I Have Loved Hours At Sea by Sara Teasdale
I have loved hours at sea, gray cities, The fragile secret of a flower, Music, the making of a poem That gave me Heaven for an hour; First stars above a snowy hill, Voices of People kindly and wise, And the great look of love, long hidden, Found at last in meeting eyes. I have […]
Houses Of Dreams by Sara Teasdale
You took my empty dreams And filled them every one With tenderness and nobleness, April and the sun. The old empty dreams Where my thoughts would throng Are far too full of happiness To even hold a song. Oh, the empty dreams were dim And the empty dreams were wide, They were sweet and shadowy […]
Guenevere by Sara Teasdale
I was a queen, and I have lost my crown; A wife, and I have broken all my vows; A lover, and I ruined him I loved: — There is no other havoc left to do. A little month ago I was a queen, And Mothers held their babies up to see When I came […]
Gray Eyes by Sara Teasdale
It was April when you came The first time to me, And my first look in your eyes Was like my first look at the sea. We have been together Four Aprils now Watching for the green On the swaying willow bough; Yet whenever I turn To your gray eyes over me, It is as […]
Fault by Sara Teasdale
They came to tell your faults to me, They named them over one by one; I laughed aloud when they were done, I knew them all so well before, — Oh, they were blind, too blind to see Your faults had made me love you more. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
Enough by Sara Teasdale
It is enough for me by day To walk the same bright earth with him; Enough that over us by night The same great roof of stars is dim. I do not Hope to bind the wind Or set a fetter on the sea — It is enough to feel his love Blow by like […]
Dust by Sara Teasdale
When I went to look at what had long been hidden, A jewel laid long ago in a secret place, I trembled, for I thought to see its dark deep fire— But only a pinch of dust blew up in my face. I almost gave my life long ago for a thing That has gone […]
Doubt by Sara Teasdale
My soul lives in my body’s house, And you have both the house and her— But sometimes she is less your own Than a wild, gay adventurer; A restless and an eager wraith, How can I tell what she will do— Oh, I am sure of my body’s faith, But what if my soul broke […]
Did You Never Know? by Sara Teasdale
Did you never know, long ago, how much you loved me— That your love would never lessen and never go? You were young then, proud and fresh-hearted, You were too young to know. Fate is a wind, and red leaves fly before it Far apart, far away in the gusty time of year— Seldom we […]
Debt by Sara Teasdale
What do I owe to you Who loved me deep and long? You never gave my spirit wings Or gave my heart a song. But oh, to him I loved, Who loved me not at all, I owe the open gate That led through heaven’s wall. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
Come by Sara Teasdale
Come, when the pale moon like a petal Floats in the pearly dusk of spring, Come with arms outstretched to take me, Come with lips pursed up to cling. Come, for life is a frail moth flying, Caught in the web of the years that pass, And soon we two, so warm and eager, Will […]
But Not To Me by Sara Teasdale
The April Night is still and sweet With flowers on every tree; Peace comes to them on quiet feet, But not to me. My Peace is hidden in his breast Where I shall never be; Love comes to-night to all the rest, But not to me. ————— The End And that’s the End of the […]
Buried Love by Sara Teasdale
I have come to bury Love Beneath a tree, In the forest tall and black Where none can see. I shall put no flowers at his head, Nor stone at his feet, For the mouth I loved so much Was bittersweet. I shall go no more to his grave, For the woods are cold. I […]
Blue Squills by Sara Teasdale
How many million Aprils came Before I ever knew How white a cherry bough could be, A bed of squills, how blue! And many a dancing April When life is done with me, Will lift the blue flame of the flower And the white flame of the tree. Oh burn me with your beauty, then, […]
Because by Sara Teasdale
Oh, because you never tried To bow my will or break my pride, And nothing of the cave-man made You want to keep me half afraid, Nor ever with a conquering air You thought to draw me unaware — Take me, for I love you more Than I ever loved before. And since the body’s […]
Barter by Sara Teasdale
Life has loveliness to sell, All beautiful and splendid things, Blue waves whitened on a cliff, Soaring fire that sways and sings, And children’s faces looking up Holding wonder like a cup. Life has loveliness to sell, Music like a curve of gold, Scent of pine trees in the rain, Eyes that love you, arms […]
At Midnight by Sara Teasdale
Now at last I have come to see what life is, Nothing is ever ended, everything only begun, And the brave victories that seem so splendid Are never really won. Even love that I built my spirit’s house for, Comes like a brooding and a baffled guest, And music and men’s praise and even laughter […]
Alone by Sara Teasdale
I am alone, in spite of love, In spite of all I take and give— In spite of all your tenderness, Sometimes I am not glad to live. I am alone, as though I stood On the highest peak of the tired gray world, About me only swirling snow, Above me, endless space unfurled; With […]
After Parting by Sara Teasdale
Oh, I have sown my love so wide That he will find it everywhere; It will awake him in the night, It will enfold him in the air. I set my shadow in his sight And I have winged it with desire, That it may be a cloud by day, And in the Night a […]
After Love by Sara Teasdale
There is no magic any more, We meet as other people do, You work no miracle for me Nor I for you. You were the wind and I the sea — There is no splendor any more, I have grown listless as the pool Beside the shore. But though the pool is safe from storm […]
A November Night by Sara Teasdale
There! See the line of lights, A chain of stars down either side the street — Why can’t you lift the chain and give it to me, A necklace for my throat? I’d twist it round And you could play with it. You smile at me As though I were a little dreamy child Behind […]
A Cry by Sara Teasdale
Oh, there are eyes that he can see, And hands to make his hands rejoice, But to my lover I must be Only a voice. Oh, there are breasts to bear his head, And lips whereon his lips can lie, But I must be till I am dead Only a cry. ————— The End And […]
To Youth by Sarojini Naidu
Long have we dwelt together, thou and I; Together drunk of many an alien dawn, And plucked the fruit of many an alien sky. Ah, fickle friend, must I, who yesterday Dreamed forwards to long, undimmed ecstasy, Henceforward dream, because thou wilt not stay, Backward to transient pleasure and to thee? I give thee back […]
The Soul’s Prayer by Sarojini Naidu
“O Thou, who mad’st me of Thy breath, Speak, Master, and reveal to me Thine inmost laws of life and death. “Give me to drink each joy and pain Which Thine eternal hand can mete, For my insatiate soul can drain Earth’s utmost bitter, utmost sweet. “Spare me no bliss, no pang of strife, Withhold […]
The Illusion of Love by Sarojini Naidu
Only a transient spark Of flickering flame set in loam of clay – I care not …since you kindle all my dark With the immortal lustres of the day. And as all men deem, dearest, you may be Only a common shell Chance-winnowed by the sea-winds from the sea – The subtle murmurs of eternity. […]
The Bangle Sellers by Sarojini Naidu
Our shining loads to the temple fair… Who will buy these delicate, bright Rainbow-tinted circles of light? Lustrous tokens of radiant lives, For happy daughters and happy wives. Some are meet for a maiden’s wrist, Silver and blue as the mountain mist, Some are flushed like the buds that dream On the tranquil brow of […]
The Snake Charmer by Sarojini Naidu
In what moonlight-tangled meshes of perfume, Where the clustering keovas guard the squirrel’s slumber, Where the deep woods glimmer with the jasmine’s bloom? I’ll feed thee, O beloved, on milk and wild red honey, I’ll bear thee in a basket of rushes, green and white, To a palace-bower where golden-vested maidens Thread with mellow laughter […]
The Queen’s Rival by Sarojini Naidu
Around her countless treasures were spread; Her chamber walls were richly inlaid With agate, porphory, onyx and jade; The tissues that veiled her delicate breast, Glowed with the hues of a lapwing’s crest; But still she gazed in her mirror and sighed “O King, my heart is unsatisfied.” King Feroz bent from his ebony seat: […]
In The Bazaars of Hyderabad by Sarojini Naidu
Richly your wares are displayed. Turbans of crimson and silver, Tunics of purple brocade, Mirrors with panels of amber, Daggers with handles of jade. What do you weigh, O ye vendors? Saffron and lentil and rice. What do you grind, O ye maidens? Sandalwood, henna, and spice. What do you call , O ye pedlars? […]
Wandering Singers by Sarojini Naidu
Through echoing forest and echoing street, With lutes in our hands ever-singing we roam, All men are our kindred, the world is our home. Our lays are of cities whose lustre is shed, The laughter and beauty of women long dead; The sword of old battles, the crown of old kings, And happy and simple […]
Village Song by Sarojini Naidu
Would you cast your jewels all to the breezes blowing? Would you leave the mother who on golden grain has fed you? Would you grieve the lover who is riding forth to wed you? Mother mine, to the wild forest I am going, Where upon the champa boughs the champa buds are blowing; To the […]
Transcience by Sarojini Naidu
Dawn will not veil her spleandor for your grief, Nor spring deny their bright, appointed beauty To lotus blossom and ashoka leaf. Nay, do not pine, tho’ life be dark with trouble, Time will not pause or tarry on his way; To-day that seems so long, so strange, so bitter, Will soon be some forgotten […]
Suttee by Sarojini Naidu
Hath blown thee out with their sudden breath; Naught shall revive thy vanished spark . . . Love, must I dwell in the living dark? Tree of my life, Death’s cruel foot Hath crushed thee down to thy hidden root; Nought shall restore thy glory fled . . . Shall the blossom live when the […]
Street Cries by Sarojini Naidu
Rousing the world to labour’s various cry, To tend the flock, to bind the mellowing grain, From ardent toil to forge a little gain, And fasting men go forth on hurrying feet, Buy bread, buy bread, rings down the eager street. When the earth falters and the waters swoon With the implacable radiance of noon, […]
Song Of A Dream by Sarojini Naidu
Lone in the light of a magical wood, Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang; And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang, And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed, And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed In that magical wood in the land of sleep. Lone in the light of […]
Past and Future by Sarojini Naidu
And so the past becomes a mountain-cell, Where lone, apart, old hermit-memories dwell In consecrated calm, forgotten yet Of the keen heart that hastens to forget Old longings in fulfilling new desires. And now the Soul stands in a vague, intense Expectancy and anguish of suspense, On the dim chamber-threshold . . . lo! he […]
Palanquin Bearers by Sarojini Naidu
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song; She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream, She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream. Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing, We bear her along like a pearl on a string. Softly, O softly we […]
Ode to H.H. The Nizam Of Hyderabad by Sarojini Naidu
This lyric offering to your name, Who round your jewelled scepter bind The lilies of a poet’s fame; Beneath whose sway concordant dwell The peoples whom your laws embrace, In brotherhood of diverse creeds, And harmony of diverse race: The votaries of the Prophet’s faith, Of whom you are the crown and chief And they, […]
Nightfall In The City Of Hyderabad by Sarojini Naidu
Jewelled with embers of opal and peridote. See the white river that flashes and scintillates, Curved like a tusk from the mouth of the city-gates. Hark, from the minaret, how the muezzin’s call Floats like a battle-flag over the city wall. From trellised balconies, languid and luminous Faces gleam, veiled in a splendour voluminous. Leisurely […]
My Dead Dream by Sarojini Naidu
You died and I buried you deep under forests of snow. Why have you come hither? Who bade you awake from your sleep And track me beyond the cerulean foam of the deep? Would you tear from my lintels these sacred green garlands of leaves? Would you scare the white, nested, wild pigeons of joy […]