 | At Sunset |  |
105
POEMS OF SENTIMENT AND REFLECTION
107
FROM MY NURSERY
FORTY-SIX YEARS AGO
When I was a little child,
Said my passionate nurse, and wild:
“Wash you, children, clean and white;
God may call you any night.”
Said my passionate nurse, and wild:
“Wash you, children, clean and white;
God may call you any night.”
Close my tender brother clung,
While I said with doubtful tongue:
“No, we cannot die so soon;
For you told, the other noon,
While I said with doubtful tongue:
“No, we cannot die so soon;
For you told, the other noon,
Of those months in order fine
That should make the earth divine.
I've not seen, scarce five years old,
Months like those of which you told.”
That should make the earth divine.
I've not seen, scarce five years old,
Months like those of which you told.”
Softly, then, the woman's hand
Loosed my frock from silken band,
Tender smoothed the fiery head,
Often shamed for ringlets red.
Somewhat gently did she say,
“Child, those months are every day.”
Loosed my frock from silken band,
Tender smoothed the fiery head,
Often shamed for ringlets red.
Somewhat gently did she say,
“Child, those months are every day.”
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Still, methinks, I wait in fear,
For that wonder-glorious year—
For a spring without a storm,
Summer honey-dewed and warm,
Autumn of robuster strength,
Winter piled in crystal length.
For that wonder-glorious year—
For a spring without a storm,
Summer honey-dewed and warm,
Autumn of robuster strength,
Winter piled in crystal length.
I will wash me clean and white;
God may call me any night.
I must tell him when I go
His great year is yet to know—
Year when workings of the race
Shall match Creation's dial face;
Each hour be born of music's chime,
And Truth eternal told in Time.
God may call me any night.
I must tell him when I go
His great year is yet to know—
Year when workings of the race
Shall match Creation's dial face;
Each hour be born of music's chime,
And Truth eternal told in Time.
111
THE OPEN DOOR
The Master said, “I am the Door.
The world is dark with doubt and sin,
Hidden the good that men implore,
But after me ye enter in.
The world is dark with doubt and sin,
Hidden the good that men implore,
But after me ye enter in.
“The ancient barriers I disown,
The distant and the dark control,
Who with your onward steps have thrown
God's sunshine open to the soul.”
The distant and the dark control,
Who with your onward steps have thrown
God's sunshine open to the soul.”
[OMITTED]
Another mystic door I know,
The entrance to this world of ours,
And she who opens it bears low
A wondrous weight of pains and powers.
The entrance to this world of ours,
And she who opens it bears low
A wondrous weight of pains and powers.
O men that plan the stately pile,
Where law and learning hold their sway,
And drive with subterfuge and wile
Your mothers from the door away,—
Where law and learning hold their sway,
And drive with subterfuge and wile
Your mothers from the door away,—
Undo the doors! In God's high noon
An equal heritage have we;
Your cold exclusion's out of tune
With Nature's hospitality.
An equal heritage have we;
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With Nature's hospitality.
See where the word of freedom lives
To bridge the gulf of ages o'er;
Learn how the Eternal Giver gives,
And keep with Christ the open door!
To bridge the gulf of ages o'er;
Learn how the Eternal Giver gives,
And keep with Christ the open door!
113
RAFAEL'S ST. CECILIA
Methinks a wondrous harmony
Doth through the ether fall;
My heart, attuned to heavenly joy,
Makes answer to its call.
Doth through the ether fall;
My heart, attuned to heavenly joy,
Makes answer to its call.
A breath divine is in this sky,
So limpid and so blue;
A radiance, streaming from on high,
Makes all things fair and new.
So limpid and so blue;
A radiance, streaming from on high,
Makes all things fair and new.
The mighty rhythm of the spheres
But echoes His behest
Who bids Devotion build her shrine
Deep in the faithful breast.
But echoes His behest
Who bids Devotion build her shrine
Deep in the faithful breast.
The music welcomes low and sweet
The Presence drawing nigh;
Sing, brothers, sing; with measure meet
Salute Heaven's majesty!
The Presence drawing nigh;
Sing, brothers, sing; with measure meet
Salute Heaven's majesty!
114
A SCRAP
Methinks my friends grow beauteous in my sight,As the years make their havoc of sweet things;
Like the intenser glory of the light
When the sad bird of Autumn sits and sings.
Ah! woe is me! ah! Memory,
Be cheerful, thanking God for things that be.
115
A DREAM OF THE HEARTHSTONE
A figure by my fireside stayed,
Plain was her garb, and veiled her face;
A presence mystical she made,
Nor changed her attitude, nor place.
Plain was her garb, and veiled her face;
A presence mystical she made,
Nor changed her attitude, nor place.
Did I neglect my household ways
For pleasure, wrought of pen or book?
She sighed a murmur of dispraise,
At which, methought, the rafters shook.
For pleasure, wrought of pen or book?
She sighed a murmur of dispraise,
At which, methought, the rafters shook.
Me young Delight did often win
My patient limits to outgo.
Thereafter, when I entered in
That shrouded guest did warning show.
My patient limits to outgo.
Thereafter, when I entered in
That shrouded guest did warning show.
The snows of Age to chill me fell
(Where many a gracious mate lay dead),
And moved my heart to break the spell
By that ungracious phantom laid.
(Where many a gracious mate lay dead),
And moved my heart to break the spell
By that ungracious phantom laid.
“Now, who art thou that didst not smile
When I my maddest jest devised?
Who art thou, stark and grim the while
That men my time and measure prized?”
When I my maddest jest devised?
Who art thou, stark and grim the while
That men my time and measure prized?”
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Without her pilgrim staff she rose,
Her weeds of darkness cast aside;
More dazzling than Olympian snows
The beauty that those weeds did hide.
Her weeds of darkness cast aside;
More dazzling than Olympian snows
The beauty that those weeds did hide.
Most like a solemn symphony
That lifts the heart from lowly things,
The voice with which she spake to me
Did loose contrition at its springs.
That lifts the heart from lowly things,
The voice with which she spake to me
Did loose contrition at its springs.
“Oh Duty! Visitor divine,
Take all the wealth my house affords,
But make thy holy methods mine;
Speak to me thy surpassing words!
Take all the wealth my house affords,
But make thy holy methods mine;
Speak to me thy surpassing words!
“Neglected once and undiscerned,
I pour my homage at thy feet.
Till I thy sacred law have learned
Nor joy, nor life can be complete.”
I pour my homage at thy feet.
Till I thy sacred law have learned
Nor joy, nor life can be complete.”
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FLOWERS
The flowers are sure his teachers
Who learns their varied speech,
And wondrous are the sermons
The friendly blossoms preach.
Who learns their varied speech,
And wondrous are the sermons
The friendly blossoms preach.
The Winter bids them vanish;
They close their friendly eyes,
And wait the joyous sentence
When Spring shall bid them rise.
They close their friendly eyes,
And wait the joyous sentence
When Spring shall bid them rise.
They say, “Look up to heaven
With ever-radiant face,
Transmute earth's waste and rubbish
To purity and grace.
With ever-radiant face,
Transmute earth's waste and rubbish
To purity and grace.
“Our roots may know dark secrets,
But these we do not tell;
When peevish zephyr questions,
We answer, ‘All is well.’
But these we do not tell;
When peevish zephyr questions,
We answer, ‘All is well.’
“Whether we deck the wedding
Or garland o'er the bier,
Comes still the steadfast message:
The end of all's not here.
Or garland o'er the bier,
Comes still the steadfast message:
The end of all's not here.
118
“Pursue the humble wisdom
Wherewith God makes us wise,
And answer back his sentence
With hope that never dies.”
Wherewith God makes us wise,
And answer back his sentence
With hope that never dies.”
119
A SNAP SHOT
Who is this sprite so dainty,
At odds with grisly Death?
His struggles nought avail him,
The Conqueror conquereth.
At odds with grisly Death?
His struggles nought avail him,
The Conqueror conquereth.
“Oh! I am one whose heeding
Was all of delights most high;
Time's treasures fitly feeding
My delicate sense and eye.”
Was all of delights most high;
Time's treasures fitly feeding
My delicate sense and eye.”
But say, didst thou feed others?
“My lovers, and my friends.”
And never a dusty beggar?
Then here thy banquet ends!
“My lovers, and my friends.”
And never a dusty beggar?
Then here thy banquet ends!
120
A LEGEND OF BRITTANY
In Carnac's field a silent army stands,
Stands without feet and signals without hands;
No human feature crowns their upright form;
Nor human impulse their stern height doth warm.
Stands without feet and signals without hands;
No human feature crowns their upright form;
Nor human impulse their stern height doth warm.
Cornely, holy man, remembered here,
To every hornèd beast a guardian dear,
Was one day followed by a heathen band,
Who to ensnare his sacred life had planned.
To every hornèd beast a guardian dear,
Was one day followed by a heathen band,
Who to ensnare his sacred life had planned.
Seaward he fled, but when the strand he neared,
Nor helpful skiff, nor friendly sail appeared.
Then in his hearing some one seemed to say:
“Thou man of God, wherefore dost flee away?
Stand fast and show on this appointed spot,
The puissance which thy heathen foe have not.”
Nor helpful skiff, nor friendly sail appeared.
Then in his hearing some one seemed to say:
“Thou man of God, wherefore dost flee away?
Stand fast and show on this appointed spot,
The puissance which thy heathen foe have not.”
Then turned Cornely, then erect he stood,
And held on high the symbol of the Rood,
While from the skies a voice said audibly:
“Your hearts are stone, stone let your bodies be.”
And held on high the symbol of the Rood,
While from the skies a voice said audibly:
“Your hearts are stone, stone let your bodies be.”
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So, carved in granite, did their features fade,
Of each stark form a monument was made;
There, in stern drill, they wait the Judgment day,
When the Saint's prayers may melt their bonds away.
Of each stark form a monument was made;
There, in stern drill, they wait the Judgment day,
When the Saint's prayers may melt their bonds away.
122
THE ECHO
DREAMED IN A SOLITARY EVENING, MARCH 4, 1905.
God gave the echo, that no beauteous sound
Should e'er without its counterpart be found.
So, where angelic melody has birth,
It wakes its partner ere it flits from earth.
Should e'er without its counterpart be found.
So, where angelic melody has birth,
It wakes its partner ere it flits from earth.
A monarch wears upon his diadem
The rainbow, prisoned in an opal gem.
Ev'n so, all glories of sea and sky
Captive in Man's imagination lie.
The rainbow, prisoned in an opal gem.
Ev'n so, all glories of sea and sky
Captive in Man's imagination lie.
With them the boundless æons of the past,
And future dim that should forever last.
So, one may think our Lord his crown doth make
Of such soul gems, and wears them for our sake.
And future dim that should forever last.
So, one may think our Lord his crown doth make
Of such soul gems, and wears them for our sake.
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AMONG MY TREES
Hail, thou hundred-handed pine,
Swaying with a grace divine,
Light and heat and air receiving,
Beauty and soft fragrance giving.
Swaying with a grace divine,
Light and heat and air receiving,
Beauty and soft fragrance giving.
Teach us music, songful birds,
With your seconds and your thirds;
Melodies intangible;
From past times infrangible;
You could tell us if you dared,
If you only knew we cared;
With your seconds and your thirds;
Melodies intangible;
From past times infrangible;
You could tell us if you dared,
If you only knew we cared;
Handing down the mystery
Of timeless human history
That unwritten never was,
Never told its end or cause.
Of timeless human history
That unwritten never was,
Never told its end or cause.
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ALL SAINTS
My mind reviews the story
Of the old primeval glory:
Of Abram, whom on Midian's plain
God heard, and answered to again;
Of Moses from the sweep of Nile
Saved by a sister's tender wile;
Of the old primeval glory:
Of Abram, whom on Midian's plain
God heard, and answered to again;
Of Moses from the sweep of Nile
Saved by a sister's tender wile;
The captains and the seers of old,
Whom God's anointing made so bold;
The pure faith-jewel handed down
Till cross and scourging brought its crown.
Whom God's anointing made so bold;
The pure faith-jewel handed down
Till cross and scourging brought its crown.
Kindred to these, tho' in time apart,
The loves ancestral of my heart,
The ancient grandsire, parents sage,
My fair son, nip't in tender age,
And one, now lying still and lone,
A daughter, to a sister grown.
Such memories gild, with glowing ray,
The passage of this All Saints' Day.
The loves ancestral of my heart,
The ancient grandsire, parents sage,
My fair son, nip't in tender age,
And one, now lying still and lone,
A daughter, to a sister grown.
Such memories gild, with glowing ray,
The passage of this All Saints' Day.
1885.
125
A WAGE-EARNER
They were twining wreaths of laurel
For many an honored head,
And spreading cloth of crimson
For princely feet to tread,
For many an honored head,
And spreading cloth of crimson
For princely feet to tread,
And singing in loud triumph
The pæan of the hour,
The joy of recent conquest,
The victor's praise and power;
The pæan of the hour,
The joy of recent conquest,
The victor's praise and power;
When one came by heart-weary
With service of the day:
“From dawn to dusk I've labored,
Where do such have their pay?”
With service of the day:
“From dawn to dusk I've labored,
Where do such have their pay?”
Back of this gay assemblage,
Unnoticed of the crowd,
Leadeth a narrow passage
Which darkling shadows shroud.
Unnoticed of the crowd,
Leadeth a narrow passage
Which darkling shadows shroud.
It smells not of the laurel
Nor shows the carpet fine;
There shalt thou find the Master,
And there receive his coin.
Nor shows the carpet fine;
There shalt thou find the Master,
And there receive his coin.
126
A penny of old fashion
With marks of sweat and blood;
Such Moses took in payment,
And Christ, who blessed the rood.
With marks of sweat and blood;
Such Moses took in payment,
And Christ, who blessed the rood.
Clean hands of many a martyr
Have held this symbol small,
Bequeathing to the ages
The value of their all.
Have held this symbol small,
Bequeathing to the ages
The value of their all.
And fairer in the using
Of centuries it grows;
Among immortal treasures,
Splendid and sole it shows.
Of centuries it grows;
Among immortal treasures,
Splendid and sole it shows.
Be joyful in receiving
From heavenly Lord and Friend
What falsehood cannot gather
And folly cannot spend.
From heavenly Lord and Friend
What falsehood cannot gather
And folly cannot spend.
Mined from the heart of ages,
Stamped with unerring skill,
It heaven and earth can purchase,
God's service, man's good-will.
Stamped with unerring skill,
It heaven and earth can purchase,
God's service, man's good-will.
127
WICKED PATIENCE
Sweet Christ, with flagellations brought
To thine immortal martyrdom,
Cancel the bitter treasons wrought
By men who bid thy kingdom come.
To thine immortal martyrdom,
Cancel the bitter treasons wrought
By men who bid thy kingdom come.
Their sinful blood we may not urge,
While Mercy stays thy righteous hand;
But take all ours, if that should purge
The wicked patience of the land!
While Mercy stays thy righteous hand;
But take all ours, if that should purge
The wicked patience of the land!
128
THE WORLD MESSENGER
MARCH 26, 1905
Who comes with tidings from afar?
What says the peasant, what the Czar?
In farthest East, where fearful strife
Pours Nation's blood for Nation's life?
How fare the armies madly matched?
What new conspiracies are hatched
In that dark house where counsels lag
While fierce Rebellion waves her flag?
What says the peasant, what the Czar?
In farthest East, where fearful strife
Pours Nation's blood for Nation's life?
How fare the armies madly matched?
What new conspiracies are hatched
In that dark house where counsels lag
While fierce Rebellion waves her flag?
Still does complacent Europe smirk
At the pledged promise of the Turk?
As fruitless as their sympathies
Who rail at his iniquities,
But never yet have plucked up heart
To act a valiant Champion's part!
At the pledged promise of the Turk?
As fruitless as their sympathies
Who rail at his iniquities,
But never yet have plucked up heart
To act a valiant Champion's part!
On our own shores, what new surprise?
What forecast, both of fools and wise?
What covert heaping of the spoil?
What protest of hard-handed toil?
What Sunday sentences of good?
What Monday floating with the flood?
Questions like these, and many more
Are answered at our very door.
What forecast, both of fools and wise?
What covert heaping of the spoil?
What protest of hard-handed toil?
What Sunday sentences of good?
What Monday floating with the flood?
129
Are answered at our very door.
Who is it that thus daily reads
The riddle of our human needs?
What giant with a million hands,
With feet familiar in all lands,
Tracks through this world the flight of Fame,
Rehearsed to us for praise or blame?
Who is this Master-Servant? Guess.
What is it but The Daily Press!
The riddle of our human needs?
What giant with a million hands,
With feet familiar in all lands,
Tracks through this world the flight of Fame,
Rehearsed to us for praise or blame?
Who is this Master-Servant? Guess.
What is it but The Daily Press!
130
A NEW FLAG
We'll have a new flag, my brothers—we'll have a new flag, my boys!
Since swords have been ground to ploughshares, and trumpets are turned to toys;
We have had enough of the red stripe, the planet of war is set,
And in the blue empyrean, the white steeds of peace are met.
Since swords have been ground to ploughshares, and trumpets are turned to toys;
We have had enough of the red stripe, the planet of war is set,
And in the blue empyrean, the white steeds of peace are met.
Their reins are of starry silver, their hoofs are of virgin gold,
They carry our fates behind them, in a master's steady hold;
The armies of retribution strode heavily to the sea,
But the message of consolation shall winged and wafted be.
They carry our fates behind them, in a master's steady hold;
The armies of retribution strode heavily to the sea,
But the message of consolation shall winged and wafted be.
We'll have the Christ on our banner, the hero of truth and toil;
Not a miser meting his treasure, not a victor counting his spoil;
The Christ that to lords and peasants sent equal command and call,
Who throned in the skiff or palace, Hope's master and Sorrow's thrall.
Not a miser meting his treasure, not a victor counting his spoil;
The Christ that to lords and peasants sent equal command and call,
131
We'll measure the fields together where Labor was maimed and dumb;
Where shadows wrought in the furrows, whose sunshine at last has come.
Where the sense of the nation slumbered, in spiritless sloth and shame,
Till with flashing of arms and torches, the terrible bridegroom came.
Where shadows wrought in the furrows, whose sunshine at last has come.
Where the sense of the nation slumbered, in spiritless sloth and shame,
Till with flashing of arms and torches, the terrible bridegroom came.
The forum shall stand for justice, and the temples shall stand for prayer
Whose answer the arm may hasten, not cast on the viewless air;
Not crowded to distant heaven the humble and poor shall wait;
For heaven shall be seen among us, the happy, immortal state.
Whose answer the arm may hasten, not cast on the viewless air;
Not crowded to distant heaven the humble and poor shall wait;
For heaven shall be seen among us, the happy, immortal state.
And we'll build the gladsome schoolhouse, where small angels unawares
Are trained at the desk of duty, or seated on studious chairs,
And sowing that seed most sacred, in the young and teeming ground,
We shall look for a precious harvest, a nation redeemed and sound;
Are trained at the desk of duty, or seated on studious chairs,
And sowing that seed most sacred, in the young and teeming ground,
We shall look for a precious harvest, a nation redeemed and sound;
132
We'll straiten the yoke of duty, and doctrine make one for all;
Each may hope for and do his utmost, by his own worth stand or fall;
We'll not lift men for their features, nor lower them for their skin;
But look to the great soul-Father, in whom we are all of kin.
Each may hope for and do his utmost, by his own worth stand or fall;
We'll not lift men for their features, nor lower them for their skin;
But look to the great soul-Father, in whom we are all of kin.
And why do we strive for riches, since all are in Thine possessed?
And why are we mad for honors, when true service honors best?
And why should we build up limits, dividing the land's fair face?
They are one—her brow and her bosom! They are one, her growth and her grace.
And why are we mad for honors, when true service honors best?
And why should we build up limits, dividing the land's fair face?
They are one—her brow and her bosom! They are one, her growth and her grace.
So we'll have a new flag, my brothers! our stripes, we have felt them all;
Our stars in the dusk of battle did mournfully pale and fall;
Let us yield our claims and our quarrels for a compact of priceless worth;
For the peace that Christ found in heaven, the peace that he left on earth.
Our stars in the dusk of battle did mournfully pale and fall;
Let us yield our claims and our quarrels for a compact of priceless worth;
For the peace that Christ found in heaven, the peace that he left on earth.
133
SONG OF THE HAREBELL
AS I FOUND IT ON AN ALPINE SLOPE
Spring is coming,
Birds are humming,
Streamlets skipping,
Maidens tripping.
Birds are humming,
Streamlets skipping,
Maidens tripping.
Touch me slightly,
Wave me lightly,
Ding a ding,
This is spring.
Wave me lightly,
Ding a ding,
This is spring.
This new-comer
Men call summer,
With a color
Flashing fuller,
With a splendor
Fresh and tender.
Men call summer,
With a color
Flashing fuller,
With a splendor
Fresh and tender.
Touch me warmly,
Uniformly,
Summer sings
Of steadfast things.
Uniformly,
Summer sings
Of steadfast things.
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Autumn's here now,
Leaves are sere now.
Ice-chains forging,
No more gorging
Of the bee's throat,
Of the wild goat.
Leaves are sere now.
Ice-chains forging,
No more gorging
Of the bee's throat,
Of the wild goat.
Ring a knell!
Summer fell.
Summer fell.
See the summit!
Winter from it
Sends its hoary
Glittering glory.
Winter from it
Sends its hoary
Glittering glory.
Snow doth bind me,
You'll not find me.
Silence praises;
God amazes.
You'll not find me.
Silence praises;
God amazes.
135
NIGHT THOUGHTS
I
'T is our sun's light that returns
Where flame-cinctured Saturn burns.
Where flame-cinctured Saturn burns.
'T is our Holy One whose grace
Shines in each illumined face.
Shines in each illumined face.
Lavish Noon lies all abroad,
Midnight doth her treasures hoard.
Midnight doth her treasures hoard.
Thro' close darkness oft is won
Highest light of soul or sun.
Highest light of soul or sun.
II
Night her starry gems doth hoard,
Day's delights are freely poured,
Yet is beautiful the play
Of succeeding Night and Day,
Sun and shadow, work and rest,
And the star-lamps for God's guest.
Day's delights are freely poured,
Yet is beautiful the play
Of succeeding Night and Day,
Sun and shadow, work and rest,
And the star-lamps for God's guest.
136
TO AN INFANT OF DAYS
No foot hast thou for frolic or for speed,No brain to plan for conquest or for need;
No hand to work Man's miracles of skill,
Nor wise discernment, parting good from ill.
Yet none can say how high thy strength shall lift,
How wondrous and beneficent thy gift.
O grant, mysterious Powers, that this may prove
A riddle of fair omen, writ in love!
137
HUMANITY
Methought a moment that I stood
Where hung the Christ upon the Cross,
Just when mankind had writ in blood
The record of its dearest loss.
Where hung the Christ upon the Cross,
Just when mankind had writ in blood
The record of its dearest loss.
The bitter drink men offered him
His kingly gesture did decline,
And my heart sought, in musing dim,
Some cordial for those lips divine.
His kingly gesture did decline,
And my heart sought, in musing dim,
Some cordial for those lips divine.
When lo! a cup of purest gold
My trembling fingers did uphold;
Within it glowed a wine as red
As hearts, not grapes, its drops had shed.
Drink deep, my Christ, I offer thee
The ransom of Humanity.
My trembling fingers did uphold;
Within it glowed a wine as red
As hearts, not grapes, its drops had shed.
Drink deep, my Christ, I offer thee
The ransom of Humanity.
138
BUILDING
I sat before Fate's ebbing tide
With my life's buildings near at hand,
And thought, how planned in marble pride
Was that which crumbled in the sand.
While the soul's Master-architect
Held me to reason and reflect.
With my life's buildings near at hand,
And thought, how planned in marble pride
Was that which crumbled in the sand.
While the soul's Master-architect
Held me to reason and reflect.
“Oh! Master, I have wrought so ill
Would heaven I had not wrought at all!
So petty my devising skill,
My measures so unjust and small.”
Would heaven I had not wrought at all!
So petty my devising skill,
My measures so unjust and small.”
“But didst thou build for God?” said He.
“Then doth God's building stand for thee.”
“Then doth God's building stand for thee.”
139
QUATRAINS
I
Wouldst thou on me but turn thy wondrous sight,My breast would be so flooded by thy light,
The light whose language is immortal song,
That I to all the ages should belong.
II
I gave my son a palace,And a kingdom to control;
The palace of his body,
The kingdom of his soul.
July 25, 1908. The thought came to me that if God only looked upon me, I should become radiant, like a star.
140
IN MUSIC HALL
LOOKING DOWN UPON THE WHITE HEADS OF MY CONTEMPORARIES
Beneath what mound of snow
Are hid my springtime roses?
How shall Remembrance know
Where buried Hope reposes?
Are hid my springtime roses?
How shall Remembrance know
Where buried Hope reposes?
In what forgetful heart
As in a cañon darkling,
Slumbers the blissful art
That set my heaven sparkling?
As in a cañon darkling,
Slumbers the blissful art
That set my heaven sparkling?
What sense shall never know,
Soul shall remember;
Roses beneath the snow,
June in November.
Soul shall remember;
Roses beneath the snow,
June in November.
141
ON THE DEATH OF A FRIEND
Think of one who comes no more
To our circle glad and gay.
Once, she gave us of her store,
Shared our simple holiday.
To our circle glad and gay.
Once, she gave us of her store,
Shared our simple holiday.
Silent, to the silent land
Was her gentle spirit's flight,
From our earth ball, bound and shunned,
To the realm of endless light.
Was her gentle spirit's flight,
From our earth ball, bound and shunned,
To the realm of endless light.
To the æons that replace
Well our paltry tale of years,
To the truth's unclouded face,
To the music of the spheres.
Well our paltry tale of years,
To the truth's unclouded face,
To the music of the spheres.
Well equipt our friend might seem
For that sudden, mystic change.
To her patient soul, we deem
Heavenly greetings were not strange.
For that sudden, mystic change.
To her patient soul, we deem
Heavenly greetings were not strange.
Freed from days of suff'ring drear,
From the torment of her pain,
She is still a presence here,
In our love she lives again.
From the torment of her pain,
She is still a presence here,
In our love she lives again.
143
THE PEACE CONGRESS
The legendary ark of yore
Sent forth a pilgrim dove
Whose pinions fair a message bore,
An embassy of love.
Sent forth a pilgrim dove
Whose pinions fair a message bore,
An embassy of love.
Where first her foot did rest, was found
The olive branch of Peace,
And, waving this o'er Ocean's bound,
She bade its tumult cease.
The olive branch of Peace,
And, waving this o'er Ocean's bound,
She bade its tumult cease.
Again, when Jesus, strong to save,
By Jordan's tide did wait,
A white dove hovered o'er the wave
His form should consecrate.
By Jordan's tide did wait,
A white dove hovered o'er the wave
His form should consecrate.
The blazonry of discord glows
In the ensanguined East,
And man with man must meet as foes,
As beast encounters beast.
In the ensanguined East,
And man with man must meet as foes,
As beast encounters beast.
But human souls have power to seek
The majesty of prayer,
And, quickened by its might, to speak
Words that sound everywhere.
The majesty of prayer,
And, quickened by its might, to speak
Words that sound everywhere.
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From these calm precincts where we meet
Intent on heavenly things,
The Dove of Peace the world shall greet
With healing on her wings.
Intent on heavenly things,
The Dove of Peace the world shall greet
With healing on her wings.
1904.
145
IN THE STREET
Along the way bright chariots rolled,
With pleasure-seekers, gay and bold.
The throng passed by and knew me not,
The service of my life forgot.
With pleasure-seekers, gay and bold.
The throng passed by and knew me not,
The service of my life forgot.
The flush of youth, the pride of wealth,
Broadly displayed, though gained by stealth,
All, all their eager game pursued.
Neglected in the street I stood.
Broadly displayed, though gained by stealth,
All, all their eager game pursued.
Neglected in the street I stood.
In a poor attic, overhead,
Were certain maids who sewed for bread,
Cheering their work with songs of mine.
Musing, I cried, “Rich gifts may please,
But where are givers like to these
Who, without knowledge or design,
Here crown me with a joy divine?”
Were certain maids who sewed for bread,
Cheering their work with songs of mine.
Musing, I cried, “Rich gifts may please,
But where are givers like to these
Who, without knowledge or design,
Here crown me with a joy divine?”
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NOVEMBER
All in a chamber
Besprent with amber
The parting Year his guests receives.
His sunsets tender
Their robes of splendor;
Still is he crowned with golden leaves.
Besprent with amber
The parting Year his guests receives.
His sunsets tender
Their robes of splendor;
Still is he crowned with golden leaves.
While yet he lingers
The Frost's swift fingers
Are weaving him his wintry shroud;
A pall descending
With crystal blending
Shall veil his forests, slumber-bowed.
The Frost's swift fingers
Are weaving him his wintry shroud;
A pall descending
With crystal blending
Shall veil his forests, slumber-bowed.
Beyond this curtain
His end is certain.
Why, then, does he still smile and sing?
Because a vision
Of hope elysian
Reveals the promise of the spring.
His end is certain.
Why, then, does he still smile and sing?
Because a vision
Of hope elysian
Reveals the promise of the spring.
1909.
147
SIX PRETTY CRADLES
I have tended six pretty cradles,
With the prettiest babes within;
All heart-flames of holy rapture
In a world of grief and sin.
With the prettiest babes within;
All heart-flames of holy rapture
In a world of grief and sin.
Six cradles make six coffins;
I see them as I sit.
In giving life I have given death—
Thus sorrow and solace knit!
I see them as I sit.
In giving life I have given death—
Thus sorrow and solace knit!
Six babes may make six angels;
Oh! grant it, God of grace,
That, lifted on their loving wings,
I too may see Thy face!
Oh! grant it, God of grace,
That, lifted on their loving wings,
I too may see Thy face!
1909.
148
CHRISTMAS
In highest heaven a new-born star
Unveils its radiance from afar;
The while, upon her first-born child,
The mother of an hour has smiled.
Unveils its radiance from afar;
The while, upon her first-born child,
The mother of an hour has smiled.
To what a rustic nursery
Cometh this dear nativity!
No hostelry our Babe receives.
Upon the refuse of the sheaves
Is pillowed that sweet forehead, born
To feel the sharpness of the thorn.
Cometh this dear nativity!
No hostelry our Babe receives.
Upon the refuse of the sheaves
Is pillowed that sweet forehead, born
To feel the sharpness of the thorn.
Pious souls, in Orient warned,
Seek the Presence unadorned.
Journeying far, they would inquire
Where doth rest the mystic fire
That shall ravish land and sea
With a new divinity.
Seek the Presence unadorned.
Journeying far, they would inquire
Where doth rest the mystic fire
That shall ravish land and sea
With a new divinity.
Regal gifts the pilgrims bear,—
Gold and myrrh and incense rare.
Soon the offered sweet perfume
Consecrates the stable room:
While, from out the wintry gloom,
Leaping Dawn uplights the skies,
Shows the Babe to reverent eyes.
Gold and myrrh and incense rare.
Soon the offered sweet perfume
Consecrates the stable room:
While, from out the wintry gloom,
149
Shows the Babe to reverent eyes.
Soon thou, dear Child, wilt leave thy play,
Mimic dance, and roundelay;
By some deep whisper in thy breast
Sent on Truth's immortal quest;
In thy young reason, tender still,
Shaping the fated fight with ill.
Mimic dance, and roundelay;
By some deep whisper in thy breast
Sent on Truth's immortal quest;
In thy young reason, tender still,
Shaping the fated fight with ill.
Thou shalt learn the humble trade
That for thee no cradle made;
Eat the peasant's homely fare,
His unfashioned garments wear.
While thy royalty of soul
Doth foreshadow its control
Over ages yet unborn
That shall bless thy natal morn.
That for thee no cradle made;
Eat the peasant's homely fare,
His unfashioned garments wear.
While thy royalty of soul
Doth foreshadow its control
Over ages yet unborn
That shall bless thy natal morn.
Ah, sorrow! that thy fair spring-tide
The martyr's mission must abide,
Thy thought with saintly daring probe
The festering ulcers of the globe;
While reckless multitudes will stand
To pierce and bind thy healing hand,
And thy manhood's fixed intent
Leads to Calvary's ascent.
The martyr's mission must abide,
Thy thought with saintly daring probe
The festering ulcers of the globe;
While reckless multitudes will stand
To pierce and bind thy healing hand,
And thy manhood's fixed intent
Leads to Calvary's ascent.
150
O joy! that far beyond the cross,
Its bitter pain, its shame and loss,
Above the failure men might see
Truth's endless triumph crowneth thee!
Such a promise in thy birth,
Such a glory come to earth,
Such a tragedy divine
To be wrought in pangs of time,
Such redemption without end,
Brother, Master, Saviour, Friend!
Its bitter pain, its shame and loss,
Above the failure men might see
Truth's endless triumph crowneth thee!
Such a promise in thy birth,
Such a glory come to earth,
Such a tragedy divine
To be wrought in pangs of time,
Such redemption without end,
Brother, Master, Saviour, Friend!
| At Sunset | |