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Grace Hazard Conkling '1878…





TO LITTLE RENEE ON FIRST SEEING HER LYING IN HER CRADLE



Who is she here that now I see;

This dainty new divinity;

Love's sister; Venus' child?  She shows

Her hues; white lily and pink rose;

And in her laughing eyes the snares

That hearts entangle unawares。

Ah; woe to men if Love should yield

His arrows to this girl to wield

Even in play; for she would give

Sore wounds that none might take and live。

Yet no such wanton strain is hers;

Nor Leda's child and Jupiter's

Is she; though swans no softer are

Than whom she fairer is by far。

For she was born beside the rill

That gushes from Parnassus' hill;

And by the bright Pierian spring

She shall receive an offering

From every youth who pipes a strain

Beside his flocks upon the plain。

But I; the first; this very day;

Will tune for her my humble lay;

Invoking this new Muse to render

My oaten reed more sweet and tender;

Within its vibrant hollows wake

Such dulcet voices for her sake

As; curved hand at straining ear;

I long have stood and sought to hear

Borne with the warm midsummer breeze

With scent of hay and hum of bees

Faintly from far…off Sicily。。。。



Ah; well I know that not for us

Are Virgil and Theocritus;

And that the golden age is past

Whereof they sang; and thou; the last;

Sweet Spenser; of their god…like line;

Soar far too swift for verse of mine

One strain to compass of your song。

Yet there are poets that prolong

Of your rare voice the ravishment

In silver cadences; content

Were I if I could but rehearse

One stave of Wither's starry verse;

Weave such wrought richness as recalls

Britannia's lovely Pastorals;

Or in some garden…spot suspire

One breath of Marvell's magic fire

When in the green and leafy shade

He sees dissolving all that's made。

Ah; little Muse still far too high

On weak; clipped wings my wishes fly。

Transform them then and make them doves;

Soft…moaning birds that Venus loves;

That they may circle ever low

Above the abode where you shall grow

Into your gracious womanhood。

And you shall feed the gentle brood

From out your hand … content they'll be

Only to coo their songs to thee。 



William Aspenwall Bradley '1878…





RHYME OF ONE



You sleep upon your mother's breast;

Your race begun;

A welcome; long a wished…for Guest;

Whose age is One。



A Baby…Boy; you wonder why

You cannot run;

You try to talk … how hard you try! …

You're only One。



Ere long you won't be such a dunce:

You'll eat your bun;

And fly your kite; like folk who once

Were only One。



You'll rhyme and woo; and fight and joke;

Perhaps you'll pun!

Such feats are never done by folk

Before they're One。



Some day; too; you may have your joy;

And envy none;

Yes; you; yourself; may own a Boy;

Who isn't One。



He'll dance; and laugh; and crow; he'll do

As you have done:

(You crown a happy home; though you

Are only One。)



But when he's grown shall you be here

To share his fun;

And talk of times when he (the Dear!)

Was hardly One?



Dear Child; 'tis your poor lot to be

My little Son;

I'm glad; though I am old; you see; …

While you are One。



Frederick Locker…Lampson '1821…1895'





TO A NEW…BORN CHILD



Small traveler from an unseen shore;

By mortal eye ne'er seen before;

To you; good…morrow。

You are as fair a little dame

As ever from a glad world came

To one of sorrow。



We smile above you; but you fret;

We call you gentle names; and yet

Your cries redouble。

'Tis hard for little babes to prize

The tender love that underlies

A life of trouble。



And have you come from Heaven to earth?

That were a road of little mirth;

A doleful travel。

〃Why did I come?〃 you seem to cry;

But that's a riddle you and I

Can scarce unravel。



Perhaps you really wished to come;

But now you are so far from home

Repent the trial。

What! did you leave celestial bliss

To bless us with a daughter's kiss?

What self…denial!



Have patience for a little space;

You might have come to a worse place;

Fair Angel…rover。

No wonder now you would have stayed;

But hush your cries; my little maid;

The journey's over。



For; utter stranger as you are;

There yet are many hearts ajar

For your arriving;

And trusty friends and lovers true

Are waiting; ready…made for you;

Without your striving。



The earth is full of lovely things;

And if at first you miss your wings;

You'll soon forget them;

And others; of a rarer kind

Will grow upon your tender mind …

If you will let them …



Until you find that your exchange

Of Heaven for earth expands your range

E'en as a flier;

And that your mother; you and I;

If we do what we should; may fly

Than Angels higher。



Cosmo Monkhouse '1840…1901'





BABY MAY



Cheeks as soft as July peaches;

Lips whose dewy scarlet teaches

Poppies paleness … round large eyes

Ever great with new surprise;

Minutes filled with shadeless gladness;

Minutes just as brimmed with sadness;

Happy smiles and wailing cries;

Crows and laughs and tearful eyes;

Lights and shadows swifter born

Than on wind…swept Autumn corn;

Ever some new tiny notion

Making every limb all motion …

Catching up of legs and arms;

Throwings back and small alarms;

Clutching fingers … straightening jerks;

Twining feet whose each toe works;

Kickings up and straining risings;

Mother's ever new surprisings;

Hands all wants and looks all wonder

At all things the heavens under;

Tiny scorns of smiled reprovings

That have more of love than lovings;

Mischiefs done with such a winning

Archness; that we prize such sinning;

Breakings dire of plates and glasses;

Graspings small at all that passes;

Pullings off of all that's able

To be caught from tray or table;

Silences … small meditations;

Deep as thoughts of cares for nations;

Breaking into wisest speeches

In a tongue that nothing teaches;

All the thoughts of whose possessing

Must be wooed to light by guessing;

Slumbers … such sweet angel…seemings;

That we'd ever have such dreamings;

Till from sleep we see thee breaking;

And we'd always have thee waking;

Wealth for which we know no measure;

Pleasure high above all pleasure;

Gladness brimming over gladness;

Joy in care … delight in sadness;

Loveliness beyond completeness;

Sweetness distancing all sweetness;

Beauty all that beauty may be …

That's May Bennett; that's my baby。



William Cox Bennett '1820…1895'





ALICE



Of deepest blue of summer skies

Is wrought the heaven of her eyes。



Of that fine gold the autumns wear

Is wrought the glory of her hair。



Of rose leaves fashioned in the south

Is shaped the marvel of her mouth。



And from the honeyed lips of bliss

Is drawn the sweetness of her kiss;



'Mid twilight thrushes that rejoice

Is found the cadence of her voice;



Of winds that wave the western fir

Is made the velvet touch of her。



Of all earth's songs God took the half

To make the ripple of her laugh。



I hear you ask; 〃Pray who is she?〃 …

This maid that is so dear to me。



〃A reigning queen in Fashion's whirl?〃

Nay; nay!  She is my baby girl。



Herbert Bashford '1871…1928'





SONGS FOR FRAGOLETTA



I



Fragoletta; blessed one!

What think you of the light of the sun?

Do you think the dark was best;

Lying snug in mother's breast?

Ah! I knew that sweetness; too;

Fragoletta; before you!

But; Fragoletta; now you're born;

You must learn to love the morn;

Love the lovely working light;

Love the miracle of sight;

Love the thousand things to do …

Little girl; I envy you! …

Love the thousand things to see;

Love your mother; and … love me!

And some night; Fragoletta; soon;

I'll take you out to see the moon;

And for the first time; child of ours;

You shall … think of it! … loo

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