• Dropped into the Ether Acre —

    Wearing the Sod Gown —

    Bonnet of Everlasting Laces —

    Brooch — frozen on —


    Horses of Blonde — and Coach of Silver —

    Baggage a strapped Pearl —

    Journey of Down — and Whip of Diamond —

    Riding to meet the Earl —

  • Drowning is not so pitiful

    As the attempt to rise

    Three times, 'tis said, a sinking man

    Comes up to face the skies,

    And then declines forever

    To that abhorred abode,

    Where hope and he part company —

    For he is grasped of God.

    The Maker's cordial visage,

    However good to...

  •         Deal kindly with those speechless ones,

                That throng our gladsome earth;

            Say not the bounteous gift of life

                Alone is nothing worth.

     

            What though with mournful memories

                They sigh not for the past?

            What though their ever joyous...

  •         Upon his canvas Nature starts to life,

                Clear waters flow, majestic trees arise, --

            The earth and air with beauty's shapes are rife,

                And over all there bend his glorious skies.

     

            Yes, this is Nature -- living, breathing, warm,

                Ere yet her face...

  • Dust is the only Secret —

    Death, the only One

    You cannot find out all about

    In his "native town."


    Nobody know "his Father" —

    Never was a Boy —

    Hadn't any playmates,

    Or "Early history" —


    Industrious! Laconic!

    Punctual! Sedate!

    Bold as a Brigand!...

  • Oh, some folk think vice-royalty is festive and hilarious,

    The duties of an A.D.C. are manifold and various,

    So listen, whilst I tell in song

    The duties of an aide-de-cong.


    Whatsoever betide

    To the Governor's side

    We must stick -- or the public would eat him --

    For each bounder we see...

  • The sun kept setting, setting still ;

    No hue of afternoon

    Upon the village I perceived, —

    From house to house 't was noon.


    The dusk kept dropping, dropping still ;

    No dew upon the grass,

    But only on my forehead stopped...

  • Dying at my music!

    Bubble! Bubble!

    Hold me till the Octave's run!

    Quick! Burst the Windows!

    Ritardando!

    Phials left, and the Sun!

  • A poem, where we all perfections find,

    Is not the work of a fantastic mind;

    There must be care, and time, and skill, and pains;

    Not the first head of inexperienced brains.

    Yet sometimes artless poets, when the rage

    Of a warm fancy does their minds engage,

    Puffed with vain pride, presume they understand,...

  • VITAL spark of heav'nly flame!

      Quit, O quit this mortal frame:

      Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying,

      O the pain, the bliss of dying!

    Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,

    And let me languish into life.

     

      Hark! they whisper; angels say,

      Sister Spirit...