The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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QUESTIONINGS
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
67
QUESTIONINGS
I.
If God be dead, and life be void
Of hope that lifted us and buoyed,—
If heaven no more in front may shine,—
Of hope that lifted us and buoyed,—
If heaven no more in front may shine,—
Yet have we love's own wreaths to twine!
If all be passed and over soon,
And soulless gleam the stars and moon,
And heartless the triumphant sun,—
Chorus.
And soulless gleam the stars and moon,
And heartless the triumphant sun,—
Yet have we toil, till toil is done!
If ne'er the dreams that once so bright
Laughed golden-winged in April light
A heavenly fair reward shall find,—
Chorus.
Laughed golden-winged in April light
A heavenly fair reward shall find,—
Yet have we rose-breath on the wind!
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If now beside the rush-fringed stream
No naiad's sun-kissed locks may gleam,—
If all the old gods with God be gone,—
Chorus.
No naiad's sun-kissed locks may gleam,—
If all the old gods with God be gone,—
Yet Love's firm footstep labours on!
II.
But there came answer through the night,
Loud thundering from the mountain-height
And whispering softly o'er the sea:
“I am, and thou art part of me.”
Loud thundering from the mountain-height
And whispering softly o'er the sea:
“I am, and thou art part of me.”
The great seas caught the sound, and mirth
Rang through the sunlit vales of earth:
O'er heathery hill and gold-flowered lea
God's voice came—“These are part of me.”
Rang through the sunlit vales of earth:
O'er heathery hill and gold-flowered lea
God's voice came—“These are part of me.”
And lovers' souls no more were dead,
Nor faded the sweet rose's head:
They all were gladdened with strange glee;
God said to each “Thou art part of me.”
Nor faded the sweet rose's head:
They all were gladdened with strange glee;
God said to each “Thou art part of me.”
The lonely spirit, whose pathway dim
Seems full of foes who encompass him,
Has caught the sound and feels that he
Is saved, since God said, “Trust in me.”
Seems full of foes who encompass him,
Has caught the sound and feels that he
Is saved, since God said, “Trust in me.”
69
The sinner feels God's tender glow
Of pity about his dead heart flow:
It flowers, as flowers a barren tree,
For God said, “Son, believe in me.”
Of pity about his dead heart flow:
It flowers, as flowers a barren tree,
For God said, “Son, believe in me.”
O live strong God, make me a part
Of thine unmeasured mountain-heart;
Pure like the sky, strong like the sea,
A spirit of boundless love like thee!
Of thine unmeasured mountain-heart;
Pure like the sky, strong like the sea,
A spirit of boundless love like thee!
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |