It seems so like my own Because of the fasts I keep; O God! that bread should be so dear, "Work-work-work! My labor never flags; And what are its wages? A bed of straw, A crust of bread-and rags. That shattered roof—and this naked floor A table-a broken chair And a wall so blank my shadow I thank "Work-work-work From weary chime to chime! Work-work-work As prisoners work for crime! Band, and gusset, and seam, Seam, and gusset, and band, Till the heart is sick and the brain benumbed, As well as the weary hand. "Work-work-work In the dull December light! And work-work-work When the weather is warm and bright! While underneath the eaves The brooding swallows cling, As if to show me their sunny backs, And twit me with the Spring. "Oh but to breathe the breath Of the cowslip and primrose sweet,— With the sky above my head, And the grass beneath my feet! For only one short hour To feel as I used to feel, Before I knew the woes of want And the walk that costs a meal! Ah! would 'twere so with many A gentle girl and boy! Was never said in rhyme. John Keats [1795-1821] THE DEAD FAITH SHE made a little shadow-hidden grave The day Faith died; Therein she laid it, heard the clod's sick fall, And smiled aside "If less I ask," tear-blind, she mocked, "I may Be less denied." She set a rose to blossom in her hair, The day Faith died "Now glad," she said, "and free at last, I go, And life is wide." But through long nights she stared into the dark, And knew she lied. Fannie Heaslip Lea [18 THE BALLAD OF THE BOAT THE stream was smooth as glass, we said, "Arise and let's away": The Siren sang beside the boat that in the rushes lay; And spread the sail, and strong the oar, we gaily took our way. When shall the sandy bar be crossed? the bay? When shall we find The broadening flood swells slowly out o'er cattle-dotted plains, The stream is strong and turbulent, and dark with heavy rains; speed away. When shall we find uds; the sun, superbly e sinks flaming at their d light as jacinths on our sed? When shall we find now RO more we see nk, and surging distantly s of breakers far away. ossed, now shall we find the head, and dimly to our sight waves gleam towering through d soon, and start her from her crossed, and we are in the bay. as a shroud-enfolded ghost? of sand? O boat, is this the bay? noen bild bobook ELDORADO sai ILY bedight, gallant knight shine and in shadow ad journeyed long, inging a song, bomo arch of Eldorado.mo But he grew old This knight so bold And o'er his heart a shadow No spot of ground And, as his strength Failed him at length, He met a pilgrim shadow: "Shadow," said he, "Where can it be This land of Eldorado?" "Over the mountains Of the moon, Down the valley of the Shadow Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!" Edgar Allan Poe [1809-1849] A LOST CHORD SEATED one day at the Organ, I do not know what I was playing, It flooded the crimson twilight, Like the close of an Angel's Psalm, And it lay on my fevered spirit. With a touch of infinite calm. It quieted pain and sorrow, Like love overcoming strife; It seemed the harmonious echo From our discordant life. |