Oh, you grunts an’ groans an’ mumbles
    Case yo’ bones is full o’ col’,
  Dough you feels de joy a-tricklin’
    Roun’ de co’nahs of yo’ soul. 
  An’ you ’low anothah minute
    ‘S sho to git you wa’m an’ dryah,
  W’en you set up pas’ yo’ bedtime,
    Case you hates to leave de fiah.

  Whut’s de use o’ downright sleepin’? 
    You can’t feel it while it las’,
  An’ you git up feelin’ sorry
    W’en de time fu’ it is pas’. 
  Seem to me dat time too precious,
    An’ de houahs too short entiah,
  Fu’ to sleep, w’en you could spen’ ’em
    Des a-noddin’ by de fiah.

LOVE’S CASTLE

  Key and bar, key and bar,
    Iron bolt and chain! 
  And what will you do when the King comes
    To enter his domain?

  Turn key and lift bar,
    Loose, oh, bolt and chain! 
  Open the door and let him in,
    And then lock up again.

  But, oh, heart, and woe, heart,
    Why do you ache so sore? 
  Never a moment’s peace have you
    Since Love hath passed the door.

  Turn key and lift bar,
   And loose bolt and chain;
  But Love took in his esquire, Grief,
   And there they both remain.

MORNING SONG OF LOVE

  Darling, my darling, my heart is on the wing,
    It flies to thee this morning like a bird,
  Like happy birds in springtime my spirits soar and sing,
   The same sweet song thine ears have often heard.

  The sun is in my window, the shadow on the lea,
    The wind is moving in the branches green,
  And all my life, my darling, is turning unto thee,
    And kneeling at thy feet, my own, my queen.

  The golden bells are ringing across the distant hill,
    Their merry peals come to me soft and clear,
  But in my heart’s deep chapel all incense-filled and still
    A sweeter bell is sounding for thee, dear.

  The bell of love invites thee to come and seek the shrine
    Whose altar is erected unto thee,
  The offerings, the sacrifice, the prayers, the chants are thine,
    And I, my love, thy humble priest will be.

ON A CLEAN BOOK

TO F. N.

  Like sea-washed sand upon the shore,
    So fine and clean the tale,
  So clear and bright I almost see,
    The flashing of a sail.

  The tang of salt is in its veins,
    The freshness of the spray
  God give you love and lore and strength,
    To give us such alway.

TO THE EASTERN SHORE

  I ‘s feelin’ kin’ o’ lonesome in my little room to-night,
    An’ my min ‘s done los’ de minutes an’ de miles,
  Wile it teks me back a-flyin’ to de country of delight,
    Whaih de Chesapeake goes grumblin’ er wid smiles. 
      Oh, de ol’