 | [Poems by Cary in] Poets and poetry of the West |  |
363
WORSHIPING AFAR OFF.
Shining out whitely, from the lily's whiteness,
Or purple from the morning-glory's cup,
In the pure dew-drop, I had seen God's brightness
Flash proudly up.
Or purple from the morning-glory's cup,
In the pure dew-drop, I had seen God's brightness
Flash proudly up.
In his great mountains, standing grand and hoary,
And in the star-lamps swinging overhead,
I recognized the grandeur and the glory
About him spread.
And in the star-lamps swinging overhead,
I recognized the grandeur and the glory
About him spread.
I saw the wine gush out from full red presses,
The water, that keeps singing as it runs,
And said, how liberally the Father blesses
His thankless sons.
The water, that keeps singing as it runs,
And said, how liberally the Father blesses
His thankless sons.
In the free rain, that swells the buried treasure,
In the white harvest field's thick-bearded crop,
I saw, how from his good hand, without measure,
His riches drop.
In the white harvest field's thick-bearded crop,
I saw, how from his good hand, without measure,
His riches drop.
And I believed that he would always hear me,
Care for me now, and raise me from the dead,
Only he was not brought down very near me,
For all I said.
Care for me now, and raise me from the dead,
Only he was not brought down very near me,
For all I said.
I did but stand within the outer portal,
I was below, and he was far above,—
I loved him not, until I loved a mortal,
As mortals love.
I was below, and he was far above,—
I loved him not, until I loved a mortal,
As mortals love.
For, though he may trust God, and worship purely,
Who but his commonest blessings understands,
The human heart is touched by him most surely
With human hands.
Who but his commonest blessings understands,
The human heart is touched by him most surely
With human hands.
And through its deepest love, our God unto us,
Clearly and perfectly, himself reveals,
All faith believed, and all to which hope drew us,
Love knows and feels.
Clearly and perfectly, himself reveals,
All faith believed, and all to which hope drew us,
Love knows and feels.
365
My days and nights pass pleasantly,
Serenely on the seasons glide;
And though I think and dream of thee,
I dream of many things beside.
Serenely on the seasons glide;
And though I think and dream of thee,
I dream of many things beside.
Most eagerly thy praise is sought;
'Tis sweet to meet and sad to part.
But all my best and deepest thought
Is hidden from thee, in my heart.
'Tis sweet to meet and sad to part.
But all my best and deepest thought
Is hidden from thee, in my heart.
Then blame not that my love is less
Than should repay thy heart's desire;
For though I give thee only this,
I give thee all thou canst inspire.
Than should repay thy heart's desire;
For though I give thee only this,
I give thee all thou canst inspire.
WANTS AND BLESSINGS.
No gift of poesy is mine,
To bring me either friends or fame;
I have not written any line
To link remembrance with my name;
To bring me either friends or fame;
I have not written any line
To link remembrance with my name;
No wealth, to take with open palms
Its blessings to the poor and weak—
Not of my charities and alms
Has any tongue a right to speak.
Its blessings to the poor and weak—
Not of my charities and alms
Has any tongue a right to speak.
I have no beauty in my face,
Where roses bloomed not in its prime;
The brown grows darker, and I trace
Daily the deepening lines of time.
Where roses bloomed not in its prime;
The brown grows darker, and I trace
Daily the deepening lines of time.
Yet to me friends, most kind and true,
A little of their love have given;
I have my blessings, though but few,
Some trust in man, much faith in heaven—
A little of their love have given;
I have my blessings, though but few,
Some trust in man, much faith in heaven—
366
Faith that our Lord's great sacrifice
Hath power to save us from the fall
And hope, through God's abounding grace,
To find forgiveness—this is all.
Hath power to save us from the fall
And hope, through God's abounding grace,
To find forgiveness—this is all.
CHRISTMAS.
O child! with spirit light and gay,
And voice as pleasant as a bird,
Yours is a merry Christmas-day,
Mine is too happy for that word!
And voice as pleasant as a bird,
Yours is a merry Christmas-day,
Mine is too happy for that word!
Changing and evanescent; such
Are all your hopes and all your fears;
My joy exceedeth yours as much
As doth the measure of my years.
Are all your hopes and all your fears;
My joy exceedeth yours as much
As doth the measure of my years.
Your pleasure every chance destroys,
It lies without your own control;
While all my best and purest joys
Have their deep sources in my soul.
It lies without your own control;
While all my best and purest joys
Have their deep sources in my soul.
Together, your possessions rest;
Not some below, and some above;
I've learned more wisely to invest
The treasures of my hope and love.
Not some below, and some above;
I've learned more wisely to invest
The treasures of my hope and love.
You change from rapture to distress
With every change; I've come to know
The value, and the worthlessness,
Of all that we can get below.
With every change; I've come to know
The value, and the worthlessness,
Of all that we can get below.
So have I learned, what yet you will,
When up to mine your feet have trod;
Trust in myself, and better still,
Trust in His creatures, and in God.
When up to mine your feet have trod;
Trust in myself, and better still,
Trust in His creatures, and in God.
| [Poems by Cary in] Poets and poetry of the West | |