 | The Comrades |  |
198
Anno Domini
The Shepherd Beautiful
Oft as I muse on Rome—and at her name
Out of the darkness, flushed with blood and gold,
Smoulders and flashes on her seven-fold height
The imperial, murderous, harlot Rome of old,
Rome of the lions, Rome of the awful light
Where “living torches” flame—
I thread in thought the Catacombs' blind maze,
Marvelling how men could then draw happy breath,
And cheer these sunless labyrinths of death
With one sweet dream of Christ told many ways.
Out of the darkness, flushed with blood and gold,
Smoulders and flashes on her seven-fold height
The imperial, murderous, harlot Rome of old,
Rome of the lions, Rome of the awful light
Where “living torches” flame—
I thread in thought the Catacombs' blind maze,
Marvelling how men could then draw happy breath,
And cheer these sunless labyrinths of death
With one sweet dream of Christ told many ways.
199
The Shepherd Beautiful! O good and sweet,
O Shepherd ever lovely, ever young,
Was it because they gathered at Thy feet,
Because upon Thy pastoral pipe they hung,
That they were happy in those evil days,
That these grim crypts were arched with heavenly blue,
And spaced in verdurous vistas lit with streams?
Ah, let me count the ways,
Fair Shepherd of the world, in which they drew
Thee in that most divine of human dreams.
O Shepherd ever lovely, ever young,
Was it because they gathered at Thy feet,
Because upon Thy pastoral pipe they hung,
That they were happy in those evil days,
That these grim crypts were arched with heavenly blue,
And spaced in verdurous vistas lit with streams?
Ah, let me count the ways,
Fair Shepherd of the world, in which they drew
Thee in that most divine of human dreams.
They limned Thee standing near the wattled shed,
The strayed sheep on Thy shoulders, and the flock
Bleating fond welcome. Seasons of the year—
Spring gathering roses swung athwart the rock,
Summer and Autumn, one with golden ear
And one with apple red,
And shrivel'd Winter burning in a heap
Dead leaves—they pictured round Thee; for they said,
“All the year round”—and joyous tears were shed—
“All the year round, Thou, Shepherd, lov'st Thy sheep.”
The strayed sheep on Thy shoulders, and the flock
Bleating fond welcome. Seasons of the year—
Spring gathering roses swung athwart the rock,
Summer and Autumn, one with golden ear
And one with apple red,
And shrivel'd Winter burning in a heap
200
“All the year round”—and joyous tears were shed—
“All the year round, Thou, Shepherd, lov'st Thy sheep.”
Sometimes they showed Thee piping in the shade
Music so sweet each mouth was raised from grass
And ceased to hunger. In some dewy glade
Where the cool waters ran as clear as glass,
To this or that one Thou would'st seem to say,
“Thou'st made me glad, be happy thou in turn!”
And sometimes Thou would'st sit in weariness—
My Shepherd! “quærens me
Sedisti lassus”—while Thy dog would yearn,
Eyes fixed on Thee, aware of Thy distress.
Music so sweet each mouth was raised from grass
And ceased to hunger. In some dewy glade
Where the cool waters ran as clear as glass,
To this or that one Thou would'st seem to say,
“Thou'st made me glad, be happy thou in turn!”
And sometimes Thou would'st sit in weariness—
My Shepherd! “quærens me
Sedisti lassus”—while Thy dog would yearn,
Eyes fixed on Thee, aware of Thy distress.
So limned they Christ; and bold, yet not too bold,
Smiled at the tyrant's torch, the lion's cry;
So nursed the child-like heart, the angelic mind,
Goodwill to live, and fortitude to die,
And love for men, and hope for all mankind.
One Shepherd and one fold!
Such was their craving; none should be forbid;
All—all were Christ's! And so they drew once more
The Shepherd Beautiful. But now He bore
No lamb upon His shoulders—just a kid.
Smiled at the tyrant's torch, the lion's cry;
201
Goodwill to live, and fortitude to die,
And love for men, and hope for all mankind.
One Shepherd and one fold!
Such was their craving; none should be forbid;
All—all were Christ's! And so they drew once more
The Shepherd Beautiful. But now He bore
No lamb upon His shoulders—just a kid.
202
“Trees of Righteousness”
Chained to the dungeon-wall she slept.
Rome, moonlit, revelled overhead.
She heard not. She had prayed and wept,
Haggard with anguish, wild with dread.
Rome, moonlit, revelled overhead.
She heard not. She had prayed and wept,
Haggard with anguish, wild with dread.
She was too fair, too young to die;
Life was too sweet, and home too dear!
God touch'd her with His sleep: a sigh—
And she had ceased to weep or fear!
Life was too sweet, and home too dear!
God touch'd her with His sleep: a sigh—
And she had ceased to weep or fear!
She slept, and, sleeping, seemed awake:
A fair Child held her virgin hand;
They walk'd by an enchanted lake;
They walk'd in a celestial land.
A fair Child held her virgin hand;
They walk'd by an enchanted lake;
They walk'd in a celestial land.
203
One thing she saw, and one she heard.
There were a thousand red-rose trees;
Each rose-red leaf sang like a bird.
“What trees, dear Child,” she asked, “are these?”
There were a thousand red-rose trees;
Each rose-red leaf sang like a bird.
“What trees, dear Child,” she asked, “are these?”
“These,” said the Child, “are called Love's Bower;
They fade not; constantly they sing;
Each flower appears more fire than flower.
Now, see the roots from which they spring!”
They fade not; constantly they sing;
Each flower appears more fire than flower.
Now, see the roots from which they spring!”
She looked; she saw, far down the night,
The earth, the city whence she came,
And Nero's gardens red with light—
The light of martyrs wrapped in flame.
The earth, the city whence she came,
And Nero's gardens red with light—
The light of martyrs wrapped in flame.
She woke with Heaven still in her eyes.
Rome, moonlit, revelled overhead.
She feared no more the lions' cries;
Flames were but flowers, and death was dead!
Rome, moonlit, revelled overhead.
She feared no more the lions' cries;
Flames were but flowers, and death was dead!
204
At St. Gall, A.D. 850
Without a slip, without a blot,
The monk transcribed with loving care
What treasured text it matters not,
Of homily or prayer.
The monk transcribed with loving care
What treasured text it matters not,
Of homily or prayer.
And as he toiled, with sudden thrill,
From bough of beech or spire of pine,
A blackbird with his golden bill
Fluted a strain divine.
From bough of beech or spire of pine,
A blackbird with his golden bill
Fluted a strain divine.
The busy fingers ceased to write;
But, while the blackbird sung,
The monk found rhymes for his delight
In Erin's witching tongue;
But, while the blackbird sung,
The monk found rhymes for his delight
In Erin's witching tongue;
205
And penned them thus, with starry look
And simple heart aglow,
Upon the margin of his book,
A thousand years ago:
And simple heart aglow,
Upon the margin of his book,
A thousand years ago:
“Great woods and high do ring me round:
Now, from my pages closely lined,
A blackbird with angelic sound
Distracts my gladdened mind.
Now, from my pages closely lined,
A blackbird with angelic sound
Distracts my gladdened mind.
“Most sweet he sings upon the tree,
Concealed among the leaves of green;
May God take equal joy in me—
So love me, too, unseen!”
Concealed among the leaves of green;
May God take equal joy in me—
So love me, too, unseen!”
206
The Door in Heaven
“Oh Lord, Thy child who went astray
Comes weeping back to Thee once more;
I see him hastening on his way;
How shall I greet him?” “Close the door;
Comes weeping back to Thee once more;
I see him hastening on his way;
How shall I greet him?” “Close the door;
“Yea, close it ruthless in his face,
With clash and clang of bolts within!
There let him beat, and plead for grace,
Till he has purged away his sin.”
With clash and clang of bolts within!
There let him beat, and plead for grace,
Till he has purged away his sin.”
“Oh Lord, thy child who twice has sinned
Comes slowly back, with broken cries
Blown down the outer dark and wind;
Far off, he dares not lift his eyes.
Comes slowly back, with broken cries
Blown down the outer dark and wind;
Far off, he dares not lift his eyes.
207
“What wilt Thou?” “Set the door ajar,
And let a lamp shine, fixed and clear,
Thro' dark and anguish, like a star,
To give him courage to draw near.”
And let a lamp shine, fixed and clear,
Thro' dark and anguish, like a star,
To give him courage to draw near.”
“Lord God, dost Thou remember still
Him who thrice laughed Thy love to scorn
Thro' years of shame and nameless ill?
Now comes he naked and forlorn.
Him who thrice laughed Thy love to scorn
Thro' years of shame and nameless ill?
Now comes he naked and forlorn.
“Now that his evil day is done,
To Thee he turns, who scoffed of yore.
What wilt Thou, Lord, with such a one?
Shall not Thy saints make fast the door?”
To Thee he turns, who scoffed of yore.
What wilt Thou, Lord, with such a one?
Shall not Thy saints make fast the door?”
“Make fast the door? Nay, set it wide!
Nay, pluck it wholly from the hinge!
So shall heaven's glory hell deride,
And all the outer darkness tinge
Nay, pluck it wholly from the hinge!
So shall heaven's glory hell deride,
And all the outer darkness tinge
“With radiant pulse from pole to pole,
And mercy from the Mercy-seat
Stream out and clothe this naked soul,
And flowers break up beneath his feet.”
And mercy from the Mercy-seat
Stream out and clothe this naked soul,
And flowers break up beneath his feet.”
208
The Sleep
I laid me down, and slept.
And I awaked. The long night thro'
My pulse its rhythm unconscious kept;
Unconscious breath I drew.
And I awaked. The long night thro'
My pulse its rhythm unconscious kept;
Unconscious breath I drew.
O Lord, it was not I
Who wrought this marvel unaware.
I slept, for Thou unseen wast nigh—
Awaked, for Thou wast there.
Who wrought this marvel unaware.
I slept, for Thou unseen wast nigh—
Awaked, for Thou wast there.
209
Earth-Bound
On branch and spray a myriad wings
Flutter and strain in leafy flight;
The great tree feels their tug, and swings
Through all its height.
Flutter and strain in leafy flight;
The great tree feels their tug, and swings
Through all its height.
So winged with hopes and quick desires,
So rooted to the worldly core,
The soul within us sways, aspires,
But cannot soar.
So rooted to the worldly core,
The soul within us sways, aspires,
But cannot soar.
210
John Calvin's Dream
The books had been closed and the Judgment was done;
The stars had fallen, and black was the sun;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
The stars had fallen, and black was the sun;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And heaven and earth had been swept away
In the blood-red storm of the Judgment-day;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
In the blood-red storm of the Judgment-day;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And behold! in the heaven and earth made new
The Tree of Life by the water grew;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
The Tree of Life by the water grew;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
211
And under its branches was sorrow unknown;
And all the Angels stood round the Throne;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And all the Angels stood round the Throne;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And clothed in white raiment a countless throng
Waved shining palms and sang a new song;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Waved shining palms and sang a new song;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And shawm and timbrel and psaltery and fife
Shook the golden boughs of the Tree of Life;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Shook the golden boughs of the Tree of Life;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And lo!—though heaven and earth were glad—
The great human heart of Christ was sad;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
The great human heart of Christ was sad;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And He looked at the Blest: “Of all that were dear—
Of all that I died for—how few are here!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Of all that I died for—how few are here!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And piercing the silence, 'twixt psalm and psalm,
Vague murmurs He heard in the heavenly calm;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Vague murmurs He heard in the heavenly calm;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
212
And faint far echoes of wailing came
From the outer dark and the deathless flame;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
From the outer dark and the deathless flame;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Save Christ's human heart, there was none that heard
The faint cry of anguish, the bitter word;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
The faint cry of anguish, the bitter word;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
But ever some voice between psalm and psalm
Sent a throb of pain through the blissful calm:
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Sent a throb of pain through the blissful calm:
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“It was not for us that He died,” one said;
“Or ever He came we were doomed and dead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“Or ever He came we were doomed and dead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“He died such long ages before,” one cried,
“Men knew not for certain that ever He died!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“Men knew not for certain that ever He died!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“He died for us—truly. I saw it!” one said;
“But only God knew that a God was dead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“But only God knew that a God was dead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
213
“Yea, truly, a God!—not a man to know
Man in his weakness, man in his woe!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Man in his weakness, man in his woe!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“Lord Christ, I would pity and spare Thee,” one said,
“Wert Thou, the Lord, man, and I Lord in Thy stead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“Wert Thou, the Lord, man, and I Lord in Thy stead!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“Remember me, Christ, for I stood at Thy knee
When the children were suffered to come unto Thee!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
When the children were suffered to come unto Thee!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“He forgets how we played,” said a low sobbing breath,
“In the street by the fountain at Nazareth!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“In the street by the fountain at Nazareth!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And Christ's heart ached; He felt the tears rise
And darken out heaven from His human eyes;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And darken out heaven from His human eyes;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
214
But ever the shawm and timbrel and fife
Shook the golden boughs of the Tree of Life;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Shook the golden boughs of the Tree of Life;
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And He said, “Do the men made perfect hear
No sounds of the Lost who were once so dear?”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
No sounds of the Lost who were once so dear?”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And the Thousands Signed: “We hear no word;
For these which are dead praise not the Lord.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
For these which are dead praise not the Lord.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Then the Lord Himself said, “Son, let be;
Even as it falleth, so lieth the tree.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
Even as it falleth, so lieth the tree.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
But Christ said, “Once yet again will I die
For these which in utter anguish lie!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
For these which in utter anguish lie!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“It may not be, Son,” the Lord God said,
“For sin is cast out and death is dead.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
“For sin is cast out and death is dead.”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
215
Christ rose: “If I cannot die again,
I will go to my Lost in their endless pain!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
I will go to my Lost in their endless pain!”
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And an awful shuddering silence fell
As Christ went forth to the gates of hell.
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
As Christ went forth to the gates of hell.
The Lord is a just and terrible God!
And with a cry of terror Calvin woke,
Spread aguish hands, and raised to heaven a face
Haggard and wet with agony of soul.
“Pity me, God!” he moaned; “nor judge the sin
Corrupted nature blindly sins in sleep!
Deal clemently, nor visit with Thy wrath,
O Lord, Thou God most terrible and just,
The raving blasphemy of evil dreams!”
Spread aguish hands, and raised to heaven a face
Haggard and wet with agony of soul.
“Pity me, God!” he moaned; “nor judge the sin
Corrupted nature blindly sins in sleep!
Deal clemently, nor visit with Thy wrath,
O Lord, Thou God most terrible and just,
The raving blasphemy of evil dreams!”
216
Spring-Water
When men from all the region brought
Great gifts to the Great King,
One poorest wight could offer nought
But water from the spring.
Great gifts to the Great King,
One poorest wight could offer nought
But water from the spring.
The Great King smiled, well pleased; and Thou,
Lord, wilt not Thou receive
My simple trust in Thee, which now
Is all my dearth can give?
Lord, wilt not Thou receive
My simple trust in Thee, which now
Is all my dearth can give?
217
The Moss
When black despair beats down my wings,
And heavenly visions fade away—
Lord, let me bend to common things,
The tasks of every day;
And heavenly visions fade away—
Lord, let me bend to common things,
The tasks of every day;
As, when th' aurora is denied
And blinding blizzards round him beat,
The Samoyed stoops, and takes for guide
The moss beneath his feet.
And blinding blizzards round him beat,
The Samoyed stoops, and takes for guide
The moss beneath his feet.
218
Easter Dawn
Love sought Thee in the darkness ere the day;
Love came with spices, weeping, full of care.
The stone which closed Thy tomb they rolled away;
But Thou—Thou wast not there.
Love came with spices, weeping, full of care.
The stone which closed Thy tomb they rolled away;
But Thou—Thou wast not there.
Love found Thy winding-sheet, and, laid apart,
Thy face-cloth wrapped together; these alone;
And saw an Angel—saw with trembling heart
An Angel on the stone.
Thy face-cloth wrapped together; these alone;
And saw an Angel—saw with trembling heart
An Angel on the stone.
Love heard Thy footsteps; turned with streaming eyes,
Beheld, but knew Thee not, till, low and sweet,
Thy voice revealed Thee; then with joyous cries
Fell down and clasped Thy feet.
Beheld, but knew Thee not, till, low and sweet,
Thy voice revealed Thee; then with joyous cries
Fell down and clasped Thy feet.
219
O risen Lord, by Thy transpiercèd heart,
And by the dawn of that first Easter Day,
The winding-sheet, the face-cloth laid apart,
The grave-stone rolled away,
And by the dawn of that first Easter Day,
The winding-sheet, the face-cloth laid apart,
The grave-stone rolled away,
I pray Thee, in the darkness where I lie—
Not for a vision in the morning sun,
Not for a word that I may know him by—
(Not know my little one!)—
Not for a vision in the morning sun,
Not for a word that I may know him by—
(Not know my little one!)—
But only this, this only of Thy grace,
O risen Lord, this little thing alone—
Show me his grave quite empty, Lord, and place
An Angel on the stone.
O risen Lord, this little thing alone—
Show me his grave quite empty, Lord, and place
An Angel on the stone.
220
Rocks of Offence
Life's ways are rough. Lord, help my willTo hallow every obstacle
With sacrifice and praise;
Even as the heathen Cingalese,
Who in each stone an altar sees,
On each a blossom lays.
221
“In the Shadow of Thy Wings”
Whene'er a leaf its shadow flings,The nestling in the sunny wood,
Mistaking leaves for mother-wings,
Opens its eager mouth for food.
But we, poor we, with tears and cries
Shrink from the peace Thy presence brings—
Too foolish yet to recognise
In death the shadow of Thy wings.
222
Luther's Trust
“That little bird beneath its wing
Will hide its head and sleep.
Above it heavens of stars will swing,
And infinite darkness sweep.
Will hide its head and sleep.
Above it heavens of stars will swing,
And infinite darkness sweep.
“And fear it will not. God who made
The stars will watch the nest.”
This Luther once in trouble said,
And found in God his rest.
The stars will watch the nest.”
This Luther once in trouble said,
And found in God his rest.
223
A Carol
This gospel sang the angels bright:
Lord Jhesu shall be born this night;
Born not in house nor yet in hall,
Wrapped not in purple nor in pall,
Rocked not in silver, neither gold;
This word the angels sang of old;
Nor christened with white wine nor red;
This word of old the angels said
Of Him which holdeth in His hand
The strong sea and green land.
Lord Jhesu shall be born this night;
Born not in house nor yet in hall,
Wrapped not in purple nor in pall,
Rocked not in silver, neither gold;
This word the angels sang of old;
Nor christened with white wine nor red;
This word of old the angels said
Of Him which holdeth in His hand
The strong sea and green land.
This thrice and four times happy night—
These tidings sang the angels bright—
Forlorn, betwixen ear and horn,
A babe shall Jhesu Lord be born,
A weeping babe all in the cold;—
This word the angels sang of old—
And wisps of hay shall be His bed;
This word of old the angels said
Of Him which keepeth in His hand
The strong sea and green land.
These tidings sang the angels bright—
Forlorn, betwixen ear and horn,
A babe shall Jhesu Lord be born,
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This word the angels sang of old—
And wisps of hay shall be His bed;
This word of old the angels said
Of Him which keepeth in His hand
The strong sea and green land.
O babe and Lord, Thou Jhesu bright,—
Let all and some now sing this night—
Betwixt our sorrow and our sin,
Be Thou new-born our hearts within;
New-born, dear babe and little King,—
So letten some and all men sing—
To wipe for us our tears away!
This night so letten all men say
Of Him which spake, and lo! they be—
The green land and strong sea.
Let all and some now sing this night—
Betwixt our sorrow and our sin,
Be Thou new-born our hearts within;
New-born, dear babe and little King,—
So letten some and all men sing—
To wipe for us our tears away!
This night so letten all men say
Of Him which spake, and lo! they be—
The green land and strong sea.
225
When Snow Lies Deep
When frost has burned the hedges black,
And children cannot sleep for cold;
When snow lies deep on the withered leaves,
And roofs are white from ridge to eaves:
When bread is dear, and work is slack,
Take pity on the poor and old!
And children cannot sleep for cold;
When snow lies deep on the withered leaves,
And roofs are white from ridge to eaves:
When bread is dear, and work is slack,
Take pity on the poor and old!
The faggot and the loaf of bread
You could not miss would be their store.
Upon how little the old can live!
Give like the poor—who freely give.
Remember, when the fire burns red
The wolf leaves sniffing at the door.
You could not miss would be their store.
Upon how little the old can live!
Give like the poor—who freely give.
Remember, when the fire burns red
The wolf leaves sniffing at the door.
226
And you whose lives are left forlorn,
Whose sons, whose hopes, whose fires have died,
Oh, you poor pitiful people old,
Remember this and be consoled—
That Christ the Comforter was born,
And still is born, in wintertide.
Whose sons, whose hopes, whose fires have died,
Oh, you poor pitiful people old,
Remember this and be consoled—
That Christ the Comforter was born,
And still is born, in wintertide.
227
Bethlehem
When the herds were watching
In the midnight chill,
Came a spotless lambkin
From the heavenly hill.
In the midnight chill,
Came a spotless lambkin
From the heavenly hill.
Snow was on the mountains,
And the wind was cold,
When from God's own garden
Dropped a rose of gold.
And the wind was cold,
When from God's own garden
Dropped a rose of gold.
When 'twas bitter winter,
Houseless and forlorn
In a star-lit stable
Christ the Babe was born.
Houseless and forlorn
In a star-lit stable
Christ the Babe was born.
228
Welcome, heavenly lambkin;
Welcome, golden rose;
Alleluia, Baby
In the swaddling clothes!
Welcome, golden rose;
Alleluia, Baby
In the swaddling clothes!
229
The Nativity
I will not pray, “O Lord that IHad been at Thy nativity”;
But rather, “Let me, Babe divine,
Be new-born and be Thou at mine!”
230
The Shepherd
Beside her cot, with shading hand,
She searched the hills at eventide;
Each scaur and heathery track she scanned
Until her shepherd she descried.
She searched the hills at eventide;
Each scaur and heathery track she scanned
Until her shepherd she descried.
So be it given thee to behold,
My heart, when life's last air grows chill,
Thy Shepherd moving by the fold
At sundown on the heavenly hill.
My heart, when life's last air grows chill,
Thy Shepherd moving by the fold
At sundown on the heavenly hill.
231
Life and Death
God walked in heaven, on high, afar.
God thought a happy thought, and smiled.
The thought fell earthward like a star;
The thought became a new-born child.
God thought a happy thought, and smiled.
The thought fell earthward like a star;
The thought became a new-born child.
God walked and wondered: “Yesterday
What happy thought my heart enthralled?”
Cold, white, and sweet the infant lay—
God, smiling, had His thought recalled.
What happy thought my heart enthralled?”
Cold, white, and sweet the infant lay—
God, smiling, had His thought recalled.
232
“Talitha Cumi”
Eyes wet and hearts bleeding,
We laid her to rest—
Her little hands, pleading
The cross, on her breast.
We laid her to rest—
Her little hands, pleading
The cross, on her breast.
Tho' bitter our weeping,
No murmur we made;
We knew in whose keeping
Our darling was laid.
No murmur we made;
We knew in whose keeping
Our darling was laid.
We trusted, heart-broken;
Tear-blinded, we smiled;
And carved for a token
“Talitha”—our child.
Tear-blinded, we smiled;
And carved for a token
“Talitha”—our child.
233
A Child's Prayer
Thro' the night Thy angels kept
Watch above me while I slept,
Now the dark has passed away,
Thank Thee, Lord, for this new day.
Watch above me while I slept,
Now the dark has passed away,
Thank Thee, Lord, for this new day.
North and south and east and west
May Thy holy name be blest;
Everywhere beneath the sun,
As in Heaven, Thy will be done.
May Thy holy name be blest;
Everywhere beneath the sun,
As in Heaven, Thy will be done.
Give me food that I may live;
Every naughtiness forgive;
Keep all evil things away
From Thy little child this day.
Every naughtiness forgive;
Keep all evil things away
From Thy little child this day.
234
Envoi
This
grace vouchsafe me for the rhymes I write.
If any last, nor perish quick and quite,
Lord, let them be
My little images, to stand for me
When I may stand no longer in Thy sight:
If any last, nor perish quick and quite,
Lord, let them be
My little images, to stand for me
When I may stand no longer in Thy sight:
Like those old statues of the King who said,
“Carve me in that which needs nor sleep nor bread;
Let diorite pray,
A King of stone, for this poor King of clay
Who wearies often and must soon be dead!”
“Carve me in that which needs nor sleep nor bread;
Let diorite pray,
A King of stone, for this poor King of clay
Who wearies often and must soon be dead!”
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