spair, such moments of
unreasoning and overwhelming sorrow as the most moral people may
experience during a lifetime.

In "Communism" I endeavored to use a new simile in illustrating that
somewhat hackneyed theme of the supremacy of Love over Reason; and
simply to carry out my idea I represented the violent uprising of the
Communist emotions against King Reason.

"Conversion" was suggested to me by the remark of a gentleman friend. In
speaking to me of the woman he loved, he said: "I have always been a
skeptic regarding the existence of heaven, but I am so much happier in
my love for this woman than I ever supposed it possible for me to be on
earth that I begin to believe that the tales of heavenly raptures may be
true."

I embodied his idea in the poem which has brought, with a few others, so
much censure and criticism upon this volume, although it contains nearly
seventy-five other selections quite irreproachable in character, however
faulty they may be in construction.

It is impossible to pursue a successful literary career and follow the
advice of all one's "best friends." I have received severe censure from
my orthodox friends for writing liberal verses. My liberal friends
condemn my devout and religious poems as "aiding superstition." My early
temperance verses were pronounced "fanatical trash" by others.

With all due thanks and appreciation for the kind motives which interest
so many dear friends in my career, I yet feel compelled to follow the
light which my own intellect and judgment cast upon my way, rather than
any one of the many conflicting rays which other minds would lend me.

ELLA WHEELER.

[Illustration:]

[Illustration:]

CONTENTS

POEMS OF PASSION

Love's Language
Impatience
Communism
The Common Lot
Individuality
Friendship after Love
Queries
Upon the Sand
Reunited
What Shall We Do?
"The Beautiful Blue Danube"
Answered
Through the Valley
But One
Guilo
The Duet
Little Queen
Wherefore?
Delilah
Love Song
Time and Love
Change
Desolation
Isaura
The Coquette
Not Quite the Same
New and Old
From the Grave
A Waltz-Quadrille
Beppo
Tired
The Speech of Silence
Conversion
Love's Coming
Old and New
Perfectness
Attraction
Gracia
Ad Finem
Bleak Weather
An Answer
You Will Forget Me
The Farewell of Clarimonde
The Trio

MISCELLANEOUS POEMS

The Lost Garden
Art and Heart
Mockery
As by Fire
If I Should Die
Mesalliance
Response
Drought
The Creed
Progress