| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | August 26 | | To Celia Thaxter | | By Annie Field |
| | (Died August 26, 1894)
BELOVED, on the shore of this gray world | |
| Thy little bird, the sandpiper, and I | |
| Now stand alone; | |
| And when mine eye | |
| Returned from following thy upward flight, | 5 |
| And found him here, and heard his tone, | |
| And saw the tiny wing unfurled, | |
| (As oft for thee) | |
| I knew thy messenger, ’twas he! | |
| |
| His little cry | 10 |
| Is meek and full of joy in things that lie | |
| Close to our feet; | |
| He speeds along the sands, bidding my sight | |
| Grow keen as thine. | |
| He cries: “O love complete, | 15 |
| Thou hast become the leaf and flower | |
| That whisper now companionship; | |
| O follow, follow | |
| Traveller mine! | |
| Thou, too, shalt step | 20 |
| Into the hand’s-breadth hollow | |
| Thy dust shall claim! | |
| And no fair fame | |
| Shall stead thee when the winds of life shall fall; | |
| Only my call | 25 |
| To the unknown, untried, whither these wings | |
| Now vanish; the fading bower | |
| Can hold and soothe thee not! | |
| O follow, follow, | |
| ’Tis Love who sings! | 30 |
| Love, love is here and beckons thee away; | |
| My song leads on, thou canst not go astray! | | | | |
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