jP- c «

*fev* * ^ J? % •.HIS* AV ** oVjiX^* _«,* HI' <*>** oWf • c* ... v s *^ ^ ^° A^^ o^W®?^* C^^ft -^SliS^'o A^ POEMS POEMS BY RUBY CLARKE McINTIRE Fleming H. Revell Company New York Cjjicagq Copyright, 1918, by FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY ^ Printed in the United States of America IN 17 1919 New York : 158 Fifth Avenue Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave. London : 21 Paternoster Square Edinburgh : 75 Princes Street ©CI.A5 12068 / 1 IN AFTER DAYS By Austin Dobson In after days when grasses high O'ertop the stone where I shall lie. Though ill or well the world adjust My slender claim to honoured dust, I shall not question nor reply. I shall not see the morning sky; I shall not hear the night-wind sigh; I shall be mute, as all men must In after days! But yet, now living, Jain would I That some one then should testify, Saying — ' He held his pen in trust To Art, not serving shame or lust* Will none? — Then let my memory die In after days! CONTENTS PAGE To 9 Refusal 10 Mirage n Not " The World's Way " 12 " The Little Less " 13 Gone 14 Then 15 To the Maid in Heaven 16 Three 17 The Maid of France 19 A Valentine 20 To a Rose . 21 Youth 22 " Over the Hills and Far Away " 23 " Mother o' Mine " 24 The Gleam 25 The Vision Beautiful 26 To a Friend 27 God's Smile 28 To the Homeland 29 To the Sea 30 To a Flower 31 Aglow 32 Sunrise 33 Alone 34 Down By the Sea 35 7 8 CONTENTS PAGE To the Alma Mater .. 36 Class Song — 1905 37 Robert Browning 38 Robert Browning 39 Robert Browning 40 Divinity 41 The Prince of Peace 42 Consecration 43 Love Made Manifest 44 Mary Magdalene 45 11 Follow Me " 46 Hope 47 A Prayer 48 Healing 49 Hymn 50 A Prayer 51 A Fragment 52 Peace .... 53 TO Beloved, if thro' any verse of mine There gleam one vein of gold to make its worth, One thread of musing touched with the divine, One beat of wings to lift it from the earth, Take it as one who takes again her own Returned from journeyings a little space; Take it, that fain would celebrate alone The abiding loveliness that is thy grace. io POEMS REFUSAL You lingered in the market place that day Over the image of a Boy, once wrought By rapturous fingers in the world's high May Before the gods were dead. You would have bought The likeness of a god, yet would not pay Your one gold coin and, vainly having sought To barter for it coppers, went your way, A coin unbroken and a god as naught. Then others crowding jostled past the booth, Or haggled pennies for its little ware ; None paused beside the marbled face of youth, None brushed the dust to find his features fair. For only you could see that god in stone, Finger your gold, thrill, and pass on alone ! POEMS ii MIRAGE Because you set the door a little wide For me alone to scan your deeper thought, To touch your hand — a boon elsewhere denied- And grow in wisdom as your wisdom taught, The world mistook that little for your most, Counting me rich in gifts you never gave, And read my silence as a mocking boast Of mastery — from one who was a slave ! But I who knew from anguish drew content To fashion visions of a day-to-be, So blessed you for the semblance that you lent Of life to dreams that never were for me But dreams, slight as the shadow of a star, Yet, soul of my soul, to shape it or to mar. 12 POEMS NOT " THE WORLD'S WAY " It is not that alone you bring for me New beauty to a world of loveliness, Strange sweetness, holier visioning that press Beyond death's death into eternity, Nor that because of you the mystery Of pain, that flames thro' passions numberless, Moves me at last, Beloved, to confess A mortal love can love immortally. But first I count your gifts of simpler joy — Touch of your hand in mine, turn of your head, Ripple of speech, laughter without alloy. These will remain when memory else is dead, Proof of diviner love that timeless wings Thro' what fools call life's unimportant things ! POEMS 13 " THE LITTLE LESS " Was it that life must compass all of hell, Stripping hereafter of its dread to be; Was it lest heaven could hold no further spell To lure me into immortality You never loved me here? You scarce confessed The more than nothing, less than all you gave, Your sole response to waiting love's behest — That held no strength to slay, no grace to save. I gave you all I had: My giving knew The sting of passion and the scourge of pain, No middle way 'twixt life and death— But you, Amidst my babbled repetitions vain, Asked in your smile, serene and self-secure, " Ashes and dust all else, shall love endure?" i 4 POEMS GONE Once, in the careless past, the March wind blew Heavy with promise of the quickened spring, While swift-ascending summer bore anew Its pledge of grain for autumn's garnering. Then winter seemed a measured time of peace, Gentle as sleep, not ominous of death — Each month succeeding gave its fair increase Thro' love of you that was the seasons' breath. Now storm and desolation wrack the years, Harrowed and lashed by maddened gusts of pain- Wan spring sows seeds of hope-embittered tears, And autumn, reaping, knows that reaping vain, Save in my heart one bloom of asphodel, Flowers for death, and memory, and farewell. POEMS 15 THEN* Not while a splendid madness urges, Toiler, or freeman, or slave, Borne on the crest of a wild fury's surges, To fling back the life God gave ; Not while the flower of your gentlest youth Go down to the pit, and careless of truth, Fight your battles, and live or die At the voice of your bidding, nor question why, Rulers of men, not yet need you say, " This is the price we pay." But when the spectre of peace has descended, Silent, and grim, and still, Over the graves of those who defended The right or the wrong at your will ; When those whom the God of war has declined, Impotent folk with the halt and the blind, Cursed for all time, rise to curse in vain Your greed and your glory, your loss and your gain, Then, Rulers of men, will you dare to say, " This is the price we pay? " ^Written in 1914. 16 POEMS TO THE MAID IN HEAVEN* Throned aloft 'mid the Seraphim In the ultimate peace of God, Maid of France, hast thou forgot The ways thy feet once trod? Is there no echo from down the years, Echo of marching feet, To bring back the time to thy visioning When death for France was sweet? O Maid of France, when the night is deep With the depth of the farthest star, Dost thou wing thy way from thy seat of peace To the place of hell and war? To ride again in the ranks of those, Careless of fate or chance, Who follow a never-turning road And live to die for France? O Maid of France, they have felt the breath Of life that breathed in thee, In the love of France where present with past Is wedded immortally. They have seen the vision and heard the voice In the heat and the dust of strife — They know with thee and thy myriad host That death for France is life. ^Written in 1916. POEMS 17 THREE * Three tarried without the city's gate In the noon-day glare of the sun, Famine, they were, and Death, and Hate — Three, but their aims were one. And they thought of another city's fate, And laughed at a task well done. Death said, " I will make them an heap of bone, Cleaned by the unclean crow, With only the knowledge of clod and of stone, And the things that dead men know. And their rotting jaws shall make no moan, And their hands shall work no woe." Then Famine, " They prate of their city's might — Good sport it will be indeed — They shall lie, and cheat, and plunder, and fight, For the bitter root and the weed. For the beast that is man shall blind their sight To all save their belly's need." Hate mocked, " Their bodies are for your jest, Mine is a merrier toll, Passion and greed at my behest Shall canker their living soul, Till Famine appear a welcome guest, And Death, a longed-for goal." * Written in 1917. 18 POEMS They tarried no more without the gate, It was hot in the noon-day sun, And they thought of another city's fate And laughed at a task well done. Then they entered the city in sober state, Three, but their aims were one. POEMS 19 THE MAID OF FRANCE She moved among the simple things and loved The forests still, the quiet birth of day, The far, faint call of nesting birds at eve, When o'er the fields the hush of twilight lay. Till, lo, the vision flamed before her clear, Bidding her forth into the dust and heat Of noisy battle — never more to taste The peace of gentle-breathing woodlands sweet. Obedient still, she followed to the end Beyond the bitterness of hate and strife; Giving at last in consecration dear The sacrificial offering of her life. To-day the laggard nations loud acclaim Her deathless praise. Past any touch of chance Her titles stand — of patriot, martyr, saint — Yet more than all of these, the Maid of France. 20 POEMS A VALENTINE Who can doubt that in long ago ages, In a time unrecorded and far, We went wandering thro' night's track- less mazes, I a moonbeam, and Thou a star? Or that in the unending hereafter Our spirits shall go hand in hand To a newer and fairer existence In a yet undiscovered land? Thus I hold Thee in time past, time future, Yet remaineth one moment divine: Wilt Thou add to the has-been and shall-be And Now, dear, be my valentine? POEMS 21 TO A ROSE Upon your petals lies a nameless spell, A haunting loveliness no words can tell ; And yet 'tis not your beauty but the grace Reflected from an unknown lady's face. Her hands have held you, touched your crimson heart, Transfigured you, henceforth a flower apart. A moment only in her palm you lay, Yet gained a charm that never fades away. So, holding you, I make my mute appeal That I, too, may her eyes' calm beauty feel. Till then, come weal or woe as fate dispose, I have at least my unknown lady's rose! 22 POEMS YOUTH What tho' the thunder of Great Jove no more Crash o'er the fields of trembling Thessaly? What tho' Poseidon haunt an echoing shore Where shades unload a phantom Argosy? Tho' nymph and dryad shudder not before The stamp of Pan? Tho' a divinity Man once has slain, man cannot now restore Unto its ancient immortality. Still one lives on, a boy who watched the dawn From Mount Olympus when the months were young, And he will live to move the world, his pawn, Till life is dead and all earth's songs are sung — Mocking he sits enthroned o'er human kind, Touching their sight only to make them blind. POEMS 23 "OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY" I have come a weary way Since the breaking of the day In my search for Tinker Bell. She's the only one can tell The way to Never Never Land. That's where live a fairy band. Peter Pan and Wendy too I'm in search of. [addresses audience]. " Wouldn't you Like to come along and see Such a jolly company? Sentimental Tommy's here (He thinks he's wonderful, I fear), Babbie's Little Minister, And the pirate sinister, You shall see them all around 'Cept Tinker Bell, who's just a sound! Hark, I hear her [calls], ' Tinker Bell! Please, show us where the fairies dwell.' Hear her answer, ting-ling-ling! Fairies can do anything. [Listens] Quick, then, [beckons to audi- ence] she'll not stop nor stay. This was ever fairies' way." [Runs of.] 24 POEMS "MOTHER O' MINE" Thy hand it was that guided me Along my childhood's way, Thy face the Vision Beautiful That blessed me day by day. Thy faith and courage strengthened me To struggle for the right, Thy love shone forth, a constant star, Unchanging thro' the night. So, in the years that are to come, Whate'er the grief or woe, Thy Mother Heart shall comfort me As it did long ago. And what have I to offer thee For all thy gifts divine? Only a life whose every good Reflected is from Thine. POEMS 25 THE GLEAM Thou unseen of my Human eye, Unknown of my mortal ken, That yet shall be with me till I die And known and seen of me then. 1 find Thee now in each peaceful star That shines the black heavens through, And I follow Thee ever near or far, Knowing Thy light is true. And though the mists of an earthly night May roll between Thee and me, I walk in the memory of Thy light And lo, I am safe and free. Since dawn comes sure to earth's farthest part, And the sun returns to his sea, So again Thou shalt shine for the loving heart That waits and longs for Thee. 26 POEMS THE VISION BEAUTIFUL The swaying, surging masses of the world, Careless of care, benumbed by sin and pain, From chaos into chaos blindly hurled, Grope vainly toward a goal forever vain. Into their midst God sends in every age His messengers to work His holy Will. Unvexed they stand, while the rude con- flicts rage, The Vision Beautiful before them still. So thou dost move serene among us here, Gentle as sunset's afterglow, to bless Lives broken on the wheel of sin, and dear Only to God's unwearied tenderness, And thine, whose perfect service wears the grace Of one who daily sees Him face to face. POEMS 27 TO A FRIEND As, after darkening winds and gusty showers Have marred the patient, unreproachful sky, God's bow of promise breaks the clouds that lie Between his sunlight and the waiting flowers, So, absence ended, with its weight of hours Lagging and loitering ere they went to die, My rainbow messenger shines forth on high To banish every cloud that sullen lowers. For lone I walked through dim, gray days until You smiled upon my life, and lo, to live Was bliss, and joy to tread the earth you trod, Since in your smile the peace of waters still Lay mingled with their strength and power to give Sweet glimpses of the hidden love of God. 28 POEMS GOD'S SMILE God's smile was very gentle when He lent Thee as a little child to us below, Knowing the weary hearts deep-learned in woe, The heavy-burdened souls by suffering rent, That need but see thy face — its sweet content — And gazing find new hope, and kindlier go, To walk henceforth with peace, and holier grow, Because of thee — the gracious gift He sent. Nor time, nor change, nor things of space can mar The soul that once has seen His face divine, There, in that land of perfect light above, So near to thee to-day, to us how far, Yet nearer ever for this life of thine, Whose every work, thought, deed says, " God is love." POEMS 29 TO THE HOMELAND Land of high, snow-crowned mountain peaks, And sun-lit valleys wide and free, Whose shores are swept by heaven's gales And washed by the unresting sea. Thy hand hath reared a mighty race, That hewed a state from wood and stone, Strong men who loved Thy sacred name And for Thy life-blood gave their own. And to Thy younger sons to-day The message from Thy past shall be, Homeland, dear and yet more dear, To love and serve and honor Thee. 30 POEMS TO THE SEA I stand beside thy sallow sand And feel the tumult in me cease, As waves sweep from thy heart to mine And bring the unbought gift of peace. Life's brittle gain and countless loss Sink from my simple human ken. Thy swift, salt scent brings back to me The hope and strength that make us men- Serene to face the might-have-been, The undreamed dreams that ne'er shall be, Content to live whate'er the life — Strong in the strength that is of Thee. POEMS 3I TO A FLOWER Oh, rich in thy beauty and royally fair, Thy face but reflecteth the radiance rare From heav'n where the flowers in the garden of light Spring pure and all-perfect in God's perfect sight. 32 POEMS AGLOW First in the yesterday of time I looked upon your face, Transfigured by the holy light Of an immortal grace. And suddenly, my earth-bound soul, Gazing on yours afar, Seemed borne thro' the encircling blue Toward one all-perfect star. For as I tread my humble way, The glory of that light Shines from the distance, pure, serene, Making a morn of night, Flowers of spotless virgin hue Spring up your way to greet, Knowing the God of all things fair Fashioned you, with them, Sweet! POEMS SUNRISE 33 Beloved, as the sun at morn doth greet First, with his splendor-giving ray, the sea, So in my heart, to make its waking sweet, Comes with the dawn the gentle thought of thee. 34 POEMS ALONE They have left me at last, with their comfortless com- fort, And fruitless endeavors to lessen the pain, What know they of sweet that is all run to bitter ? Have they loved you, and lost you, and so lived in vain? And yet, not in vain, since, for one deathless moment, Your life's crystal stream found and mingled with mine. 'Tis enough to have stood on the heights for that instant, When earth rose to heaven, and mere man was divine. And my prayer is that I may be strong in my manhood, To struggle and strive till a man's work is done. Then away from this earth which has hampered me, held me, Life ended? Ah, no, t'will be life just begun. POEMS 35 DOWN BY THE SEA* Down by the sea in the early day, Where is so fitting a place to play? Where can be built such wonders of sand, With plenty of pebbles close at hand, Down by the sea. Down by the sea when the heart's aflame, With the lust of glory and might and fame, While the murmuring waves and stars above Sing their one immortal song of love, Down by the sea. Down by the sea when the wild wave's strife Echoes the long, long battle of life, And the soul is borne unfettered, free, To the very edge of eternity ! Down by the sea. Down by the sea when the blood runs cold, And the heart of the world seems growing old, Rest is there, and the end of the way, With the ebbing tide and the close of the day, Down by the sea. * Copyright, 1907, by R. C. Mel. 36 POEMS TO THE ALMA MATER O gentle Mother, fair and strong, To thee thy daughters raise Their song of loyalty and love That lives beyond the days. Chorus: O Alma Mater, Normal dear, Thus may we ever be United by unbroken bonds Of changeless love for thee. Within thine ivy-clustered wall We look on wisdom's face, And mingled with our sterner tasks Find friendship's mellowing grace. Our sisters of the long ago In spirit join us here; From them we learn thro* lengthening years To hold thee still more dear. POEMS 37 CLASS SONG— 1905 Before thine altar, Mother dear, lie offerings rich and rare, The hopes, endeavors, triumphs, of many years are there; And humbly now we bring to thee the gift of those who strive To fight the good fight bravely in the name of nineteen- five! Life's battles are before us on the paths where we must tread, But we face them with the courage thy fostering care has bred; And with a faith relying on the power of truth and right, We shall struggle thro' the darkness to the glory of the light. We crave thy benediction ere we enter on the fray, And our young hopes fair, untarnished, we offer thee to-day; Thy kindly light will lead us till earth's noisy conflicts cease And we go with faith unbroken to the great abiding Peace. 38 POEMS ROBERT BROWNING (Died Dec. 12, 1889) The reckoning voice did utter but a word, And straight fell midnight on thy clear high day, Too soon the darkening summons came, yet found Already in thy hand the wreath of bay. With words, thy metals, thou didst strive, and grasp The secret sought by alchemists of old, For uncouth phrases at thy subtle touch, Transmuted were to streams of living gold. Thy soul hath fled beyond the reach of praise, But hearts below are braver for the light Of thy brave life, so pure that at the last Death needs must seek thee on the mountain height. POEMS 39 ROBERT BROWNING O Master Poet, thou hast reached thy goal, And burst these mortal bonds, and winged thy flight Thro' realms above, there found in God's own sight Thy Lyric Love — two lives made perfect, whole. On earth full-flooded years must forward roll, But men walk ever kindlier for that light Gone out with thee, when thou didst breast the night, Still singing God's great gift to man — a soul. Ah, dwelling now in an unending day, Remember those whom thou sustained so long, And let some portion of thy strength descend On us, that we with loftier courage may Again take up the struggle, right the wrong, And fighting earthly justice meet our end. 40 POEMS ROBERT BROWNING Maker of music immortal, Prophet and Bard of the soul, The long, noiseless war of the spirit, Its suffering, sin, and its goal, Death with his radiant presence Ended life's right or its wrong; But Time thro' the ages bears onward The gold-threaded strain of thy song. Still in the endless hereafter, Poet of manhood and men, Thy name shall live on in its glory Till time shall have passed from our ken. POEMS 41 DIVINITY " Behold a King," they cried, and yet they saw A little child like other children fair, But lovelier; and as they gazed, their awe Melted to love and found his kingship there. 42 POEMS THE PRINCE OF PEACE The East is filled with the glorious ray Of a star that long ago Shone forth o'er the hills to wise men far, Who wondered and watched below ; While angels descend from their home of light To sing in the heart of the world to-night The birth of the Prince of Peace. Pure was His life as the light of the star That heralded His birth, Sweet were His words as the angels' song That rang once over the earth. Serene He moved midst hate and strife To give at last in love His life, The life of the Prince of Peace. And the light of His star and the angels' song Shall flood our deepest night, Till silence and darkness have vanished away In melody and light; And the world-old hatred and strife shall cease At the coming of Him who is Prince of Peace — Our Saviour, the Prince of Peace. POEMS 43 CONSECRATION (Lines suggested by Abbey's " The Vigil.") Thou hast ordained the strife, Eternal Lord of Peace, And dost point the way thro' the battle's day, Till the strife, with the daylight, cease. Then, as the hush of the dark Mantles the sky and the sea, A splendid star, serene and far, Beckons me forth to Thee. And I follow as men of old, Till, kneeling before Thy shrine, My soul, grown strong in the watches long, Mingles at last with Thine. Rapt, when the whisper of dawn Signals the waking foe, While Thy voice rings clear, " Lo, I am near," And strong in Thy strength I go! 44 POEMS LOVE MADE MANIFEST Perfect power Thou didst show- In the ages long ago, By Thine earth, and sky, and sea, With their might and majesty; Splendor of the day's full light, Awful spaces of the night, In the ages long ago. Perfect love Thou couldst not show In the ages long ago, Toward Thy great created world Into life from chaos hurled, Till Thou sent a Little Child. Gently on the world He smiled, Love made manifest below, In the ages long ago. POEMS 45 MARY MAGDALENE* (Lines written on Henner's " Mary Magdalene.") The crowd beyond, I heard them say they mourned, Because He died. What can they know of grief Who never felt the whiteness of His touch Upon a soul that grovelled in its sin; Nor heard the words that flashed a glorious hope Into a heart, hope-barren from its birth? His words, that lighted in this heart of mine A flame that burned the other life away And left it sweet for Him whose throne it is, And shall be, till I die. O Master, dear In death, as in the life Thou gav'st a world, That scoffed and threw a gift back with a sneer — I kneel and pray to Thee just as of old, So Thou, where e'er Thou art, wilt hear, and know That Mary, least of all within Thy fold, Still finds in Thee her Saviour and her God ! *Appeared originally in "The Churchman." 46 POEMS "FOLLOW ME" Master, the way is before us, Simple the lesson and clear, Writ in the red of Thy heart blood, Taught at a life's cost so dear. Only to live the life given, Counting the tears and the pain Blessings that point on to heaven, Nor reckon the loss nor the gain. Only to see in each soul's face Thy image unspeakably fair; Oft blackened by sin's lustful fingers, But still ineffaceably there. Master, the way is before us, Simple the lesson and plain, God's life is the life of His children, Nor can any life be in vain. POEMS 47 HOPE I am she who first at God's command Did spring at birth, full-winged and glad and free, To do His will. From unimagined days I am, and to eternity shall be. Man's groping hand I clasp, and fast in mine Hold to the end of time. Earth's joys I give And take again, lest he find there an end, Nor look to Him whose messenger I am. So ever up and up and onward still I draw him thro' the bitter and the sweet, Until his soul yearn past the bliss of earth Straight to the throne of God, to see at last That life itself is but a step toward God, And He is all in all ; and strength, and peace, And joy, and hope, are just the love of Him. 48 POEMS A PRAYER Father of all, we ask of Thee No added power, no sordid gain; No greater strength on land or sea, No earthly glory, useless, vain. Not, not for these our prayers we raise. O Thou Almighty, lend Thine ear, Number on earth oppression's days, The Brotherhood of Man bring near. End the long reign of guilty might, Sow in our worldly hearts the seeds Of love, which blossoming in Thy sight Shall bear the fruit of Godly deeds. POEMS 49 HEALING There is a touch that owns the power of turning Sad hearts from their accustomed path of pain; There is a deathless star whose rays are burning, Calm and serene when others shine in vain. His is that tender touch of perfect healing, God's gracious gift upon that great gift day ; His is that constant star to man revealing A love, time cannot change nor cast away. And once an angel o'er the still earth bending Sought for pure souls to bear His tokens here; Then to thy sweet and gentle heart descending Gave of that light, that touch, to thee, Most Dear. 50 POEMS HYMN The nations in days of old Builded them altars fair, And set thereon their gods of stone And poured them oblations rare — While in their city streets, alone, Moved the Son of God, unseen, unknown. Just as in days of old We build us altars vain And bow before gods we adore, Greed and the lust of gain — And in our crowded streets, alone, Moves the Son of God, unseen, unknown. Not as in days of old In the Islands of the Sea — For they bow no more to their gods of yore But to One who shall set them free. So, seen at last and come to His Own, Moves the Son of God, no more alone! POEMS 51 A PRAYER O Lord, I ask a little day To work, to wonder, and to play; A little time, a little space, One glad immortal hour of grace. Then shall the deathless face of death Be welcomed by my latest breath; Tho' black and bitter be the night, I shall have known and loved the light. 52 POEMS A FRAGMENT I travelled for my soul's content The road a saint once trod Where every flower was redolent Of the breath that breathes of God. I found no cleansing of my sin In the wind or the earthquake fire, No still small voice without, within, Spoke to my sick desire. POEMS 53 PEACE I sought you in the desert place, Where is no bound of time and space, And God has scarcely shown his face — You were not there. I sought you in the cloistered cell Where prayer and meditation dwell, 'Mid dreams of Heaven, fears of hell — You were not there. I sought you, tho' the search seemed vain, In the great world of strife and pain, Till, as my very hope lay slain, I found you there. HI? 89 r*^T* /Or t o r ^ *•#•»• ^ *^ - • « • - ^ .4 *°* >• ^ -sill' ^ :5fS "r " •* 4Vr ** ** ♦ells* ^ ,4> *£Mm° **** .v->. «b^ kV *** » -^ r » <*r ^j. ^0* H EC KM AN 3INDERY INC. ^ DEC 88 N. MANCHESTER, ^s^ INDIANA 46962