Come Buy!

The flowers knew her through the frost, Their own true-lover. Rose crowding rose, the color crossed; The silver breath could hover Near and far, poor lover!

They wondered at her through the pane, And through December. And then she went her way again, —Eyes trying to remember. Have your day, December!

PRINCE CHARLIE.

O had you died upon the field That was so grim to plough, The tears had blinded every eye That sharpens on you now.

For death had been a glorious gift, With all you had to give, And kinder than we stay-at-homes; But ah, you had to live!

THE MEETING.

‘Good-morning to you, then.’ (O stricken heart of her! Silence, silence, breathe for me A little breath of myrrh.)

‘And so good-by again; Good-by, if you must go.’ (Go after, little shade of me, And tell her that I know.)

THE COBBLER.

A little cloud in a golden veil At setting of the sun: And I a cobbler working—working; Work is never done.

A little cloud in a golden veil; And I am mending shoes, Never a feathered sandal thing Such as a cloud may use.

A little cloud in a golden veil, Along the bright highway: And but for her, to-morrow were Another yesterday.

And this will stay, tho’ she melt away After the moon sets sail. For no man’s sky is always gray, —Cloud in a golden veil.

MIRACLE.

Love came by in bitter need. Oh, but I was sad! Love stood by in bitter need, And I nothing had.

Empty were the hands I held Silently to Love. Empty, as my heart of words, Stared the sky above.

Lo, Love took—and thankfully— All my wish for true; Then my hands gave back to me, Full of kisses too.

OPEN HOUSE.

My home is not so great; But open heart I keep. The sorrows come to me, That they may sleep.

The little bread I have I share, and gladly pray To-morrow may give more, To give away.

Yes, in the dark sometimes The childish fear will haunt: How long, how long, before I die of want?

But all the bread I have, I share, and ever say, To-morrow shall bring more To give away.