"Thoughts in Loneliness"
A dark, half-ruined picture hung:
A small, old dame in black arrayed,—
A starched cap round her comely features clung.
And yonder woman, silently portrayed
On canvas dark, I saw when I was young,
She prayed my life might have a worthy goal.
And 'twas her picture, when all else was gone,
That still was left me, that alone.
Yon empty dwelling was my soul.
A small, old dame in black arrayed,—
A starched cap round her comely features clung.
And yonder woman, silently portrayed
On canvas dark, I saw when I was young,
She prayed my life might have a worthy goal.
And 'twas her picture, when all else was gone,
That still was left me, that alone.
Yon empty dwelling was my soul.
VIII.
Fame.
You seek for fame; but I would choose another
And greater blessing: so to be forgotten
That none should hear my name; no, not my mother.
Fame.
You seek for fame; but I would choose another
And greater blessing: so to be forgotten
That none should hear my name; no, not my mother.
IX.
Obedience.
Now even-song is ringing,
I ride to win me rest.
My steed, let us be springing
Out into the glowing west!
How glad among men my life would be,
Were not "Obey!" our A and Z!
Obedience.
Now even-song is ringing,
I ride to win me rest.
My steed, let us be springing
Out into the glowing west!
How glad among men my life would be,
Were not "Obey!" our A and Z!
If the world had one mouth like a great black well
And should cry as loud as a booming bell:
"Obey, or in fetters double
And should cry as loud as a booming bell:
"Obey, or in fetters double
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