Poetry
Clarice
A RIBBON binds her brow,
. 'Ti's beauty's world-old wile, Nor less alluring now Than erst upon the Nile. Around her girlish neck White corals gleam-wow, Love's labour spent to deck The lily with the snow.
One arm, in sweet content, Makes of her lap a bed, One o'er the chair-top bent Upholds her charming head ; From the elbow pink and bare The wide sleeve falls away, • So, petals flushed and rare Are found among the may.
Pale seems her upturned face Against the hair's dark cloud, But happy home-born peace Is in her looks avowed ; Her lips just parted are, Her grey eyes softly 'gleam, - Her !meet thoughts wander far, All in a day-time dream.
How dainty are her shoes, Where every slender bar Has caught in wilful noose .A little silver star !
*. *. * * .* • fa And now, from head to feet, With items and details, I've traced her portrait sweet,.
Forgive me if it fails.
For though, like Jan Van Eyck, Even as I could I've wrought A likeness true to • make, It is not lightly caught. Her image you behold And yet incomplete, Because I have not told - How 'kind she is and sweet.
jOHN ANDERSON STEW:AST.
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