Verses intended to go with a Posset Dish to my dear little Goddaughter, 1882

EARLIER POEMS.

THRENODIA.

When his glad mother on him stole
And snatched him to her breast!

GONE, gone from us! and shall we see O, thoughts were brooding in those eyes, Those sibyl-leaves of destiny,

Those calm eyes, nevermore?

That would have soared like strong

winged birds

Those deep, dark eyes so warm and Far, far into the skies,

bright,

Wherein the fortunes of the man
Lay slumbering in prophetic light,
In characters a child might scan?
So bright, and gone forth utterly!
O stern word-Nevermore!

The stars of those two gentle eyes
Will shine no more on earth;
Quenched are the hopes that had their
birth,

As we watched them slowly rise,
Stars of a mother's fate;

Gladding the earth with song,
And gushing harmonies,

Had he but tarried with us long!
O stern word-Nevermore!

And she would read them o'er and o'er, Her heart no more will beat

Pondering, as she sate,
Over their dear astrology,
Which she had conned and conned before,
Deeming she needs must read aright
What was writ so passing bright.
And yet, alas! she knew not why,
Her voice would falter in its song,

And tears would slide from out her eye,
Silent, as they were doing wrong.
O stern word-Nevermore !

To feel the touch of that soft palm,
That ever seemed a new surprise
Sending glad thoughts up to her eyes
To bless him with their holy calm,
Sweet thoughts! they made her eyes as

sweet.

How quiet are the hands

That wove those pleasant bands!
But that they do not rise and sink
With his calm breathing, I should think
That he were dropped asleep.

The tongue that scarce had learned to Alas! too deep, too deep

claim

An entrance to a mother's heart

Is this his slumber!

Time scarce can number

By that dear talisman, a mother's name, The years ere he shall wake again.

Sleeps all forgetful of its art!

I loved to see the infant soul

(How mighty in the weakness
Of its untutored meekness !)
Peep timidly from out its nest,
His lips, the while,

Fluttering with half-fledged words,
Or hushing to a smile

That more than words expressed,

O, may we see his eyelids open then!
O stern word-Nevermore!

As the airy gossamere,
Floating in the sunlight clear,
Where'er it toucheth clingeth tightly,
Round glossy leaf or stump unsightly,
So from his spirit wandered out
Tendrils spreading all about,