（None knoweth the harbor as he！）
To lie where the slow tide creeps hither and fro
And the shifting sand laps me around； for I know
That my gallant old crew are in Port long ago
For ever at peace with the sea！
Quebec
1608…1908
Of old； like Helen； guerdon of the strong
Like Helen fair； like Helen light of word；
〃The spoils unto the conquerors belong。
Who winneth me must win me by the sword。〃
Grown old； like Helen； once the jealous prize
That strong men battled for in savage hate；
Can she look forth with unregretful eyes；
Where sleep Montcalm and Wolfe beside her gate？
Then and Now
Beneath her window in the fragrant night
I half forget how truant years have flown
Since I looked up to see her chamber…light；
Or catch； perchance； her slender shadow thrown
Upon the casement； but the nodding leaves
Sweep lazily across the unlit pane；
And to and fro beneath the shadowy eaves；
Like restless birds； the breath of coming rain
Creeps； lilac…laden； up the village street
When all is still； as if the very trees
Were listening for the coming of her feet
That come no more； yet； lest I weep； the breeze
Sings some forgotten song of those old years
Until my heart grows far too glad for tears。
Unsolved
Amid my books I lived the hurrying years；
Disdaining kinship with my fellow man；
Alike to me were human smiles and tears；
I cared not whither Earth's great life…stream ran；
Till as I knelt before my mouldered shrine；
God made me look into a woman's eyes；
And I； who thought all earthly wisdom mine；
Knew in a moment that the eternal skies
Were measured but in inches； to the quest
That lay before me in that mystic gaze。
〃Surely I have been errant： it is best
That I should tread； with men their human ways。〃
God took the teacher； ere the task was learned；
And to my lonely books again I turned。
The Hope of My Heart
〃Delicta juventutis et ignorantius ejus； quoesumus ne memineris； Domine。〃
I left； to earth； a little maiden fair；
With locks of gold； and eyes that shamed the light；
I prayed that God might have her in His care
And sight。
Earth's love was false； her voice； a siren's song；
（Sweet mother…earth was but a lying name）
The path she showed was but the path of wrong
And shame。
〃Cast her not out！〃 I cry。 God's kind words come
〃Her future is with Me； as was her past；
It shall be My good will to bring her home
At last。〃
Penance
My lover died a century ago；
Her dear heart stricken by my sland'rous breath；
Wherefore the Gods forbade that I should know
The peace of death。
Men pass my grave； and say； 〃'Twere well to sleep；
Like such an one； amid the uncaring dead！〃
How should they know the vigils that I keep；
The tears I shed？
Upon the grave； I count with lifeless breath；
Each night； each year； the flowers that bloom and die；
Deeming the leaves； that fall to dreamless death；
More blest than I。
'Twas just last year I heard two lovers pass
So near； I caught the tender words he said：
To…night the rain…drenched breezes sway the grass
Above his head。
That night full envious of his life was I；
That youth and love should stand at his behest；
To…night； I envy him； that he should lie
At utter rest。
Slumber Songs
I
Sleep； little eyes
That brim with childish tears amid thy play；
Be comforted！ No grief of night can weigh
Against the joys that throng thy coming day。
Sleep； little heart！
There is no place in Slumberland for tears：
Life soon enough will bring its chilling fears
And sorrows that will dim the after years。
Sleep； little heart！
II
Ah； little eyes
Dead blossoms of a springtime long ago；
That life's storm crushed and left to lie below
The benediction of the falling snow！
Sleep； little heart
That ceased so long ago its frantic beat！
The years that come and go with silent feet
Have naught to tell save this that rest is sweet。
Dear little heart。
The Oldest Drama
〃It fell on a day； that he went out to his father to the reapers。
And he said unto his father； My head； my head。 And he said to a lad；
Carry him to his mother。 And 。 。 。 he sat on her knees till noon；
and then died。 And she went up； and laid him on the bed。 。 。 。
And shut the door upon him and went out。〃
Immortal story that no mother's heart
Ev'n yet can read； nor feel the biting pain
That rent her soul！ Immortal not by art
Which makes a long past sorrow sting again
Like grief of yesterday： but since it said
In simplest word the truth which all may see；
Where any mother sobs above her dead
And plays anew the silent tragedy。
Recompense
I saw two sowers in Life's field at morn；
To whom came one in angel guise and said；
〃Is it for labour that a man is born？
Lo： I am Ease。 Come ye and eat my bread！〃
Then gladly one forsook his task undone
And with the Tempter went his slothful way；
The other toiled until the setting sun
With stealing shadows blurred the dusty day。
Ere harvest time； upon earth's peaceful breast
Each laid him down among the unreaping dead。
〃Labour hath other recompense than rest；
Else were the toiler like the fool；〃 I said；
〃God meteth him not less； but rather more
Because he sowed and others reaped his store。〃
Mine Host
There stands a hostel by a travelled way；
Life is the road and Death the worthy host；
Each guest he greets； nor ever lacks to say；
〃How have ye fared？〃 They answer him； the most；
〃This lodging place is other than we sought；
We had intended farther； but the gloom
Came on apace； and found us ere we thought：
Yet will we lodge。 Thou hast abundant room。〃
Within sit haggard men that speak no word；
No fire gleams their cheerful welcome shed；
No voice of fellowship or strife is heard
But silence of a multitude of dead。
〃Naught can I offer ye；〃 quoth Death； 〃but rest！〃
And to his chamber leads each tired guest。
Equality
I saw a King； who spent his life to weave
Into a nation all his great heart thought；
Unsatisfied until he should achieve
The grand ideal that his manhood sought；
Yet as he saw the end within his reach；
Death took the sceptre from his failing hand；
And all men said； 〃He gave his life to teach
The task of honour to a sordid land！〃
Within his gates I saw； through all those years；
One at his humble toil with cheery face；
Whom （being dead） the children； half in tears；
Remembered oft； and missed him from his place。
If he be greater that his people blessed
Than he the children loved； God knoweth best。
Anarchy
I saw a city filled with lust and shame；
Where men； like wolves； slunk through the grim half…light；
And sudden； in the midst of it； there came
One who spoke boldly for the cause of Right。
And speaking； fell before that brutish race
Like some poor wren that shrieking eagles tear；
While brute Dishonour； with her bloodless face
Stood by and smote his lips that moved in prayer。
〃Speak not of God！ In centuries that word
Hath not been uttered！ Our own king are we。〃
And God stretched forth his finger as He heard
And o'er it cast a thousand leagues of sea。
Disarmament
One spake amid the nations； 〃Let us cease
From darkening with strife the fair World's light；
We who are great in war be great in peace。
No longer let us plead the cause by might。〃
But from a million British graves took birth
A silent voice the million spake as one
〃If ye have righted all the wrongs of earth
Lay by the sword！ Its work and ours is done。〃
The Dead Master
Amid earth's vagrant noises； he caught the note sublime：
To…day around him surges from the silences of Time
A flood of nobler music； like a river deep and broad；
Fit song for heroes gathered in the banquet…hall of God。
The Harvest of the Sea
The earth grows white with harvest； all day long
The sickles gleam； until the darkness weaves
Her web of silence o'er the thankful song
Of reapers bringing home the golden sheaves。
The wave tops whiten on the sea fields drear；
And men go forth at haggard dawn to reap；
But ever 'mid the gleaners' song we hear
The half…hushed sobbing of the hearts that weep。
The Dying of Pere Pierre
〃。 。 。 with two other priests； the same night he died；
and was buried by the shores of the lake that bears his name。〃
Chronicle。
〃Nay； grieve not that ye can no honour give
To these poor bones that presently must be
But carrion； since I have sought to live
Upon God's earth； as He hath guided me；
I shall not lack！ Where would ye have me lie？
High heaven is higher than cathedral nave：
Do men paint chancels fairer than the sky？〃
Beside the darkened lake they made his grave；
Below the altar of the hills； and night
Swung incense clouds of mist in creeping lines
That twisted through the tree…trunks； where the light
Groped through the arches of the silent pines：
And he； beside the lonely path he trod；
Lay； tombed in splendour； in