The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Volume 07: Songs of Many Seasons

1862-1874
SONGS OF WELCOME AND FAREWELL AMERICA TO RUSSIA WELCOME TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS AT THE BANQUET TO THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS AT THE BANQUET TO THE CHINESE EMBASSY AT THE BANQUET TO THE JAPANESE EMBASSY BRYANT'S SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY A FAREWELL TO AGASSIZ AT A DINNER TO ADMIRAL FARRAGUT AT A DINNER TO GENERAL GRANT To H W LONGFELLOW To CHRISTIAN GOTTFRIED EHRENBERG A TOAST TO WILKIE COLLINS
RHYMES OF AN HOUR ADDRESS FOR THE OPENING OF THE FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, N. Y. 1873 A SEA DIALOGUE CHANSON WITHOUT MUSIC FOR THE CENTENNIAL DINNER, PROPRIETORS OF BOSTON PIER, 1873 A POEM SERVED TO ORDER THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH No TIME LIKE THE OLD TIME A HYMN OF PEACE, TO THE MUSIC OF KELLER'S AMERICAN HYMN
THUS I lift the sash, so long Shut against the flight of song; All too late for vain excuse,— Lo, my captive rhymes are loose.
Rhymes that, flitting through my brain, Beat against my window-pane, Some with gayly colored wings, Some, alas! with venomed stings.
Shall they bask in sunny rays? Shall they feed on sugared praise? Shall they stick with tangled feet On the critic's poisoned sheet?
Are the outside winds too rough? Is the world not wide enough? Go, my winged verse, and try,— Go, like Uncle Toby's fly!
READER—gentle—if so be Such still live, and live for me, Will it please you to be told What my tenscore pages hold?
Here are verses that in spite Of myself I needs must write, Like the wine that oozes first When the unsqueezed grapes have burst.
Here are angry lines, too hard! Says the soldier, battle-scarred. Could I smile his scars away I would blot the bitter lay,
Written with a knitted brow, Read with placid wonder now. Throbbed such passion in my heart? Did his wounds once really smart?
Here are varied strains that sing All the changes life can bring, Songs when joyous friends have met, Songs the mourner's tears have wet.