 | [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary |  |
MY HELPER.
We stood, my soul and I,
In fearful jeopardy,
The while the fire and tempest passed us by.
In fearful jeopardy,
The while the fire and tempest passed us by.
For I was pushed by fate
Into that fearful strait,
Where there was nothing but to stand and wait.
Into that fearful strait,
Where there was nothing but to stand and wait.
I had no company—
The world was dark to me:
Whence any light might come I could not see.
The world was dark to me:
Whence any light might come I could not see.
I lacked each common good,
Nor raiment had nor food;
The earth seemed slipping from me where I stood.
Nor raiment had nor food;
The earth seemed slipping from me where I stood.
One who had wealth essayed;
Gold in my hand he laid;
He proffered all his treasures for my aid.
Gold in my hand he laid;
He proffered all his treasures for my aid.
Yet from his gilded roof,
I needs must stand aloof;
I could not put his kindness to the proof.
I needs must stand aloof;
I could not put his kindness to the proof.
One who had wisdom, said,
“By me be taught and led,
And thou, thyself, mayst win both home and bread.
“By me be taught and led,
And thou, thyself, mayst win both home and bread.
Too strong and wise was he,
Too far away from me,
To help me in my great necessity.
Too far away from me,
To help me in my great necessity.
Came one, with modest guise,
With tender, downcast eyes,
With voice as sweet as mothers' lullabies.
With tender, downcast eyes,
With voice as sweet as mothers' lullabies.
Softly his words did fall,
“My riches are so small
I cannot give thee anything at all.
“My riches are so small
I cannot give thee anything at all.
“I cannot guide thy way,
As wiser mortals may;
But all my true heart at thy feet I lay.”
As wiser mortals may;
But all my true heart at thy feet I lay.”
No more earth seemed to move,
The skies grew bright above;
He gave me everything, who gave me love!
The skies grew bright above;
He gave me everything, who gave me love!
I had sweet company,
Food, raiment, luxury;
Had all the world—had heaven come down to me!
Food, raiment, luxury;
Had all the world—had heaven come down to me!
And now such peace is mine,
Surely a light divine
Must make my face with holiest joy to shine.
Surely a light divine
Must make my face with holiest joy to shine.
So that my heart's delight
Is published in men's sight;
And night and day I cry, and day and night;
Is published in men's sight;
And night and day I cry, and day and night;
O soul, no more alone,
Such bliss as thine is known
But to the angels nearest love's white throne!
Such bliss as thine is known
But to the angels nearest love's white throne!
| [Poems by Cary in] The Poetical Works Of Alice and Phoebe Cary | |