Songs for a Little House | Page 3

. . . . . . 89 ON VIMY RIDGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
HAY FEVER, AND OTHER LITERARY POLLEN
HAY FEVER, IF RUDYARD KIPLING HAD IT . . . . . . . . . . 93 HAY FEVER, IF AMY LOWELL HAD IT . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 HAY FEVER, IF HILAIRE BELLOC HAD IT . . . . . . . . . . 96 HAY FEVER, IF EDGAR LEE MASTERS HAD IT . . . . . . . . . 97 HYMN TO THE DAIRYMAIDS ON BEACON STREET . . . . . . . . 98 ON FIRST LOOKING INTO A SUBWAY EXCAVATION . . . . . . . 100 BALLAD OF NEW AMSTERDAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101 CASUALTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 AT THE WOMEN'S CLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 ELEGY WRITTEN IN A COUNTRY COAL-BIN . . . . . . . . . . 105 MOONS WE SAW AT SEVENTEEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 AT THE DOG SHOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 THE OLD SWIMMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 TO ALL MY FRIENDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 A GRUB STREET RECESSIONAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
SONGS FOR A LITTLE HOUSE
BAYBERRY CANDLES
Dear sweet, when dusk comes up the hill,?The fire leaps high with golden prongs;?I place along the chimneysill?The tiny candles of my songs.
And though unsteadily they burn,?As evening shades from grey to blue?Like candles they will surely learn?To shine more clear, for love of you.
SECRET LAUGHTER
"I had a secret laughter."
--Walter de la Mare.
There is a secret laughter?That often comes to me,?And though I go about my work?As humble as can be,?There is no prince or prelate?I envy--no, not one.?No evil can befall me--?By God, I have a son!
A CHARM
For Our New Fireplace,?To Stop Its Smoking
O wood, burn bright; O flame, be quick;?O smoke, draw cleanly up the flue--?My lady chose your every brick?And sets her dearest hopes on you!
Logs cannot burn, nor tea be sweet,?Nor white bread turn to crispy toast,?Until the charm be made complete?By love, to lay the sooty ghost.
And then, dear books, dear waiting chairs,?Dear china and mahogany,?Draw close, for on the happy stairs?My brown-eyed girl comes down for tea!
SIX WEEKS OLD
He is so small, he does not know?The summer sun, the winter snow;?The spring that ebbs and comes again,?All this is far beyond his ken.
A little world he feels and sees:?His mother's arms, his mother's knees;?He hides his face against her breast,?And does not care to learn the rest.
THE YOUNG MOTHER
Of what concern are wars to her,?Or treaties broken on the seas??Or all the cruelties of men??She has her baby on her knees.
In blessed singleness of heart,?What heed has she for nations' wrath??She sings a little peaceful hymn?As she prepares the baby's bath.
As in a dream, she hears the talk?Of mine, torpedo, bomb and gun--?She shudders, but her thoughts are all?Encradled with her little son.
PETER PAN
"The boy for whom Barrie wrote Peter Pan--the original of Peter Pan--has died in battle."
--New York Times.
And Peter Pan is dead? not so!?When mothers turn the lights down low?And tuck their little sons in bed,?They know that Peter is not dead....
That little rounded blanket-hill;?Those prayer-time eyes, so deep and still--?However wise and great a man?He grows, he still is Peter Pan.
And mothers' ways are often queer:?They pause in doorways, just to hear?A tiny breathing; think a prayer;?And then go tiptoe down the stair.
THE 5:42
Lilac, violet, and rose?Ardently the city glows;?Sunset glory, purely sweet,?Gilds the dreaming byway-street,?And, above the Avenue,?Winter dusk is deepening blue.
(Then, across Long Island meadows,?Darker, darker, grow the shadows:?Patience, little waiting lass!?Laggard minutes slowly pass;?Patience, laughs the yellow fire:?Homeward bound is heart's desire!)
Hark, adown the canyon street?Flows the merry tide of feet;?High the golden buildings loom?Blazing in the purple gloom;?All the town is set with stars,?_Homeward_ chant the Broadway cars!
All down Thirty-second Street?_Homeward_, _Homeward_, say the feet!?Tramping men, uncouth to view,?Footsore, weary, thrill anew;?Gone the ringing telephones,?Blessed nightfall now atones.?Casting brightness on the