You only promised me a single hour: But in that hour I journeyed through a year Of life: the joy of finding you,–the fear Of losing you again,–the sense of power To make you all my own,–the sudden shower Of tears that came because you were more dear Than words could ever tell you,–then,–the clear […]

Remember, when the timid light Through the enchanted hall of dawn is gleaming; Remember, when the pensive night Beneath her silver-sprinkled veil walks dreaming; When pleasure calls thee and thy heart beats high, When tender joys through evening shades draw nigh, Hark, from the woodland deeps A gentle whisper creeps, Remember! Remember, when the hand […]

I “EIN FICHTENBAUM” A fir-tree standeth lonely On a barren northern height, Asleep, while winter covers His rest with robes of white. In dreams, he sees a palm-tree In the golden morning-land; She droops alone and silent In burning wastes of sand. II “DU BIST WIE EINE BLUME” Fair art thou as a flower And […]

I think of thee when golden sunbeams glimmer Across the sea; And when the waves reflect the moon’s pale shimmer I think of thee. I see thy form when down the distant highway The dust-clouds rise; In darkest night, above the mountain by-way I see thine eyes. I hear thee when the ocean-tides returning Aloud […]

Come home, my love, come home! The twilight is falling, The whippoorwill calling, The night is very near, And the darkness full of fear, Come home to my arms, come home! Come home, my love, come home! In folly we parted, And now, lonely hearted, I know you look in vain For a love like […]

I THE IVORY CRADLE The cradle I have made for thee Is carved of orient ivory, And curtained round with wavy silk More white than hawthorn-bloom or milk. A twig of box, a lilac spray, Will drive the goblin-horde away; And charm thy childlike heart to keep Her happy dream and virgin sleep. Within that […]

I read within a poet’s book A word that starred the page: “Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage!” Yes, that is true, and something more: You’ll find, where’er you roam, That marble floors and gilded walls Can never make a home. But every house where Love abides, And Friendship […]

The river of dreams runs quietly down From its hidden home in the forest of sleep, With a measureless motion calm and deep; And my boat slips out on the current brown, In a tranquil bay where the trees incline Far over the waves, and creepers twine Far over the boughs, as if to steep […]

A SLUMBER-SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN’S CHILD Furl your sail, my little boatie; Here’s the haven still and deep, Where the dreaming tides in-streaming Up the channel creep. Now the sunset breeze is dying; Hear the plover, landward flying, Softly down the twilight crying; Come to anchor, little boatie, In the port of Sleep. Far away, […]

Lord Jesus, Thou hast known A mother’s love and tender care: And Thou wilt hear, While for my own Mother most dear I make this birthday prayer. Protect her life, I pray, Who gave the gift of life to me; And may she know, From day to day, The deepening glow Of joy that comes […]

I count that friendship little worth Which has not many things untold, Great longings that no words can hold, And passion-secrets waiting birth. Along the slender wires of speech Some message from the heart is sent; But who can tell the whole that’s meant? Our dearest thoughts are out of reach. I have not seen […]

Only a little shrivelled seed, It might be flower, or grass, or weed; Only a box of earth on the edge Of a narrow, dusty window-ledge; Only a few scant summer showers; Only a few clear shining hours; That was all. Yet God could make Out of these, for a sick child’s sake, A blossom-wonder, […]

“Do you give thanks for this?–or that?” No, God be thanked I am not grateful In that cold, calculating way, with blessings ranked As one, two, three, and four,–that would be hateful. I only know that every day brings good above My poor deserving; I only feel that in the road of Life true Love […]

With eager heart and will on fire, I strove to win my great desire. “Peace shall be mine,” I said; but life Grew bitter in the barren strife. My soul was weary, and my pride Was wounded deep; to Heaven I cried, “God grant me peace or I must die;” The dumb stars glittered no […]

Saints are God’s flowers, fragrant souls That His own hand hath planted, Not in some far-off heavenly place, Or solitude enchanted, But here and there and everywhere,– In lonely field, or crowded town, God sees a flower when He looks down. Some wear the lily’s stainless white, And some the rose of passion, And some […]

What shall I give for thee, Thou Pearl of greatest price? For all the treasures I possess Would not suffice. I give my store of gold; It is but earthly dross: But thou wilt make me rich, beyond All fear of loss. Mine honours I resign; They are but small at best: Thou like a […]

I THE NATIVITY Could every time-worn heart but see Thee once again, A happy human child, among the homes of men, The age of doubt would pass,–the vision of Thy face Would silently restore the childhood of the race. II THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT Thou wayfaring Jesus, a pilgrim and stranger, Exiled from heaven by […]

Just to give up, and trust All to a Fate unknown, Plodding along life’s road in the dust, Bounded by walls of stone; Never to have a heart at peace; Never to see when care will cease; Just to be still when sorrows fall– This is the bitterest lesson of all. Just to give up, […]

March on, my soul, nor like a laggard stay! March swiftly on. Yet err not from the way Where all the nobly wise of old have trod,– The path of faith, made by the sons of God. Follow the marks that they have set beside The narrow, cloud-swept track, to be thy guide: Follow, and […]

TO THE MUSIC OF BEETHOVEN’S NINTH SYMPHONY Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Praising Thee their sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day! All Thy […]