Bird, canst thou fashion Song of things that grieve thee? Wave hast thou passion For things that will deceive thee? Bird and wave I leave ye! RONDEAU A Sunday-calm, ornate, profound, Enchanting sense, subduing sound, Enjoins its ritual to prepare; The day is bland with unctuous prayer That leaps to heaven at a bound. And bells ope throats in mellow round Of sweet antiphonal resound, And virtue glistens everywhere-- A Sunday-calm. Draw breath! Away to virgin ground! But where the fields are flower-crowned The cattle with self-conscious stare Chide my undeprecative air,-- Good heavens! Can they too have found A Sunday-calm? SUNSET BURIAL The trees upheaven filigrane fingers of desire To touch a ruby-throated cloud-face fanned By a bronze breath and globous mouth of fire; Beneath, the rigid gravestones stand, Each one a cadaver that cannot close its hand. FAIRY SONG I can live in a golden fruit Whose core is hung with honey; I can swing on golden wing In elfin ceremony-- But oh! for the power To open as a flower When the air is sunny! A YOUNG GIRL'S LOVE The season is less stubborn now; Over the youngling world we see A white sky full of scudding blue, A white wind that runneth as a child Touching most delicately the new Sweet buds, and having touched and smiled, Goes to seek out some pale anemone, And wreathe with maiden flowers her fragile brow. A YOUNG MAN'S LOVE If I were your sister I'd lie with you the night-long To feel your bosom's beating; If I were your brother I'd wake you with a day-song And give a kiss as greeting; If I were your mother I'd hold you as a shut flower When the dark comes creeping; If I were your father I'd enter at the dawn-hour To look upon you, sleeping. What is there left over For me, who am your lover? SONG A cup full of star-shine That glowed as an ember, (Oh, star of my delight!) With smiles I do remember And words forgotten quite, A cup full of star-shine I drank with you to-night. A cup full of sea-sound That was as summer thunder-- (Oh sea of my delight!) With love that lay under Seven heavens bright, A cup full of sea-sound I drank with you to-night. SONG (_After an old English tune_) I will bring thee a silver crown. I will bring thee an ell of vair, Cloth of gold and ermine rare To make thee a gown. Thou hast brought me a marble frown. Thou hast brought me a cold, cold stare, Heart of lead and wry despair, And a mad-man's swown.