Poems (Proctor)/Stanley Ware

by Edna Dean Proctor

STANLEY WARE.

Now as sinks the New Year's sun,
Fadeless Day for him is won!
Closed his eyes in dreamless rest;
Crossed his hands upon his breast;
Still the tireless, bounding feet
Done with garden, stair, and street,
Hushed the voice that used to ring
Clear as robin's note in spring;
There he lies, so calm, so fair,
All that's left of Stanley Ware!

"O Mamma! 'tis travelers three
Baby, Mary, I will be!"—
So he said but yester-night,
Listening with a boy's delight
To some tale of over sea.
Now the parting winds blow free!
Now his bark is launched from shore,
All its sails set, to explore
Tranquil oceans, islands rare,
As God pilots—Stanley Ware!

Would we call him back to earth?
Back from his immortal birth?
Wish the bark those tides have swung
Tossed our gulfs and shoals among?
Let our tempests beat the sails
Spread to heaven's ambrosial gales?
Nay, sweet Voyager! for thee
Glorious shines the crystal sea!
Farthest deeps thy prow may dare,
Angel-convoyed,—Stanley Ware!

Darling! when the sun and rain
Make our cold earth bright again,
Violet, rose, anemone,
Loveliest blooms will symbol thee;
Song of birds in forest shrine
Bring us still some tone of thine.
And at last will dawn the day
When we, too, shall launch away;—
O what bliss with thee to share
Hours celestial—Stanley Ware!

Jan. 1, 1872,