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157
REFLECTED LIGHT.
The suffering and the loss are mine!
The pain, the death are all for me!
'Tis fond delusion makes them thine,
Transferring my regrets to thee.
The pain, the death are all for me!
'Tis fond delusion makes them thine,
Transferring my regrets to thee.
It is not true, it is not true,
That thou, reluctant, hurried hence,
On all the good we hoped to do
Look'st back with wistful longings thence;
That thou, reluctant, hurried hence,
On all the good we hoped to do
Look'st back with wistful longings thence;
On fields unreaped together sown,
On holy hopes all unfulfilled!
The shattered hopes are mine alone,
Thine in the well of life are stilled;
On holy hopes all unfulfilled!
The shattered hopes are mine alone,
Thine in the well of life are stilled;
Stilled, and made strong for higher flight,
Fulfilled, and freed for wider range,
From height to height of fuller light,
From stage to stage of growth and change.
Fulfilled, and freed for wider range,
From height to height of fuller light,
From stage to stage of growth and change.
158
The loss, the close, the death are mine;
Mine only! Thine no more! no more!
Fulfilment, joy, expansion, thine!
Winged by thy joy my soul can soar;
Mine only! Thine no more! no more!
Fulfilment, joy, expansion, thine!
Winged by thy joy my soul can soar;
A fulness of Divine content
Silently fills and floods my heart,
As with long gaze, enrapt, intent,
I see thee blessed as thou art.
Silently fills and floods my heart,
As with long gaze, enrapt, intent,
I see thee blessed as thou art.
And in thy gladness I am glad;
My weakness in thy strength grows strong,—
I know thy very heavens were sad
If thou couldst think I suffered wrong.
My weakness in thy strength grows strong,—
I know thy very heavens were sad
If thou couldst think I suffered wrong.
For if, e'en on this sinful earth,
And lonely, thus bereft of thee,
Love makes thy joy amidst my dearth
A banquet of delight to me,—
And lonely, thus bereft of thee,
Love makes thy joy amidst my dearth
A banquet of delight to me,—
Thou who on earth wast never known
To drink of selfish pleasure's cup,
But laid'st thine ease and comfort down
To take thy brother's burden up,—
To drink of selfish pleasure's cup,
But laid'st thine ease and comfort down
To take thy brother's burden up,—
There more thyself thou art, not less,
Fulfilled, not lost in God's great will;
The home thy presence here could bless
In heaven is sacred to thee still.
Fulfilled, not lost in God's great will;
159
In heaven is sacred to thee still.
Not less thou lov'st in heaven, but more,—
And therefore, (or thou wert not blest!)
Thou know'st this anguish deep and sore
Works e'en for me God's very best.
And therefore, (or thou wert not blest!)
Thou know'st this anguish deep and sore
Works e'en for me God's very best.
Thus, through the love and bliss in thee,
Belov'd, who seest the Face of God,
His smile, reflected, shines on me,
Draws me to His and thine abode.
Belov'd, who seest the Face of God,
His smile, reflected, shines on me,
Draws me to His and thine abode.
Westminster, 1869.
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