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Not that they wilfully deceive： They fondly cherish A constancy which they would grieve To think might perish。
They cherish it until they think ‘Twas always theirs。 So； if the truth they sometimes blink； ‘Tis unawares。
Yet unawares； I must profess； They do deceive Themselves； and those who questionless Their tale believe。
For I have loved； I freely own； A score of times； And woven； out of love alone； A hundred rhymes。
Boys will be fickle。 Yet； when all Is said and done； I was not one whom you could call A flirtnot one
Of those who into three or four Their hearts divide。 My queens came singly to the door； Not side by side。
Each； while she reigned； possessed alone My spirit loyal； Then left an undisputed throne To one more royal；
To one more fair in form and face Sweeter and stronger； Who filled the throne with truer grace； And filled it longer。
So； love by love； they came and passed； These loves of mine； And each one brighter than the last Their lights did shine。
Untilbut am I not too free； Most courteous stranger； With secrets which belong to me？ There is a danger。
Until； I say； the perfect love； The last； the best； Like flame descending from above； Kindled my breast；
Kindled my breast like ardent flame； With quenchless glow。 I knew not love until it came； But now I know。
You smile。 The twenty loves before Were each in turn； You say； the final flame that o'er My soul should burn。
Smile on； my friend。 I will not say You have no reason； But if the love I feel to…day Depart； ‘tis treason！
If this depart； not once again Will I on paper Declare the loves that waste and wane； Like some poor taper。
No； no！ This flame； I cannot doubt； Despite your laughter； Will burn till Death shall put it out； And may be after。
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
These verses have I pilfered like a bee Out of a letter from my C。 C。 C。 In London； showing what befell him there； With other things； of interest to me。
One page described a night in open air He spent last summer in Trafalgar Square； With men and women who by want are driven Thither for lodging； when the nights are fair。
No roof there is between their heads and heaven； No warmth but what by ragged clothes is given； No comfort but the company of those Who with despair； like them； have vainly striven。
On benches there uneasily they doze； Snatching brief morsels of a poor repose； And if through weariness they might sleep sound； Their eyes must open almost ere they close。
With even tramp upon the paven ground； Twice every hour the night patrol comes round To clear these wretches off； who may not keep The miserable couches they have found。
Yet the stern shepherds of the poor black sheep Will soften when they see a woman weep。 There was a mother there who strove in vain； With sobs； to hush a starving child to sleep。
And through the night which took so long to wane； He saw sad sufferers relieving pain； And daughters of iniquity and scorn Performing deeds which God will not disdain。
There was a girl； forlorn of the forlorn； Whose dress was white； but draggled； soiled； and torn； Who wandered like a ghost without a home。 She spoke to him before the day was born。
She； who all night； when spoken to； was dumb； Earning dislike from most； abuse from some； Now asked the hour； and when he told her ‘Two；' Wailed； ‘O my God； will daylight never come？'
Yes； it will come； and change the sky anew From star…besprinkled black to sunlit blue； And bring sweet thoughts and innocent desires To countless girls。 What will it bring to you？
A SUMMER MORNING
Never was sun so bright before； No matin of the lark so sweet； No grass so green beneath my feet； Nor with such dewdrops jewelled o'er。
I stand with thee outside the door； The air not yet is close with heat； And far across the yellowing wheat The waves are breaking on the shore。
A lovely day！ Yet many such； Each like to each； this month have passed； And none did so supremely shine。 One thing they lacked： the perfect touch Of theeand thou art come at last； And half this loveliness is thine。
WELCOME HOME
The fire burns bright And the hearth is clean swept； As she likes it kept； And the lamp is alight。 She is coming to…night。
The wind's east of late。 When she comes； she'll be cold； So the big chair is rolled Close up to the grate； And I listen and wait。
The shutters are fast； And the red curtains hide Every hint of outside。 But hark； how the blast Whistled then as it passed！
Or was it the train？ How long shall I stand； With my watch in my hand； And listen in vain For the wheels in the lane？
Hark！ A rumble I hear （Will the wind not be still？）； And it comes down the hill； And it grows on the ear； And now it is near。
Quick； a fresh log to burn！ Run and open the door； Hold a lamp out before To light up the turn； And bring in the urn。
You are come； then； at last！ O my dear； is it you？ I can scarce think it true I am holding you fast； And sorrow is past。
AN INVITATION
Dear Ritchie； I am waiting for the signal word to fly； And tell me that the visit which has suffered such belating Is to be a thing of now； and no more of by…and…by。 Dear Ritchie； I am waiting。
The sea is at its bluest； and the Spring is new creating The woods and dens we know of； and the fields rejoicing lie； And the air is soft as summer； and the hedge…birds all are mating。
The Links are full of larks' nests； and the larks possess the sky； Like a choir of happy spirits； melodiously debating； All is ready for your coming； dear Ritchieyes； and I； Dear Ritchie； I am waiting。
FICKLE SUMMER
Fickle Summer's fled away； Shall we see her face again？ Hearken to the weeping rain； Never sunbeam greets the day。
More inconstant than the May； She cares nothing for our pain； Nor will hear the birds complain In their bowers that once were gay。
Summer； Summer； come once more； Drive the shadows from the field； All thy radiance round thee fling； Be our lady as of yore； Then the earth her fruits shall yield； Then the morning stars shall sing。
SORROW'S TREACHERY
I made a truce last night with Sorrow； The queen of tears； the foe of sleep； To keep her tents until the morrow； Nor send such dreams to make me weep。
Before the lusty day was springing； Before the tired moon was set； I dreamed I heard my dead love singing； And when I woke my eyes were wet。
THE CROWN OF YEARS
Years grow and gathereach a gem Lustrous with laughter and with tears； And cunning Time a crown of years Contrives for her who weareth them。
No chance can snatch this diadem； It trembles not with hopes or fears； It shines before the rose appears； And when the leaves forsake her stem。
Time sets his jewels one by one。 Then wherefore mourn the wreaths that lie In attic chambers of the past？ They withered ere the day was done。 This coronal will never die； Nor shall you lose it at the last。
HOPE DEFERRED
When the weary night is fled； And the morning sky is red； Then my heart doth rise and say； ‘Surely she will come to…day。'
In the golden blaze of noon； ‘Surely she is coming soon。' In the twilight； ‘Will she come？' Then my heart with fear is dumb。
When the night wind in the trees Plays its mournful melodies； Then I know my trust is vain； And she will not come again。
THE LIFE OF EARTH
The life of earth； how full of pain； Which greets us on our day of birth； Nor leaves us while we yet retain The life of earth。
There is a shadow on our mirth； Our sun is blotted out with rain； And all our joys are little worth。
Yet oh； when life begins to wane； And we must sail the doubtful firth； How wild the longing to regain The life of earth！
GOLDEN DREAM
Golden dream of summer morn； By a well…remembered stream In the land where I was born； Golden dream！
Ripples； by the glancing beam Lightly kissed in playful scorn； Meadows moist with sunlit steam。
When I lift my eyelids worn Like a fair mirage you seem； In the winter dawn forlorn； Golden dream！
TEARS
Mourn that which will not come again； The joy； the strength of early years。 Bow down thy head； and let thy tears Water the grave where hope lies slain。
For tears are like a summer rain； To murmur in a mourner's ears； To soften all the field of fears； To moisten valleys parched with pain。
And though thy tears will not awake What lies beneath of young or fair And sleeps so sound it draws no breath； Yet； watered thus； the sod may break In flowers which sweeten all the air； And fill with life the place of death。
THE HOUSE OF SLEEP
When we have laid aside our last endeavour； And said farewell to one or two that weep； And issued from the house of life for ever； To find a lodging in the house of sleep …
With eyes fast shut； in sunless chambers lying； With folded arms unmoved upon the breast； Beyond the noise of sorrow and of crying； Beyond the dread of dreaming； shall we rest？
Or shall there come at last desire of waking； To walk again on hillsides that we know； When sunrise through the cold white mist is breaking； Or in the stillness of the after…glow？
Shall there be yearning for the sound of voices； The sight of faces； and the touch of hands； The will that wor