Music and Other Poems   By: Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

By Henry van Dyke

To my son Tertius this book is dedicated

Transcribed from the book published October, 1904

by Charles Scribner's Sons.

CONTENTS

ODES Music Peace Victor Hugo God of the Open Air

SONNETS Work Life Love The Child in the Garden Love's Reason Portrait and Reality The Wind of Sorrow Patria

LEGENDS A Legend of Service The Vain King

LYRICS A Mile with Me Spring in the South Love's Nearness Two Schools A Prayer for a Mother's Birthday Indian Summer One World Hide and Seek Dulcis Memoria Autumn in the Garden The Message Light Between the Trees Reliance

GREETINGS AND INSCRIPTIONS Katrina's Sun dial To James Whitcomb Riley A Health to Mark Twain A Rondeau of College Rhymes The Mocking bird The Empty Quatrain Inscriptions for a Friend's House The Statue of Sherman by St. Gaudens The Sun dial at Wells College

ODES

MUSIC

I. PRELUDE

Daughter of Psyche, pledge of that last night When, pierced with pain and bitter sweet delight, She knew her Love and saw her Lord depart, Then breathed her wonder and her woe forlorn Into a single cry, and thou wast born? Thou flower of rapture and thou fruit of grief; Invisible enchantress of the heart; Mistress of charms that bring relief To sorrow, and to joy impart A heavenly tone that keeps it undefiled, Thou art the child Of Amor, and by right divine A throne of love is thine, Thou flower folded, golden girdled, star crowned Queen, Whose bridal beauty mortal eyes have never seen!

II

Thou art the Angel of the pool that sleeps, While peace and joy lie hidden in its deeps, Waiting thy touch to make the waters roll In healing murmurs round the weary soul. Ah, when wilt thou draw near, Thou messenger of mercy robed in song? My lonely heart has listened for thee long; And now I seem to hear Across the crowded market place of life, Thy measured foot fall, ringing light and clear Above the unmeaning noises and the unruly strife; In quiet cadence, sweet and slow, Serenely pacing to and fro, Thy far off steps are magical and dear. Ah, turn this way, come close and speak to me! From this dull bed of languor set my spirit free, And bid me rise, and let me walk awhile with thee

III

Where wilt thou lead me first? In what still region Of thy domain, Whose provinces are legion, Wilt thou restore me to myself again, And quench my heart's long thirst? I pray thee lay thy golden girdle down, And put away thy starry crown: For one dear restful hour Assume a state more mild. Clad only in thy blossom broidered gown That breathes familiar scent of many a flower, Take the low path that leads thro' pastures green; And though thou art a Queen, Be Rosamund awhile, and in thy bower, By tranquil love and simple joy beguiled, Sing to my soul, as mother to her child.

IV

O lead me by the hand, And let my heart have rest, And bring me back to childhood land, To find again the long lost band Of playmates blithe and blest.

Some quaint, old fashioned air, That all the children knew, Shall run before us everywhere, Like a little maid with flying hair, To guide the merry crew.

Along the garden ways We chase the light foot tune, And in and out the flowery maze, With eager haste and fond delays, In pleasant paths of June.