Poems
Produced by Ted Garvin, Ginny Brewer and PG Distributed Proofreaders
1913
They called him mad,—the poor, old man, Whose white hair, worn and thin, Fell o'er his shoulders, as he played His cherished violin, Forever drawing to and fro O'er silent strings a loosened bow.
At times on his pathetic face A look of perfect rapture shone, Intent on some celestial chords, Discerned by him alone; And sometimes he would smile and pause, As if receiving loud applause.
So, many a humble poet dreams His songs will touch the human heart, And full of hope his offering lays Before the shrine of Art; Poor dreamer, may he never know That he too draws a silent bow!
LINES WRITTEN FOR A GOLDEN WEDDING TO THE WALKING-STICK OF MY DEAD FRIEND TO C. TO MR. AND MRS. A.H.S. To M.C. OF ATHENS TO J.B. TO M.P. TO MISS MARY C. LOW IN MEMORIAM. G.M.M. TO HON. CHARLES M. DICKINSON TO J.C.Y. TO HON. JESSE HOLDOM
Up and down in my garden fair, Under the trellis where grapes will bloom, With the breath of violets in the air, As pallid Winter for Spring makes room, I walk and ponder, free from care, In my beautiful Promenade Solitaire.
Back and forth in the checkered shade Traced by the lattice that holds the vine, With the glory of snow-capped crests displayed On the sapphire sky in a billowy line, I stroll, and ask what can compare With the charm of my Promenade Solitaire.
To and fro 'neath the nascent green Which clambers over its slender frame, With white peaks lighting up the scene, As snowfields glow with the sunset flame, I saunter, halting here and there For the view from my Promenade Solitaire.
In and out through the silence sweet, Plash of fountain and song of bird Are the only sounds in my lov'd retreat By which the air is ever stirred; It is like a long-drawn aisle of prayer, So hushed is my Promenade Solitaire.
Onward rushes the world without, But the breeze which over my garden steals Brings from it merely a distant shout Or the echo light of passing wheels; In its din and drive I have now no share, As I muse in my Promenade Solitaire.
John L. Stoddard
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POEMS
CONJUGI CARISSIMAE
PROEM
CONTENTS
TYROLEAN
BESIDE LAKE COMO
PERSONALLY ADDRESSED
TRANSLATIONS
RACHEL
MY "PROMENADE SOLITAIRE"
REINCARNATION
TO THE "RING NEBULA"
THE WAIF
THE SILVER HERONS
TO THE SPHINX
YOUTH AND AGE
SUNSET AT INTERLAKEN
UNDER THE STARS
CORSICA
TO THE VENUS OF MELOS
MORS LEONIS
A STORY OF THE SEA
OLD HYMN-TUNES
BEFORE A STATUE OF BUDDHA
THE PILLARS OF HERCULES
FRIENDSHIP
TO MY DEAD DOG
TO-DAY
TO THE COUNTESS GUICCIOLI, AFTER READING HER "RECOLLECTIONS OF LORD BYRON"
THE DEATH OF ANTONINUS PIUS
THE BUTTERFLY
AFTER THE STORM
FALLEN
"AEQUANIMITAS"
DREAMLAND
ROME REVISITED
ON THE PALATINE
THE FAREWELL OF THE OLD GUARD AT FONTAINEBLEAU, 1814
JAPAN,—OLD AND NEW
THE UNFORGOTTEN HEROES
A WINTER'S DAY
ON THE PROMENADE
SOLITUDE
OUT OF THE RANKS
AUTONOMY
ORIENT TO OCCIDENT, 1906
THE CAPTIVE
WEARINESS
A MAY MONODY
MY LOST FRIENDS
TO SLEEP AND TO FORGET
IN SILENCE
AT THE VILLA OF THE EMPEROR FREDERICK III AT SAN REMO
IN A COLUMBARIUM
DISCOURAGEMENT
MÉSALLIANCE
IN A MODERN CITY
MY BORES
GRATITUDE
IN TENEBRIS
TWO MOTHERS
AT HOCHFINSTERMÜNZ
THE GIFT OF JUNO
THE AWAKENING
THE WINE OF LIFE
LIFE'S TRILOGY
MYSTERIES
STAR DRIFT
TYROLEAN
OBERMAIS
CONTENTMENT
TO MERAN'S NORTHERN MOUNTAINS
AT SUNSET
POST NUBES LUX
THE HOME-COMING FROM ROME
MY GARDEN
THE MOUNTAINS OF MERAN AT SUNRISE
OSWALD, THE MINNESINGER
PROLOGUE
AFTER THE VINTAGE
THE PASSING MOON
AUTUMN IN MERAN
THE STATUE OF THE EMPRESS ELIZABETH. MERAN
THE OUTCASTS
HEIMWEH
MY LIBRARY
TOUT PASSE
BESIDE LAKE COMO
THE FAUN
ISOLA COMACINA
THE OLD CARRIER
EVENING ON LAKE COMO
DELIO PATRI
ACQUA FREDDA
THE POSTERN GATE
UNDINE
JANUARY IN THE TREMEZZINA
THE WANDERER
SECLUSION
ONE MORE
UNDER THE PLANE TREE
"CONJUGI CARISSIMAE"
THE PAGAN PAST
RETIREMENT
IN NOVEMBER
THE CALL OF THE BLOOD
THE CASCADE
BIRD SLAUGHTER
THE IRON CROWN
CONTRASTS
IN MY PERGOLA
EVANESCENCE
LAKE COMO IN AUTUMN
TO THE PORTRAIT OF NAPOLEON, AS FIRST CONSUL
DAY AND NIGHT
PASSING AND PERMANENT
TRIPOLI
INFLUENCE
LEO
WAKEFULNESS
VILLA PLINIANA
POINT BALBIANELLO
AT LENNO
PERSONALLY ADDRESSED
LINES
TO THE WALKING-STICK OF MY DEAD FRIEND
TO C….
TO M.C. OF ATHENS
TO J.B.
TO M.P.
TO MISS MARY C. LOW
IN MEMORIAM. G.M.M.
TO C.M.D.
TRANSLATIONS
THE KISS TO THE FLAG
EMILY'S GRAVE
SERENADE TO NINON
THE RED TYROLEAN EAGLE
ANDREAS HOFER
STREAM AND SEA
RACHEL