‘Twas the dusky Hallowe’en — Hour of fairy and of wraith, When in many a dim-lit green, ‘Neath the stars’ prophetic sheen, As the olden legend saith, All the future may be seen, And when — an older story hath — Whate’er in life hath ever been Loveful, hopeful, or of wrath, Cometh back upon our path. I was dreaming in my room, ‘Mid the shadows,…
Singing-Bird By Abram Joseph Ryan
In the valley of my life Sings a “Singing-Bird”, And its voice thro’ calm and strife Is sweetly heard. In the day and thro’ the night …
Sentinel Songs By Abram Joseph Ryan
When falls the soldier brave, Dead at the feet of wrong, The poet sings and guards his grave With sentinels of song. Songs, march! he gives…
Sea Reverie By Abram Joseph Ryan
Strange Sea! why is it that you never rest? And tell me why you never go to sleep? Thou art like one so sad and sin-oppressed…
Sea Rest By Abram Joseph Ryan
Far from “where the roses rest”, Round the altar and the aisle, Which I loved, of all, the best — I have come to rest awhile By…
Sea Dreamings By Abram Joseph Ryan
To-day a bird on wings as white as foam That crests the blue-gray wave, With the vesper light upon its breast, flew home Seaward. The God who gave To…
Rhyme By Abram Joseph Ryan
One idle day — A mile or so of sunlit waves off shore — In a breezeless bay, We listless lay — Our boat a “dream of rest” on…
Reverie [“We laugh when our souls are the saddest,”] By Abram Joseph Ryan
We laugh when our souls are the saddest, We shroud all our griefs in a smile; Our voices may warble their gladdest, And our souls mourn…
Reverie [“Only a few more years!”] By Abram Joseph Ryan
Only a few more years! Weary years! Only a few more tears! Bitter tears! And then — and then — like other men, I cease to wander,…
Reunited By Abram Joseph Ryan
[Written after the yellow fever epidemic of 1878.] Purer than thy own white snow, Nobler than thy mountains’ height; Deeper than the ocean’s flow, Stronger than…