The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
11
“THOU DOST ENDURE”
When we are tost amid life's whirling waters
Foam-crested, wild and deep,
And none can charm us of earth's sweetest daughters,
What refuge save in sleep?
Foam-crested, wild and deep,
And none can charm us of earth's sweetest daughters,
What refuge save in sleep?
When not one rose is left, nor violet nestling
In the sweet hollow way;
When the far skies with black-plumed clouds are wrestling
And all the seas are grey:
In the sweet hollow way;
When the far skies with black-plumed clouds are wrestling
And all the seas are grey:
When death is at the door and, faint and lonely,
Our spirit stands apart
From man and woman, seeking comfort only;
When passion fails, and Art:
Our spirit stands apart
From man and woman, seeking comfort only;
When passion fails, and Art:
When the bright golden glittering love-land fadeth,
When woman's eyes grow dim,
Is there yet One who healeth nor upbraideth
And can we turn to him?
When woman's eyes grow dim,
Is there yet One who healeth nor upbraideth
And can we turn to him?
12
Is there a Force beyond the surging waters,
A Power beyond the skies,
Stronger than earth's sons, gentler than her daughters,
With more than woman's eyes?
A Power beyond the skies,
Stronger than earth's sons, gentler than her daughters,
With more than woman's eyes?
With tenderer than her lips, and perfect pleasure
Of endless high embrace,
And selfless rescuing love that knows no measure
In his most awful face?
Of endless high embrace,
And selfless rescuing love that knows no measure
In his most awful face?
When we are weary, and nought but death can find us,
And dead are mortal dreams,
And suns are hidden, or blaze forth but to blind us,
And hushed are all the old streams:
And dead are mortal dreams,
And suns are hidden, or blaze forth but to blind us,
And hushed are all the old streams:
When all the flowers are withered, and the glory
Of earth departs indeed,
And hearts grow sere, and aging heads grow hoary,
And world-pierced spirits bleed:
Of earth departs indeed,
And hearts grow sere, and aging heads grow hoary,
And world-pierced spirits bleed:
When never again the dew falls in the meadows
Quite as it fell of old,
And sweet enchantment quits the evening shadows,
Forsakes the sunset's gold:
Quite as it fell of old,
And sweet enchantment quits the evening shadows,
Forsakes the sunset's gold:
13
When friends betray, and all the world is hollow,
And all the stars are pale,
Whom shall we seek, and whom for Leader follow,
And whom for Champion hail?
And all the stars are pale,
Whom shall we seek, and whom for Leader follow,
And whom for Champion hail?
What refuge save in thee, thou God most tender
And infinite and high?
Fold us around with more than starlike splendour,
With more than sunset sky!
And infinite and high?
Fold us around with more than starlike splendour,
With more than sunset sky!
Fill us with all thy strength, and with thy passion
That, being strong, is pure.
Men change. Thou changest not in mortal fashion.
Hearts fail. Thou dost endure.
That, being strong, is pure.
Men change. Thou changest not in mortal fashion.
Hearts fail. Thou dost endure.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |