Poems By the author of "The Patience of Hope" [i.e. Dora Greenwell] |
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PENCIL-MARKS IN A BOOK OF DEVOTION. |
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71
PENCIL-MARKS IN A BOOK OF DEVOTION.
“It happened one day, about noon, I was exceedingly surprised
with the print of a man's naked foot on the shore,
which was very plain to be seen in the sand.”
Strong words are these, “O Lord! I seek but Thee
Not Thine! I ask not comfort, ask not rest;
Give what, and how, and when thou wilt to me,
I bless Thee—take all back—and be Thou blest.”
Not Thine! I ask not comfort, ask not rest;
Give what, and how, and when thou wilt to me,
I bless Thee—take all back—and be Thou blest.”
Sweet words are these, “O Lord! it is Thy love
And not thy gifts I seek; yet am as one
That loveth so I prize the least above
All other worth or sweetness under sun.”
And not thy gifts I seek; yet am as one
That loveth so I prize the least above
All other worth or sweetness under sun.”
And all these lines are underscored, and here
And there a tear hath been and left its stain,
The only record, haply, of a tear
Long wiped from eyes no more to weep again;
And there a tear hath been and left its stain,
The only record, haply, of a tear
Long wiped from eyes no more to weep again;
And as I gaze, a solemn joy comes o'er me—
By these deep footprints I can surely guess
Some pilgrim by the road that lies before me
Hath crossed, long time ago, the wilderness.
By these deep footprints I can surely guess
Some pilgrim by the road that lies before me
Hath crossed, long time ago, the wilderness.
72
With feet oft bruised among its sharp flints, duly
He turned aside to gather simples here,
And lay up cordials for his faintness—truly
Now will I track his steps and be of cheer.
He turned aside to gather simples here,
And lay up cordials for his faintness—truly
Now will I track his steps and be of cheer.
And wearied, by this wayside fountain's brink
He sat to rest, and as it then befell,
The stone was rolled away, he stooped to drink
The waters springing up from life's clear well.
He sat to rest, and as it then befell,
The stone was rolled away, he stooped to drink
The waters springing up from life's clear well.
And oft upon his journey faring sadly
He communed with this Teacher from on high,
And meeting words of promise, meekly, gladly,
Went on his way rejoicing—so will I!
He communed with this Teacher from on high,
And meeting words of promise, meekly, gladly,
Went on his way rejoicing—so will I!
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