO. ROMANCE.
  
SEVEN TIMES THREE. LOVE.
  
SEVEN TIMES FOUR. MATERNITY.
  
SEVEN TIMES FIVE. WIDOWHOOD.
  
SEVEN TIMES SIX. GIVING IN MARRIAGE.
  
SEVEN TIMES SEVEN. LONGING FOR HOME.
  
A COTTAGE IN A CHINE.
  
PERSEPHONE.
  
A SEA SONG.
  
BROTHERS, AND A SERMON.
  
A WEDDING SONG.
  
THE FOUR BRIDGES.
  
A MOTHER SHOWING THE PORTRAIT OF HER CHILD.
  
STRIFE AND PEACE.
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LETTERS ON LIFE AND THE MORNING.
  
A PARSON'S LETTER TO A YOUNG POET.
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VOLUME II.
  
THE DREAMS THAT CAME TRUE.
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SONGS ON THE VOICES OF BIRDS.
  
INTRODUCTION.
  
THE NIGHTINGALE AND THE UNSATISFIED HEART.
  
SAND MARTINS.
  
A POET IN HIS YOUTH, AND THE CUCKOO-BIRD.
  
A RAVEN IN A WHITE CHINE.
  
THE WARBLING OF BLACKBIRDS.
  
SEA-MEWS IN WINTER TIME.
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LAURENCE.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II
 III. 
III
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SONGS OF THE NIGHT WATCHES,
  
INTRODUCTORY.
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THE FIRST WATCH.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II
 III. 
III
 IV. 
IV
 V. 
V
 VI. 
VI
 VII. 
VII
 VIII. 
VIII
 IX. 
IX
 X. 
X
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THE MIDDLE WATCH.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II
 III. 
III
  
THE MORNING WATCH.
  
CONCLUDING SONG OF DAWN.
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SONNETS.
  
WORK.
  
AN ANCIENT CHESS KING.
  
A SNOW MOUNTAIN.
  
SLEEP.
  
LOVE.
  
PROMISING.
  
COMFORT IN THE NIGHT.
  
THOUGH ALL GREAT DEEDS.
  
WISHING.
  
TO ---.
  
COMPENSATION.
  
FANCY.
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A STORY OF DOOM.
 I. 
BOOK I.
 II. 
BOOK II.
 III. 
BOOK III.
 IV. 
BOOK IV.
 V. 
BOOK V.
 VI. 
BOOK VI.
 VII. 
BOOK VII.
 VIII. 
BOOK VIII.
 IX. 
BOOK IX.
  
SAILING BEYOND SEAS.
  
REMONSTRANCE.
  
SONG FOR THE NIGHT OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
  
WITH A DIAMOND.
  
SONG OF MARGARET.
  
SONG OF THE GOING AWAY.
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A LILY AND A LUTE.
 I. 
I
 II. 
II
  
THE LONG WHITE SEAM.
  
NOT IN VAIN I WAITED.
  
THE SNOWDROP MONUMENT (IN LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL).
  
COLD AND QUIET.
  
GLADYS AND HER ISLAND.
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SONGS WITH PRELUDES.
  
WEDLOCK.
  
REGRET.
  
LAMENTATION.
  
DOMINION.
  
FRIENDSHIP.
  
WINSTANLEY.

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THE MORNING WATCH.

THE COMING IN OF THE ‘MERMAIDEN.’

The moon is bleached as white as wool,
And just dropping under;
Every star is gone but three,
And they hang far asunder—
There's a sea-ghost all in grey,
A tall shape of wonder!
94

I am not satisfied with sleep,—
The night is not ended.
But look how the sea-ghost comes,
With wan skirts extended,
Stealing up in this weird hour,
When light and dark are blended.
A vessel! To the old pier end
Her happy course she's keeping;
I heard them name her yesterday:
Some were pale with weeping;
Some with their heart-hunger sighed,
She's in—and they are sleeping.
O! now with fancied greetings blest,
They comfort their long aching:
The sea of sleep hath borne to them
What would not come with waking,
And the dreams shall most be true
In their blissful breaking.
The stars are gone, the rose-bloom comes—
No blush of maid is sweeter;
The red sun, half-way out of bed,
Shall be the first to greet her.
None tell the news, yet sleepers wake,
And rise, and run to meet her.
95

Their lost they have, they hold; from pain
A keener bliss they borrow.
How natural is joy, my heart!
How easy after sorrow!
For once, the best is come that hope
Promised them ‘to-morrow.’
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