Life, you have bruised me and chilled me; Fate, you have jeered at my pain;
Dreams, you have mocked while you thrilled me—so I turn to the battle again.
Love, you have blessed me and led me; the lips that have kissed you, you smite;
Hope, you have urged me and fled me—but left is the joy of the fight!
Never was I a coward! Now must I prove my worth.
World, I will give you my courage; not tears but a hard-bought mirth.
Work of my hands I grant you, labor and toil of brain,
But heart and soul shall be wanting—for they are dead of pain!
Forward! A fight to the death, then! Life is a sorry jest.
Ahead! To the thick of tumult! Fate is a fool at the best.
Courage! The war gods are greatest! Love is a false, fair light.
To arms! For Dreams are frail bubbles, and Hope but a song in the night.
World, I cast down the gauntlet, for you were made to defy!
Own me a foe for your mettle! Ah, fighting let me die!
Love, Hope and Dreams I give you; Life I fling at your feet;
I will drink to the dregs of the bitter—for once I had tasted of sweet!
Of one last taunt I shall rob you; stern, I will claim my due;
One recompense you shall give me, balm I will snatch from you.
’Tis neither Fame nor Glory—toys to break and regret;
I demand to conquer Memory! I demand that I—forget.
The Smart Set Faith Baldwin
GODSPEED!
The soul speaks “Body o’ mine—and must I lay thee low?
So long I have looked out from thy dear eye!
Ears that have brought me song, and willing hands,
And feet that carried me to pleasant fields—
Shall dust claim all, and must I say good-bye?
Godspeed!”
The body speaks: “Sister o’ mine—I go from whence I came,
Perchance to bloom again, or if required,
When time is ripe, to house another soul.
Thou art more wise than I, yet recketh not,
Oh, soul o’ mine, that I at last am tired!
Godspeed!”
Southern Woman’s Magazine Jane Belfield
AT THE END OF THE ROAD
This is the truth as I see it, my dear,
Out in the wind and the rain:
They who have nothing have little to fear,—
Nothing to lose or to gain.
Here by the road at the end o’ the year,
Let us sit down and drink of our beer,
Happy-Go-Lucky and her Cavalier,
Out in the wind and the rain.