 | Thought and word |  |
90
EVERYDAY.
Let us not teach and preach so much,
But cherish, rather than profess;
Be careful how the thoughts we touch
Of God, and Love, and Holiness.
But cherish, rather than profess;
Be careful how the thoughts we touch
Of God, and Love, and Holiness.
A charm, most spiritual, faint,
And delicate, forsakes our breast,
Bird-like, when it perceives the taint
Of prying breath upon its nest.
And delicate, forsakes our breast,
Bird-like, when it perceives the taint
Of prying breath upon its nest.
Using, enjoying, let us live;
Set here to grow, what should we do
But take what soil and climate give?
For thence must come our sap and hue:
Set here to grow, what should we do
But take what soil and climate give?
For thence must come our sap and hue:
Blooming as sweetly as we may,
Nor beckon comers, nor debar;
Let them take balm or gall away,
According as their natures are:
Nor beckon comers, nor debar;
Let them take balm or gall away,
According as their natures are:
Look straight at all things from the soul,
But boast not much to understand;
Make each new action sound and whole,
Then leave it in its place unscann'd:
But boast not much to understand;
Make each new action sound and whole,
Then leave it in its place unscann'd:
Be true, devoid of aim or care;
Nor posture, nor antagonise:
Know well that clouds of this our air
But seem to wrap the mighty skies:
Nor posture, nor antagonise:
Know well that clouds of this our air
But seem to wrap the mighty skies:
Search starry mysteries overhead,
Where wonders gleam; yet bear in mind
That Earth's our planet, firm to tread,
Nor in the star-dance left behind:
Where wonders gleam; yet bear in mind
That Earth's our planet, firm to tread,
Nor in the star-dance left behind:
91
For nothing is withheld, be sure,
Our being needed to have shown;
The far was meant to be obscure,
The near was placed so to be known.
Our being needed to have shown;
The far was meant to be obscure,
The near was placed so to be known.
Cast we no astrologic scheme
To map the course we must pursue;
But use the lights whene'er they beam,
And every trusty landmark too.
To map the course we must pursue;
But use the lights whene'er they beam,
And every trusty landmark too.
The Future let us not permit
To choke us in its shadow's clasp;
It cannot touch us, nor we it;
The present moment's in our grasp.
To choke us in its shadow's clasp;
It cannot touch us, nor we it;
The present moment's in our grasp.
Soul sever'd from the Truth is Sin;
The dark and dizzy gulf is Doubt;
Truth never moves,—unmoved therein,
Our road is straight and firm throughout.
The dark and dizzy gulf is Doubt;
Truth never moves,—unmoved therein,
Our road is straight and firm throughout.
This Road for ever doth abide.
The universe, if fate so call,
May sink away on either side;
But This and God at once shall fall.
The universe, if fate so call,
May sink away on either side;
But This and God at once shall fall.
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