ilMiilltiflUHl til ml ! I ■I ill iilssisi lit} J dass__TS3 5^3 Bock— Q33^T GopightN n^o COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. THE SOUL'S VOICE BY ELIZABETH VOSS BOSTON RICHARD G. BADGER THE GORHAM PRESS Copyright, 1920, by Elizabeth Voss All Rights Reserved ©CU604156 Made in the United States of America The Gorham Press, Boston, U. S. A. NOV IB 1920 D CONTENTS PAGE The Waves of the Ocean Wave in Ease . . 5 The Poet 6 A Pagan Child's Plea 7 Inner Beauty 8 Hope 9 Autumn 10 Mother 11 Snow 12 Swaying Arms 13 The Joy of Noble Living 13 A Rainbow 14 Feet 15 Delights . 16 Richest Call 17 Snow Clasped Mountain 18 Reflection 19 Idle Talk 20 Life's Beauties 21 True Nobility's Charm 22 Nature's Call 23 The Butterfly of Brown I Watched .... 24 Salvia p 25 Contents PAGE Lily of the Valley 26 Violets 27 The Rose 28 Love 29 The Cardinal Grosbeak 30 Spring . 31 Nature 32 Carnations 33 Expectancy 34 Friendship 35 Simple Pleasures 36 Triolet 37 Loveliest Sprites 38 Joy 39 Life and Love 40 The waves of the ocean wave in ease, And it rises and falls like trees in the wind, And the Soul heaves in strife and is waveless in peace. THE SOU US VOICE THE POET The poet dreams his dreams In quiet solitude, Then makes them shed bright beams Upon a multitude. His dreams oft have their birth In something real of earth. In dreams come golden moments, And thoughts of priceless worth. A PAGAN CHILD'S PLEA To scarce eight summers have I grown, Yet many sorrows have I known, For child of pagan blood am I. My mother left me, glad to die, As ill she was — an hunger'd too ; My father gave us not our due ; He cared not to be true to us, And seldom was at home ; and thus I wandered lonely, 'round the town, Until I learn 'd a priest's renown, Who gave me food for mind and soul, And cheer'd the heart so deep in dole! Ah, many could be cheer'd, I wean, If kind of heart had spirit keen. We plead for help, for girls and boys, "Look not upon us just as toys," 'Tis true our blood is wild and hot — But can'st thou say, "I love thee not?" Then leave us not to starve and die; Your brother love we seek, and try To live as creatures whole and clean, In finding God, on Whom we lean ! 7 The Soul's Voice INNER BEAUTY Each hour has a beauty all its own, Each fleeting moment sunbeams chase the gloom. The year's four seasons each in beauty shows That man can have a glory all in bloom. Each season has a glow of richer tints, As life grows full in deeds and good desires; A hymn of love, if noble tho'to our lay, Will swell the chorus of the heav'nly choirs ! The Soul's Voice HOPE My rainbow — wing of hope, 'Mid gloom, and pain, thru life, A song that echoes love, Tho, bitter be my strife; For thee I live and gain — My star that shines above. The Soul's Voice AUTUMN Thine golden, crimson, brown — in turn Into my soul thy image burn. My lips are mute in ardent praise, No pen thy sylvan beauty trace ; Thus dye thy colors varied hues So deep, that lift my song in Muse; Yet silent thou within me lives, For autumn life its richness gives. IO The Soul's Voice MOTHER In wondrous uplifting, So grateful a thing, What wonders are felt — What wonders are dealt ! A blessing like mother, The earth holds none other; Her heart is so pure, Of Heaven she's sure. All loving not sought, Its offering a world. When just acts be few, Hast less than thy due? The world has no other That loves us like mother. II The Soul's Voice SNOW What my window could . . . I saw the trees much laden, Laden with white wooly snow (Like little chicks) ; Saplings and trees were taken In soft and clinging embrace, Bending low. Crystalline the fairy gem, My heart by this was shaken, Shaken with some conflict thought — Fairy masonry, frail emboss, Mind and heart did waken, That the frail and softer things, Come to naught. 12 The SouVs Voice Swaying arms Waving leaves Of God's trees: Sweeping clouds, Shining stars, Bursting clouds, Rippling streams, Life oft gleams. The Joy of noble living Is to strive In heart and soul being, To revive The spirit heart giving. 13 The Soul's Voice A RAINBOW A rainbow in the sky, to me, Is lovely to behold; Its high arch, tipped with golden light, Sustains the blending hues so bright, While it has its colors free In loving fold. 'Tis like an opal, never dim So long as light is in the sky: Alas! it soon doth fade and die. H The Soul's Voice FEET Do you note on the street The busy feet And the weary feet? — All on errand Are bent! — Go their way to God And do not know it. 'Tis odd! 15 The Soul's Voice DELIGHTS Music ev'rywhere! In the cooling air, In the silken singing tree, In the whispering wind ; Ever children's voices glee, Thou'l hear — and look In the bubbling brook Songs for ever. Ev'rywhere thou'lt find Music in the air: — This in life — I deem Dear delights of mind. 16 The Soul's Voice RICHEST CALL Richest call of things fair, None so rich as fresh air! Drooping as a world grace, As a bell. Chiming sweetest, calm air, Filling room of fair earth With the sweetest wild things, Wild flower air: Folding mind and heart, all Who will hearken her call, Richest call on fair earth Fresh air! 17 The Soul's Voice SNOW CLASPED MOUNTAIN Great, lofty mountain of splendor and purity! Enchanting, snow-crested, and laden With frozen glory, thine image reflecting, In lake and in tumbling stream. The Sun-god soon fades the rare beauty Of Maiden Estate; but its heart-searching fury Can ne'er thy deep beauty eschew. Which is thy form and thy splendor majestic That becks us in worship to come, To honor thy friendship; and e'en then so quickly, Our footsteps we follow, most gladly to find, A lesson ; 'tis rich both for soul and for mind. 18 The Soul's Voice REFLECTION O little flower, can I understand That thou, who art in beauty pure and free, Wert made by God, by that same holy hand Which me too made, but oft in bonds to be? Thou hast no soul to save; man's priceless one Wants all God's loving care, and daily heed To keep it lest to tares and thorns it run. Alone I'm naught, but God supplies my need; Alone thou couldst not pure in beauty live, O little flower; well I understand That God His daily care to thee must give — That man and thou are both in Wisdom's hand. 19 The SouVs Voice IDLE TALK As the thistle down Floats in the breeze With lithesome ease, It means naught: — Like the bee you fly Here and yon, From flower to flower In a little hour, As the sun-kissed snow, In vapor low, To sleep lies down; Thus— Idle Talk Floats down the walk. 20 The Soul's Voice LIFE'S BEAUTIES I hold the sunbeams in my hand One fleeting, golden moment; I hold them high, my heaven spann'd, For thus my need I understand. The rain and sunshine in my soul Bring forth the harvest yielding, As peans o'er my senses roll, Thus tears and laughter are my goal. I seize the moments rushing by, With pulses all aflaming; I hold them only in my eye, As up like golden darts they fly. 21 The Soul's Voice TRUE NOBILITY'S CHARM To- A woman countenance of time In tranquil beauty's charm; Her life a gladsome summer claimed And is today, in wholesome prime; In gladness of the sky, Admired and beloved flowers rare, That seldom can be named; As grandeur and simplicity vie. A stately salvia in her glow, As hyacinth's in her garden, A heart as warm as ripe roses; Dear lady's truth in deeds doth show. 22 The Soul's Voice NATURE'S CALL Hail the witching song of birds, Music to your heart and mind ; There 'twill leave a melody All the day, of sweetest kind. Hear the rustle of the leaves Singing love and praises free; Wafting them above the sky — Back again from heaven to thee. Hear the grasses whisper hope. Man, thy life and soul are high ; Nature has a song for all — Songs of cheer and bounteous joy 23 The SouVs Voice The butterfly of brown I watch'd, As it clung to the twig; Gently I touch'd the creature dull- Lo ! It crush'd ! 'Twas but an autumn leaf. 24 The Soul's Voice SALVIA 1 see the stately fall flower, Its flame a shining holly-bower; In warmth, of cardinal glow, Pure as cathedral window. It fills the heart with healthful glee; To all this flower's gift is free, A type of autumn's glowing season Of life, when man has lived in reason- As sunset's golden glories ope In skies of bright and tender hope. 25 The Soul's Voice LILY OF THE VALLEY The sweetest grace of flowers That blossom in the lea, Which pleasure gives to hours Is Lily-of-the-Valley. Its cup a modest droop, Its bell is as a dew, Which nestles close in coop Of cup in interview; As light of moon its dower Bequeaths to lovely flower. 26 The Soul's Voice VIOLETS Violets garnered by a loving heart Can but pleasure bring; As its fragrance in its humble art Makes the heart to sing. As the violet's sweetness humbly glows In its form to fill, Growing azure glory, sweetly shows Living in His will. We must gain our lesson humbly taught, In this pleasure flower, When we loving hold the violet, wrought In a golden hour. 27 The Soul's Voice THE ROSE My garden is a fairy land ; But most of all, I like my roses That are so full in sap of life. I plucked a rose with loving hand, Her spirit made her beauty rife. Then came apace the heavy clime, Thus withered sadly life of rose ; That in the "little bit of breath" Not giving forth her grace of thyme, Her dying spirit hindereth. 28 The Soul's Voice LOVE Love in soul of tender flow, Holy beauty burns her glow; Glows my love for thee alone Chaste as lily on her throne. Love is living, love's a flame, Always burning, never tame ; Always thinking how to do, Serving love and spirit new. Sorrow owes love's richest gain In the tension tight of pain, Flames a love that dyes my soul, Vibrant lifts toward my goal. 29 The Soul's Voice THE CARDINAL GROSBEAK My flame — radiant singer! The tree's sleeping head Less dull seems; thy red — Is't a fall leaf doth linger? In cold winter's fury Thy throat is still free, Thy song echoes lightly, I list to its trilling, The heavens' arch filling. Thy home it cheers brightly, And cold cannot chill Thy heart nor thy trill. 30 The Soul's Voice SPRING I fondly see each delicate fresh thing That lifts its head at coming of the spring; I hear the gentle voice of rustling leaves From tree and shrub to which the foliage cleaves. In hush, one feels the joy of spring's own heart, As from the earth her varied beauties start. How grateful, then, our human souls should be That Nature's pageantry we thus can see! 31 The SouVs Voice NATURE Nature — sun and moon glory Both impart, Showing thus thy grace and beauty To the heart That brings its love For love. Trees — majestic in their mien, Do instill Noble strength, courage strong. Beauty will Flowers ever teach For each. Birds — with sweet and cheerful song Work and play; From their music we may learn Every day — Springs of melody To see. 32 The Soul's Voice CARNATIONS These flowers are of loving hue Of sunset and of moonlight too; They are my treasure in delight Whose friendship measure starry bright; To mind a healthy token leaves Of beauty rife in soul, that cleaves In intimate unvoiced caress, Enamored mind and heart doth bless. 33 The Soul's Voice EXPECTANCY Can I when abroad, trace In crowds the soul face, That awaits response of mine? Can I the heart divine, When seeing in this maze The spiritual face! — Or have I far and nigh, From happier chance Its countenance Passed by? 34 The Soul's Voice FRIENDSHIP I trust thee, Friend, and in that Trust Lies my reward. With simple faith in thee, I can retard The swell of pride; the "cloud-cups brim" With thee, and know In spirit love that's true, To wing thru Heaven's glow With thee, to Him above — Together — In hope, to reach celestial bliss Forever. 35 The Soul's Voice SIMPLE PLEASURES Chiefest among my pleasures Is Nature's voice — my best. Still others seem in measure To calm my lonely rest. Music and books I treasure, And friends, well tried and true; God's sunshine brings a message To me from Heaven's blue. In calm and storm I love to be With friends who ever smile on me ! 36 The Soul's Voice TRIOLET When first I knew, I did not see That life would prove so stern a father; I lived so lightly, bright and free. When first I knew, I did not see In life's advance no halt must be, But moving ever onward rather. When first I knew, I did not see That life would prove so stern a father. 37 The Soul's Voice LOVELIEST SPRITES Little wren and goldfinch, Bigger scarce than one inch ! Trill ye, trill ye, inch-birds, Songs are your true heart-words. Ye forever, Vim o' spring, Twitter joyously and sing; Sunlight sprites in sun-song Lore of joy a life long. 38 The SouVs Voice JOY My heart is so joyous, my joy doth escape In words and in music uplifted in praise ; Adoring the beauty I see in the world, In all that surrounds me, I sing with delight. Wise Nature's my teacher, a child is a poem ; My heart is so joyous — my joy is my life! 39 The Soul's Voice LIFE AND LOVE To love is to live 'mid gardens of beauty, To love is the soul of progress and duty; No power can hinder the current of love, No ocean can drown this flame from above; To love and to think, to dream, is to live, Like music and poetry, love comes to give Its beauty's inspiring things to this life; And love brings the dawn of peace thru-out strife. r 40 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 018 378 315 4 I'' MnifluHii