Late Lyrics and Earlier, With Many Other Verses Part 10

THE CHIMES PLAY "LIFE'S A b.u.mPER!"

"Awake! I'm off to cities far away,"

I said; and rose, on peradventures bent.

The chimes played "Life's a b.u.mper!" on that day To the measure of my walking as I went: Their sweetness frisked and floated on the lea, As they played out "Life's a b.u.mper!" there to me.

"Awake!" I said. "I go to take a bride!"

--The sun arose behind me ruby-red As I journeyed townwards from the countryside, The chiming bells saluting near ahead.

Their sweetness swelled in tripping tings of glee As they played out "Life's a b.u.mper!" there to me.

"Again arise." I seek a turfy slope, And go forth slowly on an autumn noon, And there I lay her who has been my hope, And think, "O may I follow hither soon!"

While on the wind the chimes come cheerily, Playing out "Life's a b.u.mper!" there to me.

1913.

"I WORKED NO WILE TO MEET YOU"

(SONG)

I worked no wile to meet you, My sight was set elsewhere, I sheered about to shun you, And lent your life no care.

I was unprimed to greet you At such a date and place, Constraint alone had won you Vision of my strange face!

You did not seek to see me Then or at all, you said, --Meant pa.s.sing when you neared me, But stumblingblocks forbade.

You even had thought to flee me, By other mindings moved; No influent star endeared me, Unknown, unrecked, unproved!

What, then, was there to tell us The flux of fl.u.s.tering hours Of their own tide would bring us By no device of ours To where the daysprings well us Heart-hydromels that cheer, Till Time enearth and swing us Round with the turning sphere.

AT THE RAILWAY STATION, UPWAY

"There is not much that I can do, For I've no money that's quite my own!"

Spoke up the pitying child - A little boy with a violin At the station before the train came in, - "But I can play my fiddle to you, And a nice one 'tis, and good in tone!"

The man in the handcuffs smiled; The constable looked, and he smiled, too, As the fiddle began to tw.a.n.g; And the man in the handcuffs suddenly sang Uproariously: "This life so free Is the thing for me!"

And the constable smiled, and said no word, As if unconscious of what he heard; And so they went on till the train came in - The convict, and boy with the violin.

SIDE BY SIDE

So there sat they, The estranged two, Thrust in one pew By chance that day; Placed so, breath-nigh, Each comer unwitting Who was to be sitting In touch close by.

Thus side by side Blindly alighted, They seemed united As groom and bride, Who'd not communed For many years - Lives from twain spheres With hearts distuned.

Her fringes brushed His garment's hem As the harmonies rushed Through each of them: Her lips could be heard In the creed and psalms, And their fingers neared At the giving of alms.

And women and men, The matins ended, By looks commended Them, joined again.

Quickly said she, "Don't undeceive them - Better thus leave them:"

"Quite so," said he.

Slight words!--the last Between them said, Those two, once wed, Who had not stood fast.

Diverse their ways From the western door, To meet no more In their span of days.

DREAM OF THE CITY SHOPWOMAN

'Twere sweet to have a comrade here, Who'd vow to love this garreteer, By city people's snap and sneer Tried oft and hard!

We'd rove a truant c.o.c.k and hen To some snug solitary glen, And never be seen to haunt again This teeming yard.

Within a cot of thatch and clay We'd list the flitting pipers play, Our lives a twine of good and gay Enwreathed discreetly;

Our blithest deeds so neighbouring wise That doves should coo in soft surprise, "These must belong to Paradise Who live so sweetly."

Our clock should be the closing flowers, Our sprinkle-bath the pa.s.sing showers, Our church the alleyed willow bowers, The truth our theme;

And infant shapes might soon abound: Their s.h.i.+ning heads would dot us round Like mushroom b.a.l.l.s on gra.s.sy ground . . .

--But all is dream!

O G.o.d, that creatures framed to feel A yearning nature's strong appeal Should writhe on this eternal wheel In rayless grime;

And vainly note, with wan regret, Each star of early promise set; Till Death relieves, and they forget Their one Life's time!

WESTBOURNE PARK VILLAS, 1866.

A MAIDEN'S PLEDGE (SONG)

I do not wish to win your vow To take me soon or late as bride, And lift me from the nook where now I tarry your farings to my side.

I am blissful ever to abide In this green labyrinth--let all be, If but, whatever may betide, You do not leave off loving me!

Your comet-comings I will wait With patience time shall not wear through; The yellowing years will not abate My largened love and truth to you, Nor drive me to complaint undue Of absence, much as I may pine, If never another 'twixt us two Shall come, and you stand wholly mine.