Robert F. Murray: His Poems with a Memoir Part 16

So Napoleon wiped his eye, and he wished the Prince good-bye, And being stony-broke, made the best of it he could, And they kept him snugly pensioned, where his Royal Highness mentioned, And Napoleon Boneyparty is provided for for good.

Now of that I don't complain, but I ask and ask in vain, Why me, a British soldier, as has lost a useful arm Through fighting of the foe, when the trumpets ceased to blow, Should be forced to feed the pigs on a little Surrey farm,

While him as fought with us, and created such a fuss, And in the whole of Europe did a mighty deal of harm, Should be kept upon a rock, like a precious fighting c.o.c.k, And be found in beer and baccy, which would suit me to a charm?

DEATH AT THE WINDOW

This morning, while we sat in talk Of spring and apple-bloom, Lo! Death stood in the garden walk, And peered into the room.

Your back was turned, you did not see The shadow that he made.

He bent his head and looked at me; It made my soul afraid.

The words I had begun to speak Fell broken in the air.

You saw the pallor of my cheek, And turned--but none was there.

He came as sudden as a thought, And so departed too.

What made him leave his task unwrought?

It was the sight of you.

Though Death but seldom turns aside From those he means to take, He would not yet our hearts divide, For love and pity's sake.

MAKE-BELIEVES

When I was young and well and glad, I used to play at being sad; Now youth and health are fled away, At being glad I sometimes play.

A COINCIDENCE

Every critic in the town Runs the minor poet down; Every critic--don't you know it?

Is himself a minor poet.

ART'S DISCIPLINE

Long since I came into the school of Art, A child in works, but not a child in heart.

Slowly I learn, by her instruction mild, To be in works a man, in heart a child.

THE TRUE LIBERAL

The truest Liberal is he Who sees the man in each degree, Who merit in a churl can prize, And baseness in an earl despise, Yet censures baseness in a churl, And dares find merit in an earl.

A LATE GOOD NIGHT

My lamp is out, my task is done, And up the stair with lingering feet I climb. The staircase clock strikes one.

Good night, my love! good night, my sweet!

My solitary room I gain.

A single star makes incomplete The blackness of the window pane.

Good night, my love! good night, my sweet!

Dim and more dim its sparkle grows, And ere my head the pillows meet, My lids are fain themselves to close.

Good night, my love! good night, my sweet!

My lips no other words can say, But still they murmur and repeat To you, who slumber far away, Good night, my love! good night, my sweet!

AN EXILE'S SONG

My soul is like a prisoned lark, That sings and dreams of liberty, The nights are long, the days are dark, Away from home, away from thee!

My only joy is in my dreams, When I thy loving face can see.

How dreary the awakening seems, Away from home, away from thee!

At dawn I hasten to the sh.o.r.e, To gaze across the sparkling sea-- The sea is bright to me no more, Which parts me from my home and thee.

At twilight, when the air grows chill, And cold and leaden is the sea, My tears like bitter dews distil, Away from home, away from thee.

I could not live, did I not know That thou art ever true to me, I could not bear a doubtful woe, Away from home, away from thee.

I could not live, did I not hear A voice that sings the day to be, When hitherward a s.h.i.+p shall steer, To bear me back to home and thee.

Oh, when at last that day shall break In suns.h.i.+ne on the dancing sea, It will be brighter for the sake Of my return to home and thee!