The Project Gutenberg eBook of Poems of Life

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Poems of Life

Author: Katharine Forrest Hamill

Release date: March 20, 2016 [eBook #51513]

Most recently updated: October 23, 2024

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51513

Credits: Produced by Larry B. Harrison, Chuck Greif and the Online

Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This

file was produced from images generously made available

by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POEMS OF LIFE ***

POEMS OF LIFE

POEMS

OF LIFE

By

KATHARINE FORREST HAMILL

PHILADELPHIA

PETER REILLY, PUBLISHER

133 N. THIRTEENTH STREET

1915

COPYRIGHT 1915, BY PETER REILLY

PUBLISHED JULY, 1915

FIRST IMPRESSION

TO

GRACE BARTLETT STRYKER

Words fail me when I strive to say

What you’ve meant to me—for so long a day

Hope—Inspiration—Sympathy.

Steadfast and true, whate’er might be.

O priv’lege rarest to the end

As in the past, to call you—friend.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

The poems contained within the following pages are children of the brain which at intervals obtruded their company, and which, such as they are, at the solicitation of my friends, I have ventured to set down.

K. F. H.

CONTENTS

Dedication

IX

Author’s Note

XI

POEMS OF LIFE.

Page

Today

5

Jewels

6

Something Gone

7

A-Maying

8

Tribute

9

Good-Bye

10

The Wondrous Song

14

Miladi

17

The Something-my-life-has-missed

18

Contentment

20

Gone

21

To My Muse

22

Conception

24

Awakening

25

The House Built on Sands

26

To a Butterfly

28

A Fragment

29

Query

30

I Close Mine Eyes

32

Understanding

33

We Met in May

34

I Turn Me Down a Lighted Way

36

Counsel

37

Decision

39

You Never Guessed the Secret

40

The Light

42

Education

43

Re-Adjustment

44

FROM “RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS”

When Grandmama Was Little

53

Harolds Lament

55

Mrs Spider

57

The Naughty Little Girl

58

On the Stair

60

The Land O’Dreams

61

The Middle of the Night

63

When Our Fathers Were Little Boys

65

Slumber Land

67

The New Brother

68

POEMS OF LIFE

TO-DAY

THE Yesterdays we might have called our own

But which, in our blindness, we let slip by,

Alas! they know not to return again,

Deep-buried doth each, within its grave, lie.

But O belov’ed, now that we have made

The golden secret ours—to hold alway

We will not sorrow o’er departed hours—

Just live in God’s great glorious—To-day!

JEWELS

OH, not the gracious deeds your kindness knew, dear,

When shone my sun and skies were ever fair;

But the more precious sympathies you tendered

In sorrow’s hour. Those my jewels rare

Which dearer, than off’ring wealth knows to proffer,

I’ll keep beside me whate’er may attend,

Nor render up so long as Life’s day lasteth,—

Aye, and take with me, when shall plead its end.

SOMETHING GONE

YOU come to me—you take my hand,

You try to make me see

Things should become as they once were,

’Twixt you and me.

I listen to each word, you say,

I mark well ev’ry tone,

Only to find—you plead in vain,—

There’s something gone.

Something gone—that cannot come back again,

Tho’ most entreatingly you pray.

Yet, not mine the fault,—but yours alone,

It went away.

A-MAYING

WE will go a-Maying dear,

Just you and I together,

Oh, the glory of God’s blossoming

Sunshiny weather!

Ev’ry ill we will forget,

Nor remember a regret,

For ’twill never do to fret

Whilst we are a-straying.

Only laughter ringing clear,

Waking echo far and near;

You and I so happy dear;

A-Maying! A-Maying!

TRIBUTE

TO prove myself—aye, that’s my aim,

To prove myself for those

Who took me by the hand and held,

Nor cared if others chose

To notice or pass coldly by.

Thro’ stormiest of weather

Stood ever at my side, and said

We’ll face the world together!

GOOD-BYE

She

GOOD-bye, yes, I’ve decided

It’s best—it should not go on,

The quite delightful companionship

You and I, for some time, have known.

No, do not try to dissuade me,

I’ve thought it most carefully o’er,

To arrive at but one conviction—

We must see each other no more.

He

And you think to sever our friendship

By a mere putting away,

Letting the same, as it were, slip from us

Nor permitting me to say,

A word in defence of its going

As if I’d no right to share

In the matter of decision

I ask you,—Is it fair?

She

Man-like you refuse to reason

To see it’s the only way,

That the step really should have been taken

Even before to-day.

With you ’tis quite diff’rent,—the matter,—

You’ve priv’lege entire of your life;

But my freedom bows to restriction,—

I am another man’s wife.

He

Yes, another man’s wife, but the honor

The Fates have conferred, it would seem

He doesn’t the quite appreciate,—

At least, ’tis the knowledge I gleam.

From observing his attitude towards you,

Which I’m sure,—and you can but agree,

Is not in the least in keeping with what

A husband’s towards a wife should be.

She

And his failing you think permits me

Favor to accept at your hands,

That the vow I took at the altar

Ceases to impose its demands.

In sickness or health I promised,

“For better or worse”,—till the day,

He who gave should in his judgment

See fit to take away.

He

And you’ll let it bind you, that promise,

To a man who does not care;

Whose int’rest is the thoroughly selfish,

In whose secrets—you do not share,

Listen, dear, the priv’lege of Mortals,—

To get what we can out of life.

Free yourself from the bond that is irksome

And find happiness, as my wife.

She

Nay, not so, the rule of living

Holds faithful but to the one test;

Nor counts it—another’s transgression,

We must give of ourselves—our best.

Of no use to appeal the exception,

The truth remains fix’ed alway,

So, good-bye, it must be,—and, God bless you,—

There is nothing more to say.

THE WONDROUS SONG

I LONGED to sing a wondrous song,

So wondrous, ’twould compel

The admiration unreserved

Of one and all as well.

My pen I took in hand and strove

The magic words to write,

Alas! I could not of my Muse

Inspiration invite.

She would not humor, tho’ I begged

Persistently and long

For the right metre—the right thought,

To best set down my song.

’Twas stately phrase I coveted,

The Laurel I would court—

That of the world’s acknowledgment

Of unsurpass´ed thought.

At length disheartened, my appeal

Knew, but to be denied,

I rose and to the window moved,

And marked the scene outside.

All quiet stretched the land before,

Enwrapt in the soft haze

Which with such rare enchantment clothes

Autumn’s initial days.

Idly my glance the expanse swept

Till it came to where lay

Outside the gate, the winding road

Leading to far-away.

Then with the moment light was mine—

Yet not complex its thought,

The inspiration which appealed

Was diff’rent, from that sought.

The winding road—the simple theme—

They who followed after—

The toll it wrested of sad tears,

For short dole of laughter.

The tranquil ways bidden farewell,

To seek of its unrest,

The truth alas! too oft brought home,

The paths forsook, were best.

Could I but so compose a lay,

That one who heard might pause,

Nor continue to sacrifice

In an unrighteous cause.

And keep his soul tho’ it should be

By cruelest conflict wrung,

I need not further supplicate—

My wondrous song were sung.

MILADI

MILADI is so wonderful in furbelows and laces;

Miladi is so wonderful of such beguiling graces;

My poor faint heart goes pit-a-pat when she her Slave addresses

I wonder if how much I love, Miladi guesses!

Miladi is so wonderful, her dimples and her curls;

Miladi is so wonderful, my mind bewildered whirls;

Oh would some pow’r benign might make it plain for me to see

How much it is, in very truth, Miladi thinks of me.

THE SOMETHING MY LIFE HAS MISSED

IT whispers in the murmur

Of the breezes passing by,

Pulsates in the azure

Of ev’ry flawless sky.

And oh! when twilight gathers

And its curtain gently falls,

The-something-my-life-has-missed

Calls and calls.

Part of the Throng have found it,

The light within their eyes

Pleads of too great a radiance

The truth to disguise.

Their world is all they wish for,

Nor know they to implore

From off Destiny’s altar

Happiness more.

It whispers in the murmur

Of the breezes passing by,

Pulsates in the azure

Of ev’ry flawless sky.

Some day I, too, shall know it

In all its ecstacy,

The-something-my-life-has-missed

Will come to me.

CONTENTMENT

TO have you with me day by day

Watch you flitting to and fro,

In and out this room and that,

Up and down the stairs and lo!

With each turn mark you at

Some task benign—love bids you know.

To have you with me day by day,

A tender, trusting, gracious self

Let the world treasure as it may,

To me, far dearer than its wealth

Your comradeship. Nor pleads the hour

In all God’s calendar so true,

With blessing richer for its dow’r

Than the rare one which gave me,—you.

GONE

I TURN to find you,

But do not see—

Who at my side I knew

Continually.

Again, I hearken!

But do not hear,

Your voice answer mine

In tones so clear.

Gone!—nevermore on earth

To see, to know,

And I still live on

God!—is it so?

TO MY MUSE

LET others bow before Wealth’s shrine,

And tribute render up

For the pleasures manifold it brings

To overflow Life’s cup.

But at your altar, Muse, I kneel

And reverential pray,

When darkness would have claimed my soul—

You held its blight at bay.

My sky of Life was overcast—

Nor showed one patch of blue—

Love had betrayed, and deep,—ah, deep!

My heart drank of its rue.

Where lo! a hand my shoulder pressed,

E’en as I would give up;—

I turned,—your eyes looked into mine—

There passed the cup.

A music wonderful entranced

Which led to heights afar;

Ever it beckoned on, and on,

My guiding star.

The chains that hitherto had held,—

How worthless proved their pow’r!

Instead of wishing Life to pass

I thanked God for each hour.

Let others bow before Wealth’s shrine,

And tribute render up

For the pleasures manifold it brings

To overflow Life’s cup.

But at your altar, Muse, I kneel

And reverential pray,

When darkness would have claimed my soul,—

You held its blight at bay.

CONCEPTION

TO the many you give of your lighter vein

Laughter and gay repartee.

But the deeper side,—that which thinks things out,

You give to me.

With the many you play Life’s make-believe game;

’Tis a bantering light they see

When they look in your eyes, their earnest gaze

You save for me.

The many accept you for what you would seem;

From such blundering am I free:

I know you for your own true self,—the self

You are to me.

AWAKENING

OH, truth was mine before. I knew

The sun was gold; the skies of day were blue;

But the wonder of things, dear—this never grew

Until into my life, God’s grace sent you.

THE HOUSE BUILT ON SANDS

WE will go, he said, far, far away,

And a world make of our own.

A kingdom, such as never before

On land or sea, has been known.

She smiled into his eyes,—and oh! the look

Of perfect trust she gave

As he gathered her close, vowing the while

Allegiance unto the grave.

Well, they went away and made their world

As others had done before,

For the time being love blinding them

To the confine of its shore.

They were all-in-all to each other, alone,

And it mattered not a whit,

That, in the scheme of things outside the pale,

They were not permitted to fit.

Defiance they flung in the face of dissent!

Life,—was it not their right

To live it as they wanted to?

And they would, all warning despite.

Why burden the pages by writing down

Their history in detail?

Was ever yet such a compact made

That was known not to fail.

’Twas a question of time,—“The house built on sands”

From its moorings slipped away;

They who court Fate’s disfavor—or soon—or late,

“Pass under the rod” of her sway.

TO A BUTTERFLY

BUTTERFLY, Butterfly,

Roaming thro’ the air—

Flying here, flying there,

Flying—ev’rywhere.

Bending o’er the roses’ petals,

Drinking of their dew,

Then away—with quick dart—

Cleaving towards the blue!

Butterfly, Butterfly,

Roaming thro’ the air—

If I, like you, had privilege,

To wander ev’rywhere.

I’d spread my wings and soar up! up!

Straight to Heav’n’s door—

And when I got there Butterfly,

I’d roam no more!

A FRAGMENT

FLOWERS exquisite frequent thrive,

Hidden in the shade

Of some o’er-arching foliage

In a secluded glade.

They need the shadow, not the sun,

To best perfect their bloom.

E’en so, life’s rarest thought expands

Oft, in its darkened room.

QUERY

YOU love me, you say, and want me

To become your own.

I believe you are in earnest now,

But,—as the years go on—

What do you think will happen!

Shall we travel side by side,

Lovers, and faithful companions,

Whatever may betide?

So many have taken the venture,

But to find it turn out for the bad,

Who, at the beginning, just as much faith

In a different outcome had.

That I’m fearful our fate might be like theirs,—

Have we proof, think you, it will not?

A guarantee,—we shall never grow tired

And want to unfasten the knot?

Tho’ my love is yours, ’twere far better,

Our paths separately should trend;

Than start together, and then diverge,

Nor accomplish the journey’s end.

I CLOSE MINE EYES

I CLOSE mine eyes, and see you dear

As in the dear, dead days;

The tender grace, and strength of poise,

Marking you from the rest apart.

And oh! it seems as if I must

Enfold you to my heart.

I close mine eyes, and see you dear

As in the dear, dead days;

The hair’s soft fall over the brow,

Within your eyes love’s ardent light,

It cannot be! it cannot be!

My day has turned to night.

I close mine eyes, and see you dear

As in the dear, dead days;

Before love’s bitter aftermath

Whose penalty ’tis mine to know.

Oh! come to me from out its void!

I need you so! I need you so.

UNDERSTANDING

YOU have not spoken the word, dear,

But I know! I know!

It came to me of a-sudden

How you loved me so!

A glance which escaped unguarded,

The truth made plain.

I’ve hugged its memory to me

Over, and over again!

You have not spoken the word, dear,

But I know! I know!

It came to me of a-sudden

How you loved me so!

A breath, with a catch in the taking,—

And my world, you see,

Became changed,—for I love you, dear!

As you love me!

WE MET IN MAY

WE met in May, I know you have forgotten,

Have long since put all thought of me away;

Yet in my heart the mem’ry ever lingers,—

We met in May.

Fragrant the air with redolence of blossom!

Matchless the sky of perfect, cloudless blue!

And oh! the music that the world was ringing—

When I met you.

Another has your fancy from me captured;

Her lot,—Fate’s tenderer impulse to know.

Whilst I, adown the years waiting the facing,

Alone, must go.

No thought is mine save that bequeaths a blessing;—

God grant your life be a long, happy day.

You have forgotten, but I must remember,—

We met in May.

I TURN ME DOWN A LIGHTED WAY

I TURN me down a lighted way

Where laughter rings and song floats out;

And, as I gain the happy throng,

All eagerly they flock about.

I smile on this side, and on that,

Join the gay flow of repartee:

Yet, deep, deep down, within my heart

Echoes the endless moan for thee.

I hark to him who compliments,

Within my eyes a sparkling light.

I play the game,—nor does he guess

Its fire has burned to ashes white.

They count me merriest of all.

Not one who notes the deep-down sigh,

Who lists—Life’s tragic undertone,—

We’ve said good-bye—we’ve said good-bye.

COUNSEL

HAVE you balked at the test you’ve been put to,

Are you weary of straining a point?

Is the fight too hard, the way too long?

Is there too much of sighing, too little of song?

Does ev’ry thing seem to be going wrong?

The scheme entire, as it were, out of joint?

Then lend me an ear whilst I counsel awhile,

You must take a fresh grip, my friend,

The game is yours if you’ll make it your own,

Defeat is a word that need never be known.

He who sticks in his mount, cannot be thrown,

Let his steed strive its best to that end.

The sun goes down with the gloom of each night,

But it rises again with each morn,

And there’s so much of brightness to be gathered in,

Such wonderful happiness ours to win,

Throw despair to the winds, and anew begin,

Standing forth—the Mortal re-born!

DECISION

AT times, I think, were we to talk it over

The something wanting in your life and mine,

We might arrive at clearer understanding

The cause of our unhappiness define.

Yet, ever with the impulse strong upon me

Such course to follow out as for the best,

Comes swift the contradictory impression,—

’Twould useless be to put it to the test.

That sympathy which pleads when souls are mated

Is the so woefully lacking,—’tis clear,

It could not prove aught else than effort wasted,—

You are so far,—to try and draw you near.

YOU NEVER GUESSED THE SECRET

YOU never guessed the secret,

Nor have unto to-day.

The truth of it never reached you,

I hid it so well away.

The truth of how I loved you,

Yet spake not, for your sake;

Nor is it easy to put aside

What One so longs to take.

The voice of you, in my musings,

The glance of you, in my dreams;

The feeling, you ever were near me,

Even now, how compelling it seems!

As if but to turn—were to see you;

To know the clasp of your hand;

Yet, I guarded the knowledge carefully,

And you did not understand.

Still the thought of you hurt, and I hungered—

Hungered, day and night,

It will count when the story is ended,

I was able to see aright.

You never guessed the secret,

Nor have unto to-day.

The truth of it never reached you,

I hid it so well away.

THE LIGHT

THE light! the light!

For all is dark,

The light I pray,

My feet stumble,

I cannot find the way.

The light! the light!

For all is dark,

Soon the night

Complete, will overtake

The light! the light! Oh! God—the light!

EDUCATION

YOU say you are shocked, my lady,—and so you ought to be.

A comedy, quite upon my soul,

To make me love you,—then fence about

When I demand only righteous toll.

An innocent flirtation, you intended no harm,—

Well, a lesson the trifler learns,

To keep a safe distance away from fire,—

For the truth, not the lie, it burns.

RE-ADJUSTMENT

YOU beg of me to forgive you

The Other in your life.

She, who has for some time, I’ve discovered,

Been defrauding the wife.

You avow you never loved her

That ’twas she led you along—

And why hold one responsible

Who’s not guilty of a wrong?

Won’t I forgive, as you urge me,

Forgive and try to forget?

Let the rest of your life be a token,

Of how sincere your regret.

I must have time for my answer,

Some things take the breath—

It seems to die, we need not

Always wait for death.

I loved you so absolutely,

Thought you so completely my own;

I never questioned but that we meant

All in all to each other—alone.

And you the while were betraying

The faith I held so dear,

Selling the same to another—

No, do not come near.

When its foundation becomes weakened,

A structure is undermined,

Nor can it at all times, be strengthened anew,

They who venture the effort, find.

I will do my best to replace it—

The foundation my trust hath known;

Should I fail—tho’ sincere my intention—tion—

You must go on your way—alone.

FROM “RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS”

Acknowledgment is made to Messrs. George W. Jacobs & Company for their courtesy in granting permission to reprint in this volume verses from “Rhymes for Wee Sweethearts.”

WHEN GRANDMAMA WAS LITTLE

WHEN grandmama was little—

It was years and years ago,

In what folks call, at this time,

The old-fashioned days, you know—

Why, she had such a perfect time,

The best you ever saw:

We wish that we’d been little

Same time as grandmama.

She tells us all about it,

And then, if we are good,

And just sit still and listen,

The way all children should,

And never interrupt a bit,

Or question ’bout the rest

Till she’s all through, she shows us

The things up in her chest.

I can’t begin to tell you

The half of what is there:

The rag-dolls soiled and faded

That haven’t any hair,

And toys, and—oh, yes!—lady-dolls,

And, folded with the rest,

A little rose-bud muslin frock,

Her one-time very best.

And there’s her picture taken

In this self-same gown,

With ruffles reaching to the waist

And panties showing down;

Hair parted in the middle;

Over each ear a curl:

Oh! but our grandmama was pretty!

When a little girl!

HAROLD’S LAMENT

BLAMED if I see any fun

In being a boy,

With ev’rybody trying

Their hardest to annoy!

It’s “Harold” here, and “Harold” there

Until they have me sick

Of “Run along!”—“Don’t be slow!”—

Or “Hurry up; be quick!”

First some one sends me down-stairs,

I run with might and main;

Before I’m half-way there it’s turn

And run right up again!

And sure as I go out to play,

Or have a little fun,

I’m called straight in: there’s something else

A-waiting to be done!

I just believe I’ll run away;

Pack all my things and go!

Can’t see the use of staying ’round

And being treated so!

For I just bet when they were small,

Not one of them would do

Half of the errands and the things

That I’m expected to!

MRS. SPIDER

BROTHER Dick and I one day

Watched Mrs. Spider spin away:

My, how she spun, and spun, and spun,

Until she had her web all done!

Then, brother Dick, he said to me:

“Now, where can Mr. Spider be?”

We watched, but didn’t see him come,

So I guess he couldn’t have lived at home.

THE NAUGHTY LITTLE GIRL

WHEN I’m so awf’ly naughty,

And

just

won’t

do

The very littlest tiny thing

That

I’m

told

to,

But kick and scream when any one

Attempts to come my way,

And press my fingers to my ears

To miss what they may say,

Why, then my mother says that I’m

As bad as bad can be;

She says she thinks it’s some one else

Instead

of

me.

She says she’s sure the little girl

She

used

to

know

Would never do the horrid things

That

hurt

her

so;

And though she doesn’t try to whip,

She looks so very sad

That somehow I just get ashamed

And can’t keep being bad:

I chase the naughty girl away

As far as far can be;

Then I run and kiss my mother, so

She’ll

know

I’m

me!

ON THE STAIR

A WEE form nestles on the stair,

Two eyes betraying

The Sand-man has o’ertaken there

Wee steps delaying.

Too tired to mount the flight to bed,

Dear little tumbled golden head,

Just resting there a while instead,

Through dreamland straying.

THE LAND O’ DREAMS

ALL aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!

(One for the money and two for the show!)

All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!

(Three to make ready and four to go!)

The passenger’s late,

But the cars all wait—

Just hark to the brakeman’s cries:

“All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!”—

And the tickets are drowsy eyes.

II

All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!

(One for the money and two for the show!)

All aboard for the Land o’ Dreams!

(Three to make ready and four to go!)

The whistles sound,

And the wheels go ’round,

And the bright green fields slip past;

The passenger’s here and the track is clear

To the Land o’ Dreams at last!

THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

SOMETIMES at night I get awake

And all’s so dark and still—

Why I’m ’bout scared even to take

A deep-down breath, until

I peer ’round first and try to see

If ev’rything’s all right!

For the terriblest things can be,—

The Middle of the Night.

I want so much to cry right out—

But I am awful ’fraid!

’Cause, if those black things were about,

They’d hear the noise I made.

And mother sleeps so very sound,

She mightn’t hear, you see,

And then they’d make a great big bound

And run away with me.

So I lie just still as I can—

My heart a-thumping so!

Wishing I were a great big man,

So I’d not scare, you know.

When oh!—the covers pull away

And just as I begin

To scream—why, I hear mother say

It’s her tucking them in!

WHEN OUR FATHERS WERE LITTLE BOYS

WHEN our fathers were little boys,

Before they grew to men,

I wonder did they make a noise

Or have a good time then?

I wonder did they ever fight

And punch each other’s nose?

Or if they always did just right

And never spoiled their clothes.

I wonder did their mothers scold

Sometimes and make them cry?

I wonder if they ever told

A teeny-weeny lie?

I wonder if they ever had

Such dirty hands and face?

I wonder were they ever mad

And banged things ’round the place?

I wonder did they ever run

To fires hard as they could?

Or if they called it better fun

To sit still and be good?

I wonder were they ever small

And kept back in the shade?

Or didn’t they have to grow at all,

But just come ready made?

SLUMBER LAND

TO all: “Good-night!”

Two eyes shut tight

And baby’s bound for Slumber,

The land where all tired children go,

The land where white dream-flowers grow

Beyond my art to number:

Winks

And blinks

And nods all past—

Mother’s arms are sure and fast,

Off to Slumber Land at last,

The moonlit Land of Slumber!

THE NEW BROTHER

WE’ve got a new kid in our house;

And it ’bout gives me a fit,

The fuss that ev’rybody is

A-making over it.

All ’long I’ve been the pet, you see,

’Twas me they tried to please

But now, this other fellow has

Them all upon their knees!

He’s just about the ugliest!

And really doesn’t seem

Able to do another thing

But double up and scream.

He’s got no teeth, he’s got no hair,—

Worst curiosity!

I’d like some one to tell me why

He counts for more than me!

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POEMS OF LIFE ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg electronic works provided that:

- • You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

- • You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

- • You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

- • You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 41 Watchung Plaza #516, Montclair NJ 07042, USA, +1 (862) 621-9288. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

POEMS OF LIFE

CONTENTS

POEMS OF LIFE

TO-DAY

JEWELS

SOMETHING GONE

A-MAYING

TRIBUTE

GOOD-BYE

She

He

She

He

She

He

She

THE WONDROUS SONG

MILADI

THE SOMETHING MY LIFE HAS MISSED

CONTENTMENT

GONE

TO MY MUSE

CONCEPTION

AWAKENING

THE HOUSE BUILT ON SANDS

TO A BUTTERFLY

A FRAGMENT

QUERY

I CLOSE MINE EYES

UNDERSTANDING

WE MET IN MAY

I TURN ME DOWN A LIGHTED WAY

COUNSEL

DECISION

YOU NEVER GUESSED THE SECRET

THE LIGHT

EDUCATION

RE-ADJUSTMENT

FROM “RHYMES FOR WEE SWEETHEARTS”

WHEN GRANDMAMA WAS LITTLE

HAROLD’S LAMENT

MRS. SPIDER

THE NAUGHTY LITTLE GIRL

ON THE STAIR

THE LAND O’ DREAMS

II

THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

WHEN OUR FATHERS WERE LITTLE BOYS

SLUMBER LAND

THE NEW BROTHER

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE