The Vision of Prophecy and Other Poems By James D. Burns ... Second Edition |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. | V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
 | The Vision of Prophecy and Other Poems |  |
238
V.
“The footsteps of the flock.”—Song of Solomon, i. 8.
Not always, Lord, in pastures green
The sheep at noon Thou feedest,
Where in the shade they lie
Within Thy watchful eye;
Not always under skies serene
The white-fleeced flock Thou leadest.
The sheep at noon Thou feedest,
Where in the shade they lie
Within Thy watchful eye;
Not always under skies serene
The white-fleeced flock Thou leadest.
On rugged ways, with bleeding feet,
They leave their painful traces;
Through deserts drear they go,
Where wounding briars grow,
And through dark valleys, where they meet
No quiet resting-places.
They leave their painful traces;
Through deserts drear they go,
Where wounding briars grow,
And through dark valleys, where they meet
No quiet resting-places.
Not always by the waters still,
Or lonely wells palm-hidden,
Do they find happy rest,
And, in Thy presence blest,
Delight themselves, and drink their fill
Of pleasures unforbidden.
Or lonely wells palm-hidden,
Do they find happy rest,
And, in Thy presence blest,
Delight themselves, and drink their fill
Of pleasures unforbidden.
239
Their track is worn on Sorrow's shore,
Where windy storms beat ever,—
Their troubled course they keep,
Where deep calls unto deep;
So going till they hear the roar
Of the dark-flowing river.
Where windy storms beat ever,—
Their troubled course they keep,
Where deep calls unto deep;
So going till they hear the roar
Of the dark-flowing river.
But wheresoe'er their steps may be,
So Thou their path be guiding,
O be their portion mine!—
Show me the secret sign,
That I may trace their way to Thee,
In thee find rest abiding.
So Thou their path be guiding,
O be their portion mine!—
Show me the secret sign,
That I may trace their way to Thee,
In thee find rest abiding.
Slowly they gather to the fold
Upon thy holy mountain,—
There, resting round Thy feet,
They dread no storm nor heat,
And slake their thirst where Thou hast rolled
The stone from Life's full fountain.
Upon thy holy mountain,—
There, resting round Thy feet,
They dread no storm nor heat,
And slake their thirst where Thou hast rolled
The stone from Life's full fountain.
| The Vision of Prophecy and Other Poems | |