第 8 节
作者:
僻处自说 更新:2021-02-21 12:01 字数:9322
in futile anger at The wind wolves of the air。
I thought the house abandoned; and I ran to get inside; When suddenly
the old front door was opened and flung wide
And she stood there; with hand on knob; As I went swiftly in; Then
closed the door most softly on The storm and shrieking din。
A space I stood and looked at her; So young; 'twas passing strange
That fifty years or more had gone And brought no new style's change。
The sweetness; daintiness of her In starched and dotted gown Of
creamy whiteness; over hoops; With ruffles winding down!
We had not much to say; and yet Of words I felt no lack; Her smiles
slipped into dimples; stopped A moment; then dropped back。
I felt her pride of race; her taste In silken rug and chair; And quaintly
fashioned furniture Of patterns old and rare。
On window sill a rose bush stood; 'Twas bringing rose to bud; One full
bloomed there but yesterday; Dropped petals; red as blood。
Quite soon; she asked to be excused For just a moment; and Went out;
returning with a tray In either slender hand。
My glance could not but linger on Each thin and lovely cup; 〃This
came; dear thing; from home!〃 she sighed The while she raised it up。
And when the storm was done and I Arose; reluctantly To go; she too
was loath to have Me go; it seemed to me。
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When I reached old Joe Webber's place; Upon the Corner Road; I went
into the Upper Field Where Joe; round…shouldered; hoed
Potatoes; culling them with hoe And practised; calloused hand; In
rounded piles that brownly glowed Upon the fresh…turned land。
〃Say; Joe;〃 I said; 〃who is that girl With beauty's smiling charm; That
lives beyond that hemlock growth; On that old grown…up farm?〃
Joe listened; while I told him where I'd been that afternoon; Then
straightened from his hoe; and hummed; Before he spoke; a tune 〃They
cum ter thet old place ter live Some sixty years ago; Jest where they cum
from; who they ware; Wy; no one got to know。
〃An' then; one day; he hired Hen's Red racker an' the gig; We never
heard from him nor could We track the hoss or rig。
〃Hen waited 'bout a week; an' then He went ter see the Wife; He found
her in thet settin' room: She'd taken of her life。
〃An' no one's lived in thet house sence; Some say 'tis haunted;…but I
ain't no use fer foolishness; So all I say's tut! tut!〃
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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CROSS…CURRENTS
THEY wrapped my soul in eiderdown; They placed me warm and
snug In carved chair; set me with care Upon an old prayer rug。
They cased my feet in golden shoes That hurt at toe and heel; My
restless feet; with youth all fleet; Nor asked how they might feel。
And now they wonder where I am; And search with shrill; cold cry;
But I crouch low where tall reeds grow; And smile as they pass by!
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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THE FAREWELL
WHAT is more beautiful Than thought; soul…fed; That I may be the
crimson of a rose When dead?
My soul; so light a joy And grief will be; That it will gently press the
brown earth down On me。
WINIFRED VIRGINIA JACKSON
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SONG
LET me be great; as stars are great; Singing of love; not of hate。
Love for sweet and simple things; Like clouds and sea…shell
whisperings;
Cool autumn winds; pale dew…kissed flowers; Thin coils of smoke and
granite towers;
Snow…capped mountain peaks that flash High above a river's crash;
Shrill songs of birds and children's laughter; Soft grey shadows trailing
after
Sunbeam sprites that seek the woods And lose themselves in solitudes。
All these I'll love; never hate; And loving them; I will be great。
OLIVER JENKINS
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LOVE AUTUMNAL
MY love will come in autumn…time When leaves go spinning to the
ground And wistful stars in heaven chime With the leaves' sound。
Then; we shall walk through dusty lanes And pause beneath low…
hanging boughs; And there; while soft…hued beauty reigns We'll make our
vows。
Let others seek in spring for sighs When love flames forth from every
seed; But love that blooms when nature dies Is love indeed!
OLIVER JENKINS
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ECHOS
TRAVELING at dusk the noisy city street; I listened to the newsboys'
strident cries Of 〃Extra;〃 as with flying feet; They strove to gain this man
or that…their prize。 But one there was with neither shout nor stride; And;
having bought from him; I stood nearby; Pondering the cruel crutches at
his side; Blaming the crowd's neglect; and wondering why…
When suddenly I heard a gruff voice greet The cripple with 〃On time
to…night?〃 Then; as he handed out the sheet; The Youngster's answer…
〃You're all right。 My other reg'lars are a little late。 They'll find I'm short
one paper when they come; You see; a strange guy bought one in the wait;
I tho't 'twould cheer him up…he looked so glum!〃
So; sheepishly I laughed; and went my way For I had found a city's
heart that day。
RUTH LAMBERT JONES
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WAR PICTURES
〃GERMAN Retreat From Arras〃 〃Official Films〃…they came After
〃Corinne and Her Minstrels〃 Had ministered to fame。
After 〃Corinne and Her Minstrels〃 Had pigeon…toed away; We saw
where bits of churches And bits of horses lay。
We saw bleak desolation; We saw no unscathed tree。 We shivered in
our comfort And murmured: 〃Can it be!〃
But later; walking homeward; Repeating: 〃Is it true?〃 We brushed a
khaki shoulder And asked no more。 We knew!
RUTH LAMBERT JONES
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AN OLD SONG
WHEN I was but a young lad; And that is long ago; I thought that luck
loved every man; And time his only foe; And love was like a hawthorn
bush That blossomed every May; And had but to choose his flower; For
that's the young lad's way。
Oh; youth's a thriftless squanderer; It's easy come and spent; And
heavy is the going now Where once the light foot went。 The hawthorn
bush puts on its white; The throstle whistles clear; But Spring comes once
for every man Just once in all the year。
ARTHUR KETCHUM
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ROADSIDE REST
SUCH quiet sleep has come to them! The Springs and Autumns pass;
Nor do they know if it be snow Or daisies in the grass。
All day the birches bend to hear The river's undertone; Across the hush
a fluting thrush Sings even…song alone。
But down their dream there drifts no sound; The winds may sob and
stir: On the still breast of Peace they rest And they are glad of her。
They ask not any giftthey mind Nor any foot that fares; Unheededly
life passes by… Such quiet sleep is theirs。
ARTHUR KETCHUM
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OLD LIZETTE ON SLEEP
BED is the boon for me! It's well to bake and sweep; But hear the
word of old Lizette: It's better than all to sleep。
Summer and flowers are gay; And morning light and dew; But aged
eyelids love the dark Where never a light peeps through。
What!open…eyed; my dears? T