Poems, now first collected

by Edmund Clarence Stedman

 

POEMS

NOW FIRST

COLLECTED: By

EDMUND CLARENCE

STEDMAN

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BOSTON: HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN

AND COMPANY: NEW YORK

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MDCCCXCVII

COPYRIGHT 1897
BY EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

TO MY WIFE

CONTENTS I VARIOUS POEMS
	PAGE
MUSIC AT HOME	3
THE HAND OF LINCOLN	5
NOCTURNE	8
"YE TOMBE OF YE POET CHAUCER"	10
THE CONSTANT HEART	14
GUESTS AT YULE	16
THE OLD PICTURE-DEALER	18
THE WORLD WELL LOST	22
HEBE	24
SOUVENIR DE JEUNESSE	30
A VIGIL	32
THE STAR BEARER	34
EVENTIDE	38
HELEN KELLER	39
PORTRAIT D'UNE DAME ESPAGNOLE	41
A SEA-CHANGE, AT KELP ROCK	43
HAREBELL	48
THE PILGRIMS	51
MORS BENEFICA	52
PROEM TO A VICTORIAN ANTHOLOGY	53
ON WHITE CARNATIONS GIVEN ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY	54
FATHER JARDINE	55
FIN DE SIÈCLE	58
II OTHER SONGS AND BALLADS
FALSTAFF'S SONG	65
PROVENÇAL LOVERS	67
THE WEDDING-DAY	70
THE DUTCH PATROL	72
WITCHCRAFT, I., A. D. 1692	77
", II., A. D. 1884	79
AARON BURR'S WOOING	81
COUSIN LUCRECE	84
HUNTINGTON HOUSE	89
CENTURIA	92
INSCRIPTIONS	94
III COMMEMORATIONS
THE DEATH OF BRYANT	97
GIFFORD	103
CORDA CONCORDIA	105
ON A GREAT MAN WHOSE MIND IS CLOUDING	115
ON THE DEATH OF AN INVINCIBLE SOLDIER	116
LIBERTY ENLIGHTENING THE WORLD	119
AD VIGILEM	122
"ERGO IRIS"	123
W. W.	124
BYRON	125
YALE ODE FOR COMMENCEMENT DAY	130
"UBI SUNT QUI ANTE NOS?"	132
IV THE CARIB SEA
KENNST DU?	141
SARGASSO WEED	145
CASTLE ISLAND LIGHT	147
CHRISTOPHE	153
LA SOURCE	155
TO L. H. S.	159
JAMAICA	162
CREOLE LOVER'S SONG	166
THE ROSE AND THE JASMINE	169
FERN-LAND	174
MORGAN	181
CAPTAIN FRANCISCA	184
PANAMA	190
MARTINIQUE IDYL	192
ASTRA CAELI	196
V ARIEL
ARIEL	201

Note—Having delayed collecting my own poems of recent years, I now find them so various in theme, motive, and expression as to render their arrangement a somewhat difficult task. The plan finally adopted seems as good as any other. With few exceptions, the pieces within each of the general divisions are given in the order of their composition as shown by the respective dates. The Caribbean series has been completed for this volume, and much of it appears for the first time.

E. C. S.

Thou,—whose endearing hand once laid in sooth
Upon thy follower, no want thenceforth,
Nor toil, nor joy and pain, nor waste of years
Filled with all cares that deaden and subdue,
Can make thee less to him—can make thee less
Than sovereign queen, his first liege, and his last
Remembered to the unconscious dying hour,—
Return and be thou kind, bright Spirit of song,
Thou whom I yet loved most, loved most of all
Even when I left thee—I, now so long strayed
From thy beholding! And renew, renew
Thy gift to me fain clinging to thy robe!
Still be thou kind, for still thou wast most dear.

1897