P O E M S

BY

I S A



WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCLVI
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PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH
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TO

JOHN RITCHIE, ESQ.

THESE POEMS ARE RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED

BY

THE AUTHOR
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PREFACE.
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THE following Poems have been written in the intervals of leisure afforded by a life of toil.  The writer has followed no master in the art of song, has endeavoured to work out no poetical theory, but has simply expressed the thoughts and feelings suggested by nature and the scenes of life in the tone and language that came at their command.  Yet these efforts have not been altogether purposeless.  Recognising in Poetry an Art, to be cultivated with enthusiasm for its own sake, as well as for the sake of the refined enjoyment, and power of conferring such enjoyment, which its exercise bestows, the writer has aspired to render them, as far as possible, artistic efforts.  Many of the pieces composing this volume have already appeared in the Scotsman; and the degree of approbation there awarded to them has emboldened the Author to publish the present collection.  However much she may value, if she obtains it, the approval of persons of taste and education, she will prize still more highly the appreciation of the class to which she belongs, and whose elevation and refinement she most earnestly desires.

ISA.

EDINBURGH, February 1856.

CONTENTS.
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Page

THE POET'S AIM,

xii

LIVE AND LET LIVE,

1.

THE POOR OLD JEW,

6.

THE WORKMAN TO HIS SONS,

10.

THE DISCOVERERS,

14.

A FATHER TO HIS INFANT DAUGHTER,

19.

SONGS OF THE HOUSEHOLD—

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL,

22.

A HOLIDAY TREASURE,

23.

"THEY ARE NOT,"

26.

OUR HELEN,

28.

THE GARDEN,

30.

A SONG OF MEETING,

32.

THE CITY CEMETERY,

34.

GOING OUT AND COMING IN,

38.

A SUNSET BY THE SEA,

40.

A SONG OF SUMMER,

43.

LITTLE FRANCES,

45.

ROSLIN,

47.

GOLD-GATHERING,

49.

THE "FAID RABANE,"

51.

MY MARY AN' ME,

54.

THE AE LAMB O' THE FAULD,

56.

"FAITHER, COME HAME,"

59.

THE BLIND BAIRN,

61.

TO AN OLD LOVE-LETTER,

63.

THE DYING YOUTH,

66.

SNOW,

69.

NIGHT,

71.

A POEM ON A DEWDROP,

75.

THE MONTHLY ROSE,

77.

THE THREE AGES,

79.

SEPULTE VIVE,

86.

THE MIDNIGHT WRECK,

91.

THE SISTERS OF MERCY,

96.

THE TRUTH,

100.

I LOVE THEE, STAR,

103.

"THE AFFLICTED'S PRAYER,"

104.

 TO A DEPARTED SPIRIT,

106.

THE MYSTERIES OF GOD,

108.

THE FIRST KING,

110.

ODE TO CORINNA,

113.

SONNETS—

LOWLINESS, I.

116.

LOWLINESS, II.

117.

LOWLINESS, III.

118.

MAMMON, I.

119.

MAMMON, II.

120.

MAMMON, III.

121.

MAMMON, IV.

122.

"HEART-EASING THINGS," I.

123.

"HEART-EASING THINGS," II.

124.

"HEART-EASING THINGS," III.

125.

ENDURANCE,

126.

SONNET,

127.

SONNET,

128.

SPRING,

129.

SONNET,

130.

HE LIETH DEAD,

131.

WAR,

136.

WHEN OUR HEROES RETURN,

139.

THEY DIED AT ALMA,

141.

NIGHT WATCHES—

I.—THE GRAVES OF INKERMANN,

144.

II.—AT HOME,

147.

III.—"IS'T MORNING YET?"

150.

THE VETERANS,

154.

SEBASTOPOL,

157.

MARTHA AND MARY,

163.