To Estelle

Coy, sweet maid, I love so well,
        Fair Estelle.
How much I love thee tongue can't tell,
        Sweet Estelle.
But I love thee - love thee true -
More than violets love the dew,
More than roses love the sun -
Do I love thee, dearest one,
        Dear Estelle!

Ah! my heart love's passions swell
        For Estelle!
How I love my actions tell
        Thee, Estelle:
That I love thy smiling face,
And thy captivating grace -
Love thy dreamy 'witching eyes
More than planets love the skies,
        Wee Estelle!

Now I smite my lyre to swell
        For Estelle;
Music's most entrancing spell
        O'er Estelle.
With my fingers on my keys,
Like the balmy morning breeze
Stealing softly through the grain,
Will I gently wake a strain
        For Estelle!

How I love my little belle,
        My Estelle!
Deepest in my sacred dell
        Is Estelle!
I esteem my maiden love
More than angels high above,
More than demons in the sea;
Love is light and life to me,
        And Estelle!

Edward Smyth Jones

Edward Smyth Jones was an African American poet born in Natchez, Mississippi, best known for his poem "A Song of Thanks". He faced significant challenges throughout his life, including racial prejudice and economic hardship. His work often reflects his struggles and aspirations, particularly focusing on themes of resilience, hope, and gratitude. Despite his relatively obscure status in literary circles, Jones's contributions are recognized for their emotional depth and historical significance. He passed away in 1968.

Edward Smyth Jones

An Ode To Ethiopia

Edward Smyth Jones, Simple Poetry

Life In A Dream

Edward Smyth Jones, Simple Poetry

What's The Use?

Edward Smyth Jones, Simple Poetry

Not Yet A Poet

Edward Smyth Jones, Simple Poetry

English

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The Choosing Of Esther (From The Drama Of Mizpah)

AHASUERAS

Tell me thy name!

ESTHER

My name, great sire, is Esther.

AHASUERAS

So thou art Esther?    Esther! 'tis a name
Breathed into sound as softly as a sigh.
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Like Love's first kisses, and thy countenance
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ESTHER

Thou art most kind.    I would my name and face
Were mine own making and not accident.
Then I might feel elated at thy praise,
Where now I feel confusion.

AHASUERAS

    Thou hast wit
As well as beauty, Esther.    Both are gems
That do embellish woman in man's sight.
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Honeymoon Scene (From The Drama Of Mizpah)

AHASUERAS

What were thy thoughts, sweet Esther?    Something passed
Across thy face, that for a moment veiled
Thy soul from mine, and left me desolate.
Thy thoughts were not of me?

ESTHER

    Ay, ALL of thee!
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AHASUERAS

I do confess I much regret that day
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ESTHER

    Oh!    My lord!

AHASUERAS

Yea!    I regret those hours I wasted on
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The Destined Maid: A Prayer

(Chant Royal)

O MIGHTY Queen, our Lady of the fire,
The light, the music, and the honey, all
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Man calleth Love - 'Sweet love,' the blessed call - :
I come a sad-eyed suppliant to thy knee,
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For all that bounty 'thirst and hungering.
O Lady, save thy grace, there is no way
For me, I know, but lonely sorrowing -
Send me a maiden meet for love, I pray!

I lay in darkness, face down in the mire,
And prayed that darkness might become my pall;
The rabble rout roared round me like some quire
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A Lover's Litanies - Tenth Litany. Gloria in Excelsis.

i.

O Love! O Lustre of the sunlit earth
    That knows thy step and revels in the worth
Of thy much beauty! Is't thy will anew,
Famed as thou art, to marvel that I sue
With such persistence, and in such unrest
Amid the frenzies of my passion-quest?
    Wilt look ungently, and without a tear,
On all the pangs I bear at thy behest?


ii.

Morning and eve I cease not, when I kneel
    To my Redeemer for my spirit's weal
And for my body's,--as becomes a man,--
Morning and eve I cease not in the span
Of all my days, O thou Unconquer'd One!
To pray for thee, and do what may be done
    To re-acquire the friendship I have lost,
Which is the holiest thing beneath the sun.


iii.

For what is fame that with so loud a v...

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Love.

Canst thou love me, lady?
I've not learn'd to woo:
Thou art on the shady
Side of sixty too.
Still I love thee dearly!
Thou hast lands and pelf:
But I love thee merely
Merely for thyself.

Wilt thou love me, fairest?
Though thou art not fair;
And I think thou wearest
Someone-else's hair.
Thou could'st love, though, dearly:
And, as I am told,
Thou art very nearly
Worth thy weight, in gold.

Dost thou love me, sweet one?
Tell me that thou dost!
Women fairly beat one,
But I think thou must.
Thou art loved so dearly:
I am plain, but then
Thou (to speak sincerely)
Art as plain again.

Love me, bashful fairy!
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Astrophel and Stella - Eight Song.

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Him great harmes had taught much care,
Her faire necke a foule yoke bare;
But her sight his cares did banish,
In his sight her yoke did vanish:

Wept they had, alas, the while,
But now teares themselues did smile,
While their eyes, by Loue directed,
Enterchangeably reflected.

Sigh they did; but now betwixt
Sighes of woe were glad sighes mixt;
With arms crost, yet testifying
restlesse rest, and liuing dying.

Their eares hungrie of each word
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