BEFORE THE RAIN THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH E knew it would rain, for all the morn, Of marshes and swamps and dismal fens To sprinkle them over the land in showers. We knew it would rain, for the poplars showed The white of their leaves, the amber grain Shrunk in the wind and the lightning now Is tangled in tremulous skeins of rain! THE VOICE OF THE SEA THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH N the hush of the autumn night And I think of the fleet that sailed From the lovely Gloucester shore, I think of the fleet that sailed And came back nevermore! My eyes are filled with tears, And my heart is numb with woeIt seems as if 'twere yesterday, And it all was long ago! AUTUMN EMILY DICKINSON HE morns are meeker than they were, PHE The nuts are getting brown; The berry's cheek is plumper, The maple wears a gayer scarf, Copyright, 1890, by Roberts Brothers. THE THE GRASS EMILY DICKINSON HE grass so little has to do, — A sphere of simple green, With only butterflies to brood, And bees to entertain, And stir all day to pretty tunes The breezes fetch along, And hold the sunshine in its lap And bow to everything; And thread the dews all night, like pearls, And make itself so fine, A duchess were too common For such a noticing. And even when it dies, to pass In odors so divine, As lowly spices gone to sleep, Or amulets of pine. And then to dwell in sovereign barns, And dream the days away, The grass so little has to do, I wish I were the hay. Copyright, 1890, by Roberts Brothers. A ribbon at a time. The steeples swam in amethyst, The news like squirrels ran. The hills untied their bonnets, The bobolinks begun. Then said I softly to myself, "That must have been the sun!" But how he set I know not, There seemed a purple stile Which little yellow boys and girls Were climbing, all the while. Till when they reached the other side, A dominie in gray Put gently up the evening bars, And led the flock away. Copyright, 1890, by Roberts Brothers. |