Poems of Passion | Page 2

existence of heaven, but I am so much happier in my love for this woman than I ever supposed it possible for me to be on earth that I begin to believe that the tales of heavenly raptures may be true."
I embodied his idea in the poem which has brought, with a few others, so much censure and criticism upon this volume, although it contains nearly seventy-five other selections quite irreproachable in character, however faulty they may be in construction.
It is impossible to pursue a successful literary career and follow the advice of all one's "best friends." I have received severe censure from my orthodox friends for writing liberal verses. My liberal friends condemn my devout and religious poems as "aiding superstition." My early temperance verses were pronounced "fanatical trash" by others.
With all due thanks and appreciation for the kind motives which interest so many dear friends in my career, I yet feel compelled to follow the light which my own intellect and judgment cast upon my way, rather than any one of the many conflicting rays which other minds would lend me.
ELLA WHEELER.
[Illustration:]
[Illustration:]
CONTENTS
POEMS OF PASSION
Love's Language?Impatience?Communism?The Common Lot?Individuality?Friendship after Love?Queries?Upon the Sand?Reunited?What Shall We Do??"The Beautiful Blue Danube"?Answered?Through the Valley?But One?Guilo?The Duet?Little Queen?Wherefore??Delilah?Love Song?Time and Love?Change?Desolation?Isaura?The Coquette?Not Quite the Same?New and Old?From the Grave?A Waltz-Quadrille?Beppo?Tired?The Speech of Silence?Conversion?Love's Coming?Old and New?Perfectness?Attraction?Gracia?Ad Finem?Bleak Weather?An Answer?You Will Forget Me?The Farewell of Clarimonde?The Trio
MISCELLANEOUS POEMS
The Lost Garden?Art and Heart?Mockery?As by Fire?If I Should Die?Mésalliance?Response?Drought?The Creed?Progress?My Friend?Creation?Red Carnations?Life is Too Short?A Sculptor?Beyond?The Saddest Hour?Show Me the Way?My Heritage?Resolve?At Eleusis?Courage?Solitude?The Year Outgrows the Spring?The Beautiful Land of Nod?The Tiger?Only a Simple Rhyme?I Will Be Worthy of It?Sonnet?Regret?Let Me Lean Hard?Penalty?Sunset?The Wheel of the Breast?A Meeting?Earnestness?A Picture?Twin-Born?Floods?A Fable
[Illustration: LOVE AND MEMORY]
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Poets Song?Love and Memory?Rejoice and Men Will Seek You?Loves Language?Love's Impatience?The Common Lot?Love Triumphant?Cool, Verdant Vales?The Old Delight that We Cast Away?They Drift Down the Hall Together?Answered?But One?A June Rose?I Love Thee; Thee Alone?The Duet?Happiest Days in Our Lives?A Dream?Delilah?The Milky Way?Time and Love?Desolation?Tired of the Oft-read Story?From the Grave?Silver Bell in Steeple?The Waltz-Quadrille?The Burden of Dear Human Ties?The Sea of Silence?Across the Ocean?Conversion?Love's Coming?Love and Life?Attraction?Bleak Weather?Woodlands and Meadows?Two Warm Hearts Together?Love is Cold?The Trio?The Path I Longed to Climb?Recollections?Mésalliance?Day-Dreams?Came, Desired and Welcomed, into Life?Creation?Red Carnations?Beyond?Across the Sea of Silence?Solitude?Light and Beauty Blessed the Land?Beautiful Land of Nod?Only a Simple Rhyme?The Strife that Is Wearying Me?Sunset?The Wheel of the Breast?A Picture?A Fable
POEMS OF PASSION
[Illustration: "REJOICE, AND MEN WILL SEEK YOU"]
LOVE'S LANGUAGE.
How does Love speak??In the faint flush upon the tell-tale cheek,?And in the pallor that succeeds it; by?The quivering lid of an averted eye--?The smile that proves the patent to a sigh--
Thus doth Love speak.
How does Love speak??By the uneven heart-throbs, and the freak?Of bounding pulses that stand still and ache,?While new emotions, like strange barges, make?Along vein-channels their disturbing course;?Still as the dawn, and with the dawn's swift force--
Thus doth Love speak.
How does Love speak??In the avoidance of that which we seek--?The sudden silence and reserve when near--?The eye that glistens with an unshed tear--?The joy that seems the counterpart of fear,?As the alarmed heart leaps in the breast,?And knows and names and greets its godlike guest--
Thus doth Love speak.
How does Love speak??In the proud spirit suddenly grown meek--?The haughty heart grown humble; in the tender?And unnamed light that floods the world with splendor; In the resemblance which the fond eyes trace?In all fair things to one beloved face;?In the shy touch of hands that thrill and tremble;?In looks and lips that can no more dissemble--
Thus doth Love speak.
How does Love speak??In the wild words that uttered seem so weak?They shrink ashamed to silence; in the fire?Glance strikes with glance, swift flashing high and higher Like lightnings that precede the mighty storm;?In the deep, soulful stillness; in the warm,?Impassioned tide that sweeps through throbbing veins?Between the shores of keen delight and pains;?In the embrace where madness melts in bliss,?And in the convulsive rapture of a kiss--
Thus doth Love speak.
[Illustration: LOVE'S LANGUAGE]
IMPATIENCE.
How can I wait until you come to me??The once fleet mornings linger by the way,?Their sunny smiles touched with malicious glee?At my unrest; they seem to pause, and play?Like truant children, while I sigh and say,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? Of old, the rapid hours
Refused to pause or loiter with me long;?But now they idly fill their hands with flowers,?And make no haste, but slowly stroll among?The summer blooms, not heeding my one song,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? The nights alone are kind;?They reach forth to a future day, and bring?Sweet dreams of you to people all my mind;?And time speeds by on light and airy wing.?I feast upon your face, I no more sing,
How can I wait?
How can I wait? The morning breaks the spell?A pitying night has flung upon my soul.?You are not