Section: «Poems»
Verse (ancient Greek ὁ στίχος — row, structure), a term in versification used in several meanings:
artistic speech organized by division into rhythmically commensurate segments; poetry in the narrow sense; in particular, it implies the properties of versification of a particular tradition ("antique verse", "Akhmatova's verse", etc.);
a line of poetic text organized according to a certain rhythmic pattern ("My uncle of the most honest rules").
The Conqueror
Not the Prussian, the forsworn,By whose fury overborne,Martyred Belgium, you lieBruised with all injury.Through your peace red paths he..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The End Of May
THE fragrant air is full of down,Of floating, fleecy thingsFrom some forgotten fairy townWhere all the folk wear wings.Or else the snowflakes, soft..
© Katharine Lee Bates
To Canada
OUR neighbor of the undefended bound,Friend of the hundred years of peace, our kin,Fellow adventurer on the enchanted groundOf the New World, must..
© Katharine Lee Bates
To Peace
THE cup, the ruby cupWhence anguish drips,At last is lifted upAgainst our lips.Though we, till seas run dry,Your lovers are,How can we put it by,Red..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Marching Feet
THESE August nights, hushed but for drowsy peepOf fledglings, tremble with a strange vibration,A sound too far for hearing, sullen, dire,Shaking the..
© Katharine Lee Bates
When Cap'N Tom Comes Home
WHEN Cap'n Tom comes home, and his sea chestIs opened, oh, the shells that rainbow foamTossed on far shores, by us to be possessedWhen Cap'n Tom..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The Submarine That Sank The
SPINDRIFT white shall her victims standOn the ivory quay, untrodBy living feet, when she nears Ghoststrand,To point her out to God.The Babies Of The..
© Katharine Lee Bates
To Italy
BRIGHT valor, smitten by so shrewd a blow,Drooping thy golden wing like wounded plover,What great, grieved faces o'er the battle hover,Patriot..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The Thracian Stone
'The faieries gave him the propertie of the Thracian stone; for who toucheth it is exempted from griefe.'The fairies to his cradle came to play their..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Matthew Arnold On Hearing Him Read His Poems In Boston
A stranger, schooled to gentle arts,He stept before the curious throng;His path into our waiting heartsAlready paved by song.Full well we knew his..
© Katharine Lee Bates
In August
BESIDE the country road with truant graceWild carrot lifts its circles of white lace.From vines whose interwoven branches drapeThe old stone walls..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The Sunset, Woven Of Soft Lights
THE sunset, woven of soft lightsAnd tender colors, lingers late,As looking back on all day's dreary plights,Compassionate;— The foolish day of hopes..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The Least Of These
THE wolf of want is howlingAt doors no angel keeps.Young Mary smiled on her Holy Child,But many a mother weeps.The Kings of the East brought..
© Katharine Lee Bates
To Our President
HOPE of the Nations, lift thy stricken heart.Thyself art Sorrow, and to thee the cryOf battle-anguish comes more piercinglyThan even in those months..
© Katharine Lee Bates
The U-Boat Crew
ALAS, alas for those blond boys who stalkTheir prey in ambush of the shuddering seas,Whiling the wait with merry, tender talkOf some dear knot of..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Pity Of It, The
I. In South AfricaOver the lonesome African plainThe stars look down, like eyes of the slain.A bumping ride across gullies and ruts,Now a grumble and..
© Katharine Lee Bates
What Is Christ?
IOH, what is Christ, that we should call on Him?Wasted Armenia, in her utter woe,Dies in the mocking desert, calling so.Hyænas tear her children limb..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Waywise
THE darkest wood that the north-wind stingsHath its balsamum and its silverlings,Its violet interspace.The bitterest sea that the wan moon knowsHath..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Yellow Clover
Must I, who walk alone,Come on it still,This Puck of plantsThe wise would do away with,The sunshine slantsTo play with,Our wee, gold-dusty flower..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Yellow Warblers
The first faint dawn was flushing up the skiesWhen, dreamland still bewildering mine eyes,I looked out to the oak that, winter-long,-- a winter wild..
© Katharine Lee Bates
How Long?
How long, O Prince of Peace, how long? We sicken of the shameOf this wild war that wraps the world, a roaring dragon-flameFed on earth's glorious..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Our Crown Of Praise
A PRAISE beyond all other praise of oursThis nation holds in jealous trust for himWho may approve himself, even in these dim,Swift days of destiny..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Great Twin Brethren, The
The battle will not ceaseTill once again on those white steeds ye ride,O heaven-descended Twins,Before humanity's bewildered host.Our javelinsFly..
© Katharine Lee Bates
Around The Sun
THE weazen planet Mercury,Whose song is done,— Rash heart that drew too nearHis dazzling lord the Sun!—Forgets that life was dear,So shriveled now..
© Katharine Lee Bates
His Bit
GALLANTLY swung the old carpenter up to his door,Drums and fifes in his tread,But softly he crossed the braided mats on the floor,Gently he stroked..
© Katharine Lee Bates