Menie Parkes (author) (1839-1915)

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] How My Love Died. The budding of a new-born flower, The birth-page of a holy book, The dawn of some untainted hour, His first, fond, loving look. The beaming of some fair, faint star, That draws the … [Read more...] about How My Love Died [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] The Evening Hour. What is’t thou meanest, solemn hour Of soft composure? what thy power That seals our lips almost from breath, And bids us couple night with death? Now God folds down His silence … [Read more...] about The Evening Hour [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Love’s Images. Like to a pale star on the front Of a storm-clouded heaven, Thou art to me, beloved! As beautiful, as distant far, From my impassioned grasp, Thy pale-browed panoply, beloved! I’ll … [Read more...] about Love’s Images [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Judas Iscariot. Away! away! away! Oh, hide me, rocks! Yet no, for where I am there is myself, My sternest torturer; and falling stones Would only crush me closer into me, And force a nearer … [Read more...] about Judas Iscariot [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867). This poem is written from a man’s viewpoint.] A Man’s Heart. I bear no malice, child: I would not lay One pin-point’s prick of all my pain On your young bliss; no, not if that would stay The anguish I … [Read more...] about A Man’s Heart [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Am I God’s? And am I God’s? The question slowly fell Down, plummet-wise, into my soul. I stood, Silent and sad; then waived the thought and fled From self, and sought relief in deeper minds, Not so was … [Read more...] about Am I God’s? [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Sorrow for Sin. Oh, guilt is a parasite flower That grows on my blighted life-tree; And those dank, heavy fruits on the tree Are guilt’s strong, brackish clusters of sorrow. Lone is my heart, and … [Read more...] about Sorrow for Sin [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] A Thunder-Storm. The day had been full sultry, and the night had fallen warm; And the people lay and slept not, but waited for the storm; For they knew that Nature’s silence and the Heavens’ portending … [Read more...] about A Thunder-Storm [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Hymn for Good Friday. Past the death I should have died, Past the anguish and the pain; And I, unsuffering, stood aside, And saw my Saviour slain. Past the weary, thirsty strife, Tearing torture on … [Read more...] about Hymn for Good Friday [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Repentance. The Lady stood, with a bended head, And silently wept by the House of the Dead; The Pastor spoke, and, sadly and low, Told the tale of the two who lay sleeping below. “They missed her, … [Read more...] about Repentance [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Farewell! To my father departing for England. When the first thought of parting Was calmly spoken forth, It seemed as God, departing, Had stricken me in wrath. Like the burst of a storm it swept … [Read more...] about Farewell! [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Unequal Love. Oh, luckless is the unequal love That the stern eagle and devoted dove Have pledged in the depth of the mountain grove, In some forgetful hour; For his flight the eagle has taken … [Read more...] about Unequal Love [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Discontent and Resignation. In every human lot There is a secret sting; In palace or in cot Some dim, accursed thing: The noblest and the best Bear still the heaviest cross; Wildest is their … [Read more...] about Discontent and Resignation [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Song of Hope. The grey skies may frown on us many a day, And the rain may ceaselessly fall, And we never may find one cheering sun-ray; But yet there’s an end to it all. Our faith, by new brightness, … [Read more...] about Song of Hope [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Question and Answer. You ask me, child, to think of you; But how shall a care-worn man, — Treading in haste thro’ the valley of life, With all the speed that he can, Who yet must stand to meet as … [Read more...] about Question and Answer [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Is it Reason? Ever a vein of sadness Courses my gayest hours; Is it reason, or moody madness Sees blight on the brightest flowers? Was it well that in youthful study, No added knowledge came, But … [Read more...] about Is it Reason? [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] My Father’s Work. My Father’s hand has built the earth; My Father arched the sky; My Father fashioned the bright sun, And marked his course on high. My Father counted every star, And gave to each a … [Read more...] about My Father’s Work [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Hymn of Progress. We are toiling onward! Tho’ the path is rough, Could we reason clearly, ’Tis but rough enough:— For the air is deadly — But for jolts and jars We should sink resistless, Die … [Read more...] about Hymn of Progress [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] One To Be Loved. She was not lovely: beauty’s flush Glowed not on her thin cheek; And half a shadow on her brow A tale of woe might speak. Her voice was soft and low and firm, Her words were few and … [Read more...] about One To Be Loved [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Kindred Souls. Eye to eye! And that one glance Thrills through either startled soul; Waking from this world’s deep trance, Breaking from its cold control, Each can see, in dim conception, Visions of a … [Read more...] about Kindred Souls [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] After Drought. The shrunken ponds at last were dry; The earth was ashen grey for woe; The flowers were dead, long, long ago; The wild birds scarce had strength to fly. The gaping cracks, in every … [Read more...] about After Drought [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] Good out of Evil. Trouble lies heavy on my heart; And my worn brain does heave and start, Anticipating woe. The future — indistinctly grim — Seems sorrow, laden to the brim — Will’t overflow? By … [Read more...] about Good out of Evil [poem by Menie Parkes]

[Editor: This poem by Menie Parkes was published in Poems (1867).] One Cruel Word. As long as existence lasts, As long as a life-breath’s stirred, His soul the bitterness tastes Of that one — that cruel word! It was uttered by one he loved, In words of mocking … [Read more...] about One Cruel Word [poem by Menie Parkes]