Emotions and Feelings

To confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, rebuffs, as the trees and animals do.

But me they’ll lash in hammock, drop me deep. Fathoms down, fathoms down, how I’ll dream fast asleep. I feel it stealing now. Sentry, are you there? Just ease these darbies [manacles] at the wrist, And roll me over fair! I am sleepy, and the oozy weeds about me twist.

Ah, why should tears the pale cheek fret For aught that waneth here below. Let go, let go!

If Luther’s day expand to Darwin’s year, Shall that exclude the hope—foreclose the fear?

Foemen at morn, but friends at eve— Fame or country least their care: (What like a bullet can undeceive!)

When I was a beggarly boy, And lived in a cellar damp, I had not a friend nor a toy, But I had Aladdin’s lamp.

And what is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days.

The nurse of full-grown souls is solitude.

O may I join the choir invisible Of those immortal dead who live again In minds made better by their presence.

And almost everyone when age, Disease, or sorrows strike him, Inclines to think there is a God, Or something very like Him.

A solitary sail that rises White in the blue mist on the foam— What is it in far lands it prizes? What does it leave behind at home?

It’s a fact the whole world knows, That Pobbles are happier without their toes.

The Pobble who has no toes Had once as many as we; When they said, “Some day you may lose them all”— He replied, “Fish fiddle-de-dee!”

“I would be your wife most gladly!” (Here she twirled her fingers madly),

How pleasant to know Mr. Lear! Who has written such volumes of stuff! Some think him ill-tempered and queer, But a few think him pleasant enough.

There was an Old Man with a beard, Who said: “It is just as I feared! Two owls and a hen, Four larks and a wren Have all built their nests in my beard.”

Never the time and the place And the loved one all together!

Have you found your life distasteful? My life did and does smack sweet. Was your youth of pleasure wasteful? Mine I saved and hold complete. Do your joys with age diminish? When mine fail me, I’ll complain. Must in death your daylight finish? My sun sets to rise again.

Have you found your life distasteful? My life did and does smack sweet. Was your youth of pleasure wasteful? Mine I saved and hold complete. Do your joys with age diminish? When mine fail me, I’ll complain. Must in death your daylight finish? My sun sets to rise again.

That far land we dream about, Where every man is his own architect.

Through such souls alone God stooping shows sufficient of His light For us i’ the dark to rise by. And I rise.

’Twas a thief said the last kind word to Christ: Christ took the kindness and forgave the theft.

O Lyric Love, half angel and half bird, And all a wonder and a wild desire.

Fear death?—to feel the fog in my throat, The mist in my face.