Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

First of the three, my darling,

Is sacred unto pain;

We have hurt each other often: We shall again,

Buried, forgiven, before it comes, For our love's sake!

The second kiss, my darling,

Is full of joy's sweet thrill;
We have blessed each other always;
We always will.

We shall reach till we feel each other,
Past all of time and space;
We shall listen till we hear each
other

In every place;

The earth is full of messengers Which love sends to and fro; I kiss thee, darling, for all joy Which we shall know!

[merged small][ocr errors]

My love I cannot see

Through my tears, as I remember What it may be.

When we pine because we miss each We may die and never see each other,

[blocks in formation]

Die with no time to give

Any sign that our hearts are faithful

To die, as live.

Token of what they will not see

Who see our parting breath, This one last kiss, my darling, seals The seal of death!

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

A FAMILY PORTRAIT.

GRANDMOTHER's mother: her age I guess,

Thirteen summers, or something less;
Girlish bust, but womanly air:
Smooth, square forehead with up-
rolled hair.

Lips that lover has never kissed;
Taper fingers and slender wrist;
Hanging sleeves of stiff brocade;
So they painted the little maid.

On her hand a parrot green
Sits unmoving and broods serene.
Hold up the canvas full in view,
Look! there's a rent the light shines
through,

Dark with a century's fringe of dust,

That was a Red-Coat's rapier-thrust! Such is the tale the lady old, Dorothy's daughter's daughter told.

Who the painter was none may tell,One whose best was not over well; Hard and dry, it must be confessed, Flat as a rose that has long been pressed:

Yet in her cheek the hues are bright,
Dainty colors of red and white,

And in her slender shape are seen
Hint and promise of stately mien.

Look not on her with eyes of scorn,-
Dorothy Q. was a lady born!
Ay! since the galloping Normans

came, England's annals have known her name;

And still to the three-hilled rebel

town

Dear is that ancient name's renown, For many a civic wreath they won, The youthful sire and the gray-haired

son.

O Damsel Dorothy! Dorothy Q.!
Strange is the gift that I owe to you;
Such a gift as never a king
Save to daughter or son might
bring,

All my tenure of heart and hand,
All my title to house and land;
Mother and sister and child and wife
And joy and sorrow and death and
life!

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnteriorContinuar »