Sonnets and Other Poems Chiefly Religious :: :: University of Virginia Library

ON THE RIVIERA.

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This poem has been suggested by an incident which the writer witnessed at Villafranca Bay, near Nice. The charcoal was on the ground, and the fish on the charcoal, without anything between.

I

Under an aged olive, by the sea,
I saw a charcoal fire, and fish, and bread,
For there a fisher crew their meal had spread;
And as I saw, my thoughts to Galilee
Were borne, and to the lake with waters free
Rippling upon the beach where Jesus said
To one who vowed his love, but turned and fled,
And then denied his Saviour, Lov'st thou Me?
I could not speak, but silent tears made dim
Mine eyes, to think how faint my love to Him;
For, though I serve Him from my early years,
And would not hide one secret from His sight,
My path is but a darkness crossed with light,
And Heaven most like a clouded heaven appears.

II

And so it was with the disciples there.
They knew that He who died was raised again,
But spread the net once more, their food to gain,
Knowing not yet how great their blessings were.
A night of fruitless toil and half-despair
Passed wearily, until the morning came;
But when the East was bright with sunrise-flame,
The Saviour spake before they were aware.
For Christ can hear His people ere they pray.
And unto me He spake, that summer day,
Under the olives, on Liguria's shore.
And, though I made no answer, He will stay.
He follows me and finds me when I stray,
And leads me back to bless Him and adore.

III

The pure in heart shall see Thee and be blest.
But am I pure? I know not, but I know
It is Thy will, my God, that I should grow
To purity like Thine; and I can rest
Rejoicing, when I think that in my breast
There's not a thought or wish but long ago,
Before the stream of time began to flow,
In Thine eternal foresight was possessed.
Naked and open lay my heart to Thee
Before Thy hand in secret fashioned me;
Therefore, I pray Thee, search and try my heart,
And lead me in the everlasting way,
And cleanse me from my sin against the day
When I shall see Thee, Saviour! as Thou art.