TOLUCASTA
ColonelRichardLovelace，anenchantingpoet，ishardlyread，exceptfortwopoemswhichareasfamousasanyinourlanguage。
Perhapstherumourofhisconceitshasfrightenedhisreader。Itmustbegrantedtheyarenowandthendaunting；thereisapoemon"PrincessLouisaDrawing"whichisaverymaze；thelittlepathsofverseandfancyturninupononeanother，andtheturnsarepointedwithartificialshoutsofjoyandsurprise。But，again，whatareaderunusedtoacertainlivingsymbolismwillbeapttotakeforacarefulandcoldconceitis，intruth，arapture——nonegraver，nonemorefieryormoreluminous。Buteventonamethepoemwheretheseoccurmightbetodeliverdelicateandardentpoetryovertothegeneralsenseofhumour，whichonedistrusts。NorisLovelaceeasyreadingatanytime（thetwoorthreefamouspoemsexcepted）。
Theageheadornedlivedinconstantreadinessforthefiddler。
Eleveno’clockinthemorningwasasgoodanhourasanotherforadance，andpoetry，too，wasgaybetimes，butintricatewithfigures。Itistheveryorder，theperspective，asitwere，ofthemovementthatseemstobaffletheeye，butthegamewasafreeimpulse。Sincethefirstdaydancedwiththefirstnight，nodancingwasmorenatural——atleasttoadancerofgenius。True，thedancecouldbetyrannous。Itwasanimportunatefashion。WhentheBishopofHereford，compelledbyRobinHood，inmerryBarnsdale，dancedinhisboots（"andgladhecouldsogetaway"），hewashardlyinworseheartortrimthanaseventeenthcenturyauthorhereandtherewhoseoriginalseriousnessorwork—a—daypietywouldhavebeencontenttogoploddingflat—footorhalting，asthemusemightnaturallyinclinewithhim，butwhomthetune，thegrace，andgallantryofthetimebeckonedtotreadaperpetualmeasure。Lovelacewasadancerofgenius；nay，hedancedtoresthiswings，forhewaswinged，capandheel。Thefictionofflighthaslostitscharmlongsince。Modernartgrewtiredoftheidea，nowturnedtocommonplace，andpaintingtookleaveofthebuoyanturchins——naughtycherubandCupidtogether；buttheseventeenthcenturywasinlovewiththatoldfancy——moreinlove，perhaps，thananycenturyinthepast。Itslatepainters，whosehumanfigureshadnolackofweightuponthecomfortableground，yetkeptasenseofbuoyancyforthishoveringchildhood，andkepttheangelsandthelovesaloft，asthoughtheyshookatreetomakeaflockofbirdsflutterup。
FineisthefantasticandinfrequentlandscapeinLovelace’spoetry:
"Thisisthepalaceofthewood，Andcourto’theroyaloak，wherestoodThewholenobility。"
InmorethanoneplaceLucasta’s，orAmarantha’s，orLaura’shairissprinkledwithdeworrainalmostasfreshlyandwildlyasinWordsworth’sline。
Lovelace，wholovedfreedom，seemstobeenclosedinsonarrowabook；yetitisbuta"hermitage。"Toshakeoutthelightandspiritofitsleavesistogiveaglimpseoflibertynottohim，buttotheworld。
InToLucastaIhavebeenboldtoalter，attheclose，"you"to"thou。"Lovelacesenthisversesoutunrevised，andtheinconsistencyofpronounsiscommonwithhim，butnowhereelsesodistressingasinthisbriefandotherwiseperfectpoem。Thefaultiseasilysetright，anditseemsevenanunkindnessnottolendhimthisredress，offeredhimhereasanactofcomradeship。
LUCASTAPAYINGHEROBSEQUIES
ThaterrorsshouldaboundinthetextofLovelaceisthemorelamentablebecausehewasapttomakeaplayofphrasesthatdependupontheprecisionofacomma——nay，upontheprecisionofthevoiceinreading。LucastaPayingherObsequiesisapoemthatmakesakindofdaintyconfusionbetweenthetwovestals——thelivingandthedead；theyare"equalvirgins，"andyoumustassignthepronounscarefullytoeitherasyouread。This，readtwice，mustsurelybeplacedamongsttheloveliestofhislovelywritings。Itisajoytomeetsuchaphraseas"herbraveeyes。"
TOALTHEA，FROMPRISON
Thisisapoemthattakesthewindswithanansweringflight。
Shouldtheybe"birds"or"gods"thatwantonintheairinthefirstofthesegallantstanzas？BishopPercyshiedat"gods，"andwithadmirablejudgmentsuggested"birds，"anamendmentadoptedbythegreaternumberofsucceedingeditors，untiloneortwowishedfortheotherphraseagain，asanaudacityfitforLovelace。ButtheBishop’smisgivingwasafteralljustifiedbyoneoftheMss。
ofthepoem，inwhichthe"gods"provedtobe"birds"longbeforehechangedthem。Thereadermayask，whatistheretochoosebetweenbirdssodivineandgodssolight？Buttobeginwith"gods"wouldbetomakeananticlimaxoftheclose。Lovelaceledfrombirdsandfishestowinds，andfromwindstoangels。
"Whenlinnet—likeconfined"isanothermodernreading。"When，likecommittedlinnets，"dauntedtheeighteenthcentury。Nevertheless，itisrightseventeenthcentury，andisnowhappilyrestored；
happily，becauseLovelacewouldnothavetheword"confined"twiceinthislittlepoem。
AHORATIANODE
"Heearnedthegloriousname，"saysabiographerofAndrewMarvell（editinganissueofthatpoet’sworkswhichcertainlyhasitsfaults），"oftheBritishAristides。"Theportlydulnessofthemindthatcouldmakesuchaphrase，andhavingmade，awardit，isnot，infairness，toaffectareader’sthoughtofMarvellhimselfnorevenofhistime。Undercorrection，Ishouldthinkthattheawardwasnotmadeinhisownage；hedidbutliveontheeveofthedaythatcumbereditsmouthwithphrasesofsuchfoolishburdenandmadeliteraturestiffwiththem。AndrewMarvell’spoliticalrectitude，itistrue，seemstohavebeenofarobustiouskind；buthispoetry，atitsrarebest，hasa"wildcivility，"whichmightpuzzlethetriumphofhim，whoeverhewas，whomadeasuccessofthisphraseofthe"BritishAristides。"Nay，itisdifficultnottothinkthatMarvelltoo，whowas"ofmiddlingstature，roundish—
faced，cherry—cheeked，"ahealthyandactiveratherthanaspiritualAristides，mighthimselfhavebeensomewhattakenbysurpriseattheencountersofsosubtleamuse。He，asagarden—
poet，expectedtheaccustomedMusetolurkaboutthefountain—
heads，withinthecaves，andbythewalksandthestatuesofthegods，keepingthetrystofaseventeenthcenturyconventioninwhichtherewerecertainlynosurprises。Andforfearofthecommonplacesofthosevisits，Marvellsometimesoutdoesthewholecompanyofgarden—poetsinthedifficultlaboursofthefancy。Thereadertreadswithhima"maze"mostresolutelyintricate，andismorethanonceobligedtoturnback，havingbeentoomuchpuzzledonthewaytoasmall，visible，plain，andobviousgoalofthought。
AndyetthispoettwoorthreetimesdidmeetaMusehehadhardlylookedforamongthetroddenpaths；aspiritualcreaturehadbeenwaitingbehindalaureloranapple—tree。Youfindhimcomingawayfromsuchadivineambushawilderandasimplerman。Allhisgardenhadbeenmadereadyforpoetry，andpoetrywasindeedthere，butinunexpectedhidingandinastrangeform，lookingratherlikeafugitive，shyofthepoetwhowasconsciousofhavingherrulesbyheart，yetsweetlywillingtobeseen，forallherhaste。
Thepoliticalpoems，needlesstosay，haveanexcellenceofadifferentcharacterandahigherdegree。Theyhavesomuchauthenticdignitythat"thegloriousnameoftheBritishAristides"
reallyseemsdullerwhenitisconferredastheearningsoftheHoratianOdeuponCromwell’sReturnfromIrelandthanwhenitinappropriatelyclingstoAndrewMarvell，cherry—cheeked，caughtinthetendrilsofhisvinesandmelons。Heshallbe，therefore，theBritishAristidesinthosemomentsofmidsummersolitude；atleast，theheavyphraseshallthenhavethesmileitneversought。
TheSatiresare，ofcourse，outofreachfortheirinordinatelength。ThecelebratedSatireonHollandcertainlymakestheutmostofthefuntobeeasilyfoundinthephysicalfactsofthecountrywhosepeople"withmadlabourfishedthelandtoshore。"
TheSatireon"Flecno"makestheutmostofanotherjokeweknowof—
—thatoffamine。Flecno，itwillberemembered，wasapoet，andpoor；butthejokeofhisbadverseswashardlyneeded，sofinedoesMarvellfindthatofhishunger。PerhapsthereisnoageofEnglishsatirethatdoesnotgiveforththesoundofthatlaughterunknowntosavages——thatcravenlaughter。
THEPICTUREOFT。C。INAPROSPECTOFFLOWERS
Thepresenceofafurtiveironyofthesweetestkindisthesuresignofthevisitofthatunlooked—formuse。WithallspiritandsubtletydoesMarvellpretendtoofferthelittlegirlT。C。（thefuture"virtuousenemyofman"）theprophetichomageofthehabitualpoets。ThepoemcloseswithanimpassionedtendernessnottobefoundelsewhereinMarvell。
THEDEFINITIONOFLOVE
ThenoblephraseoftheHoratianOdeisnotrecoveredagain，highorlow，throughoutMarvell’sbook，itweexceptonesinglesplendidandsurpassingpassagefromTheDefinitionofLove—
"MagnanimousdespairaloneCouldshowmesodivineathing。"
CHILDHOOD
Oneofourtruepoets，andthefirstwholookedatnaturewiththefullspiritualintellect，HenryVaughanwasknowntofewbutstudentsuntilMr。E。K。Chambersgaveushisexcellentedition。
ThetenderwitandgraveplayofHerbert，Crashaw’slovelyrapture，areallunlikethismeditationofasoulcondemnedandbanishedintolife。Vaughan’simaginationsuddenlyopensanewwindowtowardstheeast。Theageseemstochangewithhim，anditisoneofthemostincredibleofallfactsthatthereshouldbemorethanacentury——andsuchacentury！——fromhimtoWordsworth。Thepassingoftimebetweenthemisstrangeenough，butthepassingofPope，Prior，andGray——oftheworld，theworld，whetherreasonableorflippantorrhetorical——ismorestrange。Vaughan’sphraseanddictionseemtocarrythelight。Ilvoussemblequecettefemmedegagedelalumiereenmarchant？Vousl’aimez！saysMariusinLesMiserables（Iquotefrommemory），anditseemstobebyasenseoflightthatweknowthemusewearetolove。
SCOTTISHBALLADS
Itwasnoeasymattertochooseagroupofrepresentativeballadsfromamongsomanyalmostequallyfineandequallydamagedwiththinplaces。Finally，itseemedbesttotake，fromamongthefinest，thosethathadpassagesofgenius——alinehereandthereofsurpassingimaginationandpoetry——rareineventhebestfolk—
songs。Suchpassagesdonotoccurbutinballadsthatarethroughoutonthelevelofthehighestoftheirkind。"Nonebutmyfoetobemyguide"sodistinguishesHelenofKirconnell；theexquisitestanzaaboutthehatsofbirk，TheWifeofUsher’sWell；
itsvariedrefrain，TheDowieDensofYarrow；thestanzaspokenbyMargaretaskingforroominthegrave，SweetWilliamandMargaret；
andanumberofpassages，SirPatrickSpens，suchasthatbeginning，"Isawthenewmoonlateyestreen，"thestanzabeginning"Olaith，laithwereourgudeScotslords，"andalmostallthestanzasfollowing。ALykeWakeDirgeisofsurpassingqualitythroughout。IamsorrytohavenoroomforJamieson’sversionofFairAnnie，forEdomo’Gordon，forTheDaemonLover，forEdward，Edward，andfortheScottisheditionofTheBattleofOtterbourne。
MRS。ANNEKILLIGREW
Thismostmajesticode——oneofthefewgreatestofitskind——isamodelofnoblerhythmandespeciallyofcadence。Toprintitwholewouldbeimpossible，andoneoftheveryfewexcisionsinthisbookismadeinthemidstofit。Dryden，soadultandsofarfromsimplicity，bearshimselflikeachildwho，havingsaidsomethingfine，capsitwithsomethingfoolish。ThesuppressedpartoftheodeissillywithasillinesswhichDryden’sagechosetododderinwhenitwould。Thedeplorable"rattlingbones"oftheclosingsectionhasatouchofit。
SONG，FROMABDELAZAR
Itisafutilething——andthecauseofatrainoffutilities——tohail"style"asthoughitwereaseparablequalityinliterature，anditisnotinthatillusionthatthestyleoftheopeningofAphraBehn’sresoundingsongistobepraised。ButitISthestyle——implyingtherecklessandmajesticheart——thatfirsttakesthereaderofthesegreatverses。
HYMN（Thespaciousfirmamentonhigh）
WhetherAddisonwrotethewholeofthisornot，——anditseemsthattheinspiredpassagesarenoneofhis——itistomeapoemofgenius，magicalinspiteofthelimiteddiction。
ELEGYTOTHEMEMORYOFANUNFORTUNATELADY
Alsoinspiteoflimiteddiction——thesignofthoughtclosingin，asitdidfastcloseinduringthoseyears——arePope’stendernessandpassioncommunicatedinthisbeautifulelegy。Itwouldnotbetoomuchtosaythatallhispassion，allhistenderness，andcertainlyallhismystery，areinthefewlinesattheopeningandclose。TheEpistleofEloisais（artisticallyspeaking）butacounterfeit。YetPope’sElegybeginsbystealingandtranslatingintothefalseeleganceofalteredtastethatlovelyandpoeticopeningofBenJonson’s—
"Whatbeckoningghost，besprentwithAprildew，Hailsmesosolemnlytoyonderyew？"
Allthegravity，allthesweetness，onemightfear，mustbelostinsuchachangeasPopemakes—
"WhatbeckoningghostalongthemoonlightshadeInvitesmysteps，andpointstoyonderglade？"
Yettheyarenotlost。Pope’saweandardourareauthentic，andtheyprevail；thesucceedingcouplet——inimitablymodulated，andoftragicdignity——proves，withoutdelay，thequalityofthepoem。
Thepovertyandcoldnessofthepassage（towardstheend），inwhichtherosesandtheangelsaresomewhattriviallysung，cannotmarsoveritableanutterance。ThefourfinalcoupletsaretheverygloryoftheEnglishcouplet。
LINEONRECEIVINGHISMOTHER’SPICTURE
Cowper，again，bytheverydirectnessofhumanfeelingmakeshisnarrowingEnglishameansofabsolutelydirectcommunication。Ofallhisworks（andthisismyownmereandunsharedopinion）thissingleonedeservesimmortality。
LIFE
Thisfragment（theonlyfragment，properlysocalled，inthepresentcollection）sopleasedWordsworththathewishedhehadwrittenthelines。Theyareverygentlytouched。
THELANDOFDREAMS
WhenBlakewritesofsleepanddreamshewritesundertheveryinfluenceofthehoursofsleep——withawakingconsciousnessofthewilderemotionofthedream。Corotpaintedso，whenatsummerdawnhewentoutandsawlandscapeinthehoursofsleep。
SURPRISEDBYJOY
ItisnotnecessarytowritenotesonWordsworth’ssonnets——thegreatestsonnetsinourliterature；butitwouldbewelltowarneditorshowtheyprintthisonesonnet；"Iwishedtosharethetransport"isbynomeansanuncommonreading。IntothehistoryofthevariantIhavenotlooked。Itisenoughthatallthesuddenness，alltheclashandrecoiloftheseimpassionedlinesarelostbythat"wished"intheplaceof"turned。"Thelosswouldbethelesstolerableinasmuchasperhapsonlyhereandinthatheart—movingpoem，’Tissaidthatsomehavediedforlove，isWordsworthtobeconfessedasanimpassionedpoet。
STEPPINGWESTWARD
Thisandtheprecedingtwoexquisitepoemsofsympathyarefarmorejustified，morerecollectedandsincerethanisthatmoremonumentalcomposition，thefamouspoemofsympathy，HartleapWell。
Themostbeautifulstanzasofthispoemlast—namedaresorebukedbythetruthsofnaturethattheymusteverstandasobstaclestothestraightforwardviewofsensitiveeyesuponthenaturalworld。
Wordsworthshowsustheruinsofanaspen—wood，ablightedhollow，adrearyplaceforlornbecauseaninnocentcreature，hunted，hadtherebrokenitsheartinaleapfromtherocksabove；grasswouldnotgrow，norshadelingerthere—
"ThisbeastnotunobservedbyNaturefell，Hisdeathwasmournedbysympathydivine。"
Andthesignsofthatsympathyarecruellyassertedtobethesearidwoodlandruins——cruelly，becausethecommonsightofthedayblossomingovertheagoniesofanimalsandbirdsismadelesstolerablebysuchfictions。Wehavetoshutourearstothebenignbeautyofthisstanzaespecially—
"TheBeingthatisinthecloudsandair，Thatisinthegreenleavesamongthegroves，MaintainsadeepandreverentialcareFortheunoffendingcreaturewhomHeloves。"
Wemustshutourearsbecausethepoetoffersus，asaproofofthat"reverentialcare，"thevisiblealterationofnatureatthesceneofsuffering——analterationweareobligedtodispensewitheverydaywepassinthewoods。WearetemptedtoaskwhetherWordsworthhimselfbelievedinasympathyheasksus——uponsuchgrounds！——tobelievein？Didhethinkhisfaithtobeworthyofnomorethanafictitioussignorafalseproof？
TochoosefromWordsworthistodrawcloseanetwithverylargemeshes——sothatthelovelythingsthatescapemustdoubtlesscausethereadertoprotest；butthepoemsgatheredherearenotonlysupremelybeautifulbutexceedinglyWordsworthian。
YOUTHANDAGE
ClosetothemarvellousKublaKhan——apoemthatwreststhesecretofdreamsandbringsittothelightofverse——IplaceYouthandAgeasthebestspecimenofColeridge’spoetrythatisquiteundelirious——tomymindtheonlyfinespecimen。Idonotratehisundeliriouspoemshighly，andeventhis，charmingandnimbleasitis，seemstomeratherleaninthoughtandimage。Thetendernessofsomeoftheimagescomestoaratherlamentableclose；thelikenessto"somepoornigh—relatedguest"withthethreelinesthatfollowistoosqualidforpoetry，orprose，orthought。
THERIMEOFTHEANCIENTMARINER
Thispoemissurelymorefullofacertainqualityofextremepoetry——thesimplest"flowerofthemind，"themostsinglemagic——
thananyotherinourlanguage。Butthereadermustbepermittedtocallthestorysilly。
Page265（ArethoseherribsthroughwhichtheSun）
Coleridgeusedthesun，moon，andstarsasagreatdreamusesthemwhenthesleepingimaginationisobscurelythreatenedwithillness。
AllthroughTheAncientMarinerweseethemlikeapparitions。ItisapitythathefollowedthepranksalsoofadreamwhenheimpossiblyplacedastarWITHINthetipofthecrescent。
Page266（Ifeerthee，ancientMariner！）
Thelikenessof"theribbedseasand"issaidtobetheonepassageactuallycomposedbyWordsworth，——whoaccordingtothefirstplanshouldhavewrittenTheAncientMarinerwithColeridge——"andperhapsthemostbeautifulpassageinthepoem，"addsonecriticafteranother。Itisnomorethanagoodlikeness，andhasnothingwhateveroftheindescribableColeridgequality。
Coleridgereveals，throughoutthispoem，anexaltationofthesenses，whichisthemostpoeticalthingthatcanbefallasimplepoet。Itisnecessaryonlytorefer，forsight，tothestanzaon"themovingMoon"atthebottomofpage267；forhearing，tothesupernaturalstanzasonpage271；and，fortouch，totheline—
"Andstillmybodydrank。"
ROSEAYLMER
Neverwasahumannamemoreexquisitelysungthanintheseperfectstanzas。
THEISLESOFGREECE
Onereallyfineandpoeticstanza——ofcourse，thethird；threestanzasthataregoodeloquence——thefourth，fifth，andseventh；
andonethatisafairbitofargument——thetenth——maytogetherperhapscarrytherest。
HELLAS
TheprofounderspiritofShelley’spoemyetleavesitacarelesspieceofworkincomparisonwithByron’s。Thetwofalserhymesattheoutsetmaynotbeofgreatimportance，butthereissomethingannoyinginthedissyllabicrhymesofthesecondstanza。
Dissyllabicrhymesarebeautifulandenrichingwhentheyfallintherightplace；thatis，wherethereisapauseforthesecondlittlesyllabletostand。Forexample，theycouldnotbebetterplacedthantheywouldhavebeenattheendoftheshorterlinesofthissamestanza，wheretheywouldhavedroppedintoapartofthepause。Anothersinofsheerheedlessness——thelapseofgrammarinTheSkylark，atthetopofpage296（Withthyclearkeenjoyance）——
willremindthereaderofthespecialhabitualerrorofDrummondofHawthornden。
THEWANINGMOON
InthesefewlinestheShelleyspiritseemstobemoreintensethaninanyotherpassageasbrief。
ODETOTHEWESTWIND
Thismagnificentpoemissurelythegreatestofagreatposeswritings，andoneofthemostsplendidpoemsonnatureandonpoetryinaliteratureresoundingwithodesontheseenormousthemes。
THEINVITATION
Noneedtopointtoapoemthatsoshinesasdoesthislucentverse。
LABELLEDAMESANSMERCI
Keatsisherethemagicalpoet，asheistheintellectualpoetinthegreatsonnetfollowing；anditishispossessionorpromiseofbothimaginationsthatproveshimgreaterthanColeridge。InhisdaytheyseemtohavefoundColeridgetobeathinkerinhispoetry。Tomeheseemstohavehadnothingbutsenses，magic，andsimplicity，andthesehehadtotheutmostyetknowntoman。Keatswastohavebeenagreatintellectualpoet，besidesallthatinfacthewas。
ODETOANIGHTINGALE
OfthefiveodesofKeats，theNightingaleisperhapsthemostperfect，andcertainlythemostimaginative。ButtheGrecianUrnisthefinest，eventhoughithasfancyratherthanimagination，forneverwasfancymoreexquisite。Themostconspicuousidea——theemptyingofthetownbecauseitsfolkareawayatplayinthetaleoftheantiqueurn——ismerelyafancy，andamostanticfancy——aprank；itisanironyofman，arallyingofart，amockeryoftime，aburlesqueofpoetry，divinewithtenderness。Thesixlinesinwhichthisfancysportsareamongsttheloveliestinallliterature:the"littletown，"the"peacefulcitadel，"——wereeversimpleadjectivesmorehappy？ButJohnKeats’sfinalmoralhereisundeniablyafailure；itsayssomuchandmeanssolittle。TheOdetoAutumnisanexteriorode，andnotinsohigharank，butlovelyandperfect。ThePsycheIlovetheleast，becauseitsfancyisratherweakanditssentimenteffusive。IthasatouchofthedeadlysicklinessofEndymion。NonethelessdoesitremainjustwithinthegroupofthereallyfineodesofEnglishpoets。TheeloquentMelancholymorenarrowlyescapesexclusionfromthatgroup。
EndofProjectGutenbergEtextofFloweroftheMind，byAliceMeynellMorebelow……
LATERPOEMS
Contents:
TheShepherdess"IamtheWay"
Via，etVeritas，etVitaWhywiltThouChide？
TheLadyPovertyTheFoldCradle—songatTwilightTheRoaringFrostParentageTheModernMotherWestWindinWinterNovemberBlueChimesUntousaSonisgivenADeadHarvestTheTwoPoetsAPoet’sWifeVenerationofImagesAtNightTHESHEPHERDESS
Shewalks——theladyofmydelight—
Ashepherdessofsheep。
Herflocksarethoughts。Shekeepsthemwhite；
Sheguardsthemfromthesteep。
Shefeedsthemonthefragrantheight，Andfoldstheminforsleep。
Sheroamsmaternalhillsandbright，Darkvalleyssafeanddeep。
IntothattenderbreastatnightThechasteststarsmaypeep。
Shewalks——theladyofmydelight—
Ashepherdessofsheep。
Sheholdsherlittlethoughtsinsight，Thoughgaytheyrunandleap。
Sheissocircumspectandright；
Shehashersoultokeep。
Shewalks——theladyofmydelight—
Ashepherdessofsheep。
"IAMTHEWAY"
ThouarttheWay。
HadstThoubeennothingbutthegoal，IcannotsayIfThouhadstevermetmysoul。
Icannotsee—
I，childofprocess——ifthereliesAnendforme，Fullofrepose，fullofreplies。
I’llnotreproachThewaythatgoes，myfeetthatstir。
Access，approach，ArtThou，time，way，andwayfarer。
VIA，ETVERITAS，ETVITA
"YouneverattainedtoHim？""IftoattainBetoabide，thenthatmaybe。"
"Endlesstheway，followedwithhowmuchpain！"
"ThewaywasHe。"
"WHYWILTTHOUCHIDE？"
Whywiltthouchide，Whohastattainedtobedenied？
Ohlearn，aboveAllpriceismyrefusal，Love。
MysacredNayWasnevercheapenedbytheway。
ThysinglesorrowcrownstheelordOfanunpurchasableword。
Ohstrong，Ohpure！
AsYeamakeshappierlovessecure，IvowtheethisUniquerejectionofakiss。
IguardfortheeThisjealoussadmonopoly。
Isealthishonourthine。NonedareHopeforapartinthydespair。
THELADYPOVERTY
TheLadyPovertywasfair:
Butshehaslostherlooksoflate，Withchangeoftimesandchangeofair。
Ahslattern，sheneglectsherhair，Hergown，hershoes。ShekeepsnostateAsoncewhenherpurefeetwerebare。
Or——almostworse，ifworsecanbe—
Shescoldsinparlours；dustsandtrims，Watchesandcounts。Oh，isthissheWhomFrancismet，whosestepwasfree，WhowithObediencecarolledhymns，InUmbriawalkedwithChastity？
Whereisherladyhood？Nothere，Notamongmodernkindsofmen；
Butinthestonyfields，whereclearThroughthethintreestheskiesappear；
Indelicatesparesoilandfen，Andslenderlandscapeandaustere。
THEFOLD
BEHOLD，Thetimeisnow！Bringback，bringbackThyflocksoffancies，wildofwhim。
Ohleadthemfromthemountain—track—
Thyfrolicthoughtsuntold。
Ohbringthemin——thefieldsgrowdim—
Andletmebethefold。
Behold，Thetimeisnow！Callin，OcallThyposturingkissesgoneastrayForscatteredsweets。GatherthemallToshelterfromthecold。
Throngthemtogether，closeandgay，Andletmebethefold！
CRADLE—SONGATTWILIGHT
Thechildnotyetislulledtorest。
Tooyounganurse，theslenderNightSolaxlyholdshimtoherbreastThatthrobswithflight。
Heplayswithherandwillnotsleep。
Forotherplayfellowsshesighs；
AnunmaternalfondnesskeepHeralieneyes。
THEROARINGFROST
AflockofwindscamewingingfromtheNorth，StrongbirdswithfightingpinionsdrivingforthWitharesoundingcall！
Wherewilltheyclosetheirwingsandceasetheircries—
Betweenwhatwarmingseasandconqueringskies—
Andfold，andfall？
PARENTAGE
"WhenAugustusCaesarlegislatedagainsttheunmarriedcitizensofRome，hedeclaredthemtobe，insomesort，slayersofthepeople。"
Ahno，notthese！
These，whowerechildless，arenottheywhogaveSomanydeaduntothejourneyingwave，Thehelplessnurslingsofthecradlingseas；
NottheywhodoomedbyinfallibledecreesUnnumberedmantotheinnumerablegrave。
ButthosewhoslayArefathers。Theirsarearmies。Deathistheirs，Thedeathofinnocencesanddespairs；
Thedyingofthegoldenandthegrey。
Thesentence，whenthesespeakit，hasnoNay。
Andshewhoslaysisshewhobears，whobears。
THEMODERNMOTHER
OhwhatakissWithfilialpassionoverchargedisthis！
TothismisgivingbreastThechildruns，asachildne’errantorestUponthelightheartandtheunoppressed。
Unhoped，unsought！
Alittletenderness，thismotherthoughtTheutmostofhermeedShelookedforgratitude；contentindeedWiththusmuchthathernineyears’lovehadbought。
Nay，evenwithless。
Thismother，giveroflife，death，peace，distress，Desiredah！notsomuchThanksasforgiveness；andthepassingtouchExpected，andtheslight，thebriefcaress。
OhfiliallightStronginthesechildisheyes，thesenew，thesebrightIntelligiblestars！TheirraysAreneartheconstantearth，guidesinthemaze，Natural，true，keeninthisduskofdays。
WESTWINDINWINTER
Anotherdayawakes。Andwho—
Changingtheworld——isthis？
Hecomesatwhiles，theWinterthrough，WestWind！IwouldnotmissHissuddentryst:thelong，thenewSurprisesofhiskiss。
Vigilant，ImakehastetocloseWithhimwhocomesmyway。
Igotomeethimashegoes；
Iknowhisnote，hislay，Hiscolourandhismorningrose；
AndIconfesshisday。
Mywindowwaits；atdawnIharkHiscall；atmornImeetHishastearoundthetossingparkAnddownthesoftenedstreet；
Thegentlerlightishis；thedark，Thegrey——heturnsitsweet。
Sotoo，sotoo，doIconfessMypoetwhenhesings。
HerushesonmymortalguessWithhisimmortalthings。
Ifeel，Iknowhim。OnIpress—
Hefindsme’twixthiswings。
NOVEMBERBLUE
Thecolouroftheelectriclightshasastrangeeffectingivingacomplementarytinttotheairintheearlyevening。——ESSAYON
LONDON。
O，Heavenlycolour！LondontownHasblurreditfromherskies；
Andhoodedinanearthlybrown，Unheaven’dthecitylies。
Nolongerstandard—likethishueAbovethebroadroadflies；
NordoesthenarrowstreettheblueWear，slenderpennon—wise。
ButwhenthegoldandsilverlampsColourtheLondondew，And，mistedbythewinterdamps，Theshopsshinebrightanew—
Bluecomestoearth，itwalksthestreet，Itdyesthewideairthrough；
Amimicskyabouttheirfeet，Thethronggocrownedwithblue。
CHIMES
Brief，onaflyingnight，Fromtheshakentower，Aflockofbellstakeflight，Andgowiththehour。
Likebirdsfromthecotetothegales，Abrupt——Ohark！
Afleetofbellssetsails，Andgotothedark。
Suddenthecoldairsswing。
Alone，aloud，AverseofbellstakeswingAndflieswiththecloud。
UNTOUSASONISGIVEN
Given，notlent，Andnotwithdrawn——oncesent—
ThisInfantofmankind，thisOne，IsstillthelittlewelcomeSon。
Neweveryyear，New—bornandnewlydear，Hecomeswithtidingsandasong，Theageslong，theageslong。
EvenasthecoldKeenwintergrowsnotold；
Aschildhoodissofresh，foreseen，Andspringinthefamiliargreen；
SuddenassweetCometheexpectedfeet。
Alljoyisyoung，andnewallart，AndHe，too，Whomwehavebyheart。
ADEADHARVEST[INKENSINGTONGARDENS]
AlongthegracelessgrassoftownTheyraketherowsofredandbrown，Deadleaves，unliketherowsofhay，Delicate，neithergoldnorgrey，Rakedlongagoandfaraway。
Anarrowsilenceinthepark；
Betweenthelightsanarrowdark。
Onestreetrollsonthenorth，andone，Muffled，uponthesouthdothrun。
Amidthemisttheworkisdone。
Afutilecrop；foritthefireSmoulders，and，forastack，apyre。
Sogothetown’slivesonthebreeze，Evenasthesheddingsofthetrees；
Bosomnorbarnisfilledwiththese。
THETWOPOETS
WhoseisthespeechThatmovesthevoicesofthislonelybeech？
OutofthelongWestdidthiswildwindcome—
Ohstrongandsilent！Andthetreewasdumb，Readyanddumb，untilThedumbgalestruckitonthedarkenedhill。
Twomemories，Twopowers，twopromises，twosilencesClosedinthiscry，closedinthesethousandleavesArticulate。ThissuddenhourretrievesThepurposeofthepast，Separate，apart——embraced，embracedatlast。
"Whoseistheword？
IsitIthatspake？Isitthou？IsitIthatheard？"
"Thineearthwassolitary；yetIfoundthee！"
"Thyskywaspathless，butIcaught，Iboundthee，Thouvisitantdivine。"
"OthoumyVoice，thewordwasthine。"
"Wasthine。"
APOET’SWIFE
Isawatractofoceanlockedin—landWithinafield’sembrace—
Theverysea！AfaritfledthestrandAndgavetheseasonschase，Andmetthenightalone，thetempestspanned，Sawsunrisefacetoface。
OPoet，morethanocean，lonelier！
IninaccessiblerestAndstormremote，thou，seaofthoughts，doststir，Scatteredthrougheasttowest，—
Now，whilethouclosestwiththekissofherWholockstheetoherbreast。
VENERATIONOFIMAGES
Thouman，first—comer，whosewidearmsentreat，Gather，clasp，welcome，bind，Lack，orremember！whosewarmpulsesbeatWithloveofthineownkind；
Unliftedforablessingonyonsea，Unshrinedonthishigh—way，Oflesh，Ogrief，thoutooshalthaveourknee，Thouroodofeveryday！
ATNIGHT
Home，homefromthehorizonfarandclear，Hitherthesoftwingssweep；
FlocksofthememoriesofthedaydrawnearThedovecotedoorsofsleep。
OwhicharetheythatcomethroughsweetestlightOfallthesehomingbirds？
Whichwiththestraightestandtheswiftestflight？
Yourwordstome，yourwords！