TO MY WIFE. DEC. 25, 1844. Presents enough to suit my mind But gift to please my taste I find Not earthly gift could e'er repay Nor gem of purest flame betray Where golden gifts too poor would shine, Their want expressive be: No gift I need, while thou art mine, Myself, I give to thee. IMPROMPTU. TO S. M. G. Scarce arrived at bright sixteen, In her brightness shadows play, Early dreams and prospects clear; 1845. TO MRS. BOSE. A REMONSTRANCE. I. Fair Mrs. Bose She keepeth close, Yet wide her kindness reaches; Through wet and cold Comes Charley bold, Well packed with grapes and peaches. II. When she is nigh, Her happy eye A beam to the dark cloud lendeth ; And when away, A blessed ray In the blushing peach she sendeth. III. Her words, that flow In music low, Are drowned when the storm-wind blusters; Yet kind words fly To friends near by, Disguised in juicy clusters. IV. Ah! Mrs. Bose, She keeps too close, Though far her kindness reaches- Of the Emerald Isle Is better than grapes and peaches. 1847. TO A LADY. UPON RECEIVING A PAIR OF EMBROIDERED SLIPPERS. Fair fingers, for a poet's feet, Have woven honours rich and rare; Poetic feet, as is most meet, Shall celebrate those fingers fair. Those fingers wrought on a plain illumed What wonder, if that landscape stole Henceforth, where'er my footsteps stray, |