Short Poems

I will be easy company; the blur
Of what I longed for once will fade to space.
No thought that could discomfort you will stir.
My eyes will painlessly survey your face.

It hath been a source of considerable gratification to me that one of my school
teachers afterwards became Professor Longmuir, of Aberdeen. Mr. Longmuir had
large, black, lustrous eyes. He was an enthusiastic geologist and botanist. His
name is referred to by Hugh Millar, as he was one of his correspondents. Longmuir
died at Aberdeen in 1883.

Problems worthy
of attack
prove their worth
by hitting back.

Having rolled done a mountain, a rock lies in a valley. -
Why did it fall? Nowadays no one knows -
Did it break off from the heights of its own accord,
Or was it hurled down by an external will?
Century after century has gone by:
Still no one has resolved this question!

Only dumb guys fight.
If I wasn't dumb
I wouldn't be fightin'.
I could make six dollars a day
On the docks
And I'd save more than I do now.
Only dumb guys fight.

Long I fought the driving lists,
Plume a-stream and armor clanging;
Link on link, between my wrists,
Now my heavy freedom's hanging.

Comes, soon or late,
With pace unhurried, to the appointed door,
Slips in the key, draws back the bolts and bars,
And strong or steadfast, weak or passionate,
Glad or reluctant, we go forth once more,
To join the grave procession of the stars."

Fear not in any tongue to call
Upon the Lord-He's skilled in all.
But if He answereth my plea
He speaketh one unknown to me.

My corn is green with red tassels,
I am praying to the lightning to ripen my corn,
I am praying to the thunder which carries the lightning.
Corn is sweet where lightning has fallen.
I pray to the six-coloured clouds.

The poor man went to the rich man's doors,
'I come as Lazarus came,' he said.
The rich man turned with humble head,--
'I will send my dogs to lick your sores!'