I might have stayed and made pretense That I was like the rest, And laughed and drunk and sung their songs As loudly as the best, And never have given an answer to, Not recognized my quest. Farewell, and onward! Piteous flight That leaves all friends behind, That hastes from old familiar scenes Where love was young and kind. Oh, petrified Sylvania, Where shall I others find? _LONELY HEART_ Where do you wander far and afield, Lonely heart? Lonely heart, where is your shield? Where are your rings and where is your purse? Love is expensive. It’s cheaper to curse. Where are your garments? Look at your shoes. Laughter or sorrow, which did you choose? Walking the streets, nights that are cold, Men who are wretched, men who are bold. Rooms in the shadows, Love me tonight, Love me and leave me before it grows bright. Don’t heed the sob of a heartbreak within. Hold me, and kiss me and teach me to sin! Into the quicksand, hungry and dark, Into the grotto, into the park, Into the depths of the tomb, it is said, Lovers have cast themselves, living and dead. Lonely heart, lonely heart, walking alone, Friendless and frantic, and turning to stone! _DREAMS_ If you’ve a dream at heart, lad, Some wilfull, noble plan, Then cherish it within, lad, And tell it to no man. To friend and foe alike be dumb On what you plan to do, And keep that secret chamber locked Until the work is through. For I had dreams at heart, boy, But talked them all away, And now I needs must start, boy, To dream anew today. _THE BUGLES CALLED_ We lay together, he and I, Upon a little hill, Beneath a tree that sheltered us, As trees so often will. I touched his hand and felt him stir, Expectancy of love! And then my lips poured out my heart, The things I told him of. But when his heart began to speak The bugles called to war And he arose and left me there. I never saw him more. _MORNING GUARD_ Where the old road meets the new road I stand the guard at morn, Where one comes winding down the hill, The other, through it torn. October’s friendly fingers dipped In every mellow shade Have touched the leaves on all the trees That stand within the glade. In distant treetops I behold, As I have seen in clouds, The faces of my heroes Or dead men in their shrouds. The marching columns pass me by, All sailor lads in blue. And some will wink, and some will smile, The way young fellows do. And overhead the deepening sky More bright and bluer flows, While one lone fleecy, sheeplike cloud Before the dog-wind goes.