Index of first lines

A

A bunch of lilac and a storm of hail *
A lady and I were walking *
A lady has a thousand ways *
Across the sea *
All day long *
All through the day at my machine *
And is love very strong where honour rules? *
At ten o’clock the great gong sounds its dread *
Ay, ay, ay, the lilies of the garden *

B

Beauty does not walk through lovely days. *

C

Cherry plum blossom in an old tin jug— *
Child Sun *

D

Dearest, dearest, *
Do you remember still the little song *

E

Each day I sit in an ill-lighted room *
Each morning I pass on my way to work *
Emmie, Emmie Adams, *
Every day Miss Mary goes her rounds, *
Every night I hurry home to see *

F

Florence kneels down to say her prayers *
Flowers have uncountable ways of pretending to be *
Frolic mountain winds *

G

Great crane o’ertopping the delicate trees *
Green and blue *

H

He had served eighty masters. They’d have said *
He has a fairy wife *
He has picked grapes in the sun. Oh it seems *
He looks in my heart and the image there *
He’s out of work! *
He: That isn’t you *
How funny it would be if dreamy I *

I

I am making great big skirts *
I am no mystic. All the ways of God *
I bought a red hat *
I came to live in Sophia Street *
I cannot be tricked out in lovely clothes *
I can’t feel the sunshine *
I count the days until I see you, dear, *
I dare not leave the splendid town *
I do hate the folk I love, *
I dreamt last night *
I dreamt last night of happy home-comings. *
I found an orchid in the valley fair *
I had a lover who betrayed me. *
I hate work so *
I hated them when I was four years old, *
I have a sister whom God gave to me; *
I have golden shoes *
I have three loves who are all most dear. *
I have to make a soul for one *
I have two wings *
I in the library *
I know a room that’s dark in daytime hours; *
I know more about flowers, *
I lie in the dark *
I like the riders *
I love to see *
I made a heaven for you filled with stars, *
I must be dreaming through the days *
I read a statement in a newspaper *
I saw a flight of sparrows through the air. *
I sit at my machine *
I think each year should bring *
I thought I heard something move in the house *
I used to be afraid to meet *
“I used to have dozens of handkerchiefs *
“I want a parlourmaid.” *
I was sad *
I went down to post a letter *
I wish you’d seen that dirty little boy, *
I’d like to spend long hours at home *
I’d love to have you on a rainy day *
If I had six white horses *
If you have loved a brave story *
I’m like all lovers, wanting love to be *
I’m not his wife. I am his paramour: *
In this little school *
Into old rhyme *
I’ve had no man *

J

Just now, as warm day faded from our sight, *

L

Last night, in a dream, I felt the peculiar anguish *
Little girls, *

M

Maisie’s been holding down her head all day, *
Miss Murphy has blue eyes and blue-black hair, *
Most people have a way of making friends *
My *
My darling lies down in her soft white bed, *
My friend declares *
My heart is a pomegranate full of sweet fancies, *
My lovely pixie, my good companion *
My mission in the world *
My window pane is broken *

N

Now all the lovely days are past, *
Now I’ve been three days *

O

O great golden head lie in my lap, *
O little plum tree in the garden, you’re *
O little year, cram full of duty, *
O man, O woman, grievest so? *
O sweet and fair! These words are mine to use *
O you, dear trees, you have learned so much of beauty, *
Oh, oh Rosalie, *
Old memories waken old desires *
Once I thought my love was worth the name *
One comes to love the little saints, *
One summer day, along the street, *
Our palm designed to grow *
Ours was a friendship in secret, my dear, *

P

Pat wasn’t Pat last night at all. *
Pink eucalyptus flowers *

R

“Raging winter wind *

S

She has all Ireland in her blood, *
She is not of the fireside *
Somebody brought in lilac, *
Sometimes I am too tired *
Sometimes I can see *
Sometimes I lose *
Sometimes I think God has his days *
Sometimes I think the happiest of love’s moments *
Sometimes I watch you, mark your brooding eyes, *
Sometimes I wish that I were Helen-fair *
Sometimes the skirts I push through the machine *
Standing on tiptoe, head back, eyes and arm *

T

Tall trees along the road, *
The foot of my machine *
The hot winds wake to life in the sweet daytime *
The lilies in the garden walk *
The little ships are dearer than the great ships *
The love I look for *
The people have drunk the wine of peace *
The strike’s done. *
The sun’s my fire. *
There’s a band in the street, there’s a band in the street. *
There’s a big park just close to where we live— *
There’s a little boy who lives next door *
They are so glad of a young companion *
They have a few little hours *
They say—priests say— *
They say she was a creature of the moor, *
They used to say *
This evening I’m alone *
This morning I got up before the sun *
This year I have seen autumn with new eyes, *
Those must be masts of ships the gazer sees *
Though I had lost my love, *
Through the Museum *
Through the swift night *
To look across at Moira gives me pleasure *
To Plato’s dictum *
Today *
Today I saw *
Today, in class, *
Today is rebels’ day. And yet we work *
Today they made a bonfire *
Today when you went up the hill *

U

Up in my room on my unmade bed *

W

We climbed that hill *
We’ve a room *
We watched the dawn breaking across the sea *
What were the good of stars if none looked on them *
When day is over *
When Gertie came in *
When I am articled *
When I am making poetry I’m good *
When I am so worn out I cannot sleep *
When I get up to light the fire *
When I go into town at half past seven *
When I go up to work the young blue sea *
When I was a child, *
When I was still a child *
When my lover put the sea between us *
Whenever I think of you, you are alone, *
Why does she put me to many indignities, *

Y

You may have other loves, *
You want a lily *
You who are dead, *
You, whom the grave cannot bind, *