Love is a dream And love is pain, Love is a song And love is a chain.

But love is a thing We can't forego Take my word for it I've tried . . .

I know!

Observation

A mermaid was a fabled sea creature Cold-eyed But beautiful of face.

Enchanting . . . heartless.

Half woman.

Half fish!

Do you know, I looked about me to-day And thought Of how many women Are really Mermaids!

Fall Fires O scudding sky-O windy day You snare my soul.

And fey . . . as fey I wander down a curving street To scuff the leaves against my feet And smell the smoke that curls the air And find the Autumn wondrous fair!

Now is the Time

Now is the time when falling snow Drifts soft as flowerlets.

Far below The dark earth stretching in her sleep Is full of secrets.

Children keep one little ear above each cover Lest in the night they might discover The sound of hoofbeats in the air And know that Santa Claus is there!

Self-Portrait. (Drawn in Dust on a Table Top)

Tho' I'd love to be neat I admit defeat.

Some women's shoes are on racks Mine are in stacks.

I can never find a needle or pin They're never in what I put them in.

And when I emerge in confusion From this rudderless fog I closely resemble a something You'd find under a log!

Be Good!

"Be good, my child" the sages said And packed me off to early bed.

I didn't mind when I was small And never loitered in the hall But climbed the stair and clicked the light And closed my eyes against the night.

But now . . . upon the sill I lean And feel the wind across my throat And tremble when the moon is new And watch the stars the whole night through For love has set his sign on me . . .

And I am neither young . . . nor free!

Camouflage

I said: "I will sing you a song in the night How your eves wear desire and your voice holds delight But I'll sing it so softly you'll never believe That this thing is my heart that I wear on my sleeve.

Observation

To find an oyster in a seafood salad Is quite a surprise to the average "palad".

Sixteen

How can a guy absorb this knowledge And get himself ready for ruddy college; How can he concentrate at all When he just pa.s.sed a dream in the upper hall!

Hush

There is an hour When earth and sky Merge in the twilight With a sort of sigh.

Trees touch the skyline . . .

Birds, the earth, And stars are shaken With twinkling mirth.

And it's just as well If you're all alone To plug the line Of your telephone!

First Snow

Just a thin flurry But the first snow!

Always exciting . . .

Full of pictures . . .

Overstockings of red wool, Mittens to match, And a toboggan cap With a bob on it.

Bruised thumbs From struggling with tight overshoes - A plaid kilt With a green velveteen jacket And a real lace collar.

A teacher's face, Slightly harried Bending over solicitous b.u.t.tons.