Poems (Kimball)/Hospitality
HOSPITALITY.
to Mrs H. E. H.
SWEET friend, whose hospitality
Pervades your house like summer air,
And at whose board I ever find
A welcome marvellously kind
From all the dear ones gathered there,
Pervades your house like summer air,
And at whose board I ever find
A welcome marvellously kind
From all the dear ones gathered there,
How often when I take my place
One thought of swift regret will come,
That to your circle I can bring
In glad return no precious thing
To swell your pleasure's happy sum;
One thought of swift regret will come,
That to your circle I can bring
In glad return no precious thing
To swell your pleasure's happy sum;
Nothing but simple loving rhymes
For some occasion like to-day,
When any one, however dull,
Some common flowers of thought might cull
And weave them in a birthday lay.
For some occasion like to-day,
When any one, however dull,
Some common flowers of thought might cull
And weave them in a birthday lay.
And this is all I bring you now,
A song of little worth, indeed,
Whose end a version poor will prove
Of one true poem that I love—
A poem that I daily read—
A song of little worth, indeed,
Whose end a version poor will prove
Of one true poem that I love—
A poem that I daily read—
Of manhood high, and womanhood
Its equal match in loveliness;
Of girlhood ripening hour by hour
As simply as a wayside flower
That knows and knows not heaven's caress;
Its equal match in loveliness;
Of girlhood ripening hour by hour
As simply as a wayside flower
That knows and knows not heaven's caress;
Of childhood gay as butterflies
That frolic as they lightly main;
Of babyhood, whose dimpled hand
Holds all the house in dear command,—
The poem of your own sweet home!
That frolic as they lightly main;
Of babyhood, whose dimpled hand
Holds all the house in dear command,—
The poem of your own sweet home!