“O Liberty, white Goddess! is it well to leave the gates unguarded? On thy breast fold Sorrow's children, soothe the hurts of Fate, lift the down-trodden, but with hand of steel stay those who to thy sacred portals come to waste the gifts of Freedom.” WellsChildrenHandsHurtWhiteLibertyFateSorrowWasteSacredLiftsBreastsGatesGoddessSteelFoldsPortal Book:The Writings of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: Poems Source: The Writings of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: Poems
“Though I be shut in darkness, and become insentient dust blown idly here and there, I count oblivion a scant price to pay for having once had held against my lip life's brimming cup of hydromel and rue--for having once known woman's holy love and a child's kiss, and for a little space been boon companion to the Day and Night, Fed on the odors of the summer dawn, and folded in the beauty of the stars. Dear Lord, though I be changed to senseless clay, and serve the potter as he turns his wheel, I thank Thee for the gracious gift of tears!” LifeChildrenLittlesNightTurnsStarsSpacePayKnownLordDarknessChangedTearsHolyKissingSummerLipsDearDustCupsTheeDawnWheelsFedsCompanionOblivionClayPottersHere And ThereGraciousDay And NightOdorBoonRueDear Lord Book:The Works of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: Poems Source: The Works of Thomas Bailey Aldrich: Poems
“Those forms we fancy shadows, those strange lights That flash on dank morasses, the quick wind That smites us by the roadside—are the Night's Innumerable children. Unconfined By shroud or coffin, disembodied souls, Uneasy spirits, steal into the air From festering graveyards when the curfew tolls At the day's death... And wheresoever murders have been done, In stately palaces or lonesome woods, Where'er a soul has sold itself and lost Its high inheritance, there, hovering, broods Some sad, invisible, accurséd Ghost!” ChildrenHas BeensSoulDoneLightFormSpiritNightLostAirStrangeWindShadowMurderWoodsInvisibleStealingGhostFancyFlashInheritancePalacesGraveyardCoffinsUneasyTollsLonesomeHoveringShroudsRoadsideCurfewDankFestering Book:The Ballad of Babie Bell, and Other Poems Source: The Ballad of Babie Bell, and Other Poems
