Excerpt from Midland Poems

To My Wife.

O might October days but linger -
Linger and lengthen without surcease,
The fading glory fade ever, and fling her
Mystic mantle in charmed peace
On woodland, and prairie, and sunlight splendor -
How sweet were dreaming 'mid scenes so tender

The low winds murmuring and moving,
Like spirits aimless in Edens vast,
Should weave fair legends of happy loving -
The long, dim story of all the past:
And, sweetest by far to thee and me,
The lyrical voices, of chivalry.

But autumn days of peace are waning:
The far horizon grows sharp and cold:
The keen winds utter but shrill complaining -
Harsh tune for themes of the days of old.
So I must sing, if I sing at all,
Of things unwelcome that now befall.

I bring you songs to fit the weather -
Tales, whose sad burden is grief to me:
Perchance, ere long, we may roam together,
'Mid knights and ladies of high degree,
Where lordly castles tower o'er the hills,
And olden beauty the dream-land fills.

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