The Home Book of Verse Volume Ii Part 159

THE RECONCILIATION From "The Princess"

As through the land at eve we went, And plucked the ripened ears, We fell out, my wife and I, O, we fell out, I know not why, And kissed again with tears.

And blessings on the falling out That all the more endears, When we fall out with those we love And kiss again with tears!

For when we came where lies the child We lost in other years, There above the little grave, O, there above the little grave, We kissed again with tears.

Alfred Tennyson [1809-1892]

SONG

Wait but a little while-- The bird will bring A heart in tune for melodies Unto the spring, Till he who's in the cedar there Is moved to trill a song so rare, And pipe her fair.

Wait but a little while-- The bud will break; The inner rose will open and glow For summer's sake: Fond bees will lodge within her breast Till she herself is plucked and pressed Where I would rest.

Wait but a little while-- The maid will grow Gracious with lips and hands to thee, With breast of snow.

To-day Love's mute, but time hath sown A soul in her to match thine own, Though yet ungrown.

Norman Gale [1862-

CONTENT

Though singing but the shy and sweet Untrod by mult.i.tudes of feet, Songs bounded by the brook and wheat, I have not failed in this, The only lure my woodland note, To win all England's whitest throat!

O bards in gold and fire who wrote, Be yours all other bliss!

Norman Gale [1862-

CHE SARA SARA

Preach wisdom unto him who understands!

When there's such lovely longing in thine eyes, And such a pulse in thy small clinging hands, What is the good of being great or wise?

What is the good of beating up the dust On the world's highway, vexed with droughty heat?

Oh, I grow fatalist--what must be must, Seeing that thou, beloved, art so sweet!

Victor Plarr [1863-

"BID ADIEU TO GIRLISH DAYS"

Bid adieu, adieu, adieu, Bid adieu to girlish days, Happy Love is come to woo Thee and woo thy girlish ways-- The zone that doth become thee fair, The snood upon thy yellow hair.

When thou hast heard his name upon The bugles of the cherubim, Begin thou softly to unzone Thy girlish bosom unto him, And softly to undo the snood That is the sign of maidenhood.

James Joyce [1882-

TO F. C.

Fast falls the snow, O lady mine, Sprinkling the lawn with crystals fine, But by the G.o.ds we won't repine While we're together, We'll chat and rhyme, and kiss and dine, Defying weather.

So stir the fire and pour the wine, And let those sea-green eyes divine Pour their love-madness into mine: I don't care whether 'Tis snow or sun or rain or s.h.i.+ne If we're together.

Mortimer Collins [1827-1876]

SPRING Pa.s.sION

Blue sky, green fields, and lazy yellow sun!

Why should I hunger for the burning South, Where beauty needs no travail to be won, Now I may kiss her pure impa.s.sioned mouth?

Winds rippling with the rich delight of spring!

Why should I yearn for myriad-colored skies, Lit by auroral suns, when I may sing The flame and rapture of her starry eyes?

Oh, song of birds, and flowers fair to see!

Why should I thirst for far-off Eden-isles, When I may hear her discourse melody, And bask, a dreamer, in her dreamy smiles?

Joel Elias Spingarn [1875-

ADVICE TO A LOVER

Oh, if you love her, Show her the best of you; So will you move her To bear with the rest of you.

Coldness and jealousy Cannot but seem to her Signs that a tempest lurks Where was sunbeam to her.

Patience, and tenderness Still will awake in her Hopes of new suns.h.i.+ne, Though the storm break for her; Love, she will know, for her, Like the blue firmament, Under the tempest lies Gentle and permanent.

Nor will she ever Gentleness find the less When the storm overblown Leaveth clear kindliness.

Deal with her tenderly, Skylike above her, Smile on her waywardness, Oh, if you love her!

S. Charles Jellicoe [18 --