“A Year Ago To-Day, Love.”

A year ago to-day, love, for the space Of a brief sudden moment, richly fraught With deeper meaning than our light hearts thought, You held my hand and looked into the face Which, poor in gifts, has since by God’s good grace Grown dear to you;--and the full year has brought Friendship--and love--and marriage; yet has taught My heart to call you in its sacred place Still by the earliest name; for you who are My lover and my husband, and who bring Heaven close around me, will not let me cling To that near heaven; but tempt my soul afar By your ideals for me; till life end, My calm, dispassionate, sincerest friend.

STEADFAST.

Not like the stars that high in heaven Shine so serenely with unchanging rays That marveling at their calmness, you believe Of their “firm-fixed and lasting quality” There is no type upon the earth beneath. A few weeks hence look up, and you shall find Each steadfast planet steadfastly has moved Across the midnight azure of the sky With silent rays still tranquil and serene. Not steadfast like the stars is she I love, But as this gem I wear upon my breast; Whose rich rays wander from me through the room, Sparkling and fading with capricious gleam Of light and color, like the varying moods Of my beloved one; those who turn to praise The beauty of the gem, admire most The changefulness of its most restless rays; Yet I feel no uneasiness or doubt; Knowing full well whenever I look down Upon my breast, the jewel will be there.

WITH A CRYSTAL LION.

For L. R. W.

Keep watch and ward, In stately guard, Around my Una’s wayward feet; Not lest she tread False ways instead Of higher paths, serenely sweet;--

But lest in care For all who share Her tender ministry, too late Her frail strength yield;-- Be thou her shield; They also serve who sometimes wait!

Of crystal, clear As in its sphere Her lofty spirit moves alway;-- Of massive strength As all at length Will find who make her soul their stay;--

With flowers and buds Whose sweetness floods The air even when we cannot see;-- This gift I send My earliest friend;-- Dear type of all she is to me!

ABSENT-MINDED.

You chide me that with self-absorbed, rapt eyes I seem to walk apart, nor care to clasp Familiar hands once dear; like one whose house Filled with the guests of her own choosing, rings With sounds of gladness, yet who steals away Up to some silent chamber of her own, Forgetful of the duties of a host. But is not she The truest and most hospitable friend Who, noting suddenly among her guests An unexpected comer, one to whom She fain would show high honor and respect, Hastens away with busy feet awhile To throw wide open to the sun and air Some long-untenanted fair chamber, rich With storied heirlooms of her ancestors, Bright with long windows looking towards the sun, Waiting but for an occupant? Even so Have I but stolen quietly away, Within the happy silence of my heart A lovely, sunny chamber to prepare For a new-comer.

ANSWERED PRAYER.

Father, whose tenderness has wrapped me round In a great need,--to what shall I compare Strength thou hast sent in answer to my prayer? Not to the help some falling vine has found, That trailing listless on the frozen ground Clings suddenly to some high trellis there, Lifting itself once more into the air With timid tendrils on the lattice wound. Rather to help the drooping plant has won, That weary with the beating of the rains Feels quickening in its own responsive veins The sudden shining of a distant sun. When from within the strength and gladness are, My soul knows that its help comes from afar.

EXPRESSION.

A wave Throbs restless in the darkness on the sea. Glorious in heaven shines a strong white star, Sending long slender lines of level light Serenely through the stillness; and the wave Takes to its heart the beautiful bright thing, Unconscious that it now stands self-revealed In its own palpitating restlessness. “How very strange,” it murmurs to itself, “That a great radiant star should tremble so, Even as I do; and more strange it seems, That it should be so willing to betray Itself by shining.” And meanwhile in heaven The star, with eyes fixed only upon God, Sweeps through the stately circles of the skies In motion grand as silence; undisturbed And self-contained; not dreaming that below, A little wave whose tremulous young heart Has caught a little of its brightness, thinks To read and to interpret for itself The heavenly mysteries. Even so I hear Men call it strange that poets should reveal The sacred secrets of their inmost souls To every idlest reader.

FULFILLMENT.

Burn bright, O sunset sky, with tints like wine! From all the west let the glad tidings shine, So beautiful a joy is to be mine.

O little lily, lean into the gloom! Pour from thy deep cup all its rare perfume, Sweeter will be my joy when it shall bloom.

Sing gayly, that the richer world with me May so rejoice in joy that is to be, O little birds upon the Maple tree!

O happy heart, send up to eyes and cheek The gladness that I have no words to speak; The fairest ones too powerless and weak.

Nay, burning sky, hide thy too brilliant glow! I would not that the curious world should know The sacred joy that now has blessed me so.

O little lily, leaning from the gloom, Hold thy too fragrant breath, that there be room In the deep stillness for my heart to bloom.

Hush, little birds upon the Maple tree! I cannot hear, ye sing so noisily, The sweeter song my soul would sing to me.

O happy lids, droop over happy eyes, Lest all the marvel of their dear surprise Escape once more to the far Paradise,

From which joy came so gently to my breast, Forevermore to be its cherished guest; Not seeking there, but bringing, heavenly rest.