Poems by Ada Cambridge

All Poems Original Poems Translations

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Desire

Bright eyes, sweet lips, with many fevers fill

The young blood, running wildly, as it must;

But lips and eyes beget a strange distrust.

Electric fingers send the sudden thrill

Through senses unsubservient to the will;

The flames die down, and leave a dim disgust;

Unfragrant kisses turn to drouth and dust;

I kiss; I feast; but I am hungry still.

by Ada Cambridge

Faith

And is the great cause lost beyond recall?

Have all the hopes of ages come to naught?

Is life no more with noble meaning fraught?

Is life but death, and love its funeral pall?

Maybe. And still on bended knees I fall,

Filled with a faith no preacher ever taught.

O God — MY God — by no false prophet wrought —

I believe still, in despite of it all!

by Ada Cambridge

Good-bye

Good-bye! — 'tis like a churchyard bell — good-bye!

Poor weeping eyes! Poor head, bowed down with woe!

Kiss me again, dear love, before you go.

Ah, me, how fast the precious moments fly!

Good-bye! Good-bye!

We are like mourners when they stand and cry

At open grave in wintry wind and rain.

Yes, it is death. But you shall rise again —

by Ada Cambridge

Honour

Me let the world disparage and despise —

As one unfettered with its gilded chains,

As one untempted by its sordid gains,

Its pleasant vice, its profitable lies;

Let Justice, blind and halt and maimed, chastise

The rebel spirit surging in my veins,

Let the Law deal me penalties and pains

And make me hideous in my neighbours' eyes.

by Ada Cambridge

A Sermon

Midsummer, 1867.

We have heard many sermons, you and I,

And many more may hear,

When sitting quiet in cathedral nave,

With folded palms and faces meek and grave;—

But few like this one, dear.

We ofttimes watch together 'fore the veil,

With reverent, gleaming eyes,

by Ada Cambridge

An Anniversary

AS flower to sun its drop of dew

Gives from its crystal cup,

So I, as morning gift to you,

This poor verse offer up.

II.

As flowers upon the summer wind

by Ada Cambridge

Aunt Dorothy's Lecture

Come, go and practise—get your work—

Do something, Nelly, pray.

I hate to see you moon about

In this uncertain way!

Why do you look so vacant, child?

I fear you must be ill.

Surely you are not thinking of

That Captain Cameron still?

by Ada Cambridge

"After Our Likeness"

Before me now a little picture lies—

A little shadow of a childish face,

Childishly sweet, yet with the dawning grace

Of thought and wisdom on her lips and eyes.

Fair, oval, broad-brow'd face—small, delicate head—

Transparent skin, with blue veins shining through—

All the soft outlines, beautiful and true,

Bring me the echo of the words "God said."

by Ada Cambridge

Craven-Heart

Those anguished voices in the air!

Oh, I could shriek and tear my hair

In rage, rebellion and despair.

But what is one, amid a throng

So vast and merciless and strong,

To make attempt to right the wrong?

What ear would hear me if I cried?

And who would rally to my side?

by Ada Cambridge

Despair

Alone! Alone! No beacon, far or near!

No chart, no compass, and no anchor stay!

Like melting fog the mirage melts away

In all-surround

ing darkness, void and clear. Drifting, I spread vain hands, and vainly peer And vainly call for pilot, — weep and pray; Beyond these limits not the faintest ray Shows distant coast whereto the lost may steer. O what is life, if we must hold it thus As wind-blown sparks hold momentary fire? What are these gifts without the larger boon? O what is art, or wealth, or fame to us Who scarce have time to know what we desire? O what is love, if we must part so soon?