sheds,
Soft mystery of azure above my eyelids spreads,
Bends low upon my breast her regal star-crowned tresses
And on my mouth and eyes, the kiss of slumber presses!

MAIKOW.

IN MEMORY OF MY DAUGHTER

Clear on the night of my spirit,
To me shines the glance of a star,
It is she! My heart's little maiden!
From her glance gleams something afar,
Of victory, deathless, eternal--
Something that musing, misgiving,
Pierces the essence of being!

It cannot be! It cannot be!
She lives--soon she will waken; straightway
Will ope her pretty eyes,--glad she
Will prattle merry, laughing gay!
And when in tears beholding me--
Will smiling, kissing, cry consoling,
"Papa--it is but playing--See!
I live,--yes! Leave off mourning!"
But cold and mute she lies, alas!
And motionless.

Now in her coffin she lies,
Silent amid scented flowers--
Ah what mute spirits in white
O'er her corpse circle and hover?
Are they the visions of bliss?
Are they all spirits of hope?
That during life lured her on--

Those to whom secretly oft
She had entrusted her soul?
They that accompanied her e'er,
Faithful in forest and field?
Silent they circle my child,
In tearful anguish embraced--
Yet little actress she lies,
Smiling, closed lashes beneath;
See, she is laughing in truth--
thou most merciless Death!

MAIKOW.

MOTHER AND CHILD

"Mother, why weepest thou ever
For my little sister fair?
She is now in heaven's kingdom--
Ah, it must be wondrous there!"

"Yes, she is in heaven's glory,
But in heaven's own land, alas!
There are no butterflies nor flowers--
Nor meadows of velvet grass!"

"But mother, God's blessed angels
There, rejoicing sing to Him!"
Forth from the sunset's rosy fires
Now cometh the midnight dim.

Ah, the mother wants her baby--
That she watched from the window wide,
When 'mid butterflies and blossoms
She played in the meadow's pride!

MAIKOW.

AN EASTER GREETING

The lark at sunrise trills it high--
The greeting Christ is risen!
And through the wood the black-bird pipes
The greeting Christ is risen!
Beneath the eaves the swallows cry
The greeting Christ is risen!
Throughout the world man's heart proclaims
The greeting Christ is risen!
And echo answers from the grave
In truth, yes, He is risen!

MAIKOW.

AT EASTER

Drawing near the Easter Sunday
With the Easter-greeting kiss;
When I come, remember Dora--
Not alone we suffer this!
Then, as were i