TO-DAY'S BURDEN.
"Arise, depart, for this is not your rest." Oh, burden of all burdens,--still to arise And still depart, nor rest in any wise! Rolling, still rolling thus to east from west, Earth journeys on her immemorial quest, Whom a moon chases in no different guise. Thus stars pursue their courses, and thus flies The sun, and thus all creatures manifest Unrest, the common heritage, the ban Flung broadcast on all humankind,--on all Who live; for living, all are bound to die. That which is old, we know that it is man. These have no rest who sit and dream and sigh, Nor have those rest who wrestle and who fall.
"THERE IS A BUDDING MORROW IN MIDNIGHT."
Wintry boughs against a wintry sky; Yet the sky is partly blue And the clouds are partly bright. Who can tell but sap is mounting high Out of sight, Ready to burst through?
Winter is the mother-nurse of Spring, Lovely for her daughter's sake. Not unlovely for her own; For a future buds in everything Grown or blown Or about to break.