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ANTHOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS POETS
sen'night。〃 As I read it in the white morning sunlight。 The letters squirmed
like snakes。 〃Any answer； Madam；〃 said my footman。 〃No；〃 I told him。
〃See that the messenger takes some refreshment。 No； no answer。〃 And I
walked into the garden； Up and down the patterned paths； In my stiff；
correct brocade。 The blue and yellow flowers stood up proudly in the sun；
Each one。 I stood upright too； Held rigid to the pattern By the stiffness of
my gown。 Up and down I walked； Up and down。
In a month be would have been my husband； In a month； here；
underneath this lime； We would have broke the pattern； He for me； and I
for him； He as Colonel； I as lady； On this shady seat。 He had a whim That
sunlight carried blessing。 And I answered； 〃It shall be as you have said。〃
Now he is dead。
In Summer and in Winter I shall walk Up and down The patterned
garden paths In my stiff； brocaded gown。 The squills and the daffodils Will
give place to pillared roses； and to asters； and to snow。
I shall go Up and down； In my gown。 Gorgeously arrayed； Boned and
stayed。 And the softness of my body will be guarded from embrace By
each button； hook and lace。 For the man who should loose me is dead；
Fighting with the Duke in Flanders； In a pattern called a war。 Christ！ What
are patterns for？
AMY LOWELL
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ANTHOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS POETS
A BATHER
THICK dappled by circles of sunshine and fluttering shade。 Your
bright； naked body advances； blown over by leaves； Half…quenched in
their various green； just a point Of you showing； A knee or a thigh； sudden
glimpsed； then at once Blotted into The filmy and flickering forest； to start
out again Triumphant in smooth； supple roundness； edged Sharp as white
ivory； Cool； perfect； with rose rarely tinting your lips and Your breasts；
Swelling out from the green in the opulent curves Of ripe fruit； And
hidden； like fruit； by the swift intermittence Of leaves。 So； clinging to
branches and moss； you advance on the ledges Of rock which hang over
the stream； with the wood…smells about you； The pungence of strawberry
plants and of gum… oozing spruces； While below runs the water impatient；
impatient… to take you； To splash you； to run down your sides； to sing you
of deepness； Of pools brown and golden； with brown…and…gold flags on
their borders； Of blue； lingering skies floating solemnly over your beauty；
Of undulant waters a…sway in the effort to hold you
To keep you submerged and quiescent while over you glories The
summer。 Oread； Dryad； or Naiad； or just Woman； clad only in youth and in
gallant perfection； Standing up in a great burst of sunshine； you dazzle my
eyes Like a snow…star； a moon； your effulgence burns up in a halo； For you
are the chalice which holds all the races of men。 You slip into the pool and
the water folds over your shoulder； And over the tree…tops the clouds
slowly follow your swimming； To behold the way they act。 And the scent
of the woods is sweet on this hot summer morning。
AMY LOWELL
LEPRECHAUNS AND CLURICAUNS OVER where the Irish
hedges Are with blossoms white as snow； Over where the limestone ledges
Through the soft green grasses show… There the fairies may be seen In
their jackets of red and green； Leprechauns and cluricauns； And the other
ones； I ween。
And； bedad； it is a wonder To behold the way they act。 They're the lads
that seldom blunder； Wise and wary； that's the fact。 You may hold them
with your eye； Look away and off they fly； Leprechauns and cluricauns；
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Bedad； but they are sly！
They have heaps of golden treasure Hid away within the ground；
Where they spend their days in leisure； And where fairy joys abound； But
to mortals not a guinea Will they give…no； not a penny。 Leprechauns and
cluricauns； Their gold is seldom found。
Maybe of a morning early As you pass a lonely rath； You may see a
little curly… Headed fairy in your path。 He'll be working at a shoe；
But he'll have his eye on you… Leprechauns and cluricauns； They know
just what to do。
Visions of a life of riches Surely will before you flash； （You'll no
longer dig the ditches； You'll be well supplied with cash。） And you'll seize
the little man； And you'll hold himif you can； Leprechauns and
cluricauns； 'Tis they're the slipp'ry clan！
DENIS A。 MCCARTHY
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ANTHOLOGY OF MASSACHUSETTS POETS
L'ENVOI
WHEN the time for parting comes； and the day is on the wane； And
the silent evening darkens over hill and over plain； And earth holds no
more sorrow； no more grief； and no more pain； Shall we weary for the
battle and the strife？
When at last the trail is ending； and the stars are growing near； And we
breathe the breath of conquest； and the voices that we hear Are the great
companions' voices that have hallowed year on year； Shall we know an
instant's grieving as we pass？
Shall we pause a fleeting moment ere we grasp the eager hands； Take
one last long look of wonder at the dimming of the lands； Love the earth
one glowing moment ere we pass from its demands； Cull all beauty in its
essence as we gaze？
Or with not one backward longing shall we leap the last abyss； Scale
the highest crags glad…hearted； fearful only lest the bliss Of an earth…
remembering instant should delay the great sun's kiss… Consuming us
within the flame？
DOROTHEA LAWRENCE MANN
TO IMAGINATION SUGGESTED BY MAXFIELD PARRISH'S
〃AIR CASTLES〃
O BEAUTEOUS boy a…dream； what visions sought Of pictures
magical thy eyes unfold； What triumphs of celestial wonders wrought；
What marvels from a breath of beauty rolled！ Skyward and seaward on the
clouds are scrolled； A mystic imagery of castled thought； A thousand
worlds to lose；or win and mould A radiant iridescence swiftly caught
Of