A MAN'S RequiremeNTS.

49

VII.

Love me with thy thinking soul
Break it to love-sighing:

Love me with thy thoughts that roll
On through living — dying.

VIII.

Love me in thy gorgeous airs,

When the world has crowned thee!

Love me, kneeling at thy prayers,

With the angels round thee.

IX.

Love me pure, as musers do,
Up the woodlands shady;
Love me gayly, fast, and true,

As a winsome lady.

X.

Through all hopes that keep us brave,

Further off or nigher,

Love me for the house and grave,

And for something higher.

XI.

Thus, if thou wilt prove me, dear,
Woman's love no fable,

WISDOM UNAPPLIED.

I.

F I were thou, O butterfly,

IF

And poised my purple wings, to spy The sweetest flowers that live and die,

II.

I would not waste my strength on those, As thou, for summer hath a close,

And pansies bloom not in the snows.

III.

If I were thou, O working bee,
And all that honey-gold I see
Could delve from roses easily;

IV.

I would not hive it at man's door,

As thou, - that heirdom of my store Should make him rich, and leave me poor.

V.

If I were thou, O eagle proud,

And screamed the thunder back aloud,
And faced the lightning from the cloud;

VI.

I would not build my eyrie-throne,

As thou, upon a crumbling stone,

Which the next storm may trample down.

WISDOM UNAPPLIED.

VII.

If I were thou, O gallant steed,
With pawing hoof, and dancing head,
And eye outrunning thine own speed;

VIII.

I would not meeken to the rein,
As thou, nor smooth my nostril plain
From the glad desert's snort and strain.

IX.

If I were thou, red-breasted bird,

Whose song 's at shut-up window heard,
Like Love's sweet Yes too long deferred;

X.

I would not overstay delight,

As thou, but take a swallow-flight,

Till the new spring returned to sight.

XI.

While yet I spake, a touch was laid
Upon my brow, whose pride did fade,
As thus, methought, an angel said:

XII.

"If I were thou who sing'st this song, Most wise for others, and most strong In seeing right, while doing wrong,

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XIII.

"I would not waste my cares, and choose, As thou, to seek what thou must lose, Such gains as perish in the use.

XIV.

"I would not work where none can win, As thou, half way 'twixt grief and sin, But look above, and judge within.

XV.

"I would not let my pulse beat high, As thou, toward fame's regality,

-

Nor yet in love's great jeopardy.

XVI.

"I would not champ the hard cold bit, As thou, of what the world thinks fit,

But take God's freedom, using it.

XVII.

"I would not play earth's winter out,
As thou; but gird my soul about,
And live for life past death and doubt.

XVIII.

“Then sing, O singer! — but allow Beast, fly, and bird, called foolish now, Are wise (for all thy scorn) as thou!"

A VALEDICTION.

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INSUFFICIENCY.

I.

THERE is no one beside thee, and no one above

thee:

Thou standest alone, as the nightingale sings!

Yet my words that would praise thee are impotent things,

For none can express thee, though all should approve thee!

I love thee so, Dear, that I only can love thee.

II.

Say, what can I do for thee?

grieve thee?

weary thee.

Lean on thy shoulder . . . new burdens to add?
Weep my tears over thee . . . making thee sad?
Oh, hold me not love me not! let me retrieve thee!
I love thee so, Dear, that I only can leave thee.

GOD

A VALEDICTION.

OD be with thee, my beloved, - God be with thee!
Else, alone thou goest forth,

Thy face unto the north,

Moor and pleasance, all around thee and beneath thee,

Looking equal in one snow!

While I, who try to reach thee,

Vainly follow, vainly follow,