A DEAD ROSE.

I.

ROSE! who dares to name thee?

No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet; But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,— Kept seven years in a drawer-thy titles shame thee.

II.

The breeze that used to blow thee
Between the hedge-row thorns, and take away
An odour up the lane to last all day,—

If breathing now,-unsweetened would forego thee.

III.

The sun that used to smite thee,

And mix his glory in thy gorgeous urn,

Till beam appeared to bloom, and flower to burn,— If shining now, with not a hue would light thee.

IV.

The dew that used to wet thee,

And, white first, grow incarnadined, because
It lay upon thee where the crimson was,—
If dropping now, would darken where it met thee.

V.

The fly that lit upon thee,

To stretch the tendrils of its tiny feet,
Along thy leaf's pure edges, after heat,—
If lighting now,-would coldly overrun thee.

VI.

The bee that once did suck thee,

And build thy perfumed ambers up his hive,
And swoon in thee for joy, till scarce alive,—
If passing now,—would blindly overlook thee.

VII.

The heart doth recognise thee,

Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet, Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete

Though seeing now those changes that disguise

thee.

VIII.

Yes, and the heart doth owe thee

More love, dead rose! than to such roses bold

As Julia wears at dances, smiling cold!

Lie still upon this heart-which breaks below thee!

A WOMAN'S SHORTCOMINGS.

I.

SHE has laughed as softly as if she sighed!
She has counted six and over,

Of a purse well filled, and a heart well tried-
Oh, each a worthy lover!

They "give her time;" for her soul must slip
Where the world has set the grooving:
She will lie to none with her fair red lip-
But love seeks truer loving.

II.

She trembles her fan in a sweetness dumb,
As her thoughts were beyond recalling ;
With a glance for one, and a glance for some,
From her eyelids rising and falling.
-Speaks common words with a blushful air;
Hears bold words, unreproving:

But her silence says-what she never will swear-
And love seeks better loving.

III.

Go, lady! lean to the night-guitar,
And drop a smile to the bringer;
Then smile as sweetly, when he is far,
At the voice of an in-door singer!
Bask tenderly beneath tender eyes;
Glance lightly, on their removing;
And join new vows to old perjuries—
But dare not call it loving!

IV.

Unless you can think, when the song is done,

No other is soft in the rhythm;

Unless you can feel, when left by One,

That all men beside go with him;

Unless you can know, when unpraised by his breath,
That your beauty itself wants proving;
Unless you can swear- "For life, for death!"—
Oh, fear to call it loving!

V.

Unless you can muse in a crowd all day,
On the absent face that fixed you;
Unless you can love, as the angels may,

With the breadth of heaven betwixt you;
Unless you can dream that his faith is fast,
Through behoving and unbehoving;
Unless you can die when the dream is past—
Oh, never call it loving!

11*

A MAN'S REQUIREMENTS.

I.

LOVE me, sweet, with all thou art,
Feeling, thinking, seeing,-

Love me in the lightest part,
Love me in full being.

II.

Love me with thine open youth
In its frank surrender;
With the vowing of thy mouth,

With its silence tender.

III.

Love me with thine azure eyes,
Made for earnest granting!
Taking colour from the skies,

Can Heaven's truth be wanting?