m A bit of Uerse U^XiXs^ tj^.^^ Til.. .. l^'ifh^Jk ti ^-fi -21920 I C1A558744 io ^V\<5 ^ PREFACE More and more people are realizing the tremendous power of lliought. The question naturally arises, "What kind of thought are we entertaining, or what are the things we desire?" And by "desire" is not meant passing fancies, but real wishes, real longing", of the heart. Latent energies call for expression. If the wish is genuine it will come to you again and again, at]^ this is the way I believe that you may know that it is reg^ All my life I have liked to write verse, but it was not until the summer of 1913 that the following verses, among others, began to come to me, seemingly without effort and at intervals extending over the next two years. After that all thought of poetry was crowded out by prose writing and I have not felt the impulse to write verse since with the exception of "Among Soldiers' Graves" and "World Peace," the latter written early in 1916 and under the title of "The Message" appeared in one of our local newspapers at that time. EDITH JOSEPHINE MYERS LENICHECK. Copyright, Nov., 1919. Milwaukee, Wis. A SKETCH A purple twilight gathering low Yields but the flicker of an afterglow That knew a red-orb'd sun ; And loath to go, September's breeze Had strayed among the tops of trees And kiss't the waving corn. No hint of change — Not whispered even — Comes sighing over meadow-land Across the fields where Summer sits No sign is given — And yet as sure That purple haze Bears witness to the first of Autumn days. GENESIS That first new day Of long ago. Out of the distant past it beams In vague significance of dreams So dim it's way. And yet beloved I know I knew you when The sun was young; Before the stars had found a place And Earth hung stark, inert in space As from among Vast hosts of new created beings The life-wave touched us then. Ancient of days And day without end. Glimps'd from Eternity Almost a memory That first new day! And like a rainbow tried and true, A sacred tryst it keeps for me, beloved And you. TO UNDERSTAND 1 do not know the secrets of the sea Nor of the tide But when it Hfts itself in waves of seeming pride Of Hfe— Some elemental thing awakens in me And I am one with it and Life essentially. I do not know the reason why the cactus blows Beneath a tropic sun. Nor why hid deep in northern snows The crocus knows When winter's done. I can but feel Alive to centers from which spring The quickened life and love in answering. I know not much the meaning of the stars. Nor aught their mystery Portends — I only know I'm something close in sympathy Ah, and 'tis enough, 'Tis unity. SENTIENT Thou one lone star Glimmering afar. Sentinel through night. Dos't thou ever cease thy watchfulness by day Because less bright? The splendor of the sun, The blandishments of day, Make thy pale light seem far away. And yet the influence stays ! I can't but think of yonder lone pine tree, So great the comparison twixl it and thee So high and still Its solitary virgils keep When all the v/orld is wrapped in sleep. TAKE THOU MY HAND Take thou my hand — The road is rough and steep. A far way to understand So tired thy feet. Full many a league thy journey lies along the upward grade- Knowest thou the perils of yonder wind swept hill? How cans't thou struggle on all unafraid? Thy strength untested yet, Untried thy will. Methinks the odds against thee great my friend. Take thou my hand. Oh Neophyte, my eyes have pierced the darkness into light- I've a hand that serves With courage bound to honor right. Stout heart, strong nerves. Yet I had died but for the grace to apprehend The saving words, "Take thou my hand." A little while ago the self same path 1 trod That thou dost travel now, Oh, Other Child of God. A TALISMAN Suppose That a rose She had worn in her hair Had dropped from its place at your feet on the stair. Could it stay the heart's longing For something belonging As potentially sweet and more permanently fair? Cool and virginal white Would it allay the fire That is scorching your heart With the breath of desire? Ah, what fancies invest the fair seeming of symbols Like influence of incense Illusive as air — Yet for piquant nearness They seem to lend clearness Like the touch of the rose she had worn in her hair- A PRAYER Oh, Power, for which have monarchs striven, Glimps'd of the majesty of heaven. Strength of thy strength Make Thou, of me A mediator Lord Twixt Thine and Thee. Teach me to live, Teach me to give Of aught I have or am. And if the joy of giving gifts be mine. Teach me in service Lord For Thee to Thine. Oh, Thou Adored, V/ho's giving of Thyself hath given Thine All, Forgive me of the debt of talent mean And resource small My present task So poor — And still I ask This greatest boon, oh Lord, And it is this — Teach me to love, Because above All else this seems to be The golden cord from Thou for Thine and me, And if, oh Lord, Thou bearest on Thine Heart Some plan, some work. Oh hope Devine — Teach me to recognize That part 'tis mine. LIGHT Come on, oh Day The hour is far advanced. The waning moon has failed her Hght, Among the fading stars She sinks from sight. Along the dim horizon grey The first faint streaks Of dawn Break into a rosette flush Above the mountain peaks. Come Day, come on. And now the chirriping of birds The gladsome stir among the flocks and herds, God's creatures all — They wake to rise and greet the sun And day's begun. TEMPTATION We came to where the water's bank Sloped down to meet the sand. And where the merry murmering waves Made music on the strand. And I, with gladness of it all Did joy in love-lit land. Here Life walks — Naked is she. Paused now, she flings far her robes Care worn ; To purge herself Within the sea. And now — From out the foamy surf She lifts a beck'ning hand, She throws a kiss to me ! Well might the ruse be Dan Cupid's guile So adroit is he — So vulnerable is she — And woe is me ! THOU ART KIND That thou art kind I see this in thy face, The gift of tact and tender grace. I read it in thy smile. The little lines about the eyes, The characteristic pucker of glad surprise Speak much of laughter through the years. And sometimes tears. That thou art kind I know to clasp thine hand The royal grasp; the ready wish to understand. To feel, to know Another's joy or woe To deeply live And still to give Full measure of this gentle art, The simple human touch that stirs the heart. That thou art kind What mere need one say? No clearer light shines brighter to the perfect day. No surer guide leads higher along the upward trend Than this, that thou art kind, my friend. THERE IS NO DEATH There is no death. The revelation came one day To a heart accustomed to meditation's way. Yea, a voice spoke, "See, I show a wonder That Hmitations of a waiting world Be forever swept asunder." Oh seeming law of space That separates us from a dear remembered face — We question yet again that Wisdom said, "There are no dead." Yet, when in autumn fields stretch brown and seer We do not say that summer's gone and will not reappear — Ye know the law ; the same that brings the flowers back to earth Will bring to thee thy friends again and the new birth. And more, if we could but pierce the veil between That separates our world and theirs. It would be seen How frail the gauzy web — So frail — that thoughts would voices be instead And prove indeed, "There are no dead." INCOGNITO She seemed so sure. So certain of herself and of her world Secure ; Cloaked by convention ; schooled in the art Of speech and act She played her part Serene — And seemed to be As one who's right were undisputed, free. No trembler's touch. No blunderer's hand Disturbed the even current of the things she planned And carried out — Such was her skill Action from experience Born of practice And of will But mark you well She knew above her head a sword was hung. And though so bold She knew her mission false, Her methods sold As was herself — She knew not what a single hour might prove In balance swung Against one idle word, One luckless move. WORLD PEACE Wing swift thy flight Oh carrier bird. Soon comes the night. Along the rock bound coast no sound is heard Except the lashing of the waves. The sea. In tempest toss't Possesse me As with a sudden fear that thou art lost. Thou tender Thing, What is thy destiny. And dos't thou bring A message for a war-torn world? Tell me. Ah Love, that knows no thought but Love. I fear for thee. I fear lest with so much at stake An evil thing has followed in thy wake To kill thee for thy service sake THE RiOT OF THE LEAVES Whirling, swirling autumn leaves, Brown and gold. Caught up on a rising gale Swept along o'er hill and dale. Hangs thereon an autumn tale. On and on, and up and over What had once been beds of clover. Past the wheat fields on they fiy. Over fields of corn and rye- Scare crows grin as they whisk by. Fleet and fleeter, on they scurried. Some in circles, others hurried. Jostled, jumbled, Toss't and tumbled. In their journey toward the sky. Through the hedges, over, under. What a riot — Do you wonder? If you really have a care I've a secret which I'll share. You see. The mischief started mids'l a heap of leaves Down among some barley sheaves In which a score or more of tiny Elves Had crept among'st to rest themselves. And they (though aided by the breeze) Were planning just such pranks as these. ONE LILY Fair Lily on a broken stem Drooping so, Swaying low, Mud stained ; You, the sport of windy weather Beaten, baffled, tos'ed whether The path winds on and on forever. What matters that your petaled cup curves white Uke milk From out a throat with tender leaves wrapped soft like silk? What profit now? None, save, perhaps, the power to complicate Thy fate. Puzzled, troubled, sore-afraid. So lonely in the forest glade. Mute through all the silent hours. Scorned by all the other flowers. Weary, watching, wanting breath Waiting death. Fair Lily on a broken stem Drooping so. Swaying low. Bowed to earth ; None knew the burden of your days Ncne sought to understand the riddle of your ways At once a problem ; strange, complex A thing for seers to ponder o'er perplexed. And still, 1 mind me yet the eager gaze adown the long straight road — Too late? Perhaps, but who can say? Strange are the mysteries at the close of day. For Lo, from out the shadow came a breath sweet, faint upon the evening air — The aspiration of a hope upborne in prayer. GOODBY EARTH. Gooclby, Earth. I pause anon, above the fading scene My senses quickens, thoughts come fast, And out the mazes of the past There comes review ; Dimly at first as seen through tears The mists of memory Hft from about the years. Goodby, Earth. One moment yet, I lean my heart against the pulse of time. Upon the tread of forces new and old I feel the meaning of the song that's sung, the tale that's loid. And music that is still — And strain my ears to hear, my eyes to see The intercesant link twixt thou and me. Goodby Earth I scarce can see thy face, But yet, oh Earth, paint thou the sky once more The hue of yesterday and the day before And other days — Illum'd now the color tones repeat Like to a sudden afterglow of Indian summer heat. Good, Earth. Pale grows the sky. Thy flow of crimson light dips dov»'n to twilight mist. 'Twas ever thus with thee, oh Earth, that joy and sadness kiss't The garland cup ; the viper's sting. The call of love ; world's bartering. The heat of hatred ; passion's breath. Then thee, oh Death. Goodby, Earth. Goodnight, well said. The little twinkling stars spell sweet release And I? My heart is free. No cankering care persists with me World-born ambition, clay-bound desire. Relax thy hold, stay thy guile, I needs must dwell apart and grow the while. AMONG SOLDIERS' GRAVES. And now we come to the uncertain light of the late afternoon And sunset waves Shifting aslant above the decorated graves. To night in June. With here and there the flutter of a flag. As 'neath the trees, low boughed The shadows eche, a path Fitful and strange, And branches swung As yonder cedars overhung A crescent moon. Peace to the Dead. Oh sons, the waitmg years will keep Thy record safe — For duty done And honors won For cheated youth And death too soon — Gone is thy strength And thy measured length Lies deep — But the Nations' prize Thy supreme sacrifice BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME DEAR Because you love me dear For me the world is bright It matters not that without 'tis drear If all within be right. Our souls communing hour by hour Makes introspection sweet, IVly heart enfolded like a flower In confidence complete. And if some stress of circumstance O'er cloud my perfect day The inner happiness would recompense And cheer me dear alway. Because you love me dear The quest of else seems vain, And were I a conqueror of worlds 'Twould seem but sordid gains Unless These worlds, including you, Reward me for my pains. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS H 021 929 745 2 ^