Yesterdays Part 21

It all comes back like a flowing tide; That brief, but beautiful day.

Though it oft is checked by the dam of pride, Till the waters flow back to the other side, To-night it has broken away.

I gave you all that I had to give, O love, the lavish whole.

And you threw it away, and now I live A starved and beggared soul.

And I feed on crumbs that memory throws From her table over-filled, And I lay awake when others repose, And slake my thirst when no one knows, With the wine that she has spilled.

I go my way and I do my part In the world's great scene of strife, But I do it all with an empty heart, Dead to the best of life.

And ofttimes weary and tempest tossed, When I am not ruled by pride, I wish ere the die was throne and lost, Ere I played for love without counting the cost, That I, like my heart, had died.

AN OLD BOUQUET

I opened a long closed drawer to-day, And among the souvenirs stored away Were the faded leaves of an old bouquet.

Those faded leaves were as white as snow, With a background of green, to make them show, When you gave them to me long years ago.

They carried me back in a flash of light To a perfumed, perfect summer night, And a rider who came on a steed of white.

I can see it all--how you rode down Like a knight of old, from the dusty town, With a pa.s.sionate glow in your eyes of brown.

Again I stand by the garden gate, While the golden sun slips low, and wait And watch your coming, my love, my fate.

Young and handsome and debonair You leap to my side in the garden there, And I take your flowers, and call them fair.

Out of the west the glory dies, As we stand under the sunset skies, With love in our hearts, and love in our eyes.

Love too tender and love too great To die with death, or to yield to fate; But your restless steed tells the hour is late.

You mount him again and you ride away Into the west that is growing gray.

Oh! turn the key on that dear bouquet.

It is dry and faded and I am old: And the hand that gave it is green with mould, And the winter of life is cold--so cold.

AT THE BRIDAL

Oh! but the bride was lovely, Oh! but the scene was bright, And why was the bridegroom's face as pale As his lady's robe of white?

Did you not see beside him A guest unasked, unbid?

Who came up the aisle with silent feet And gazed at him? he did!

He saw her eyes upon him, He felt her icy breath; And under the bride's warm clinging hand There crept the touch of death.

And above the low responses There fell upon his ear A voice forbidding the nuptial banns; But no one else could hear.

And when the ring was given, And when the prayer was said, He knew, as he led his bride away, That he was not truly wed.

And while they sat at the banquet, And mirth flowed like the wine, A dead girl's voice hissed in his ear, 'You are not hers, but mine.'

Oh! never beside his hearthstone, And never in any place, Shall he be free from the haunting thought Of that accusing face.

BEST

In the gruesome night and the wintry weather, I watched two dear friends die, And I buried them both in one grave together.

Oh! who is so sad as I?

For the old love, and the old year, They both have pa.s.sed away; And I never can find the old cheer Come what will or may.

I heard the bell in the tall church steeple Clang out a joyful strain.

And I thought, 'Of all the great world's people, I have the bitterest pain.'

For the old year was a good year, And the old love was sweet; And how could my heart hold any cheer When both lay dead at my feet.

Life may smile and the skies may brighten, Winter will pa.s.s with its snows; Grief will wane and the burden lighten-- And June will come with the rose.

But it cannot bring the old cheer To fill my empty breast; For the old year was the one year, And the old love was best.