 | From Sunset Ridge |  |
150
THE GIFTS OF THE WISE
Let me go in with the kings
To the presence of God most high.
Their girdles are full of precious things
As they royally pass me by.
To the presence of God most high.
Their girdles are full of precious things
As they royally pass me by.
Each, as he went, let fall
A jewel in my hand,
But the alms they flung were poor and small
To the boon I would command.
A jewel in my hand,
But the alms they flung were poor and small
To the boon I would command.
I lay on the stones without,
I clamored at the door;
They 've given me gifts of nought, of nought:
The presence I covet more.
I clamored at the door;
They 've given me gifts of nought, of nought:
The presence I covet more.
Out from the heavenly court
Came a sentence sweet and strong:
“Only to those of high report
The presence doth belong.
Came a sentence sweet and strong:
“Only to those of high report
The presence doth belong.
“And one did give thee a heart
For the bauble in thy breast,
That might in holy life take part
With impulse pure and blest.
For the bauble in thy breast,
That might in holy life take part
With impulse pure and blest.
151
“And one did give thee an eye
In the universe to see
The laws that it was fashioned by,
And how they all agree.
In the universe to see
The laws that it was fashioned by,
And how they all agree.
“And one did give thee an ear
For doctrine lofty and deep
Of how man's spirit without fear
May pass from the mortal sleep.
For doctrine lofty and deep
Of how man's spirit without fear
May pass from the mortal sleep.
“When each surpassing boon
Thou takest as it was given,
In their fit use thou'lt find full soon
The master-key of heaven.”
Thou takest as it was given,
In their fit use thou'lt find full soon
The master-key of heaven.”
| From Sunset Ridge | |