Watched within a curtained room Where no sunbeam brake the gloom Roses, gathered for a vase, Beam and breeze resigning; Love remains for shining. Other dogs in thymy dew Tracked the hares and followed through Sunny moor or meadow; This dog only, crept and crept Next a languid cheek that slept, Other dogs of loyal cheer Up the woodside hieing; And if one or two quick tears And this dog was satisfied If a pale thin hand would glide This dog, if a friendly voice Therefore to this dog will I, Render praise and favour : Therefore and for ever. And because he loves me so, Often man or woman, Blessings on thee, dog of mine, Downy pillow take thy head, Sunshine help thy sleeping! Whiskered cats arointed flee, Nuts lie in thy path for stones, Mock I thee, in wishing weal ?—-- Thou art made so straitly Blessing needs must straighten too,— Yet be blessed to the height Only loved beyond that line, MY DOVES. My little doves have left a nest Whose leaves fantastic take their rest Or motion from the sea; For, ever there the sea-winds go With sunlit paces to and fro. The tropic flowers looked up to it, The tropic stars looked down, And there my little doves did sit With feathers softly brown, And glittering eyes that showed their right To general Nature's deep delight. And God them taught, at every close Of murmuring waves beyond And green leaves round, to interpose Fit ministers! Of living loves The lovely monotone of springs My little doves were ta'en away From that glad nest of theirs, Across an ocean rolling grey, And tempest-clouded airs,My little doves, who lately knew The sky and wave by warmth and blue. And now, within the city prison, In mist and chilness pent, With sudden upward look they listen For lapse of water, swell of breeze, The stir without the glow of passion, The gold and silver as they clash on The roar of wheels, the cry for bread, Yet still, as on my human hand (Their eyes with such a plaintive shine Are fastened upwardly to mine)— Soft falls their chant as on the nest Beneath the sunny zone; For love that stirred it in their breast Has not aweary grown, And 'neath the city's shade can keep And love, that keeps the music, fills All flowings from the wave and wind, So teach ye me the wisest part, And vocal with such songs as own 'T was hard, to sing by Babel's stream- For sunless walls-let us begin, Who wear immortal wings within! To me, fair memories belong Of scenes that used to bless, For no regret, but present song And lasting thankfulness ; And very soon to break away, Like types, in purer things than they. |