P s *r>c5z3 A COLLECTION OF SHORT POEMS By NORMAN A. LUFBURROW I OLt? 936 91.0 ssaaoNoo do Aavaen Class rd^fCT S BookJ=L^lX CopigM.)^ \ t> COPYRIGHT DEPOSnV A COLLECTION OF SHORT POEMS By NORMAN A. LUFBURROW Copyright, 1913, by NORMAN A. LUFBURROW. ©CI.A358830 4< 6 4 TO the many friends whose comradeship has contributed toward the joys of living, I dedicate these Life Lines. N. A. L. FOREWORD AT the request of a number of friends, I have published this small collection of short poems. My aim throughout has been to maintain a certain continuity of thought by a careful selection of topics. It is my sincere hope that all who read these Life Lines may not only discover in them thoughts of interest, but in addition may find some slight suggestion that will prove a benefit throughout the one great course which is our common con- cern — Life. NORMAN A. LUFBURROW. FRIENDSHIP. T The Comradeship of Friends. HRU life's unknown and toilsome course, Our happiness depends On one great all-inspiring force — The comradeship of friends. For friendship is a joy by day, A gladness through the night; And faults or fears are thrust away In love's forgiving light. At times when doubts would seem most real, A new-born faith descends On all who offer love, and feel The comradeship of friends. THE CLOSEST OF EARTHLY FRIENDS. Written to my mother during her last long illness. MOTHER. AMID the din of life's fast flight, And thru the silence of the night, There comes the cherished thot of you, Mother; A guide-post on the road to right, A brightly shining beacon light, To help one live as wished by you, Mother. No greater debt could be incurred, Than that by which my heart is stirred With deepest gratitude to you, Mother; You never faltered in your love For man below — for God above; Such lives as yours are far too few, Mother. What traits I harbor that are strong, Or good, or great, to you belong; Your wants for me were all the best, Mother; You filled my life with joy and song, And what there is in me of wrong — That were a self-inflicted guest, Mother. 11 THE CLOSEST OF EARTHLY FRIENDS. What you have suffered, none can say, Throughout life's fleeting little day, For your unselfish heart compelled That inward pain, therein, be held; But motherhood so crowned with trials, And oft repeated self denials, Has surely had a bounty share Of silent sufferings to bear; And happenings that seemed so sad, Oft made your loving heart more glad, Because it had been "yours" to lay Some gladness in another's way; And you, who suffered much the while, Took pleasure in the self denial. And often as I ponder now About the early days, and how, Unknowingly, I tried you so, Mother; I see that you were good and kind, In every act, while I was blind To pain which you chose not to show, Mother. And if I might somehow repay, The joys you set upon my way, No pleasure would be half so sweet, Mother; But all the recompense you ask Is that I profit from your task — A hope which I will strive to meet, Mother, 12 THE CLOSEST OF EARTHLY FRIENDS. When momentary things appear, To dim the thoughts we hold most dear, They but return with greater force, Mother; And now that illness lays you low, You cannot fail to feel and know That I am "constant" with remorse, Mother. To read the great infinite plan Were not prescribed for finite man, And thus our hope is in our trust, Mother; But one whose life has been so real, Whate'er may come, can always feel That final reaping will be just, Mother. That you have lived unselfishly In deed and act, none fail to see; The Christian life which was your aim, You lived in purpose and in name, And the t'were difficult to know Each act that helped some life to glow, An influence so good as yours Thru generations, thus, endures, And often where we least expect May have some striking, good effect. You ever counted self as naught, And honors earned, you never sought; That good, so evident in you Will but in others live anew. 13 THE CLOSEST OF EARTHLY FRIENDS. So in the quiet that you spend, I hope perchance this thought may lend A note of comfort to your heart, Mother; What you have counted as your call Has been a benefit to all — The good you loved so to impart, Mother. Each act of love, so motherly, Each prayer that you have raised for me, I rate a higher gift than gold, Mother; Each word or look of warning shown > Each tear you shed for me, alone, Their worth to me can ne'er be told, Mother. And whether near, or from your side, I hope some comfort may abide With these, my loving thoughts of you, Mother; For I shall always feel, with pride The joy of having you as guide, And will be guided still by you, Mother. So mid the din of life's fast flight, And thru the silence of the night, There comes the cherished thought of you, Mother; A guide-post on the road to right, A brightly shining beacon light, Which helps me live as wished by you, Mother. 14 COMFORT IN SORROW. Set to hymn music October, 1913. THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH. WHEN the radiant light of the day has gone, Comes the black of the night and the hope of a dawn; And after the peace of contentment's reign, Comes the hour of strife and the sting of pain. When the light playing summery breeze has passed, Comes the wail of the wind and the bite of the blast; And after the fervor of life has fled, Comes the sigh of a soul as it joins the dead. Yet the gloom which prevails in the wake of joy, Is no heavenly judgement to mar or destroy; But a test of our faith in the God above, And a key to the depth of His wondrous love. For the dawn breaks anew with a boundless scope, And the sorrow will brighten at last into hope; There is always an end to the winter's chill, And the soul in the spirit is living still. 15 THE VALUE OF A CHEERING DISPOSITION- HE WORE A SMILE. HE wore a smile; And everywhere he chanced to pass, While playing his humble r61e in life, Men felt his radiant spirit's glow, And caught the cheering smile, and so Set it adrift in an endless flow. He wore a smile; And though perchance some inward pain Were plainly written on his brow, He never failed in any trial The cheerful greeting, and the smile Lit up his countenance the while. He wore a smile- One with a vital value too, Unlike the cynic's ready grin; For always when he happened near, Though other hearts were sad or drear, The smile would strike a note of cheer. He wore a smile; What greater good might he have done For those whose life-paths crossed his own? 17 THE VALUE OF A CHEERING DISPOSITION, The magic smiles of men, whole-souled, Render the world a hundred fold Richer by far than does its gold. He wore a smile; And though his life works and his name Be soon forgotten by the world, The influence of his glowing heart, Will stand a tribute to impart The memory of a priceless art — He wore a smile. 18 ANOTHER VALUABLE CHARACTERISTIC. GRIT. CAN you boast of the grit to stick up for what's right, When the jeers of your comrades demand a hard fight; Not to waver an inch from your honest intent Though it seem that each atom of nerve must be spent? Can you follow your judgment and stick to a job, And be jarred not a bit by the jeers of the mob; Never falter because your good spirits are drooped When you reap some ill trick to which others have stooped? Have you quite enough grit to keep up a good heart When you're forced by a failure to make a new start; To live on with a smile when your plans have gone wrong And look into the future, still hopeful and strong? Can you keep from allowing yourself to get sore, When you've stood all the knocking that's due and some more; Can you govern your temper when others get hot, And display your good sense and control on the spot? 19 ANOTHER VALUABLE CHARACTERISTIC. • ~"~^ "^ mm Is your grit strong enough to get back of a thing And withstand every jolt that its pushing may bring; To keep busy and work with an unflinching nerve Where the ultimate need is for backbone and verve? There is work in this world that you're put here to do, And endurance is needed to carry it through — For its grit that's essential in everyday life, If you want to make good and win out in the strife. 20 THE LONELINESS OF GENIUS. THE BIGGER MAN. ONE day while on a mountain stroll I came upon a rocky knoll, Whereon a pine-tree, tall and bold, By some odd chance had kept its hold, And here and there a favored shoot Had found good earth and taken root; On every side lay rich and green An awe-inspiring woodland scene. Unconsiously It came to me, That this unseemly rocky space Looked more a blemish than a grace, 'Mid all the splendor of the place. But later from a distant plain I chanced to look that way again, And lo! the knoll, conspicuous — Scorned just before as valueless, Was out of all that grand expanse The thing which longest held my glance. And from its crest the lonesome pine Towered as monarch of his line. I stood amazed For as I gazed 21 THE LONELINESS OF GENIUS. The knoll, which I had thought a freak, Stood out the only thing unique, In all that green unchanging streak. Quick as a flash there struck me then, A likeness in the world of men To this dull pine-crowned knoll which stood As if alone, yet mid the wood, And which from some remoter spot Looked more the master than a blot; For here and there a man is found Living his quiet daily round, With nobler bent, And different From those about, who fail to see His deeper, bigger, self set free, In individuality. Man among men, the same as they He loves, and toils, and lives his day, Seeming to be one of many there — But stand aside and view with care The human mass; — and lo! one strong, As if alone yet mid the throng, He stands unique, a bigger soul, A central figure, as the knoll; And like the pine with towering sway, 22 THE LONELINESS OF GENIUS. — Apears the monarch of the way; For though no doubt The crowds about May have an aspect beautiful, Their sameness is discernable, And he alone looks masterful. So now whene'er I chance to pass That pine-enthroned rocky mass, I spare to scorn it as before, But glory in it all the more, As, reverent, I view the sight, And ponder o'er its sturdy might As it had looked from off the plain — A giant mid the woody chain. Then vividly, I seem to see The towering pine so bold and long; The man of men, unflinching, strong; As if alone, yet mid the throng. 23 OUR COMMON FAILING. UNSATISFIED. UNSATISFED I moaned my lot, But looking up there met my eye The sight of one deformed, near by, One blind, who knew no starlit sky; No beauty scene — doomed so to die. Ashamed, I groaned "Why curse my lot? 'Tis naught but bliss, compared with this. Longing to "live" I sighed for wealth, But seeing hundreds here and there, Existing on pauper's share, Bent low from poverty and care, Saddened, I cried "Why envy wealth? A greater gift, to work, and lift." Tired of toil I chose more play, But of a sudden time I found That if one's heart and hand are bound, OUR COMMON FAILING. A "shop" may seem a pleasure ground. With joy, I mused "Toil is but play If rightly wrought; — Oh golden thought!" Heavy at heart I sought for love, But glancing up, I saw apace, A willing hand, a trusting face; Friends who had shown a friendship's grace. Gladdened, I thought "Is not this love? Who should despair, with friends so fair?" Unsatisfied I moaned my lot; Like other men, a base ingrate, Thankless, I ever cursed my fate, Until some vision, clear and great, Showed me the "fortune" of my state, Then shamed, I groaned "How blest my lot, And free from ban! How blind is man!" 26 OUR COMMON NEED OF FORGIVENESS. Set to Hymn Music December, 1913. FORGIVE US, LORD! THY people Lord, we struggle still, Where age by age has had its day; Still with a weak and human will, We strive beneath Thy mighty sway; For our shortcomings as we live, Forgive us, Lord! We pray, forgive! In Thine unfailing watchful care With good intent we place our trust, Yet in the test, though faith be there, The motive crumbles as to dust; Thou who hast caused us then to live, Hear and forgive! Hear and forgive! As to temptation's call we heed, Deal with compassion mild and kind, Grant the great ever-pressing need, A saner and a stronger mind; Bear with us as we strive to live, Hear and forgive! Hear and forgive! 27 DEC 22 1913 OUR COMMON NEED OF FORGIVENESS. For haughty pride and thankless part, For hasty act and rising ire, For word unkind and hardened heart, For fleshly lust and vain desire; For every failing as we live, Forgive us, Lord! We pray, forgive! As from our weakened earthly state, Humbly we plead for greater strength, Save us before it is too late, And take us to Thyself at length; Yet while we still are spared to live, Forgive us, Lord! We pray, forgive! 28 ■aft- ■J.^Xt.'f. mm . ■ ■I %C*K 3sM 9T stn CZ9C Sd