Thomas Bailey Aldrich

1836 - 1907 *

American editor, writer

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Her suffering ended with the day,
Yet lived she at its close,
And breathed the long, long night away
In statue-like repose. -- A Death-Bed.

James Aldrich

But when the sun in all his state
Illumed the eastern skies,
She passed through Glory's morning-gate,
And walked in Paradise. -- A Death-Bed.

James Aldrich

Somewhere--in desolate wind-swept space--
In Twilight-land--in No-man's land--
Two hurrying Shapes met face to face,
And bade each other stand.


"And who are you?" cried one, agape,
Shuddering in the gloaming light.
"I know not," said the second Shape,
"I only died last night." -- Identity.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

So precious life is! Even to the old
The hours are as a miser's coins! -- Broken Music.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Wide open and unguarded stand our gates,
Named of the four winds, North, South, East and West;
Portals that lead to an enchanted land...
Here, it is written, Toil shall have its wage
And Honor honor, and the humblest man
Stand level with the highest in the law.
Of such a land have men in dungeons dreamed
And with the vision brightening in their eyes
Gone smiling to the fagot and the sword.


O Liberty, white Goddess! is it well
To leave the gates unguarded? On thy breast
Fold Sorrow's children, soothe the hurts of Fate,
Lift the down-trodden, but with hand of steel
Stay those who to thy sacred portals come
To waste the gifts of Freedom. -- Unguarded Gates.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Here is woe, a self and not the mask of woe. -- Andromeda.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

That was indeed to live--
At one bold swoop to wrest
From darkling death the best
That Death to Life can give! -- Shaw. Memorial Ode.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

What is more cheerful, now, in the fall of the year, than an open-wood-fire? Do you hear those little chirps and twitters coming out of that piece of apple-wood? Those are the ghosts of the robins and blue-birds that sang upon the bough when it was in blossom last Spring. In Summer whole flocks of them come fluttering about the fruit-trees under the window: so I have singing birds all the year round. -- Miss Mehitabel's Son.

Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Additional searches

Aldrich at Encarta Encyclopedia

Aldrich at Britannica Encyclopedia

Aldrich at Xrefer.com