A spray of lilac, and other poems and songs

A Spray of Lilac Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson and Co. London and Edinburgh
And Other Poems and Songs BY MARIE HEDDERWICK BROWNE LONDON ISBISTER AND COMPANY Limited 15 & 16 TAVISTOCK STREET COVENT GARDEN 1892
Oh, lilac bloom! strange that so slight a thing As thou is strong to roll away the stone From memory’s grave, and set the dead past free To claim again brief kinship with its own.
Most of the Poems contained in this volume have appeared during the past ten years, in “Atalanta,” “Chambers’s Journal,” “London Society,” “Little Folks,” “The Girl’s Own Paper,” and other serials.
If an apology for venturing to offer them to the public in collected form be deemed necessary, I can only urge the plea of the poor but hospitable Dervish, “He is a generous host who freely giveth his best, be his best but clear water and a crust.”
M. H. B.
London, December 1892

Pale cluster, thy faint perfume comes to me Laden with memories of long ago, And all the present dims as o’er my soul The waves of tender recollection flow.
With Spring’s young blood again my veins are thrilled, My hands are stretched to meet the coming years, The world holds all the glory that it held Ere yet mine eyes had looked on it thro’ tears.
With deftest fingers fancy weaves once more Her fairy fabrics; vast horizons glow With fires of promise, for behind their veils They hid rich treasures in that long-ago.