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I have given my darling the name
Of a land at the gates of the day；
Where morning is always the same；
And spring never passes away。
Page： 88
With a prayer for a lifetime of light；
I christened her Persia； you see；
And I hope that some fathers to…night
Will kneel in the spirit with me。
She is only commencing to look
At the beauty in which she is set；
And forest and flower and brook；
To her are all mysteries yet。
I know that to many my words
Will seem insignificant things；
But you who are mothers of birds
Will feel for the father who sings。
For all of you doubtless have been
Where sorrows are many and wild；
And you know what a beautiful scene
Of this world can be made by a child：
Page： 89
I am sure； if they listen to this；
Sweet women will quiver； and long
To tenderly stoop to and kiss
The Persia I've put in a song。
And I'm certain the critic will pause；
And excuse； for the sake of my bird；
My sins against critical laws …
The slips in the thought and the word。
And haply some dear little face
Of his own to his mind will occur …
Some Persia who brightens his place …
And I'll be forgiven for her。
A life that is turning to grey
Has hardly been happy； you see；
But the rose that has dropped on my way
Is morning and music to me。
Page： 90
Yea； she that I hold by the hand
Is changing white winter to green；
And making a light of the land …
All fathers will know what I mean：
All women and men who have known
The sickness of sorrow and sin；
Will feel … having babes of their own …
My verse and the pathos therein。
For that must be touching which shows
How a life has been led from the wild
To a garden of glitter and rose；
By the flower…like hand of a child。
She is strange to this wonderful sphere；
One summer and winter have set
Since God left her radiance here …
Her sweet second year is not yet。
Page： 91
The world is so lovely and new
To eyes full of eloquent light；
And； sisters； I'm hoping that you
Will pray for my Persia to…night。
For I； who have suffered so much；
And know what the bitterness is；
Am sad to think sorrow must touch
Some day even darlings like this！
But sorrow is part of this life；
And； therefore； a father doth long
For the blessing of mother and wife
On the bird he has put in a song。
Page： 92
LILITH
Strange is the song； and the soul that is singing
Falters because of the vision it sees；
Voice that is not of the living is ringing
Down in the depths where the darkness is clinging；
Even when Noon is the lord of the leas；
Fast； like a curse； to the ghosts of the trees！
Here in a mist that is parted in sunder；
Half with the darkness and half with the day；
Face of a woman； but face of a wonder；
Vivid and wild as a flame of the thunder；
Flashes and fades； and the wail of the grey
Water is loud on the straits of the bay！
Page： 93
Father； whose years have been many and weary …
Elder； whose life is as lovely as light
Shining in ways that are sterile and dreary …
Tell me the name of this beautiful peri；
Flashing on me like the wonderful white
Star； at the meeting of morning and night。
‘‘Look to thy Saviour； and down on thy knee； man；
Lean on the Lord； as the Zebedee leaned；
Daughter of hell is the neighbour of thee； man …
Lilith； of Adam the luminous leman！
Turn to the Christ to be succoured and screened；
Saved from the eyes of a marvellous fiend！
‘‘Serpent she is in the shape of a woman；
Brighter than woman； ineffably fair！
Shelter thyself from the splendour； and sue； man；
Light that was never a loveliness human
Lives in the face of this sinister snare；
Longing to strangle thy soul with her hair！
‘‘Lilith； who came to the father and bound him
Fast with her eyes in the first of the springs；
Lilith she is； but remember she drowned him；
Shedding her flood of gold tresses around him …
Lulled him to sleep with the lyric she sings：
Melody strange with unspeakable things！
‘‘Low is her voice； but beware of it ever；
Swift bitter death is the fruit of delay；
Never was song of its beauty … ah！ never …
Heard on the mountain； or meadow； or river；
Not of the night is it； not of the day …
Fly from it； stranger； away and away。''
Back on the hills are the blossom and feather；
Glory of noon is on valley and spire；
Here is the grace of magnificent weather；
Where is the woman from gulfs of the nether？
Where is the fiend with the face of desire？
Gone； with a cry； in miraculous fire！
Page： 95
Sound that was not of this world； or the spacious
Splendid blue heaven； has passed from the lea；
Dead is the voice of the devil audacious：
Only a dream is her music fallacious；
Here； in the song and the shadow of tree；
Down by the green and the gold of the sea。
Page： 96
BOB
SINGER of songs of the hills …
Dreamer； by waters unstirred；
Back in a valley of rills；
Home of the leaf and the bird！ …
Read in this fall of the year
Just the compassionate phrase；
Faded with traces of tear；
Written in far…away days：
‘‘Gone is the light of my lap
（Lord； at Thy bidding I bow）；
Here is my little one's cap；
He has no need of it now；
Page： 97
Give it to somebody's boy …
Somebody's darling'' … she wrote。
Touching was Bob in his joy …
Bob without boots or a coat。
Only a cap； but it gave
Capless and comfortless one
Happiness； bright as the brave；
Beautiful light of the sun。
Soft may the sanctified sod
Rest on the father who led
Bob from the gutter； unshod …
Covered his cold little head！
Bob from the foot to the crown
Measured a yard； and no more …
Baby alone in the town；
Homeless； and hungry； and sore …
Page： 98
Child that was never a child；
Hiding away from the rain；
Draggled and dirty and wild；
Down in a pipe of the drain。
Poor little beggar was Bob …
Couldn't afford to be sick；
Getting a penny a job；
Sometimes a curse and a kick。
Father was killed by the drink；
Mother was driven to shame；
Bob couldn't manage to think …
He had forgotten their name。
God was in heaven above；
Flowers illumined the ground；
Women of infinite love
Lived in the palaces round …
Page： 99
Saints with the character sweet
Found in the fathers of old；
Laboured in alley and street …
Baby slept out in the cold。
Nobody noticed the child …
Nobody knew of the mite
Creeping about like a wild
Thing in the shadow of night。
Beaten by drunkards and cowed …
Frightened to speak or to sob …
How could he ask you aloud；
‘‘Have you a penny for Bob？''
Few were the pennies he got …
Seldom could hide them away；
Watched by the ravenous sot
Ever at wait for his prey。
Page： 100
Poor little man！ He would weep
Oft for a morsel of bread；
Coppers he wanted to keep
Went to the tavern instead。
This was his history； friend …
Ragged； unhoused； and alone；
How could the child comprehend
Love that he never had known？
Hunted about in the world；
Crouching in crevices dim；
Crust with a curse at him hurled
Stood for a kindness with him。
Little excited his joy …
Bun after doing a job；
Mother of bright…headed boy；
Think of the motherless Bob！
Page： 101
High in the heavens august
Providence saw him； and said …
‘‘Out of the pits of the dust
Lift him； and cover his head。''
Ah； the ineffable grace；
Father of children； in Thee！
Boy in a radiant place；
Fanned by the breeze of the sea …
Child on a lullaby lap
Said； in the pause of his pain；
‘‘Mother； don't bury my cap …
Give it to Bob in the lane。''
Beautiful bidding of Death！
What could she do but obey；
Even when suffering Faith
Hadn't the power to pray？
Page： 102
So； in the fall of the year；
Saint with the fatherly head
Hun