Eileen of four,
Eileen of smiles;
Eileen of five,
Eileen of tears;
Eileen of ten, of fifteen years,
Eileen of youth
And woman’s wiles;
Eileen of twenty,
In love’s land,
Eileen all tender
In her bliss,
Untouched by sorrow’s treacherous kiss,
And the sly weapon in life’s hand,—
Eileen aroused...
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From “The Birthday”
BUT chief—surpassing all—a cuckoo clock!
That crowning wonder! miracle of art!
How have I stood entranced uncounted minutes,
With held-in breath, and eyes intently fixed
On that small magic door, that when complete
The expiring hour—the irreversible—
Flew open with a startling suddenness
That, though expected,... -
Consulting summer's clock,
But half the hours remain.
I ascertain it with a shock —
I shall not look again.
The second half of joy
Is shorter than the first.
The truth I do not dare to know
I muffle with a jest. -
The Birds begun at Four o'clock —
Their period for Dawn —
A Music numerous as space —
But neighboring as Noon —
I could not count their Force —
Their Voices did expend
As Brook by Brook bestows itself
To multiply the Pond.
Their Witnesses were not —
Except...The Clock strikes one that just struck two —
Some schism in the Sum —
A Vagabond for Genesis
Has wrecked the Pendulum —The Day came slow — till Five o'clock —
Then sprang before the Hills
Like Hindered Rubies — or the Light
A Sudden Musket — spills —
The Purple could not keep the East —
The Sunrise shook abroad
Like Breadths of Topaz — packed a Night —
The Lady just unrolled —
The...