I crossed my brow and I crossed my breast, And I am broken-hearted! O, it cannot be my own sweet boy, And his mother soon will follow. The dirge for the dead will be sung for me, And the mass be chanted meetly, And I shall sleep with my little boy, In the moonlight churchyard sweetly. JOHN FRANCIS ARMSTRONG (1841-1865) I ADIEU HEAR a distant clarion blare, The smoldering battle flames anew ; A noise of onset shakes the air Dear woods and quiet vales, adieu! Weird crag, where I was wont to gaze At morning's breezy prime—adieu ! Clear runnel, bubbling under boughs And, ah! ye lights and shades that ray Ο THE BLIND STUDENT N Euripides' plays we debated, In College, one chill winter night; A student rose up, while we waited For more intellectual light. As he stood, pale and anxious, before us, And in many a face there was pity, In many an eye there were tears; For his words were not buoyant or witty, As fitted his fresh summer years. And he spoke once or twice, as none other Could speak, of a woman's pure ways. He remembered the face of his mother Ere darkness had blighted his days. T JOHN BANIM AILEEN IS not for love of gold I go, 'Tis not for love of fame; Though fortune should her smile bestow, Aileen; And I may win a name. And yet it is for gold I go, And yet it is for fame, That they may deck another brow, Aileen; And bless another name. For this, but this, I go: for this And all the soft and quiet bliss Of thy young faithful smile. And I go to brave a world I hate, Aileen; Upon a stranger shore. Oh, when the bays are all my own, I know a heart will care, Oh, when the gold is wooed and won, Aileen; I know a brow shall wear. And when with both returned again, I know a smile will meet me then, A hand will welcome me. SOGGARTH AROON' M I the slave they say, A Soggarth aroon? Since you did show the way, Their slave no more to be, Soggarth aroon! |