anthology of massachusetts poets(马萨诸赛诗人)-第8节
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in futile anger at The wind wolves of the air。
I thought the house abandoned； and I ran to get inside； When suddenly
the old front door was opened and flung wide
And she stood there； with hand on knob； As I went swiftly in； Then
closed the door most softly on The storm and shrieking din。
A space I stood and looked at her； So young； 'twas passing strange
That fifty years or more had gone And brought no new style's change。
The sweetness； daintiness of her In starched and dotted gown Of
creamy whiteness； over hoops； With ruffles winding down！
We had not much to say； and yet Of words I felt no lack； Her smiles
slipped into dimples； stopped A moment； then dropped back。
I felt her pride of race； her taste In silken rug and chair； And quaintly
fashioned furniture Of patterns old and rare。
On window sill a rose bush stood； 'Twas bringing rose to bud； One full
bloomed there but yesterday； Dropped petals； red as blood。
Quite soon； she asked to be excused For just a moment； and Went out；
returning with a tray In either slender hand。
My glance could not but linger on Each thin and lovely cup； 〃This
came； dear thing； from home！〃 she sighed The while she raised it up。
And when the storm was done and I Arose； reluctantly To go； she too
was loath to have Me go； it seemed to me。
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When I reached old Joe Webber's place； Upon the Corner Road； I went
into the Upper Field Where Joe； round…shouldered； hoed
Potatoes； culling them with hoe And practised； calloused hand； In
rounded piles that brownly glowed Upon the fresh…turned land。
〃Say； Joe；〃 I said； 〃who is that girl With beauty's smiling charm； That
lives beyond that hemlock growth； On that old grown…up farm？〃
Joe listened； while I told him where I'd been that afternoon； Then
straightened from his hoe； and hummed； Before he spoke； a tune 〃They
cum ter thet old place ter live Some sixty years ago； Jest where they cum
from； who they ware； Wy； no one got to know。
〃An' then； one day； he hired Hen's Red racker an' the gig； We never
heard from him nor could We track the hoss or rig。
〃Hen waited 'bout a week； an' then He went ter see the Wife； He found
her in thet settin' room： She'd taken of her life。
〃An' no one's lived in thet house sence； Some say 'tis haunted；…but I
ain't no use fer foolishness； So all I say's tut！ tut！〃
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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CROSS…CURRENTS
THEY wrapped my soul in eiderdown； They placed me warm and
snug In carved chair； set me with care Upon an old prayer rug。
They cased my feet in golden shoes That hurt at toe and heel； My
restless feet； with youth all fleet； Nor asked how they might feel。
And now they wonder where I am； And search with shrill； cold cry；
But I crouch low where tall reeds grow； And smile as they pass by！
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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THE FAREWELL
WHAT is more beautiful Than thought； soul…fed； That I may be the
crimson of a rose When dead？
My soul； so light a joy And grief will be； That it will gently press the
brown earth down On me。
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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SONG
LET me be great； as stars are great； Singing of love； not of hate。
Love for sweet and simple things； Like clouds and sea…shell
whisperings；
Cool autumn winds； pale dew…kissed flowers； Thin coils of smoke and
granite towers；
Snow…capped mountain peaks that flash High above a river's crash；
Shrill songs of birds and children's laughter； Soft grey shadows trailing
after
Sunbeam sprites that seek the woods And lose themselves in solitudes。
All these I'll love； never hate； And loving them； I will be great。
OLIVER JENKINS
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LOVE AUTUMNAL
MY love will come in autumn…time When leaves go spinning to the
ground And wistful stars in heaven chime With the leaves' sound。
Then； we shall walk through dusty lanes And pause beneath low…
hanging boughs； And there； while soft…hued beauty reigns We'll make our
vows。
Let others seek in spring for sighs When love flames forth from every
seed； But love that blooms when nature dies Is love indeed！
OLIVER JENKINS
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ECHOS
TRAVELING at dusk the noisy city street； I listened to the newsboys'
strident cries Of 〃Extra；〃 as with flying feet； They strove to gain this man
or that…their prize。 But one there was with neither shout nor stride； And；
having bought from him； I stood nearby； Pondering the cruel crutches at
his side； Blaming the crowd's neglect； and wondering why…
When suddenly I heard a gruff voice greet The cripple with 〃On time
to…night？〃 Then； as he handed out the sheet； The Youngster's answer…
〃You're all right。 My other reg'lars are a little late。 They'll find I'm short
one paper when they come； You see； a strange guy bought one in the wait；
I tho't 'twould cheer him up…he looked so glum！〃
So； sheepishly I laughed； and went my way For I had found a city's
heart that day。
RUTH LAMBERT JONES
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WAR PICTURES
〃GERMAN Retreat From Arras〃 〃Official Films〃…they came After
〃Corinne and Her Minstrels〃 Had ministered to fame。
After 〃Corinne and Her Minstrels〃 Had pigeon…toed away； We saw
where bits of churches And bits of horses lay。
We saw bleak desolation； We saw no unscathed tree。 We shivered in
our comfort And murmured： 〃Can it be！〃
But later； walking homeward； Repeating： 〃Is it true？〃 We brushed a
khaki shoulder And asked no more。 We knew！
RUTH LAMBERT JONES
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AN OLD SONG
WHEN I was but a young lad； And that is long ago； I thought that luck
loved every man； And time his only foe； And love was like a hawthorn
bush That blossomed every May； And had but to choose his flower； For
that's the young lad's way。
Oh； youth's a thriftless squanderer； It's easy come and spent； And
heavy is the going now Where once the light foot went。 The hawthorn
bush puts on its white； The throstle whistles clear； But Spring comes once
for every man Just once in all the year。
ARTHUR KETCHUM
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ROADSIDE REST
SUCH quiet sleep has come to them！ The Springs and Autumns pass；
Nor do they know if it be snow Or daisies in the grass。
All day the birches bend to hear The river's undertone； Across the hush
a fluting thrush Sings even…song alone。
But down their dream there drifts no sound； The winds may sob and
stir： On the still breast of Peace they rest And they are glad of her。
They ask not any giftthey mind Nor any foot that fares； Unheededly
life passes by… Such quiet sleep is theirs。
ARTHUR KETCHUM
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OLD LIZETTE ON SLEEP
BED is the boon for me！ It's well to bake and sweep； But hear the
word of old Lizette： It's better than all to sleep。
Summer and flowers are gay； And morning light and dew； But aged
eyelids love the dark Where never a light peeps through。
What！open…eyed； my dears？ T
