The Fleur de Lis Poets.
A WOMAN'S
LOVE LETTERS.
BY SOPHIE M. ALMON-HENSLEY
NEW YORK. J. SELWIN TAIT AND SONS, NUMBER SIXTY-FIVE FIFTH AVENUE.
COPYRIGHT, 1895
BY J. SELWIN TAIT & SONS NEW YORK
CONTENTS.
A Dream, 1 Dream-Song, 8 Doubt, 9 Song, 13 Anticipation, 14 Song, 18 Misunderstanding, 19 Shadow-Song, 23 Revulsion, 24 A Song of Dawn, 27 Weariness, 28 A Song of Rest, 31 Death, 33 Battle-Song, 38 Content, 39 Sea-Song, 42 Gratitude, 44 Song, 48 Prayer, 49 Song, 53 Loneliness, 54 Sea-Song, 57 Incompleteness, 59 Song, 65 Life's Joys, 65 Song, 70 Barter, 72 Song, 76 To-morrow, 78 Song, 82
A Dream.
I stood far off above the haunts of men Somewhere, I know not, when the sky was dim From some worn glory, and the morning hymn Of the gay oriole echoed from the glen. Wandering, I felt earth's peace, nor knew I sought A visioned face, a voice the wind had caught.
I passed the waking things that stirred and gazed, Thought-bound, and heeded not; the waking flowers Drank in the morning mist, dawn's tender showers, And looked forth for the Day-god who had blazed His heart away and died at sundown. Far In the gray west faded a loitering star.
It seemed that I had wandered through long years, A life of years, still seeking gropingly A thing I dared not name; now I could see In the still dawn a hope, in the soft tears Of the deep-hearted violets a breath Of kinship, like the herald voice of Death.
Slow moved the morning; where the hill was bare Woke a reluctant breeze. Dimly I knew My Day was come. The wind-blown blossoms threw Their breath about me, and the pine-swept air Grew to a shape, a mighty, formless thing, A phantom of the wood's imagining.
And as I gazed, spell-bound, it seemed to move Its tendril limbs, still swaying tremulously As if in spirit-doubt; then glad and free Crystalled the being won from waiting grove Into a human likeness. There he stood, The vine-browed shape of Nature's mortal mood.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: A Woman's Love Letters by Sophia Margaret Hensley
- 2: Leaving naught behind But shapeless vapor
- 3: Bygone words of thine Take subtle meaning
- 4: Somewhere the air breathes Heaven blown harmonies
- 5: Scolds the oriole Where the elms stir
- 6: Her bud crown ravished by the hand of June
- 7: Some souls there are who love their woes and tears
- 8: And true Shewed its decay
- 9: To feel oneself far from the dusty street
- 10: Is there no royal way Of recompense
- 11: The stillness breathed thanksgiving
- 12: The storm stirred voice of the restive sea
- 13: Deeper we feel the mystery of Joy
- 14: Trembled her petals fine As the breeze blew
- 15: There is a soft enchantment in the air
- 16: Canst ever know How I have yearned these many months
