Our Lady of May And Other Poems By Emily Hickey |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. | IV—Her Conception |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
 | IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
 | Our Lady of May And Other Poems |  |
11
IV—Her Conception
O God, our Father, still
We wait for Thee,
Who surely wilt fulfil
Thy promise free.
We wait for Thee,
Who surely wilt fulfil
Thy promise free.
The earth Thou calledst good
Thou wouldst not leave
In utter orphanhood,
To mourn and grieve.
Thou wouldst not leave
In utter orphanhood,
To mourn and grieve.
On outer mist and damp,
Benignant fell
Rays of Thy silver lamp
In Israel,
Benignant fell
Rays of Thy silver lamp
In Israel,
Where many a day and long,
Children of Thee
Heard Thee in holy song
And prophecy;
Children of Thee
Heard Thee in holy song
And prophecy;
12
Felt Thee when victims slain
On altars lay,
And fear and shame and stain
Seemed purged away.
On altars lay,
And fear and shame and stain
Seemed purged away.
And through Thy sun, Thy wind,
Thy land, Thy sea,
Thy children sought to find
Thee, Father, Thee:
Thy land, Thy sea,
Thy children sought to find
Thee, Father, Thee:
Saying, Through earth's fair light,
Her shadows dim,
Haply His creatures might
Feel after Him.
Her shadows dim,
Haply His creatures might
Feel after Him.
The whole world throbbed with God:
God Himself was
In star, and sun, and sod,
The End and Cause.
God Himself was
In star, and sun, and sod,
The End and Cause.
He moving men to yearn
In deep unrest,
And hearts inly to burn
To find their Best.
In deep unrest,
And hearts inly to burn
To find their Best.
13
His voice rang loud and clear
Through the profound;
And some were gross of ear
And heard no sound.
Through the profound;
And some were gross of ear
And heard no sound.
And some lay soft and warm,
Till time to rise
And get them to their farm
And merchandise.
Till time to rise
And get them to their farm
And merchandise.
And others heard and knew
'Twas God that spake;
Yet wist not what to do,
Which way to take.
'Twas God that spake;
Yet wist not what to do,
Which way to take.
O God! for one to stand
Before Thy face,
Holding us by the hand
In supreme grace;
Before Thy face,
Holding us by the hand
In supreme grace;
Almighty and all-pure,
All-glorious,
Yet one that can endure
To be like us!
All-glorious,
Yet one that can endure
To be like us!
14
Thy fellow, Lord, and ours;
Ours who aspire
Beyond these mortal powers,
With great desire:
Ours who aspire
Beyond these mortal powers,
With great desire:
Ours who in flesh are weak,
Willing in soul;
Ours, who are fain to seek
Thee for our goal.
Willing in soul;
Ours, who are fain to seek
Thee for our goal.
God of Thy Godhead laid
In human shrine;
Man of our manhood made;
Ours, Lord, and Thine.
In human shrine;
Man of our manhood made;
Ours, Lord, and Thine.
Oh, calmly went His feet,
Nor swift nor slow;
And in a silence sweet
Was it as though
Nor swift nor slow;
And in a silence sweet
Was it as though
Wait, hearts of Mine, He said,
Till season due;
Wait, O My quick, My dead,
I come to you.
Till season due;
Wait, O My quick, My dead,
I come to you.
15
Now, Lord, the shadows flee
Of night and fear;
The blessed dawn of Thee
Draws very near.
Of night and fear;
The blessed dawn of Thee
Draws very near.
To-day Thou fashionest
A sanctuary,
A temple pure and blest,
Wherein to be.
A sanctuary,
A temple pure and blest,
Wherein to be.
To-day that lovely shrine
Where Thou shalt dwell
Is reared at will of Thine,
Emmanuel.
Where Thou shalt dwell
Is reared at will of Thine,
Emmanuel.
He comes, who ne'er began,
Who ne'er shall end,
To speak as Man with man,
As Friend with friend.
Who ne'er shall end,
To speak as Man with man,
As Friend with friend.
He whom no space may gird,
No measure span,
Shall be the Incarnate Word,
Shall be made Man.
No measure span,
Shall be the Incarnate Word,
Shall be made Man.
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