The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-09-28
STATIONS POEMS.


1 would I had a rhyme wherewith to robe
The fair October,
But rhyme on rhyme my fancy vaihly
weayes:-
At hide and seek in her red realm OF leaves
/ cannot paint her melancholy, sober
The glad October!
Even glad,
Though all the worlds wan singers call her
sad.
And sorrowful and wise.
While her complaining eyes
DrOop in a mournful misti
But l have seen her cheek, by sunlight
kissed,
Wear the wild peach's bloom.
The while each wind-blOwn tress
Fell from her forehead, cleaning in the
gloom
With uniInagined light and loveliness!
Through rosy-petaled hours
OF summer. when for WEAKNESS the flowers
Sank from the fierce suns sight
Dreaming of star-trysts In the cool twilight
And w-plashed bowers
OF unseen spirits of the violet night
Far off she felt the red-rose at her lips.
And thrilled the thorn's blood to her I'M
ger tips;
The slow sap sculpturing the veiny leaf.
The gold grain climbing sunward TO tho
sheaf.-
The breath and death Of Ilies-thess she
knew,
And in sweet secret places, under Diue
And kindly skies,
With pity in her eyes,
Wrought golden vesture-silken tapestries
To deck their death withal;
And many a coronal;
And fashioned her red leaves Into sea
To ripple round their gravesi
Tears. but the light OF tearsl
\ moment mourns she for the dying years
sylph-Iike through crimson woodlands. in
the embrace
or rival winds that toss about her face
Her shiny ringlets. clamoring to sip
The red VINE of her lip!
And in the gathered glory Of the day,
As frOlcsome a fay,
Vending her glorious and golden way
To gorgeous groves. apparelled as with
May,
I would I had a rhyme wherewith TO robe
The fair October.
But rhyme on rhyme my fancy vainiy
In red recesses of her realm Of leaves
l do not find her acknowledgements
TIE glad October.
The Flag of the First Brigade.
/ (After Bret)
/ "This is the flag Of the First Brigade,
The captain said with pride;
As the stranger gaZed on the stars that
blazed.
And the crimson stripes and wide.
And thought Of the brave
Who had found q grave
/ Who had fought for the flag and-diedi
| And he faItered: How nany-how many
| fell
Meath its folds. in the lannon's roar?
/ How many bled in the battle red.
And the flag to victory boreE
Said the captain. "Nonel
! IT'S the flag my son.
OF the first brigade since the war;
Red, reeking Woodlands:
| Leaves that incaTnadine the air:
/ Spiashes Of crimson on the void
Mute. but eloquent DEATH
The cardinal Autumn in robes
| OF scarlet.
| Saving a mass for the soul
OF the red, retreating Year
The Autumn Beggars-
| Nv love was in q leggars dress
When forth-away we went
1 To seek a world of loneliness
And plenty, and content
| and thou" 7 said. "a queen shalt be
And wear a purple robe for me-"
She marveled with her hand in mtne.
And unused along the way
That she should wear a robe so fine,
Nor ask a rose Of May.
But still I counseled: Thou shalt wear
The robes that queens have found most
fair"
Then on the borders OF a land
All prodigal Of gold
A lavish king with courtiers grand,
Wonders of wealth unrOlled.
And king and coUrtier, crowned and sweet
Laid their rich robes at my loves feet.
OF gold she wore a coronet,
And scarlet did combine
With velvet of the violet
IN dresses silkeu fine.
Nor did the king and cOurtiers stay
To strew with gold her cleaning way!
And she was queen, and was king;
A rcyel did We hold.
! And TO each beggar shiyering
We gave a garD OF gold.
And on each starving field and town
/ Came unCreamed riches raining down.
Ny love was I'm q begEars dress,
But the kind God doth right;
He giveth Joy for wrerchednesS
And coins the dark TO light.
So dwell we meath Ills autumn sky
T4e~a rx-hora. His ero7far kingdoms Iiaf