"To-night we will collaborate
  "Again; I'll put you to the test.
  "Here's one I never found the way to do,—
  "The simplest are the hardest ones, you know,—
  "I give this song to you."
  And then she read:
      Mein kind, wir waren Kinder,
      Zwei Kinder, jung und froh.

  But all the while a silent question stirred
  Within me, though I dared not speak the word:
  "Is it herself, and is she truly here,
  "And was I dreaming when I heard
  "That she was dead last year?
  "Or was it true, and is she but a shade
  "Who brings a fleeting joy to eye and ear,
  "Cold though so kind, and will she gently fade
  "When her sweet ghostly part is played
  "And the light-curtain falls at dawn of day?"
  But while my heart was troubled by this fear
  So deeply that I could not speak it out,
  Lest all my happiness should disappear,
  I thought me of a cunning way
  To hide the question and dissolve the doubt.
  "Will you not give me now your hand,
  "Dear Marguerite," I asked, "to touch and hold,
  "That by this token I may understand
  "You are the same true friend you were of old?"
  She answered with a smile so bright and calm
  It seemed as if I saw new stars arise
  In the deep heaven of her eyes;
  And smiling so, she laid her palm
  In mine. Dear God, it was not cold
  But warm with vital heat!
  "You live!" I cried, "you live, dear Marguerite!"
  Then I awoke; but strangely comforted,
  Although I knew again that she was dead.

III

  Yes, there's the dream! And was it sweet or
     sad?
  Dear mistress of my waking and my sleep,
  Present reward of all my heart's desire,
  Watching with me beside the winter fire,
  Interpret now this vision that I had.
  But while you read the meaning, let me keep
  The touch of you: for the Old Year with storm
  Is passing through the midnight, and doth shake
  The corners of the house,—and oh! my heart
     would break
  Unless both dreaming and awake
  My hand could feel your hand was warm, warm,
     warm!

SONGS FOR AMERICA

SEA-GULLS OF Manhattan

  Children of the elemental mother,
      Born upon some lonely island shore
  Where the wrinkled ripples run and whisper,
      Where the crested billows plunge and roar;
  Long-winged, tireless roamers and adventurers,
      Fearless breasters of the wind and sea,
  In the far-off solitary places
      I have seen you floating wild and free!

  Here the high-built cities rise around you;
      Here the cliffs that tower east and west,
  Honeycombed with human habitations,
      Have no hiding for the sea-bird's nest:
  Here the river flows begrimed and troubled;
      Here the hurrying, panting vessels fume,
  Restless, up and down the watery highway,
      While a thousand chimneys vomit gloom.

  Toil and tumult, conflict and confusion,
      Clank and clamor of the vast machine
  Human hands have built for human bondage—
      Yet amid it all you float serene;
  Circling, soaring, sailing, swooping lightly
      Down to glean your harvest from the wave;
  In your heritage of air and water,
      You have kept the freedom Nature gave.

  Even so the wild-woods of Manhattan
      Saw your wheeling flocks of white and grey;
  Even so you fluttered, followed, floated,
      Round the Half-Moon creeping up the bay;
  Even so your voices creaked and chattered,
      Laughing shrilly o'er the tidal rips,
  While your black and beady eyes were glistening
      Round the sullen British prison-ships.

  Children of the elemental mother,
      Fearless floaters 'mid the double blue,
  From the crowded boats that cross the ferries
      Many a longing heart goes out to you.
  Though the cities climb and close around us,
      Something tells us that our souls are free,
  While the sea-gulls fly above the harbor,
      While the river flows to meet the sea!

URBS CORONATA

(Song for the City College of New York)

  O youngest of the giant brood
    Of cities far-renowned;
  In wealth and power thou hast passed
    Thy rivals at a bound;
  And now thou art a queen, New York;
    And how wilt thou be crowned?

  "Weave me no palace-wreath of pride,"
    The royal city said;
  "Nor forge an iron fortress-wall
    To frown upon my head;
  But let me wear a diadem
    Of Wisdom's towers instead."

  And so upon her island height
    She worked her will forsooth,
  She set upon her rocky brow
    A citadel of Truth,
  A house of Light, a home of Thought,
    A shrine of noble Youth.

  Stand here, ye City College towers,
    And look both up and down;
  Remember all who wrought for you
    Within the toiling town;
  Remember all they thought for you,
  And all the hopes they brought for you,
    And be the City's Crown.

AMERICA

  I Love thine inland seas,
     Thy groves of giant trees,
     Thy rolling plains;
  Thy rivers' mighty sweep,
  Thy mystic canyons deep,
  Thy mountains wild and steep,
    All thy domains;

  Thy silver Eastern strands,
  Thy Golden Gate that stands
    Wide to the West;
  Thy flowery Southland fair,
  Thy sweet and crystal air,—
  O land beyond compare,
    Thee I love best!

Additional verses for the National Hymn, March, 1906.

DOORS OF DARING

  The mountains that enfold the vale
    With walls of granite, steep and high,
  Invite the fearless foot to scale
    Their stairway toward the sky.

  The restless, deep, dividing sea
    That flows and foams from shore to shore,
  Calls to its sunburned chivalry,
    "Push out, set sail, explore!"
  And all the bars at which we fret,
    That seem to prison and control,
  Are but the doors of daring, set
    Ajar before the soul.

  Say not, "Too poor," but freely give;
    Sigh not, "Too weak," but boldly try.
  You never can begin to live
    Until you dare to die.

A HOME SONG

  I Read within a poet's book
    A word that starred the page:
  "Stone walls do not a prison make,
    Nor iron bars a cage!"

  Yes, that is true; and something more
    You'll find, where'er you roam,
  That marble floors and gilded walls
    Can never make a home.

  But every house where Love abides,
    And Friendship is a guest,
  Is surely home, and home-sweet-home:
    For there the heart can rest.