You dropped from some planet of splendor,
Perhaps as it circled afar,
And your constancy, swerveless and tender,
You learned from the course of that star.
Fly back to its bosom, I warn you—
As back to the ark flew the dove—
The minions of earth will but scorn you,
Because you can love.
THE SEA-BREEZE AND THE SCARF.
HUNG on the casement that looked o’er the main,
Fluttered a scarf of blue;
And a gay, bold breeze paused to flatter and tease
This trifle of delicate hue.
“You are lovelier far than the proud skies are,”
He said with a voice that sighed;
“You are fairer to me than the beautiful sea,
Oh, why do you stay here and hide?
“You are wasting your life in that dull, dark room
(And he fondled her silken folds),
O’er the casement lean but a little, my Queen,
And see what the great world holds.
How the wonderful blue of your matchless hue,
Cheapens both sea and sky—
You are far too bright to be hidden from sight,
Come, fly with me, darling—fly.”
Tender his whisper and sweet his caress,
Flattered and pleased was she,
The arms of her lover lifted her over
The casement out to sea.
Close to his breast she was fondly pressed,
Kissed once by his laughing mouth;
Then dropped to her grave in the cruel wave
While the wind went whistling south.
THREE AND ONE.
SOMETIMES she seems so helpless and so mild,
So full of sweet unreason and so weak,
So prone to some capricious whim or freak;
Now gay, now tearful, and now anger-wild,
By her strange moods of waywardness beguiled
And entertained, I stroke her pretty cheek,
And soothing words of peace and comfort speak;
And love her as a father loves a child.
Sometimes when I am troubled and sore pressed
On every side by fast advancing care,
She rises up with such majestic air,
I deem her some Olympian goddess-guest,
Who brings my heart new courage, hope, and rest;
In her brave eyes dwells balm for my despair,
And then I seem, while fondly gazing there,
A loving child upon my mother’s breast.