Some Verses: Sonnets: AMBITION AND LOVE

Sweet, in the golden morning of my days, / With young tempestuous joy I reared my head / To gaze adown the splendid sunlit ways / Where all the fires of fame burned glory red, / I recked not where the sounding arches led, / Save at the end I gain my august bays.

But as of old, when through the patient night, / Fair losing or fair gaining, till the morn, / Great Israel strove to break the angel's might, / Till spent and failing, in his heavenly scorn, / Th' immortal wrestler touched the earthly born, / Striking him powerless, winning thus the fight.

So did false Fortune, when I strove and fought, / Smiling 'neath half-closed eyelids, when seemed won, / For a brief hour, the beckoning goal I sought -- / Then with frustrating touch dimmed all my sun / Blotted the work and faith so brave begun; / But what I gained was none too dearly bought.

I have no wreath to lay before your feet; / There shines no future, and the past is dead; / But you have heard me, and I love you -- Sweet.

The low sun crowns with gold your gracious head, / The heavy lilies nod upon their bed -- / I look at you, and find my life complete.