The Home Book of Verse — Volume 1
Four Seasons fill the measure of the year; There are four seasons in the mind of man: He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear Takes in all beauty with an easy span:
He has his Summer, when luxuriously Spring's honeyed cud of youthful thought he loves To ruminate, and by such dreaming high Is nearest unto Heaven: quiet coves
His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings He furleth close; contented so to look On mists in idleness—to let fair things Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook:—
He has his Winter too of pale misfeature, Or else he would forego his mortal nature.
Only a baby small, Dropped from the skies, Only a laughing face, Two sunny eyes; Only two cherry lips, One chubby nose; Only two little hands, Ten little toes.
Only a golden head, Curly and soft; Only a tongue that wags Loudly and oft; Only a little brain, Empty of thought; Only a little heart, Troubled with naught.
Only a tender flower Sent us to rear; Only a life to love While we are here; Only a baby small, Never at rest; Small, but how dear to us, God knoweth best.
Something to live for came to the place, Something to die for maybe, Something to give even sorrow a grace, And yet it was only a baby!
Cooing, and laughter, and gurgles, and cries, Dimples for tenderest kisses, Chaos of hopes, and of raptures, and sighs, Chaos of fears and of blisses.
Last year, like all years, the rose and the thorn; This year a wilderness maybe; But heaven stooped under the roof on the morn That it brought them only a baby.
I have no name; I am but two days old. What shall I call thee? I happy am, Joy is my name. Sweet joy befall thee!
Pretty joy! Sweet joy, but two days old. Sweet joy I call thee; Thou dost smile, I sing the while; Sweet joy befall thee!
Burton Egbert Stevenson
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Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Contents
PART I
POEMS OF YOUTH AND AGE
THE HUMAN SEASONS
THE BABY
"ONLY A BABY SMALL"
ONLY
INFANT JOY
BABY
TO A NEW-BORN BABY GIRL
TO LITTLE RENEE ON FIRST SEEING HER LYING IN HER CRADLE
RHYME OF ONE
TO A NEW-BORN CHILD
BABY MAY
ALICE
SONGS FOR FRAGOLETTA
CHOOSING A NAME
WEIGHING THE BABY
ETUDE REALISTE
LITTLE FEET
THE BABIE
LITTLE HANDS
BARTHOLOMEW
THE STORM-CHILD
"ON PARENT KNEES"
THE KING OF THE CRADLE
THE FIRSTBORN
NO BABY IN THE HOUSE
OUR WEE WHITE ROSE
INTO THE WORLD AND OUT
"BABY SLEEPS"
BABY BELL
IN THE NURSERY
MOTHER GOOSE'S MELODIES
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS
LITTLE BO-PEEP
MARY'S LAMB
THE STAR
"SING A SONG OF SIXPENCE"
SIMPLE SIMON
A PLEASANT SHIP
"I HAD A LITTLE HUSBAND"
"WHEN I WAS A BACHELOR"
"JOHNNY SHALL HAVE A NEW BONNET"
THE CITY MOUSE AND THE GARDEN MOUSE
ROBIN REDBREAST
SOLOMON GRUNDY
"MERRY ARE THE BELLS"
"WHEN GOOD KING ARTHUR RULED THIS LAND"
THE BELLS OF LONDON
THE OWL, THE EEL AND THE WARMING-PAN
THE COW
THE LAMB
LITTLE RAINDROPS
"MOON, SO ROUND AND YELLOW"
THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF COCK ROBIN
BABY-LAND
THE FIRST TOOTH
BABY'S BREAKFAST
THE MOON
BABY AT PLAY
THE DIFFERENCE
FOOT SOLDIERS
TOM THUMB'S ALPHABET
GRAMMAR IN RHYME
DAYS OF THE MONTH
THE GARDEN YEAR
RIDDLES
PROVERBS
KIND HEARTS
WEATHER WISDOM
OLD SUPERSTITIONS
THE ROAD TO SLUMBERLAND
WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD
THE SUGAR-PLUM TREE
WHEN THE SLEEPY MAN COMES
AULD DADDY DARKNESS
WILLIE WINKIE
THE SANDMAN
THE DUSTMAN
SEPHESTIA'S LULLABY
"GOLDEN SLUMBERS KISS YOUR EYES"
"SLEEP, BABY, SLEEP"
MOTHER'S SONG
A LULLABY
A CRADLE HYMN
CRADLE SONG
LULLABY
LULLABY OF AN INFANT CHIEF
GOOD-NIGHT
"LULLABY, O LULLABY"
LULLABY
THE COTTAGER TO HER INFANT
TROT, TROT!
HOLY INNOCENTS
LULLABY
CRADLE SONG
AN IRISH LULLABY
CRADLE SONG
MOTHER-SONG FROM "PRINCE LUCIFER"
KENTUCKY BABE
MINNIE AND WINNIE
BED-TIME SONG
TUCKING THE BABY IN
"JENNY WI' THE AIRN TEETH"
CUDDLE DOON
BEDTIME
THE DUTY OF CHILDREN
HAPPY THOUGHT
WHOLE DUTY OF CHILDREN
POLITENESS
RULES OF BEHAVIOR
LITTLE FRED
THE LOVABLE CHILD
GOOD AND BAD CHILDREN
REBECCA'S AFTER-THOUGHT
KINDNESS TO ANIMALS
A RULE FOR BIRDS' NESTERS
"SING ON, BLITHE BIRD"
"I LIKE LITTLE PUSSY"
LITTLE THINGS
THE LITTLE GENTLEMAN
THE CRUST OF BREAD
"HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE"
THE BROWN THRUSH
THE SLUGGARD
THE VIOLET
DIRTY JIM
THE PIN
JANE AND ELIZA
MEDDLESOME MATTY
CONTENTED JOHN
FRIENDS
ANGER
"THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL"
THE REFORMATION OF GODFREY GORE
THE BEST FIRM
A LITTLE PAGE'S SONG
HOW THE LITTLE KITE LEARNED TO FLY
THE BUTTERFLY AND THE BEE
THE BUTTERFLY
MORNING
BUTTERCUPS AND DAISIES
THE ANT AND THE CRICKET
AFTER WINGS
DEEDS OF KINDNESS
THE LION AND THE MOUSE
THE BOY AND THE WOLF
THE STORY OF AUGUSTUS, WHO WOULD NOT HAVE ANY SOUP
THE STORY OF LITTLE SUCK-A-THUMB
WRITTEN IN A LITTLE LADY'S LITTLE ALBUM
MY LADY WIND
TO A CHILD
A FAREWELL
RHYMES OF CHILDHOOD
REEDS OF INNOCENCE
THE WONDERFUL WORLD
THE WORLD'S MUSIC
A BOY'S SONG
GOING DOWN HILL ON A BICYCLE
PLAYGROUNDS
"WHO HAS SEEN THE WIND?"
THE WIND'S SONG
THE PIPER ON THE HILL
THE WIND AND THE MOON
CHILD'S SONG IN SPRING
BABY SEED SONG
LITTLE DANDELION
LITTLE WHITE LILY
WISHING
IN THE GARDEN
THE GLADNESS OF NATURE
GLAD DAY
THE TIGER
ANSWER TO A CHILD'S QUESTION
HOW THE LEAVES CAME DOWN
A LEGEND OF THE NORTHLAND
THE CRICKET'S STORY
THE SINGING-LESSON
CHANTICLEER
"WHAT DOES LITTLE BIRDIE SAY?"
NURSE'S SONG
JACK FROST
OCTOBER'S PARTY
THE SHEPHERD
NIKOLINA
LITTLE GUSTAVA
PRINCE TATTERS
THE LITTLE BLACK BOY
THE BLIND BOY
BUNCHES OF GRAPES
MY SHADOW
THE LAND OF COUNTERPANE
THE LAND OF STORY-BOOKS
THE GARDENER
FOREIGN LANDS
MY BED IS A BOAT
THE PEDDLER'S CARAVAN
MR. COGGS
THE BUILDING OF THE NEST
"THERE WAS A JOLLY MILLER"
ONE AND ONE
A NURSERY SONG
A MORTIFYING MISTAKE
THE MAN IN THE MOON
LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE
OUR HIRED GIRL
SEEIN' THINGS
THE DUEL
HOLY THURSDAY
A STORY FOR A CHILD
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
THE CAPTAIN'S DAUGHTER
THE NIGHTINGALE AND GLOW-WORM
SIR LARK AND KING SUN: A PARABLE
THE BABES IN THE WOOD
GOD'S JUDGMENT ON A WICKED BISHOP
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN
THE GLAD EVANGEL
A CAROL
"GOD REST YOU MERRY, GENTLEMEN"
"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"
A CHRISTMAS HYMN
"WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED THEIR FLOCKS BY NIGHT"
CHRISTMAS CAROLS
THE ANGELS
THE BURNING BABE
TRYSTE NOEL
CHRISTMAS CAROL
"BRIGHTEST AND BEST OF THE SONS OF THE MORNING"
CHRISTMAS BELLS
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
THE HOUSE OF CHRISTMAS
THE FEAST OF THE SNOW
MARY'S BABY
GATES AND DOORS
THE THREE KINGS
LULLABY IN BETHLEHEM
A CHILD'S SONG OF CHRISTMAS
JEST 'FORE CHRISTMAS
A VTSTT FROM ST. NICHOLAS
CEREMONIES FOR CHRISTMAS
ON THE MORNING OF CHRIST'S NATIVITY
FAIRYLAND
THE FAIRY BOOK
FAIRY SONGS
QUEEN MAB
THE ELF AND THE DORMOUSE
"OH! WHERE DO FAIRIES HIDE THEIR HEADS?"
FAIRY SONG
DREAM SONG
FAIRY SONG
QUEEN MAB
THE FAIRIES OF THE CALDON-LOW
THE FAIRIES
THE FAIRY THRALL
FAREWELL TO THE FAIRIES
THE FAIRY FOLK
THE FAIRY BOOK
THE VISITOR
THE LITTLE ELF
THE SATYRS AND THE MOON
THE CHILDREN
THE CHILDREN
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR
LAUS INFANTIUM
THE DESIRE
A CHILD'S LAUGHTER
SEVEN YEARS OLD
CREEP AFORE YE GANG
CASTLES IN THE AIR
UNDER MY WINDOW
THE BAREFOOT BOY
THE HERITAGE
LETTY'S GLOBE
DOVE'S NEST
THE ORACLE
TO A LITTLE GIRL
TO A LITTLE GIRL
A PARENTAL ODE TO MY SON
A NEW POET
TO LAURA W—, TWO YEARS OLD
TO ROSE
TO CHARLOTTE PULTENEY
THE PICTURE OF LITTLE T. C. IN A PROSPECT OF FLOWERS
TO HARTLEY COLERIDGE
TO A CHILD OF QUALITY
EX ORE INFANTIUM
OBITUARY
THE CHILD'S HERITAGE
A GIRL OF POMPEII
ON THE PICTURE OF A "CHILD TIRED OF PLAY"
THE REVERIE OF POOR SUSAN
CHILDREN'S SONG
THE MITHERLESS BAIRN
THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN
THE SHADOW-CHILD
MOTHER WEPT
DUTY
LUCY GRAY
IN THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
"IF I WERE DEAD"
THE TOYS
A SONG OF TWILIGHT
LITTLE BOY BLUE
THE DISCOVERER
A CHRYSALIS
MATER DOLOROSA
THE LITTLE GHOST
MOTHERHOOD
THE MOTHER'S PRAYER
DA LEETLA BOY
ON THE MOOR
EPITAPH OF DIONYSIA
FOR CHARLIE'S SAKE
"ARE THE CHILDREN AT HOME?"
THE MORNING-GLORY
SHE CAME AND WENT
THE FIRST SNOW-FALL
"WE ARE SEVEN"
MY CHILD
When at the day's calm close,
THE CHILD'S WISH GRANTED
CHALLENGE
TIRED MOTHERS
MY DAUGHTER LOUISE
"I AM LONELY"
SONNETS
ROSE-MARIE OF THE ANGELS
MAIDENHOOD
MAIDENHOOD
TO THE VIRGINS, TO MAKE MUCH OF TIME
TO MISTRESS MARGARET HUSSEY
ON HER COMING TO LONDON
"O, SAW YE BONNY LESLEY"
TO A YOUNG LADY
RUTH
THE SOLITARY REAPER
THE THREE COTTAGE GIRLS
A PORTRAIT
TO A CHILD OF FANCY
DAISY
TO PETRONILLA WHO HAS PUT UP HER HAIR
THE GYPSY GIRL
FANNY
SOMEBODY'S CHILD
EMILIA
TO A GREEK GIRL
"CHAMBER SCENE"
"AH, BE NOT FALSE"
A LIFE-LESSON
THE MAN
THE BREAKING
THE FLIGHT OF YOUTH
"DAYS OF MY YOUTH"
AVE ATQUE VALE
TO YOUTH
STANZAS WRITTEN ON THE ROAD BETWEEN FLORENCE AND PISA
STANZAS FOR MUSIC
"WHEN AS A LAD"
"AROUND THE CHILD"
ALADDIN
THE QUEST
MY BIRTH-DAY
SONNET
ON THIS DAY I COMPLETE MY THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR
THE ONE WHITE HAIR
BALLADE OF MIDDLE AGE
MIDDLE AGE
TO CRITICS
THE RAINBOW
LEAVETAKING
EQUINOCTIAL
"BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF YEARS"
MAN
THE PULLEY
ODE ON THE INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY
THE WOMAN
WOMAN
WOMAN
SIMPLEX MUNDITIIS
DELIGHT IN DISORDER
A PRAISE OF HIS LADY
ON A CERTAIN LADY AT COURT
PERFECT WOMAN
THE SOLITARY-HEARTED
OF THOSE WHO WALK ALONE
"SHE WALKS IN BEAUTY"
PRELUDES
A HEALTH
OUR SISTER
FROM LIFE
THE ROSE OF THE WORLD
DAWN OF WOMANHOOD
THE SHEPHERDESS
A PORTRAIT
THE WIFE
"TRUSTY, DUSKY, VIVID, TRUE"
THE SHRINE
THE VOICE
MOTHER
AD MATREM
C. L. M.
STEPPING WESTWARD
STEPPING WESTWARD
A FAREWELL TO ARMS
THE WORLD
"WHEN THAT I WAS AND A LITTLE TINY BOY"
OF THE LAST VERSES IN THE BOOK
A LAMENT
TOMORROW
LATE WISDOM
YOUTH AND AGE
THE OLD MAN'S COMFORTS
TO AGE
LATE LEAVES
YEARS
THE RIVER OF LIFE
"LONG TIME A CHILD"
THE WORLD I AM PASSING THROUGH
TERMINUS
RABBI BEN EZRA
HUMAN LIFE
YOUNG AND OLD
THE ISLE OF THE LONG AGO
GROWING OLD
PAST
TWILIGHT
YOUTH AND AGE
FORTY YEARS ON
DREGS
THE PARADOX OF TIME
AGE
OMNIA SOMNIA
THE YEAR'S END
AN OLD MAN'S SONG
SONGS OF SEVEN
Seven Times Two.—ROMANCE
AUSPEX
LOOKING BACKWARD
THE RETREAT
Happy those early days, when I
A SUPERSCRIPTION
THE CHILD IN THE GARDEN
CASTLES IN THE AIR
SOMETIMES
THE LITTLE GHOSTS
MY OTHER ME
A SHADOW BOAT
A LAD THAT IS GONE
CARCASSONNE
CHILDHOOD
THE WASTREL
TROIA FUIT
TEMPLE GARLANDS
TIME LONG PAST
"I REMEMBER, I REMEMBER"
MY LOST YOUTH
"VOICE OF THE WESTERN WIND"
LANGSYNE, WHEN LIFE WAS BONNIE"
THE SHOOGY-SHOO
BABYLON
THE ROAD OF REMEMBRANCE
THE TRIUMPH OF FORGOTTEN THINGS
IN THE TWILIGHT
AN IMMORALITY
THREE SEASONS
THE OLD FAMILIAR FACES
THE LIGHT OF OTHER DAYS
"TEARS, IDLE TEARS"
THE PET NAME
THREESCORE AND TEN
RAIN ON THE ROOF
ALONE BY THE HEARTH
THE OLD MAN DREAMS
THE GARRET
AULD LANG SYNE
ROCK ME TO SLEEP
THE BUCKET
THE GRAPE-VINE SWING
THE OLD SWIMMIN'-HOLE
FORTY YEARS AGO
BEN BOLT
"BREAK, BREAK, BREAK"
Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Contents
Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Edited by Burton Egbert Stevenson
Contents