[
  {
    "title": "Retirement",
    "author": "Anne Bronte",
    "lines": [
      "O, let me be alone a while,",
      "No human form is nigh.",
      "And may I sing and muse aloud,",
      "No mortal ear is by.",
      "Away! ye dreams of earthly bliss,",
      "Ye earthly cares begone:",
      "Depart! ye restless wandering thoughts,",
      "And let me be alone!",
      "",
      "One hour, my spirit, stretch thy wings,",
      "And quit this joyless sod,",
      "Bask in the sunshine of the sky,",
      "And be alone with God!"
    ],
    "linecount": "12"
  },
  {
    "title": "Retirement",
    "author": "Henry Vaughan",
    "lines": [
      "Fresh fields and woods! the Earth's fair face,",
      "God's foot-stool, and man's dwelling-place.",
      "I ask not why the first Believer",
      "Did love to be a country liver?",
      "Who to secure pious content",
      "Did pitch by groves and wells his tent;",
      "Where he might view the boundless sky,",
      "And all those glorious lights on high;",
      "With flying meteors, mists and show'rs,",
      "Subjected hills, trees, meads and flow'rs;",
      "And ev'ry minute bless the King",
      "And wise Creator of each thing.",
      "I ask not why he did remove",
      "To happy Mamre's holy grove,",
      "Leaving the cities of the plain",
      "To Lot and his successless train?",
      "All various lusts in cities still",
      "Are found; they are the thrones of ill;",
      "The dismal sinks, where blood is spill'd,",
      "Cages with much uncleanness fill'd.",
      "But rural shades are the sweet fense",
      "Of piety and innocence.",
      "They are the Meek's calm region, where",
      "Angels descend and rule the sphere,",
      "Where heaven lies leiger, and the dove",
      "Duly as dew, comes from above.",
      "If Eden be on Earth at all,",
      "'Tis that, which we the country call."
    ],
    "linecount": "28"
  },
  {
    "title": "Retirement",
    "author": "William Cowper",
    "lines": [
      "Far from the world, O Lord, I flee,",
      "From strife and tumult far;",
      "From scenes where Satan wages still",
      "His most successful war.",
      "",
      "The calm retreat, the silent shade,",
      "With prayer and praise agree;",
      "And seem, by Thy sweet bounty made,",
      "For those who follow Thee.",
      "",
      "There if Thy Spirit touch the soul,",
      "And grace her mean abode,",
      "Oh, with what peace, and joy, and love,",
      "She communes with her God!",
      "",
      "There like the nightingale she pours",
      "Her solitary lays;",
      "Nor asks a witness of her song,",
      "Nor thirsts for human praise.",
      "",
      "Author and Guardian of my life,",
      "Sweet source of light Divine,",
      "And, -- all harmonious names in one, --",
      "My Saviour! Thou art mine.",
      "",
      "What thanks I owe Thee, and what love,",
      "A boundless, endless store,",
      "Shall echo through the realms above,",
      "When time shall be no more."
    ],
    "linecount": "24"
  }
]