Little Sad Face

Little sad face, come close, so close to mine, See through these eyes the sweetness of the day, Feel how the sunbeams dance in Summer's wine, Hold fast my hands and let our pulse combine And with my steps dance down the happy way; For youth is love and love is light and gay, Little sad face.

Little sad heart, come close, so close to mine, And know the utmost limits of the will Of all the worlds, till soft thy heart divine A joy which can encompass grief like thine; Hide in my breast, and let faint pulses thrill, For youth is love, and love is great and still, Little sad heart.

Little sad soul, which ne'er can come to mine, So great in loneliness of grey despair, There is not one whose spirit may entwine With thee--the world looks on without a sign; Go--hide thy face within thy tossing hair, Thyself veil close with smiles, for none will care, Little sad soul.

EARTH'S TEARS-- AND MAN'S

These slanting lines of hoary rain Are as my grizzled hair; The face of earth is old with pain As mine--with dull despair.

And yet, one sun will gild the air, Earth's tears were not in vain: No smile can ease mine eyes of care Or make me young again!

I HAVE SEEN WHAT THE SERAPHS HAVE SEEN

I have seen what the seraphs have seen As they gaze thro' the limitless air-- Thro' the wind and the clouds to the lean Pale face of the moon, and the bare Bright flame of the sun, unaware, I have seen what the seraphs have seen!

Thro' the limitless spaces of air The brave mists that waver and wane Are patient and pallid and fair. I have fathomed the pride and the pain Of the snows and compassionate rain Thro' the limitless spaces of air.

I have known them, the brave mists that wane And the glory and peace of the skies. Where all strife and impatience are vain And ahush are all passionate sighs, For I gazed in the deeps of Love's eyes, And I know what no seraphs shall gain!

A LASS FROM THE WOODS

A lass from the woods With a leaf in her hair! And the rain of the night And the wind of the morn, They both quivered right; For my spirit forlorn In a garment of white And a laugh newly born Sprang in maddest of moods Like a blossom in air To the kiss of the sun And the curl of the breeze, Caught the cobwebs begun In the hush of the trees All my beatings were one With the swirl of the seas. Dead the creature that broods In a tangle of care; There's a lass from the woods With a leaf in her hair.

WAS THERE ANOTHER SPRING

Was there another Spring than this? I half remember through the haze Of glimmering nights and golden days, A broken pinioned birdling's note, An angry sky, a sea-wrecked boat, A wandering through rain-beaten ways! Lean closer, love--I have thy kiss! Was there another Spring than this?