The verses in this book were first printed in Life, Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and The New York World.
CONTENTS
[PART ONE]
[THRENODY]
[THE SMALL HOURS]
[THE FALSE FRIENDS]
[THE TRIFLER]
[A VERY SHORT SONG]
[A WELL-WORN STORY]
[CONVALESCENT]
[THE DARK GIRL'S RHYME]
[EPITAPH]
[LIGHT OF LOVE]
[WAIL]
[THE SATIN DRESS]
[SOMEBODY'S SONG]
[ANECDOTE]
[BRAGGART]
[EPITAPH FOR A DARLING LADY]
[TO A MUCH TOO UNFORTUNATE LADY]
[PATHS]
[HEARTHSIDE]
[THE NEW LOVE]
[RAINY NIGHT]
[FOR A SAD LADY]
[RECURRENCE]
[STORY OF MRS. W—]
[THE DRAMATISTS]
[AUGUST]
[THE WHITE LADY]
[I KNOW I HAVE BEEN HAPPIEST]
[TESTAMENT]
["I SHALL COME BACK"]
[CONDOLENCE]
[THE IMMORTALS]
[A PORTRAIT]
[PART TWO]
[PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST]
[CHANT FOR DARK HOURS]
[UNFORTUNATE COINCIDENCE]
[VERSE REPORTING LATE ARRIVAL AT A CONCLUSION]
[INVENTORY]
[NOW AT LIBERTY]
[COMMENT]
[PLEA]
[PATTERN]
[DE PROFUNDIS]
[THEY PART]
[BALLADE OF A GREAT WEARINESS]
[RÉSUMÉ]
[RENUNCIATION]
[DAY-DREAMS]
[THE VETERAN]
[PROPHETIC SOUL]
[VERSE FOR A CERTAIN DOG]
[FOLK TUNE]
[GODSPEED]
[SONG OF PERFECT PROPRIETY]
[SOCIAL NOTE]
[ONE PERFECT ROSE]
[BALLADE AT THIRTY-FIVE]
[THE THIN EDGE]
[SPRING SONG]
[LOVE SONG]
[INDIAN SUMMER]
[PHILOSOPHY]
[FOR AN UNKNOWN LADY]
[THE LEAL]
[FINIS]
[WORDS OF COMFORT TO BE SCRATCHED ON A MIRROR]
[MEN]
[NEWS ITEM]
[SONG OF ONE OF THE GIRLS]
[LULLABY]
[FAUT DE MIEUX]
[ROUNDEL]
[A CERTAIN LADY]
[OBSERVATION]
[SYMPTOM RECITAL]
[FIGHTING WORDS]
[RONDEAU REDOUBLÉ]
[AUTOBIOGRAPHY]
[THE CHOICE]
[BALLADE OF BIG PLANS]
[GENERAL REVIEW OF THE SEX SITUATION]
[INSCRIPTION FOR THE CEILING OF A BEDROOM]
[PICTURES IN THE SMOKE]
[BIOGRAPHIES]
[NOCTURNE]
[INTERVIEW]
[SONG IN A MINOR KEY]
[EXPERIENCE]
[NEITHER BLOODY NOR BOWED]
[THE BURNED CHILD]
[PART ONE]
Threnody
Lilacs blossom just as sweet
Now my heart is shattered.
If I bowled it down the street,
Who's to say it mattered?
If there's one that rode away
What would I be missing?
Lips that taste of tears, they say,
Are the best for kissing.
Eyes that watch the morning star
Seem a little brighter;
Arms held out to darkness are
Usually whiter.
Shall I bar the strolling guest,
Bind my brow with willow,
When, they say, the empty breast
Is the softer pillow?
That a heart falls tinkling down,
Never think it ceases.
Every likely lad in town
Gathers up the pieces.
If there's one gone whistling by
Would I let it grieve me?
Let him wonder if I lie;
Let him half believe me.