Slowly, silently, now the moonWalks the night in her silver shoon;This way, and that, she peers, and seesSilver fruit upon silver trees;One by one the casements catchHer beams beneath the silvery thatch;Couched in his kennel, like a log,With paws of silver sleeps the dog;From their shadowy cote the white breasts peepOf doves in a silver-feathered … Continue reading Poem – “Silver”
Poetry
Poem – “To Those That Mourn”
Lift up your heads: in life, in death,God knoweth his head was high.Quit we the coward's broken breathWho watched a strong man die. If we must say, 'No more his peerCometh; the flag is furled.'Stand not too near him, lest he hearThat slander on the world. The good green earth he loved and trodIs still, … Continue reading Poem – “To Those That Mourn”
Poem – ‘De Consolatione, Book II, Song 2’
Though countless as the grains of sandThat roll at Eurus' loud command;Though countless as the lamps of nightThat glad us with vicarious light;Fair plenty, gracious queen, should pourThe blessings of a golden shower,Not all the gifts of fate combin'dWould ease the hunger of the mind,But swallowing call the mighty store,Rapacity would call for more;For still … Continue reading Poem – ‘De Consolatione, Book II, Song 2’
Poem – “To His Excellency George Washington”
Celestial choir! enthron'd in realms of light,Columbia's scenes of glorious toils I write.While freedom's cause her anxious breast alarms,She flashes dreadful in refulgent arms.See mother earth her offspring's fate bemoan,And nations gaze at scenes before unknown!See the bright beams of heaven's revolving lightInvolved in sorrows and the veil of night! The Goddess comes, she moves … Continue reading Poem – “To His Excellency George Washington”
Poem – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
Three things make earth unquietAnd four she cannot brookThe godly Agur counted themAnd put them in a book —Those Four Tremendous CursesWith which mankind is cursed;But a Servant when He ReignethOld Agur entered first.An Handmaid that is MistressWe need not call upon.A Fool when he is full of MeatWill fall asleep anon.An Odious Woman MarriedMay … Continue reading Poem – “A Servant When He Reigneth”
Poem – “An Imitation of Spencer”
Golden Apollo, that thro' heaven wideScatter'st the rays of light, and truth's beams,In lucent words my darkling verses dight,And wash my earthy mind in thy clear streams,That wisdom may descend in fairy dreams,All while the jocund hours in thy trainScatter their fancies at thy poet's feet;And when thou yields to night thy wide domain,Let rays … Continue reading Poem – “An Imitation of Spencer”
Poem – “The Bad Season Makes the Poet Sad”
Dull to myself, and almost dead to theseMy many fresh and fragrant mistresses:Lost to all music now; since every thingPuts on the semblance here of sorrowing.Sick is the land to' th'heart; and doth endureMore dangerous faintings by her desp'rate cure.But if that golden age would come again,And Charles here rule, as he before did reign;If … Continue reading Poem – “The Bad Season Makes the Poet Sad”
Poem – “Eldorado”
Gaily bedight,A gallant knight,In sunshine and in shadow,Had journeyed long,Singing a song,In search of Eldorado. But he grew old—This knight so bold—And o'er his heart a shadowFell as he foundNo spot of groundThat looked like Eldorado. And, as his strengthFailed him at length,He met a pilgrim shadow—"Shadow," said he,"Where can it be—This land of Eldorado?" … Continue reading Poem – “Eldorado”
Poem – “The Power of the Dog”
There is sorrow enough in the natural wayFrom men and women to fill our day;And when we are certain of sorrow in store,Why do we always arrange for more?Brothers and Sisters, I bid you bewareOf giving your heart to a dog to tear. Buy a pup and your money will buyLove unflinching that cannot lie—Perfect … Continue reading Poem – “The Power of the Dog”
Poem – “The Three Wise Men”
When Christ was born in BethlehemBeneath a shining starThere came three wise men travellingIn joy to greet their new-born kingWith gifts from countries far. First stepped forth a mighty man,Of the seven hilled Rome,Whose feet on every coast had walked,Whose sword in every land had fought,Whose hand had raised a throne. He said, “An empire … Continue reading Poem – “The Three Wise Men”
Serpent's Den 