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'. o V % ^-^^' •«': "^-^^^ :«': "--^^' -1 f-. ^^^..r :'M£'^ %..^'' : 'e*'^^ THE UNFADING LIGHT BY CAROLINE DAVENPORT SWAN BOSTON SHERMAN, FRENCH &' COMPANY 1911 <:> Copyright, 19 10 Sherman, French & Company CCI.A2?8948 TO THE MEMORY OF MY MOTHER CONTENTS LUCE ORIENTE Page THE EARTHLY SHEPHERD . . . . 1 TE DEUM 3 A MORNING BLESSING . 5 FIRS BY A RAILWAY 7 THE SACRED HEART 10 GETHSEMANE .... 11 THE MARTYRS OF COMPEIGNE 13 THE RANGE OF MEEKNESS . 15 MORNING 16 THE WINDS OF GOD 17 SUNRISE IN JUNE ... 19 ON THE KENNEBEC . 20 MONOTONES .... 23 THE YOUTH OF SAINT PATRICK 27 A SERAPH'S SONG . 28 HEIGHTS AND DEEPS 29 THE VESPER CHIMES 30 OUR RESTING-PLACE 32 A GOD OF JUDGMENT . 34 A NOCTURNE .... 35 THE YEARS .... 36 THROUGH THE SHADOWS 37 EARLY MASS .... 39 THE SOUL'S LESSON 40 IN THY POWER 41 VESPERS IN NEW YORK 42 THE HARVEST OF SOULS 43 THE VOICE OF GOD 45 CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR 47 SONNETS ILLUMINATION THE GIFT OF PEACE COMFORTED OF GOD ACCEPTANCE THE MISSION FIELD A SOUL'S AWAKENING NATURE'S ANTIPHON IN THE VALLEY WALKING IN DARKNESS THE GREAT GLORY TWO SOULS THE ANCIENT ANSWER POVERTY THE SHEPHERD'S CALL IN PRAISE OF WISDOM DEVOTION . THE VESPER CANTICLE THE DARK COLEUS MAY AND THE TOILER LOWLINESS THE SPLENDOR OF JOY VIRGO AMABILIS THE WHITE CHOIR SUPREMACY REBUKE TWO GLORIES . THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS A WIDOWED SOUL . SWEETER THAN ALL CHRISTMAS-TIDE THE ADVENT OF PEACE A CHRISTMAS GLORIA A STAR-SONG LABOR AND CAPITAL THE COMING SNOW Page 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 83 85 87 Page THE BELLS OF YULE 90 TWO TRAVELLERS 91 THE ROSE'S HEART 99 A HERALD'S CALL 94 THE FAMILY OF GOD 96 THE COMING OF THE PRINCE ... 99 CHRISTMAS EVE 101 THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM . 102 DECEMBER PENITENCE 104 THE COUNCILS OF GOD 106 ANGELS OF CHARITY 108 LOVE'S MIRACLE Ill THE ROYAL BABE 112 SEA-DRIFT AMONG THE SEDGES 115 CONTROLLED OF GOD 116 THE BREAKERS AT MONHEGAN . 117 TRANQUILLITY . 119 THE VEILING MISTS 120 THE CLASP OF HEAVEN .... 121 SEA-FOGS 122 THE SALT MARSHES 123 MONHEGAN LIGHT 124 SEA-GRASSES 125 SUN AND MIST 127 EASTER-TIDE VITA NUOVA 131 THE MUSIC OF MARCH 132 SONG OF SAINT MARY MAGDALEN . 133 THE SKIES OF LENT 135 THE EASTER MOON 136 BELLS OF SORROW 137 LIFE'S FLOWERS 138 PALMS OF EASTER 139 THE SOUL'S BLOSSOMING .... 141 Page THE LIGHT OF THE LORD .... 142 FROM SHADE TO SUN 143 IN ECCLESIA 144 THE EASTER GLORY 146 BIRD-FLIGHTS THE SOUL'S WINTER 149 THE HOLY HOURS . 150 BLOOM AND SKY 152 RENUNCIATION . 153 THE SOUL'S WITHDRAWAL 155 FROM OUT THE BLUE . 156 THE BLESSED END . 158 THE VOICE OF HEAVEN 159 BLOOM OF LILIES . 161 A MOSS BASKET 162 OCTOBER'S TOAST . 163 CHIAROSCURO . 165 A PREFERENCE . 166 IN DEWY GLADES . 167 A MIDSUMMER SCENE . 168 THE UNSEEN LOVE 170 THE UNFADING LIGHT . 171 LUCE ORIENTE THE EARTHLY SHEPHERD I SEE One coming across the wold, My gracious Lord! Whiter than snow is He — is He! And tender the gaze that He bends on me. O blest reward For all my labor, for all my pain. To feel I dwell in His Heart again ! How shall I welcome my gracious Lord Now He is here? Sudden a-tremble, passionate, dim. The tear-stained face that I turn to Him In anxious fear. He proffers pardon. O joy divine! Bliss of forgiveness ! His love is mine. " What can I do for Thee, Lord? My Lord ! " His word is nigh: " Gather my sheep and the lambs a-cold. Luring them back to the blessed Fold! Quick ! ere they die. They have wandered far in the snow and rain; I hear their moaning, I feel their pain ! " Over the crags and the pathless plain They softly come. Breathless and blissful, I lead them on, — For love, it is mighty to rest upon ! — In silence dumb; [1] Thine is the Voice which they love and know ; I only guide them through sleet and snow. Ever Thy tenderness thrills the gloom With life and cheer. Help us and welcome us, Lord of the Fold! Show us Thy radiant City of Gold, Swung close a-near ! Windless, unruffled. Thy luminous sea, Ever reflecting the rose-warmth of Thee. [S] TE DEUM On the high uplifted meadows where eter- nal dews are sweet, And scented lilies make a blaze of whiteness at their feet, They are walking in the glory of their in- finite reward, A strange, illumined multitude. Thy blessed Saints, O Lord! And we yearn to see their splendor, though our stricken hearts are sore; Their pleading — in our sinfulness, we need it more and more ! Show us the mystic meadows. Lord! Show us the winged throng! For we may not pierce the glory, we cannot hear the song. Our eyes with tears are welling, our anthems faint and fall Down from the blue to us again; we scarce look up at all. The bells of earth ring tremulous across the yellowing sward. Thy Saints among the seraphim — show us Thy Saints, O Lord ! [3] The shimmer of their shining wings would glorify our way; A glimpse of Paradise would be a Feast for us today ! Fain would we walk in whiteness, with love in full accord! " O number us," we pray again, " among Thy Saints, O Lord ! " The grand Te Deum rises from our autumn- shadowed shrines ; Our singing bears a hopefulness that quiv- ers as it shines. O choir Seraphic, strike for us this ancient golden chord, " May these be numbered with Thy Saints, O Ever-Pitying Lord ! " [4] A MORNING BLESSING Soft as the dewy shine, Holy and sweet, Love, in its blessed sign. Pardon complete. Gently it f alleth On tear-laden eyes ; Daily it calleth, " Mortal, arise ! Ever thy future shines White as the day; Ever my grace refines Sin-dross away. Heaven discloses Deeps glory-bright; Wake, like the roses ! Wake to the light ! Silent, the silver dew; Silent, my grace, Daily distilled anew. Falling apace. Sinner, Omnipotence Aids thee within, — Holy, thy confidence ; Crush out thy sin! Pardon is over thee, Calm as the blue; [5] Trust in my victory, Death-won and true. Rest, in thy meekness! Bendeth above. Over thy weakness Infinite Love. Thus, in all lowliness Daily increase; Growing in holiness, Following peace. Love-light, brimming over While angels adore, Hover and cover Thy heart evermore." [6] FIRS BY A RAILWAY A WHISTLE ! mad defiance in its shriek ! What giant, bent on sacrilegious freak, Has power to rend the silences divine Beneath these spires of Nature's forest shrine ? None but the giant force of life to-day. The rushing power of steam ; its mighty play The symbol of our strange, mechanic age, With things material for its heritage! The woodman's crashing axe has ploughed its way Through the green coverts where the par- tridge lay; The firs and pines have fallen 'neath its stroke ; The iron rails are laid; the magic word is spoke. Broken the holy spell, the silent charm; The screaming engine ends the woodland calm. The beauty of those sweet cathedral spires Covered with snow, or red in sunset fires, Pointing to heaven, unwearied, year by year. Till every golden star seemed drawing near. Is swept away, relentless, by the march, Through the green home of pine and feath- ered larch. Of iron-clad invaders from afar. Potent, audacious, mad for open war. [7] The bitter lesson, lying all too plain, Crushes my soul with sudden helpless pain. " Can it be thus? " I ask. " Does life unfold And level downward to an age of gold? Are the swift trains of stronger moderm thought To bring the early love and faith to naught? Are the best voices of the soul to cease? Its yearnings for a white celestial peace. Its aspirations toward the things above. Its thought of Him whose blessed name is Love — Are these to cease — hewn down and swept away By the strange sceptic forces of our day? Can faithless men destroy what faith has done ? Can doubt, the shadow, shut out God's fair sun? Are new-found truths to supersede the old.' Is nothing left but iron, steam, and gold? " A fellow-traveller caught the inference, too, And gave it battle. " No ; it is not true," Quoth he, " that any power at all is given To thought which pointeth not to God in heaven ; For mind is more than matter, and the less Cannot contain the greater. All the stress [8] Of human madness or of Satan's might Can never pluck a single jewel's light From yon fair walls, the golden city round, Or mar her beauty as she sits encrowned! And Truth is one ; at variance with herself She cannot be, nor bought with dross and pelf. The truth of Eden still is truth to-day, Whate'er the modern scientist may say; The changes of the ages mould its form; Its substance is the same in calm and storm ; The star-like verities our touch disdain; Of God, in God, supernally they reign ! " Howe'er in madness we may sweep away, Each finger lifted in our twilight gray, Each spire of fir, each dim, cathedral stone, Saying, in mercy, to the traveller lone, ' This is the way ; come hither ; walk therein ! ' No change is wrought by our audacious sin. The road will still remain ; the same old way Through starlight cold or brilliancies of day, Still, as of old, by saints and martyrs trod, Still leading to the paradise of God." A silence; then from out the forest deep Into my soul an echo seems to creep; A far-off voice, a warning voice that saith In gentle blame: "O ye of little faith! Sweep us away, to-morrow, if ye will: The blue to which we point abideth still ! " [9] THE SACRED HEART Pure as tenderest lines of light In the East, ere dawn is bright, Soft and still as seraph's flight. Our Jesus draweth near. Silent — lest we wound Him more — Tender, whispering o'er and o'er. Heart of Love! our souls outpour Responsive bloom and cheer. [10] GETHSEMANE A GOLDEN chain, O Lord, A chain of woe. Ever in sweet accord Swings to and fro. One end is ours, to cling Tearful, thereto ; — Through our hearts' quivering, Lord, hold us true! Welded the other end Straight to Thy throne ; — Softly Thy love doth bend Over Thine own! Ever Thy cup they drink. Eager to be Tightening each shining link Leading to Thee. Sharing Thine inner bliss, Sea-depths of peace. Under the waves that hiss Softly increase. Deeper thy plummet goes. Glittering free; Closer our clinging grows. Life-line, to thee. Up to Thy bleeding Heart Draw us thereby ! Through every sting and smart Say, " It is I ! " Jesu, we beg of Thee, Grieving alone, In our Gethsemane Comfort Thine own! Show us our sorrow-chain Fastened secure ! Each tiny spirit-gain Gently made sure. Love, hold us every hour, Love, all aglow! Thee and Thy touch of power, Jesu, we know! [12] THE MARTYRS OF COMPEIGNE Behold, a glory of the sun, Another, of the moon ; Another, of the stars, if won, A grand celestial boon. That splendor of sun-rays is hers, Sweet Mother of our Lord, Whose changeless peace no shadow blurs, With Him in full accord. What is the glory of the sun, O student of the Word.? Its roseate strands, of glory spun. Hast thou or seen or heard? Hast watched the trembling of the dawn Or felt the sunset pour Its scarlet flood o'er vale and lawn. Earth kneeling to adore .'^ And what the glory of the moon. Waxing or waning cold.? White as a rose in heat of noon Or soft as liquid gold. Hast seen her quivering whiteness fall On dewy, daisied fields.? Or, mournfully, on crosses tall Where Death his sceptre wields.? This shadowed glory, wrung from tears. The blessed Martyrs wear; [13] Its silvery light — so sweet ! — endears Their presence everywhere. We love to know their noble deeds; We see their waving palms ! Yea, Lord ! — amid our sordid needs We hear their blessed psalms ! We saw them meekly bow beneath A frenzied might of wrong; The scaffold and the blasted heath Have waked Earth's saddest song. "Now, Heaven hath heard !" to-day we cry ; " Victorious, ye reign ! Teach us your Hymn of Praise on high, O Martyrs of Compeigne ! " No glory ours of moon or sun; We follow from afar, — Our best reward, when all is done. But as the faintest star. Yet give us grace to struggle on. Dear Lord, where they have striven. Thy Captaincy, to lean upon. Our one foregleam of Heaven. [14] THE RANGE OF MEEKNESS A SAGE outspake in conscious pride, " The mind of man, like the world, is wide ; Mighty to measure this earthly ball, Whose finite atoms may be our all. O science, far-reaching, we plunge with thee Into the depths of the deepest sea ! " Flashed out Saint Michael, a holy flame. Brushing him by as he downward came; Brought, swift as light, by the potent tears Of a woman crowned with the grace of years, Whose mere petition availed to span The awful gulf between God and man. " Life, in its great profound, defies Thy power," the Prince Archangel cries ; "O Son of man, wouldst search out Him Whose silences baffle our cherubim? The woman's upsoaring outstrippeth thine. Scaling, in meekness, the Throne divine." [15] MORNING Through the white vapors of the valley lands A rosiness comes falling faintly down; The gray old sea, amid his silver sands, Softly awaits a pearl and ruby crown ! New mystic prescience the silence fills. With the Divine all nature, pulsing, thrills. The Sun-God flames along th' exultant sky, And earth uphfts her weary, saddened face To catch the radiance sweeping swiftly by, To share the blessing and partake the grace: And lo ! that grace meets every finest need. Gilding the tip of every wind-blown reed. No unknown mound where love lies buried deep, No grave, snow-crowned, with Passion-cross of white. No pierced soul, too sorrow-crushed to weep, But shares its gold of Resurrection light. O song-sweet morning of our sober days, Show us the mightier Dawn, the endless praise! [16] THE WINDS OF GOD O Lord, Thou art our covert sure From the winds that blow! From out Thy heaven high and pure They come and go; Thou sendest every one, I trow; Thy thoughts are wise, Thy grace I know. The west wind bloweth soft and fair. And the suns they shine. Go sing thy songs in the scented air, O soul of mine! And know His heartfelt love for thee Who sent such breezes o'er thy sea ! The north wind sweepeth, swift and chill, Down ebbing tides From icy lands, where Hope is still And Death abides. Our very prayers are hushed and low, And all is dark ! The North winds blow ! O South wind, hot with pain and drought. We faint and tire. When the scarlet lily flashes out Its thought of fire! When life is dry and dust our way. Dear Lord, for riper fruit we pray. [17] Within the hollow of thy hand From the winds that blow We fain would hide on the weary strand, Like lilies low ! Calm on the waters they gleam and glow, Ever sweet, though the storm-wind blow. [18] SUNRISE IN JUNE Through the faint glimmer of the shadow- lands, Across the silver meadows dank with rain, A far, fine line of light illumes the plain. It wakes the world, its sudden sway expands, The Sun-God flames adown th' exultant sands And woe and doubt and misery are slain: His loving touch is on our mounds of pain And none his blaze ineffable withstands. The birds the rapturous miracle proclaim In their green palaces! The brilliant bees Sip nectar from the chalices of June! Sweet princess of the year! Her spirit's flame Brightens our lives to kindred rhapsodies And with the lark we sing her heaven-set tune. 191 ON THE KENNEBEC I AT NIGHT Thy blue ice-floor no longer sleeps alone Beneath the moon, O pearly Kennebec! For eager ice-men mark out every speck Of pure, unsullied surface for their own. Intense their effort; blaze of torches, blown To scarlet flaming, darkest nights bedeck With fiery gems, lest accidental check Should end their toil, their hope of gain o'erthrown. Men labor thus for gold, nor once complain, Though pain be theirs and darkly frozen hours ; Reward and dawn come swiftly, in a rain Of rose-lit glory, to revive their powers. Reward and dawn — O Christian men, shall we Have less reward of faith? less hope of Dawn to be? II THE ICE-CUTTERS Morn sees the river toilers at their task. Swarming adown its pavement pearly white. Moiling in frozen fierceness. At the sight I marvel. " Is it all worth while? " I ask, [20] " This toil intense? Say, doth it merely mask A money greed? Or is it, viewed aright, Noble as labor ought to be and bright Like angels' service ? " — He whose life doth bask In Fortune's sun will find his task the same; He stores his intellect, as these each square Of icy crystal. Lucent be thy thought. Ice-clear, O student! Thine ulterior aim Is toward a royal fleet, when Death shall bear Seaward thine all, — not thither swept for naught. [21] MONOTONES A SOUND of music beats upon mine ear Gravely re-iterant, — though each note fall, A dainty snow-flake, mellow-voiced and true, From finger-tips of softer daintiness. Now, winged diamonds chase their eerie flight, In fiery flashes, o'er a keyboard pale, Chequered like life, accented into black Throughout its sad mosaic. White-rose fair The face intent upon the phantom course Of that far-sailing music. How may one Whose gentle girlhood knoweth naught of pain Pierce the composer's quivering mystery Whereby he scales the battlements of Heaven ? We ask too much of pupils. Art and Song Have deeps that sages fail to penetrate. — So this sweet maid, piano-puzzled, dreams ; — Perplexities bedim her happy eyes As silver trills shine out, audacious sweet, At variance with the awsome tones that lie So sad beneath their light intricacies. Still she plays on ; and evermore the bass Conquers her brilliant treble. Hollow sounds Invade this petty round of space and time From out the depthless, past eternities. Impatient fingers still each haunted key; [22] Swift spectres crouch away, their kingship gone. " I weary of these monotones," she cries, " Ever-recurrent, pitiless, severe. No wavering of tremulant desire, Nothing of human love or hate can stir Their even poise, cold, passionless and grand, God-like, in their profound serenity." Then, eager to shake off the brooding thought. She led me forth across wide, silver fields. Where the great Angel of the Northern snows Had swept the earth with tender, trailing wings. Making her dust and ashes consecrate To a soft showing-forth of things divine. O'er Nature's color-music one clear sound Rang dominant, subduing all the rest, A calm monotony celestial white. While, overhead, its counterpart was blue. Yet ever my companion turned away, Yearning for April skies and springing buds Caprices fluctuant, fierce sunny gleams That dance among the daisies. O'er her face A shadow crept of fitful discontent, A pallid gloom of subtle quick unrest. " Nature grows old and wearisome ! " she moaned, ^' Is there no end to her monotonies ? " [23] And still I made no answer. Why should I Forestall the teaching of the solemn years, Severe preceptors, yet benevolent, Laying soft hands on every bright young head In silvery benediction? None the less A-weary of earth-changes, myriad-voiced, Resolving into pain, took I delight In these, her sounds immortal, glad to feel The blessedness of utter rest thereon. The key-stone of that sapphire arch above Sufficeth all below: supremest heaven Can give us naught beside the sum of all, These endless verities of th' unending Throne. Bright as the snow, sweet as the blue they lay Upon my spirit, calm as thought that dwells Placid, without beginning, without end In the great mind Eternal. Who can fail To lean on these? And what, indeed, of Earth's Mere petty accidents can wrest him thence? " O Lord !" I cried, " In thy great pity, hear ! Give me but these! All else let others take; All brilliancies of changing suns and moons, All tidal ebb and flow, all vividness Of leaping flame, — whose end is by and by In smouldering ashes, — bursts of throbbing bells [24] And passion-fired heart-beats, transient gleams Of elfin sweetness darting thro' the gloom And songs more sad than silence. Things of sense Time has in cognizance. O Thou supreme, Amid Earth's darkened music leave for me That strong, grave monotone, that still up- holds My weakness with its outstretched arm of might And to my quivering eye revealeth Thee ! " " The Earth herself is old and wearisome !" True, very true, O maiden young and fair. — 'Tis well thou dost not apprehend the scope, The sad significance, of words like these. Delusions, strange mutations Earth has known Since first she swung adrift and sailed away From Eden's blessed anchorage. How oft Her poor, soul-famished crew have had to drink Dank water, bitter as the salt sea brine ! Or, pressed full sore, to eat as bitter food. Turning to stone, delusive, in their grasp. Or, Midas-like, to gold that bears a curse. O Earth, thy changes bring thee little good And thy New World reverberates the Old ! Thy empires shrink away; thy purple falls Into base clutches of the multitude; [26] Thy battle-fields burn red; white, crowded tombs Cry out for space, unheeded ; naught remains Immutable, of old-time splendor, save The blood-bought Kingship which is none of Thine ! O Earth, grown old and weary, wilt thou learn In these, thy latter days, to set aside These unbenign mutations? Thus, to prize Thy tokens of the Everlasting One Whose paths illumine every sunless deep, Each Gloria proclaiming the Divine, Each monotone of His infinity. O Lord, the Earth is old; her end draws nigh As Thou hast said. Yet, in that day may we, Her re-arisen children, hear again The wondrous tones so blindly loved below, — Intensified, refulgent, clear as flame. In fires of Love supernal passioned deep, The fundamental bass of every strain Thy universe re-echoes ! Yea, in truth Eternity itself will only meet Our souls' expectance — for its ocean sweep, Swinging incessant, scantly voiceth Thee! Hail, sound eterne, in royal, rhythmic round I Hail, plane irradiant! Monotone of gold! [26] THE YOUTH OF ST. PATRICK In the heart of the child God's full sunrise, aflame. Lies warm, all aglow with its visionings fair, O'erflooding our valleys of sorrow and shame With strange, scarlet glory that banishes care. And the prayer of the child and its faith in the Lord, Its force of eternal, earth-conquering love Find answer in Heaven, where angels applaud Its saintliness, burning like Mary's above. [27] A SERAPH'S SONG Out of heaven swept an angel Out of the divine embrace ; Snowy-plumed, he sang, enthralling God's eternal deep of space, — Sang the brightness of His presence And the shining of His face. Down into bitter twilight, Into sin's discordant place. Flew the burst exultant, bringing Hearts repentant richest grace; " Lo, the brightness of His presence ! Oh, the shining of His face ! " Brave the seraph-song resounded Through the great cathedral's space; " He is with you on your altars ! Bid your loving grow apace ! Hail the brightness of His presence, Catch the shining of His face !" Circling skyward o'er the city Silver tones its din efface; — " He is source of all your home-light ; E'en in death His glory trace! Yours, the brightness of His presence; Wear the shining of His face!" [28] HEIGHTS AND DEEPS O Life, thou art stretching amain Into glorious reaches of sun, To the asphodel-glittering plain Of eternity's sweetness begun. That sweetness, O Lord, is the sight of Thy face, The peace of Thy presence, the touch of Thy grace. O life, thou art swinging oppressed To dreary, discouraging days. Where sorrow's sea-moaning unrest In shivering minors delays. Yet the deep is a-gleam with the love-light of Thee, Draw nearer, sweet Saviour, the darker it be! [29] THE VESPER CHIMES Sweet is the Angelus, Orange, the sky; Darkling the water's shine, Glimmering by. List! there are spirit-wings Sweeping, on high! Through the bell melody Angels of peace Whisper in unison Sorrow's surcease. " Thine, the ascendancy ; Hail thy release! Splendor is gathering; Life breaks in two: — Flasheth God's presence Like sun-arrows through ! Nearer, the scarlet blaze, Nearer to you. Soft as the shimmering Waters below. Closes the shadow-gate Whence thou shalt go Out of Earth's mistiness Into His glow. [30] Joyous we bend for Thee, Joy-winged, our call! Learn how divinest Love can enthrall. Leaving the limited, Grasping the All !" Angels upholding me, Fear have I none! Thou, my Redeemer, Dost wait for Thine own! Solace Life's weeping ones, Kneeling, alone. [31] OUR RESTING-PLACE A-WEARY of life's hot, exhausting day, Its dusty highways where we vainly plod, I turn aside into the quiet way Wherein the patient spirit walks with God. How still, how calm, how fragrant all the air ! Like forest aisles, or some fair temple dim! Without, the world may rush and suns may glare ; Within is peace, and comfort sent of Him! The inner meaning of the whirl without. The better side of life, so often dumb. Comes to us softly, free from every doubt. Clear, in the glory of the world to come. We see the silver brilliance of the cloud That lately fell upon us like a pall; A thankfulness we may not voice aloud Warms up our grief, as sunset reddens all. In still communion with the love divine Sorrow uplifts her pallid, fragile face. And passion dies. Yea, earth and heaven com- bine To guard the spirit's lowly resting-place! [32] To hush the waves of each unquiet heart, Send us, O Lord, Thy tender, brooding Dove! Some revelation of Thyself impart. Some visioning of Thine unmeasured love! These wilful souls, so spent with vain essay. Struggling against Thy wonder-working rod, Turn Thou their feet into the quiet way Wherein the patient spirit walks with God! [33] A GOD OF JUDGMENT " For the Lord is a God of Judgment ; blessed are all they that wait for him." Isa. 30: 18. The whirring loom, the engine's breath, The toiler's patient sigh Have found surcease; swift peace like death Falls from the sky, And, piercing through the purple of the sunset, Rings the poor man's cry : — " O Lord of Hosts ! How long, how long Shall Thy great wrath delay? This heaped-up gold, the greed and wrong Thou seest to-day: — Make answer, O compassionate Redeemer, For Thy poor, who pray!" The living Church, whose mighty song Cannot ascend to die Now lauds, unblest; the seraph throng Shivers on high. For, clanging through their dwelling-place celestial. Sweeps the poor man's cry. O saddened hearts, the Father hears ! Who holds the scales to-day? Be calm! He weighs the heaped-up years. Trust, though He slay! — Thou, Ruler of the sunrise and the sunset. Yea, Thou wilt repay. [34] A NOCTURNE We walk in darkness, Lord ! Show us the way ! By starlit avenues, a weary throng, Lead us through forest deeps of pain and wrong Till dawn of day. For day will dawn, O Lord: — Come, pearl and rose! Soon, soon ! our dark will be a blaze of light, And angels glories burn, in gorgeous flight O'er beaten foes. Give us but one poor torch, Lord of our hearts ! One little spark of love akin to Thine, That we may serve, unwearied, at Thy shrine Till life departs. Send us one faint star-ray To cheer us on; A benediction, like a rose, dropped down, To be a foretaste of a waiting crown When night is gone. [35] THE YEARS They come, O Lord, in lowly bloom Across the sea; They come with shine, they come with rain, Or azure skies without a stain: I welcome all, whate'er they be! The sweet procession of the years Leads on to Thee. O solemn years, alive with pain, Ye come uncalled! And, overpast, ye leave a trace, The Lord's fair finger-touch of grace, Until our hearts, howe'er appalled. See pansies grown on dearest graves And wait, enthralled. O golden years ! O blissful hours, Ye come at will ! In vain we seek your smiling eyes ; We cease our cries ; a swift surprise Ye softly bring. We eat our fill! O sweet procession of the days. Made sweeter still ! Ye come from o'er the soundless sea. Fleet, every one; A mighty and mysterious band. To tell us of that loving Hand That giveth ever shade and sun. O Heart, make answer true and brave. When all is done! [361 THROUGH THE SHADOWS Nearer, oh, nearer, dear Christ, may we come. Nearer, oh, nearer, the light of our home! Moss-hung the forest ways, tangled and dear. Weary and stumbling, we shiver with fear; — Deep are the rivers — oh, heed Thou our moan ! How are we, helpless, to ford them alone? Only the starlight. Thy message of grace. Gleams in the dusk on each sorrow-white face ! Songs in the midnight Thy heaven-birds sing, Hopes for the morrow and comforts that cling; Almost Thine arms in caressing we feel. Almost the touch that all sorrow can heal. Deep in the woodland, bewildered, astray. Blackened the boles on our sin-haunted way: But for Thy compass that guideth us true. But for the pole-star that glimmereth through. How could we hope for the red of the gloam? How could the twilight e'er gather us home? Yet as we journey, the glimmer grows bright. Surer we feel of the city's great light ! Years seem the windings of bramble-set ways: Heavy the Cross, but it shortens the days ! Nearer, ah, nearer, dear Christ, are we come. Almost in sight of Thy welcoming home. [ST] Lead us full softly, Lord, to the light Shining perpetual, golden and white 1 Since Thou hast guided Thy Saints unto Thee, Crowned them and set them Thy glory to see, Pardoned, we also, as loved ones at home, Into the blaze of Thy Presence would come! [38] EARLY MASS Like a great rose-red flower, the living dawn Comes shining, silent, o'er the waiting sea; And Thou dost come, by love's impulsion drawn, O blessed Christ, thus softly unto me. 'Tis past belief, and yet I dare not doubt; The shining of Thy hidden power abides In consciousness of wonder all about And answering love, in sudden, swelling tides. It is the force that vivifies the world; Why may it not be life and warmth to me .'' Too great to comprehend, — yet, soft uncurled Like some rich bloom, its Heart of Love I see. Then forth we go, to work, O Lord, for Thee; Yet with us go the sacredness and charm, Unseen, yet felt, — Thine own sweet mystery Of Love, too near and tender for alarm. It soothes and comforts, lingering with us still ; Tenderly clinging, though our wayward souls Turn swiftly back to earth, whose good and ill. Like whitening waves, its undertow controls. Oh, wing us to the blue in fuller flight. Dispersing ill, as sunshine scatters rain! Shine on us, ever, Sacrificial Light! Follow us ever, charm of Love and Pain ! [39] THE SOUL'S LESSON Welcome, my spirit, the skies that hang o'er thee God is the sender; how canst thou complain? If they be golden, thank Him for the glory ! If they be clouded, thank Him for the rain ! Welcome in meekness the songs thou art learning ; Prize every note of the infinite strain! If it be minor, then sing it the sweeter ! Charm into music the sharpness of pain ! Look with distrust on the blaze of the roses In thy life's garden grown rampant at will! Sorrow will bow them; fear not! the bent blossoms Pallid, tear-laden, are lovelier still. God is thy teacher ; ah, how art thou learning? Well is He planning for thee in His love; Lowly the prelude that angels shall finish; Sorrowful roses shine, tearless, above. [40] IN THY POWER Where'er on earth thou standest, weary soul, Three things are thine: Meek as the mosses, on thy shaded knoll Kneel — for thou canst! — in penitential dole, Till grace Divine, Absolving, bid thy spirit rise and shine. This blessing thou hast won by looking down : Now, gaze around! Thy tenderness, it shattereth every frown; Quick, answering love thy heart of love shall crown : — O charm profound, Wherewith thy fellow-man is softly bound! So pierce thou heaven, at last! Thy passioned gaze Unhindered, now. The eye of love can penetrate its blaze; Thy voice ascend in silvery bursts of praise Where spirits bow To One love-crowned, with sacrificial brow. [41] VESPERS IN NEW YORK The yellow light is falling faint and sweet On the stone splendors of the city street ; Each silent mart accepts its touch of Heaven, The rest divine of one day out of seven: A softened world, athirst for dew outpoured, Awaits thy benediction, gracious Lord! On brick and marble, over reds and grays And snowy tracery wrought in wondrous ways, A mighty mist of strange, aerial gold Tenderly falls, like love, to wrap and fold: And hearts, as hard, awake with one accord To seek thy benediction, blessed Lord! • Thou knowest how disaster haunts our days, How tangled briars vex our darkening ways, Seest our bitter struggles, hope-bereft. When Patience seems the only angel left! Oh, make this breath of violets our reward, Come down to us in benediction. Lord! Thy presence can reverse our ebb of tide; Lo ! twilight burns, our sorrow-mists divide. The last of earth becomes a dawning light, Life's after-glow on Heaven's mysterious height ! Comfort us then, and now, with one sweet word, Thy pardoning benediction, Jesu, Lord! [42] THE HARVEST OF SOULS The billowy fields of life-supporting grain Show white to harvest. On the reapers go Across the shining levels once again To gather in the splendor, full aglow. Thine is the priceless harvest! Thine, O Lord, Not ours, save as Thou givest it in charge! Thy noons of glory and Thy dews accord In its creation and bestowal large. Its preciousness of yellow-circling suns Reveals Thy blest infinitude of love. The Fatherhood, whose tenderness outruns The comprehension of Thy worlds above! Yet here, the field and we, the reapers. Lord! Nay, can it be? These precious souls that Thou Dost make and guide and feed — so saith Thy Word — Are ours to win. Thy garner waiteth, now. Ah, weak and weary, sinners that we are! The silver sickles tremble in our hold ; — Yet on we hasten ! for, behold, afar The scarlet poppies fire the fields of gold. Ever the call is louder! Sweet it rings Across the late and melancholy plains ; [43] It takes the tender touch of angel wings To softly garner souls, where evil reigns. We need Thy Spirit, like the falling dew; We need Thy warm renewing from above. O Lord, behold our weakness ! we are few ! Bind our sheaves for us, with Thy cords of Love! [44] THE VOICE OF GOD Pulsing down the glory comes a Voice; It saith, "Rejoice In thy strength, in thy power, in the issues of the hour! That no gladness is forbid, that no talent shall be hid, O rej oice ! " Pulsing down the glory comes a Voice. O the precious consolation of the Voice; It cries " Rejoice Evermore, in Thy Lord and His riches of reward ; " While His overflowing grace, it pursueth thee apace, O rejoice In the precious consolation of the Voice. O the mighty trumpet summons of the Voice! It shouts, "Rejoice! For thy deepest sacrifice is thy title to the skies ; Counted worthy — even thee ! — to suffer on Earth's Calvary." Soul, rejoice In the mighty trumpet summons of the Voice. O the blessed Jubilate of the Voice ! " Bid earth rej oice ; [45] The day of the Redeemed immutably hath beamed ; Behold, the desert glows — it blossoms as the rose." O rejoice, In the blessed Jubilate of the Voice. Lo, the final swell, triumphant, of the Voice ; "Let Heaven rejoice, For the Consummation crowned, for the multi- tude around. Palmed and sceptred, who abide forever by the Crucified!" O rejoice! In the starry, blazing silence, lo! a Voice. [46] CHRISTUS CONSOLATOR Around me hung a tangle of wild weeds, Briars and thorns a-sting and rustling reeds ; Life seemed a barren heath, a weary waste, Skyed with gray doubt and misery's fore- taste. The weeds defied me. Bitterly I cried. Hard hurt and bleeding, — " Sorrow's circle wide Lies all around. No pathway out I see. — Christ of the Thorns ! Bend Thou to comfort I " me; Then all at once I felt Him near at hand And, kneeling, saw no more the barren land; A rifted sky shone blue with faith and love, His benediction from the Throne above. Ere long He spake, " Child, stay thou close to me! Here, all is well." — Could narrower circle be Than shut us in.? A hedge of lilies white And golden amaranths ablaze in light. In that sweet Presence every sorrow died; The solemn sense of pain was laid aside. For He was bearing it. O wondrous grace ! O help, O comfort of that holy Face ! [47] " Here thou art safe. — Yet every thorn re- mains, Not one is spared thee. This my love or- dains. Drain Thou my cup ! Its sacramental wine, Its passioned sweetness, be thy draught divine ! " Such word, alive with power and lilied peace, Still awed my soul. Would condescension cease When all my sin, past and to come, had rolled Beyond those circling walls of white and gold? Again He met my doubt, in mercy mild ; "Why slow of heart to believe .^ Look up, poor child ! " And, surging round, past sheltering bloom and bud, Lo, Pardon's crimson tide, the Precious Blood! [48] SONNETS ILLUMINATION I SAW the sunset fling its scarlet light Across a broad expanse of hill and vale: Far lakes, like crystal flames of Holy Grail, Flashed out, resplendent; every crag shone bright With scintillant reflections ; every height Bore fiery masses up of foliage frail. My artist friend stood raptured, hushed and pale. Lost in the glory of the wondrous sight. I knew he felt that all-pervasive power. The trail of Deity, itself unseen. Unconscious that the crimson of each flower Fell on himself the while, in might serene. " Alas," I cried, " Sir Doubter! Wherefore plod Through life thus groping? — Lo, the light of God!" [51] THE GIFT OF PEACE " O Garden once abloom in purple glow, Is thy life hard? Where chill November's blast Over thy haughty lines of corn has passed, Bare husks of desolation rustle low. Hast nothing left? No future, save of woe? " From heaven itself my answer fell at last; A silver miracle was quick downcast, The silent, swift, white beauty of the snow. Faint soul of mine ! so may there fall on thee. In thy late autumn, some sweet mystery. Some whiteness uncontaminate of earth, Some peace divine, whose high celestial birth Is of the starry lands unswept by death, Where the eternal spring-tide blossometh. [52] COMFORTED OF GOD Through the blue silences methinks I hear An angel word. I know its solemn tone, Its golden sweetness, as of reeds wind-blown, And far-off glory tenderly drawn near. It saith, " O son of man, why quake and fear, Loosing thy grasp upon the Eternal Throne.'* The starry, blazing deeps are all thine own. If thou be His, who holds thee passing dear. He, the Divine, embraces thy poor soul In every snowy bloom or music-voice That touches it with Heaven, and saith, " Re- joice! " He draws thee to Him in thy days of dole; Save of sweet penitence would crave no tear. But, with soft uplift, cries, " Be of good cheer ! " [53] ACCEPTANCE A SPLENDID sweep of silent, jeweled snow On sharp New England meadows lay out- spread Mystic and pure, as if for angels' tread. Dazzling my spirit with its steady glow, While, overhead, the pitying blue bent low In tender benediction. " Peace," I said, "At last — at last! — thou fallest! Heart that bled, Each ruddy drop, sharp, sacrificial woe, Lo, grace of sweet acceptance taketh all ! " Now sing His love, late-anguished heart of mine; Thy Jesu, thine! Sing of the touch Divine Of restoration, sweet as snows that fall! Of answering love that to the zenith flew. And worship, steady as the steadfast blue. [54] THE MISSION FIELD 'Tis humble work, this reaping! Yet Thy call Brings down Thy glory with it, sweeping o'er. Thine is the field and Thine the threshing- floor, O Blessed Lord! The yellow masses fall Beneath our silver sickles, gladdening all, While bright, afar, — behold its open door ! Thy golden garner glitters evermore. Why heed the world? Its wormwood or its gall? How vain its sneer ! How vain its luring word I I see the vision, I behold Thy smile ! — The sickles glide like music. — Quickly gird My limbs for labor ! Nothing shall beguile. Thy jewelled horn is blowing! Swift I run To join Thy reapers singing in The sun. [55] A SOUL'S AWAKENING I WANDERED lone beneath the starry skies In early days of spring-time when the dark Is all pulsation. Through the dusky park Shy, scarlet maple-buds with sleepy eyes Hung drooping overhead. In rapt surprise I felt the stirring life, whose hidden spark Of strange, mysterious fire awakes the lark And bids the frail anemone arise. Then came a melting fragrance unawares, The breath of violets, which softly rose From out their dewy purple of repose. Sweetening the dark. " O Love," I cried, "that dares Reveal itself to darkened souls like mine, I feel Thee, clasp Thee ! — Jesu, Lord Divine ! " [66] NATURE'S ANTIPHON A STRANGE sweet antiphon is ever swung 'Twixt earth and heaven. In drought her cry Ascends in sharpened notes of agony And the swift pattering of the shower down- flung Brings music-answer. If the frost have clung With icy clasp to Nature till her sigh Grow faint death-utterance, then, lo ! on high The sun's warm Jubilate, said or sung. With prayer for grace appeareth peace — and joy — In dewy replica. If bounds annoy. Opens the Infinite. Through Death's minor chord. Straight, angels hymn the rising of the Lord ! Oh, human souls, uplifted like the flowers, How closely clings the Father-heart to ours. [67] IN THE VALLEY Can we do nothing with the darks of life? Must we still crouch within the purple gloom, Low at the base of giant hills that loom In might supernal, with strange glories rife? True, earth is full of sin and woe and strife; What shall we do? Cling to the valley's bloom Shackled with gold, nor strive for larger room ? Call ourselves helpless? Or, with drum and fife In loud bravado, say, " We do not care ! " Open, O Lord, our weary, wilful eyes ! Help us to climb the mount of sacrifice. Our Calvary, and grasp the glories there ! Give us for silken robes, for greed and pride. Some mountain staff of labor at Thy side ! [58] WALKING IN DARKNESS The stars a-tremble in the upper air Glimmer through August leafage dark and old, By dusty highways and the dustier gold Of ripened grain, as on we slowly fare. High mystery of night ! Let none despair Of darkness, though strange shadowings enfold His sultry way ; but, like Saint Michael bold, Face all his foes, defying dusk or glare. Through heat and gloom soft consolations thrill. In silvery dews and star-ray's glimmering. Welcome refreshings from the blue serene ; Whether he kneel, depressed, by some lone rill Or lift his head to their bright shimmering. He feels the living touch of the Unseen. [59] THE GREAT GLORY The light of God enfolds us, like the blaze Of some full scarlet sunset. And our hearts Grow calm within it ! Every tear that starts Is dried without our knowing. Solemn grays Of life and life's vague puzzles, purple haze Of ancient griefs, or the new sting that darts Immediate pang, — each sullenly departs. In the great glory lost, while we give praise. O Light of Light, shine on us evermore! Draw us within Thine all-embracing glow! We would absorb Thy strength, Thy love adore. And feel its warmth of tenderest overflow. O Altar Light! O Sacrificial blaze! Lift into splendor our discouraged ways ! [60] TWO SOULS " O SPIRIT mighty-winged, what sawest thou In the space-realm of Mine eternal night?'* " I saw a quivering, pitiable sight. — Lord, pour out Thy grace! — For, even now, 1 faced a naked soul. I marvel how It could so dwell alone, bereft of light! Afraid of Thee, Whose soft protective might No plea of misery doth disallow; A spectre-soul, without Thee, cold and bare. I shivered as I passed. — Then, oh, how fair. Dear Lord, it shone! — I met a soul of Thine Calm in its love. Thy blessed peace divine Did fold it in and wrap it in pure flame. — Hark! how it sings and magnifies Thy Name ! " [61] THE ANCIENT ANSWER I SAW a beauteous woman passion-rent, Her eyes aflame with wrath, which, grown white-hot, In tears dissolved. I cried, " Why wail thy lot, O woman star-bejewelled? Discontent And white-armed writhing, piteous lament And cries to heaven — or hell — befit thee not, O daughter of America! God wot Thine only yoke is of thine own consent." " Wherefore I wail my lot eternally ! When life is marriage-wronged, what then remains But Death and Judgment? Unto God I cry." And then I saw three angels o'er the plains Come floating in soft answer from above, Sweet well-known spirits. Patience, Prayer and Love. [62] POVERTY We are the poor ; for us no rosy wine O'erbrims the sober cup of every day. "No sparkling vintage shines for us" we say; Happy if no strong, bitter herbs combine To make us shrink from this, our draught divine. For the Lord pours it out. His yea and nay Are on it; best, then, in His unknown way Must be its bitterness. " Nay, 'tis not thine," Saith he, " to riot in the daylight's glare Or heap up gold with my great curse there- on." "Thanks, Lord !" we cry. "Thy blessed yea we see; Thou givest us sweet homes, for love is there, Fair calm of conscience, peace to rest upon, Patience, like starlight, and the sight of thee." [63] THE SHEPHERD'S CALL Lord, pity Thou the souls that stray from Thee; Compassionate their loneliness, their pain, Lost in Thy universe — the brand of Cain Upon them, wondering how it came to be! Not wholly sinful, these, — as Thou dost see. Poor wanderers o'er a pathless yellow plain Or 'wildering heath a-drip with recent rain. They gaze perplexed. Ah, whither shall they flee.? Recall them. Thou, the Shepherd! Thine they are, Thy precious sheep. Detain them till they hear Thy sweet, alluring Voice ! Then shall their skies Fill full of light, rare lilies from afar Fling sudden whiteness on their way made clear And heavenly heights greet their illumined eyes. [64] IN PRAISE OF WISDOM Who comes with thee, O Father Time to-night? 'Twas Folly once, and Mirth in elfin guise, And Hope, whose flash electric lit our skies : Now, lo, a Presence soft in lambent light Whose touch is calm, — O Time, give up the fight! Thou bringest snowy locks and tearful eyes ; She takes the sorrow out. Thou givest sighs ; She stills them, broadening the inner sight. Her name is Wisdom. Win her grace who can, The sweetest boon companion 'neath the sun! Serene she speaks, — "Seek that which never dies. The truth of God, O dying child of man ! Th' eternal majesty of thoughts that run Down the far rivers of the centuries." [65] DEVOTION As TENDER as the earliest lines of light The gradual dawn diffuses, bending low To set the world abloom — as sweet aglow With chrism of fire and dew, Thou bendest bright To comfort us in sorrow's dreary night. O Heart of Condescension, touched by woe, Heart of high Heaven, whose tenderness we know. Draw us to Thee by love's eternal might! How can we cease, dear Jesu, to adore Thy mystic wounds, become our healing balm ? Thy pierced hands, outspread in holy calm, Bring benediction now and evermore. Our hearts are resting, still as nesting birds, In Thee, our Lord. O bliss too sweet for words ! [66] THE VESPER CANTICLE Two souls on earth did sing Magnificat; One in a spacious minster rich with gold, Onyx, green malachite and carvings old. So fair men ceased to pray and gazed thereat! Earth's riches were this spirit's kneeling-mat, Yet unto God it sang, full overbold. Lost, the meek lesson by the anthem told, — The world, obsequious, praised its plutocrat. The other soul, in poverty and pain. Afar, in darkness, sang and sang again. " O nightingale of earth, I know thy song ; Its love hath scaled high heaven. I right all wrong !" Thus spake the Lord : " There, ever, to its King The lowly soul Magnificat shall sing." [67] THE DARK COLEUS A VOICE resounds from out my garden close ; A pallid minor, as of throbbing bells, Or melancholy plaint of one who dwells Unreconciled, 'mid chill of foreign snows. The passion-songs of every damask rose Grow calm before it. Snowy cloister-cells Stand praiseless ; no sweet lily-nun repels The dusky stranger. Swarth his visage glows ; "Alas !" he cries, " No bloom is mine, no place Of honeyed sweetness. Life is dark tur- moil!" Be wiser, thou! The Master forth shall fare; And find in this thy crown, thy highest grace, Still, patiently, to form a perfect foil For the white blossoms other lives shall bear. [68] MAY AND THE TOILER Amid aerial vaporousness of gold, The breezy halo of her flickering hair, Lo, blue-eyed May comes shining, debon- air. Swift, snowy blooms bestar the misty wold And violets spring to greet her. Hearts un- fold. Like buds sun-warmed. "Arise, O sons of care, To hope and cheer and ecstasies of prayer !" Her golden summons ringeth clear and bold;— " God's warfare wage, afresh, with sin and pain! His sun shines out! His grace makes all things new! His tenderness descendeth like the dew; Soft as my showers, sure as the latter rain, — Sure as the solid earth, the blue above, — Stands the sweet mystery of His patient love." [69] LOWLINESS Eeewhile I watched the growing of the grass, Its generous, patient beauty sinking slow Into my heart. No sower came to sow. Yet glorious in red and purple mass Its blossoming for harvest. Grade and class It has, most clearly; yonder, sturdy grow The salt sea-grasses on the marshes low, While, here, is turf of velvet. Ox and ass Graze, even on the stubble. Not a blade But gives its all, unshrinking! None rebel, None murmur, or in pride of place presume. Spare us, O Lord, in Thy great balance weighed ! For use or grace, for service or for bloom, Thy hand is wise, Thy ordering still is well. [w] THE SPLENDOR OF JOY A BLAZE of gladness fills the eager earth; A fire of love enkindled out of ken In that Abyss of Love for mortal men Adored as God, Source of all glorious birth. Well may we worship ! Yea, our very mirth Becomes rejoicing laughter poured again Into his ears from every moor and fen And crag and vale, else sunk in bitterest dearth. O Lord, receive our joy as gratitude. Felt music, to thy love! Thy splendor wins One burst the more from our incessant praise ! Thy sun draws vapor up in opal haze — And through Thy warmth our spirits' warmth renewed, Soars where the golden Infinite begins. [71 VIRGO AMABILIS The ancient world lay shadowy and chill; Wailing its loss of bloom, its barren years, Its sin and pain, gray doubts and unshed tears Ere th' Almighty arm wrought His sweet will, And song and shine fell in ecstatic thrill From His full cup of love. Lo, one appears, A Rose, all virginal! Celestial spheres Held nothing sweeter, our earth-cries to still. Thou amiable most — yea, steeped in love — Who, thro' Thy Son, hast won our rebel hearts. Pure Blossom of the earth, white Star on high. Behold the narrow round wherein we move ! Console us, feeling every tear that starts, And show us our Redemption drawing nigh. [72] THE WHITE CHOIR O WHITE-PLUMED choir about the great white Throne, In starlight glory ever pure and fair, Is there no memory of our lower air, Our fair green earth, by heavenly breezes blown Across your lyres? No longing that makes moan For love and loved ones? — Is the silver blare Of great angelic trumpets everywhere? Or, in God's presence do ye claim your own? Again, O Lord, we pierce the silent blue. From our earth-exile crying to the skies ! In answering pity send us down a clue To guide our climbing up to Paradise, — That we, with all Thy saints forever blest. May reach its silvery altitudes of rest. [73] SUPREMACY The greatest force on earth — I too, would say — Is not the dynamo's unearthly might, Nor its bewildering glory-blaze of light, Nor power of atmosphere, in new display! Silent and tender as the break of day White in the East, ere rosy dawn is bright. Swift as a seraph's unimagined flight. That force controls with Sacrificial sway. O hidden love, rare crown of tenderness Set on our trembling, all-unworthy brows! Deep-wounded Heart! Thy solemn mute caress Makes answering power. O warmth of eager vows. Wherewith our souls, ablaze with love of Thee, O sweet Christ-Heart, would meet Thy clemency ! [74] REBUKE LOj I THE Sun, outspread my golden feast! Illuminate with strange, prismatic rays, A seven-fold color cadence, full ablaze; The holy fire, which I, as God's High-priest, Enkindle and sustain. Nor has it ceased To vivify the earth and mete its days Since Chaos died the death. Then, sing my praise For I am faithful! Come ye from the East, Where 'mid the burning sands men worship me Like some dull idol made with doltish hands ! At my Creator's word, alike I shine On good and ill; so come ye from all lands, Mad creatures of the dust, who revel free At my low board, yet scorn His feast Divine ! [75] TWO GLORIES The broad snow-fields around lie angel-pure, In placid whiteness ; but the ice below, Pellucid blue to-day, to-morrow's snow May softly silver or rose-rays demure Retouch divinely — never, never sure Of its own fleeting color. Sinking slow The sun inundates earth with scarlet glow, And lo, its tint is flame. Yet all allure. These strange reflective changes, born of light, Charm us, poor natives of a changing earth; Our souls repeat her vermeil and her grays. Her fluctuant beauty, in its hourly flight; — And yet we yearn for our immortal birth, Our changeless emerald of celestial days. [76] THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS This day is like a lily, falling sweet, Straight out of Paradise. We seem to hear Its blessed bells, exultant, close anear, Resounding through our pain. How light, how fleet. On its soft sward, the gleam of angel feet. How white they shine! Abloom in holy cheer. The lilied fields, where souls surpassing dear To us below, rejoice in rest complete. O Saints redeemed, ye know our sin-dark hours ! Mother of Mercy, thou hast shared our strife ! Earth is but sad; — drop down celestial flowers Of interceding peace ! — Thou, Source of Life In earth and heaven, wilt hear! Thy pity falls On us, to-day, from Heaven's transcendent walls. [Ill A WIDOWED SOUL I SOUGHT an open rose in silent bloom: Alone it stood, in peerless pristine glow Wing-brushed by baby Loves, alert to know Such coverts fair of greenery and gloom. Then, when I found it, fell this note of doom; " Thy cherished rose doth bud and smile and grow Over a grave. August, thy silent foe! Both sacredness and glory crown the tomb. Thy rose bereft doth burn in red of dawn, Then, shines beneath the noon's aerial blue And blessedness is hers. — Mad one, begone! Stir not her peace! Strive after roses new; Responsive warmth thy sunny ardors crave: Her deepest life is rooted in a grave." [78 SWEETER THAN ALL The world holds very many tender things, Soft as the velvet touch that mothers know Of baby fingers. In the early glow Of April how the budding forest springs To ruddy flush of silent blossomings ! Behold the dawn, unfolding, faint and slow, The strange, sweet "gradual," ere magnolias blow. The scent of roses — how it lives and clings ! Though these may touch us in their own sweet way, Unconsciously, as dews and darkness fall. Drawing us under Love's divine control, This one thing is far tenderer than all — Consider it, ye wanderers of to-day ! — The Christ's soft pity for the erring soul. [19] CHRISTMAS TIDE THE ADVENT OF PEACE " O TELL me of the grace of God, How it comes in !" A rose-bush, climbing from the sod, Its bloom akin To flush of dawn — full softly, undismayed. On the chill pane, my window's barrier, laid. " O Love that naught repels, how free We ope to thee!" The grace of God! I thought and wept. Then, o'er the vale A silver mist in silence crept. And violets pale And weary grasses lifted happy heads ; The poor, parched plains and dreary water-sheds Did all rej oice. " Would, Heart of mine, Such joy were thine!" " The grace of God. And does it meet Our every need?" His sunbeams, sent in answer sweet, Touched every reed A-quiver in the desolate morass With points of gold, nor once did over- pass The finest stem. Grace crushed with good My doubting mood. [83] " That grace, O God ! can it forgive My sin and shame? And in its sweetness may I live To Thy great Name?" A far sea-splendor overswept my soul, Filling each poor rock-cranny in its roll; With calm, like that where depths begin. His grace came in. [84] A CHRISTMAS GLORIA Lo, A WONDER shines upon us, Heavenly Alleluias rise! Christ, the meek, is born of Mary ! Mortals, hail in glad surprise The whiteness of humility Uplifted to the skies. Come, behold the Blessed Mother, Pure as seraph's snowy wing ! Come, adore the lowly Jesus, Bring your whitest offering! Oh, come in grand humility And own your gracious King! Benediction, softly shining, On the Virgin Mother lies ; Soft she sheds it, white as roses. Till thy wakened spirit cries, " Oh, sweetness of humility Exalted to the skies !" Silver rills of gracious blessing From the holy heights untrod Make the lowest valleys greenest. Star with lily-bloom their sod, — And earth-contemned humility Is close in touch with God. [85] Learn the lesson taught divinely Bj the sweet Incarnate One! Love will make thy lowly duties Fragrant with His great " Well done !" Thy shadows warm with rosy light, The glory of His sun. High, the golden Alleluias ! Quick, the universe replies: " Hail, all-gracious Mary Mother ! Hail, irradiant mysteries ! All hail, to-day, our royal Babe, The wonder of the skies !" [86] A STAR-SONG The Star of Fame, it shineth out Sharp on the wintry sky; Yet through the purple rifts of doubt A fairer I descry ! For ah, the poor and lowly, — Who softly blesseth them But the Star Divine that to earth came down And shone on the Babe of Bethlehem? The Star of Love, it gazeth down With sweet, entrancing eye; It proffers Earth a passion-crown Of roses born to die! Too soon their splendor faileth; O changeless diadem, 'Tis thee I seek! — I would journey on, — I too, — o'er the sands to Bethlehem. The Star of Gold will never cease To lead our steps astray ; The fount of grace, the palms of peace Light up the narrow way! O'er deserts bare and burning Lead on, celestial gem. Till the earth-bells ring and the angels sing, "He hath bowed to the Christ at Bethlehem !" [87] LABOR AND CAPITAL Two brethren stood by the palace door, Both bitter in swift reply: The one was rich and the other poor, And the King of the land passed by. A herald with golden wand outspake: "Ye cumber the King's highway ! He Cometh in glory ! His trumpets awake ! Beware of his wrath to-day ! His gracious smile it is vain to seek Till anger and clamor die; He loves the wise and he loves the meek : Peace! Peace! for the King goes by. Poor toiler, crying forevermore, Thy life is poor, indeed; For love is wealth and thy heart is sore. But the King, he will know thy need. Poor miser, whom gold embittereth! Quick I Answer thy brother's cry ! For love is life and in hate is death. And hasten, the King goes by !" Then lo, the sweep of the royal train And the lowly monarch's eye! For the bitter hearts were at one again Both bowed as the King went by. And slowly, tenderly, floating o'er, A voice divine came nigh: " Yea, there is guerdon for both in store. For the loving I pass not by !" [881 THE COMING SNOW Sad is the shining of autumn suns Afar in space, And sad the smile of God's weary ones, Who cry for grace! We strive to tell of our Christmas cheer, But they are dumb; For want and woe are their portion here And snows must come. Sadder, the shining of autumn suns On hearts at ease In golden homes, which the beggar shuns ; God pity these ! The hardened heart is the coldest thing Earth's winter knows; Send us Thy grace, O Heavenly King, To melt its snows! [89] THE BELLS OF YULE In pearly peals the Christmas bells Float o'er the waste, float o'er the snows; O'er city towers, o'er crags and fells The loving cadence softly flows. They sing of Heaven, though earth be dark; Their mystery of joy a-gleam In bluer skies than e'er the lark Thrilled with his ecstasy supreme. They sing of Thee, O Babe Divine, In rosy loveliness impearled! Our spirits hail Thy starry sign, O blest Redeemer of the world. Thy tiny hands with rose-leaf touch Slay all our sin, eiface our shame; Thy pardoning purity is such They die consumed in its sweet flame. High heaven doth bend, to see and bless. Where thou dost smile, where thou dost fold Repentant souls in soft caress Above the altar's blaze of gold. In whitest innocence enshrined. Receive our gifts ! Our lives receive ! We lose ourselves in Thee, to find A thousand fold for all we leave. O bells of Yule, ring out our cry Of love and thankfulness to-day ! Sweet Babe of Bethlehem, drew nigh To us who love Thee, yearn and pray. [90] TWO TRAVELLERS Amid the sparkling snows of Christmas Eve, While fiery stars startled the breathless cold, On a bleak country road two travellers bold Met, glad of heart. Cried one, " Now, by your leave. Good comrade, we will hasten ! — to receive Our homes' warm welcome earlier and behold Our children's merriment." His bright face told That he, of all men, had light cause to grieve. Answered the other, " Gladly, friend of mine, I, too, press onward. — See'st thou yonder light.? There, in blest walls, the yellow tapers shine! Thither I journey, earth-love past from sight. Leaving my dead, — ^life, self! — at His dear call, The Christ, who is my Home, my Light, my All!" [91] THE ROSE'S HEART Seraph songs are drifting downward Through the blue abyss of night; Seraph wings are softly shining With a strange, immortal light ; Seraph faces bend, adoring. O'er a vision glory-bright. Through the spaces of high heaven, Through processionals of stars. Throbs a sudden startled wonder; Pressing past the glory bars Sweep the eager angels, seeking Whiteness no earth-shadow mars. Center of created beings, Lo, the Virgin Mother mild Smiles upon the choir celestial, Closer clasps the wondrous child! Love and purity, like roses. Crown the maiden undefiled. Love Eternal clasps creation; And our world, thus set apart. Swinging softly, finds the wonder Nestling in its golden heart! Blessed Jesus, crowned yet lowly, Ours eternally Thou art! [92] Thou wilt love us! Thou wilt save us, Worshippers on bended knee! Silvery visions, like the angels. We would have to-day, of Thee — Learning of Thy blessed Mother, Queen of sweet humility! Angels, sing! And, shepherds, hail Him, God Incarnate, Mary's Son ! To whose Heart of Love appealing Man hath princely pardon won. Sing His clemency unfailing! Sing His reign on Earth begun. [93] A HERALD'S CALL Lo, A VOICE like many waters, Sharp, its mighty trumpet ring ! " Hear and answer, souls immortal ! Love and homage meekly bring ! He is coming ! ! He is coming ! Jesu, who is Lord and King ! " " Who will seek Him? Who will know Him? Who of us his Lord would meet? Who will spurn the rosy wine-cup? Who will leave the crowded street? Who will really shout *Hosanna' Flinging treasure at His feet? Bells are ringing for His coming; Pure, pathetic mercy-strains Call us ever to His presence. Call us from our money-gains. Would an angel's trumpet sounding Wake us more from old disdains? Or would habitude of evil Flout the Advent-angel still? Would our selfish, frozen fingers Clutch their gold lest aught should spill. Though a seraph's torch were blazing. Though a Voice divine should thrill? " [94] " They will know Him," cried the herald, " Who have sought Him at His shrine ; They whose spirit eyes have seen Him, They who bear His lowly sign. Lift the Cross and shout * Hosanna,' Ye who love the King Divine!" [95] THE FAMILY OF GOD Mid eddying pools of golden light in the mansions of the sky, Where emerald mistings softly shade the Majesty on high Before their rainbow splendors a seraph sang his song Of everlasting sweetness with the bright an- gelic throng. " O Lord of life and glory ! O Lord of love and grace, The universe rejoices in the shining of Thy face! Thy household, all of angels, principalities and powers. Is lost in bliss undreamed of — and Eternity is ours." O that voice and its ethereal, divinely tempered tone! Yet another voice succeeded, with a pathos of its own; It sang of earthly sorrow, of a shadowed world afar, A green earth swinging fitfully, where death and passion are. Then Gabriel, Prince who standeth in the Presence of the Lord, Responded sweet, " The Blessed Saints have never missed reward; [96] Encrowned, they stand among us, though fiery paths they trod, — Rejoicing now, great winged Ones, in the righteousness of God. I know their earth of sorrow, of sin and bated breath; I saw its wondrous blossom, too, the Maid of Nazareth! But when amid the silence she breathed the mystic word 'Twas flooded to the full with joy of its incarnate Lord. O that wonderful first Christmas, when anguish fled away And earth shone out in bliss divine from ancient clouds of gray! O rose-red dawn soft-footed, so silent, angel- shod, That drew a world of sinners to the Family of God! Transcendent Family of Love! The Father and the Son And Holy Spirit, co-eterne, majestic Three in One! The Virgin Mother and the Saints, the Martyrs and the throng Of souls redeemed, who gladly sing their everlasting song. [97] Below are mortals, faint and weak, and very prone to fall; Within Thy blessed circle, dear Saviour, keep them all; Oh, clasp them close. Thou Love Divine! O'er rugged ways they plod : — There is Christmas joy forever, in the Family of God." [98] THE COMING OF THE PRINCE O THOU who wanderest where the thorns Are sharpest to thy feet, Thy voice is keyed like his who scorns The hand of guiding sweet. O sinner, tortured by thy sin, Yet helpless sin to flee, A light is on the hilltop ! And love is sure to win One is coming through the darkness unto thee. And thou, astray where fogs are dense And paths look gray and dim, — In doubtings lost, or fear intense Through beliefs grown spectre-grim, — The dawning gleameth silver-white Beyond the mystic sea, For pity is a power at the very source of light! One is coming from the glory unto thee. Thou, most of all, whose singing sad Melts every heart to tears, Shalt rise, aglow, with carol glad. When Christ, thy Light, appears. For sorrow winneth heart of joy From his dear Heart of Love : — O Prince upon the hilltop ! our misery destroy Through the wonder of Thy coming from above ! [99] A burst of voices, as the day Burns rosy in the East; " Oh, tell us. Who is on the way? Is He or Judge, or Priest? " " O sinner, weeper, doubter, rise This gentle One to see. Who Cometh, full of loveliness ! — Those sweet, pathetic eyes. See them shining, love-illumined, upon thee!" [100] CHRISTMAS EVE The stars are flashing out; the violet air Is soft with breathings from the heavenly hills ; 'Mid bursts of song the silver dew distils, And eager angels ever earthward fare To hail the Prince of Light with sudden blare Of Alleluias, whose exultance fills The heights of heaven with sympathetic thrills. " Peace ! peace on earth ! " they lovingly de- clare. Shout the glad tidings to remotest suns, O cherubim and seraphim ablaze! Adore our Infant Jesus, heavenly ones ! And, pardoned souls, uplift eternal praise ! For love of us, He condescends to come To Mary's arms — and make our hearts His home. [101] THE CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM There are baby voices carolling, and baby eyes aglow And dimpled cheeks, whose tender flush the Christmas roses know; O children of our weary earth, shout fearlessly and sing For He is come, the Jesus-Babe! O hail Him Lord and King! And we think of blessed Bethlehem, that night beneath the stars ; O Mary Mother, melt our hearts, efface their stinging scars ! The waxen touch of Love Divine the Holy Child bestows ; Oh, bid His blessing fall on us, like rose-light on the snows. Through all our earthly sorrowing His inno- cence can pass And make a whiteness in our souls bright as the Sea of Glass, Where, full aflame in emerald light, the Lamb for sinners slain, Eternally reflected, shall forever live and reign. There are baby angels carolling across that soundless sea; Exultant, in a silver flood of light and holy glee, [102] In the everlasting Presence of the Christ they knew below, — O tearless eyes ! O wondrous peace, which earth may never know! For here are crowns of briars ; but immortal roses cling To brows illumined by the light of endless wor- shipping. We walk in sorrow-laden wilds; but oh, the lilied plains ! Their dewy glow, perpetual grace! O misty, golden rains ! Smile on our children here below, O Mary Mother dear! O Virgin-born Redeemer, bless all their baby cheer ! Oh, clasp them ever close to Thee and calm our wearied eyes : — But ah, no tears for those who keep their Christmas in the skies ! [103] DECEMBER PENITENCE "Go, GATHER up the fragments that remain 1" It is thy bidding, Lord ! And forth into December frosts and rain My soul goes on her final quest of pain, With glad accord. Poor soul! Is nothing left of all thy store? Nothing to glean or heed? Thy golden fruit is eaten ; nevermore Wilt thou renew its sweetness ; — save the core, The precious seed ! Perchance it was all idly flung afield ; Right humbly bring it now ! And royal blessings of rich orchard yield, White blossomings of plenty unconcealed. Shall crown thy brow. Thy strain of tender music fainteth slow; The night is wearing late, And sorrow bringeth solemn hush of snow — Yet listen ! in the dawning's purple glow, Sweet echoes wait. The past is gone, with so much of thy life; Its chain of silver hours Is in the Master's hand, and strangely rife With awful witness of thy fainting strife. Thy sin-crushed powers. [ 104 ] Thy fairy garden, spoiled of all its bloom. Has only thorns to leave, And frozen shades of pale November gloom; Are these sure emblems of thy final doom And no reprieve? Nay, hear the blessed voice ! The Master heeds The fragments that remain. Perchance, beyond thy garden's broken weeds, Some tuft of scarlet leafage 'mid the reeds Thou shalt attain. Gather it gladly, and with loving fears Go cast it at His feet! Among the rounded garlands of the years Fling in thy single cluster, wet with tears; Tho' late, 'tis sweet! [105] THE COUNCILS OF GOD His Fiat Eternal resounds through the skies, And, lo, a Flower! A Rose of womanhood, like to none! And a smile goes out from the very Throne At the beauty a-light in the virginal eyes. Her peerless dower. Again the great Fiat is hurled from on high: A splendor gleams Anew in the wearisome dusk of earth, The silvery dew of a marvelous Birth — And the world is aglow! Its Messiah is nigh, Whose touch redeems. The Prince of the Fiat, the Bud of the Rose, Is come ! is come ! A babe in a snowily shielded nest. Though He learn earth-sleep on a mother's breast. In His silence Divine He ineffably knows Creation's sum. Though His the firm Fiat that fashioned the world, The Mother pure Would clasp Him close in her quick alarm Lest the world itself be a force of harm ; Yet placid His smile, as a rose-leaf unfurled, And seraph-sure! [106] Adoring the Fiat which shaped and redeems, We humbly bow In penitent joy at Thy innocent feet, O Son of the Highest! Surpassingly sweet Thy coming — Thy love, in its sunlighted streams, Our Master, Thou! [107] ANGELS OF CHARITY A GROUP of splendid angels fled away With trailing wings and disappointed eyes From homes ablaze with glittering display, From stored-up gold and owners worldly- wise ; — And, in their flight across the city's space. Loving they lingered o'er each wretched den, Raining down tears in blessing, warm with grace, Where'er in poverty lay stricken men. Then, one, in quivering accents, voiced his grief : — " Are we not sent of God to all His sons ? Are they not brethren? Is there no relief The rich can give these poor, unhappy ones? Why will they so reject our tender plea, — Angels of Charity, in mercy sent To aid their souls ? Have they no eyes to see The love of Calvary, its great intent? God gave His Son; shall they not also give? He lends them gold ; — thus giving them the power To bless as He does, — that their souls may live. Breathing His love, expanding every hour. [108] All Heaven is love, reflected from His Throne! All Earth should gladden with its tender sheen ; Its silver sweetness she hath seen and known In Christ, the lowly, loving Nazarene ! " To whom another spirit, sad, replied; " They feel the snow, these men ! Its coming chill Is in their hearts ! And, thrusting us aside. They woo a Seraph-presence brighter still! The Christmas-angels are their dream, to-day, Singing of Peace." Majestically spake The leader of the throng: "Poor dreamers, they! And strange, their bitter, ill-inspired mis- take! Who knows not love knows naught of peace within ; The selfish heart can hear no Angels sing Of Heaven's good will. So we are sent to win That Charity, from whose fair roots up- spring All heavenly blossomings, like lilies sweet; All love of Jesus and all gifts of grace. Glory to God on high, and peace complete For all who fain would see Him face to face. [109] For those who scorn or set aside our plea The Yule of Christ will lose its blessed charm ! No bright archangel will they hear or see, No seraph, sent to keep them safe from harm; But, through their Christmas skies, our cry will ring. Our drooping pinions they will see again. Our conscience-whisper show its silent sting, The grieving Christ, in our dark eyes of pain ! " [110] LOVE'S MIRACLE Into my Christmas gloom a message came; A merry wish, a tiny card of cheer, Regal in lily-crowns uplifted clear, And cardinal-flowers like picturings of flame. Holly had been more fit. — Nay, were it blame Had it brought lichens, lone and silver-sere, From off the church-yard walls ? — But here Were thoughts, instead, as warm as light can frame Or summer showers. Love saith, " Though ice and snow Encrust the pond whereon thy lilies grow ; December's gale, life's darker wintry chill. Blow out thy scarlet blaze of marsh and rill; To August fires I wake its frozen gloom. And touch its icicles to lilied bloom ! " [111] THE ROYAL BABE O blue black sky alive with stars ! O patient expectation past! O earth, forget thy battle scars, — Thy King is come at last. A tiny hand, a rose leaf touch, A Babe, whose silence is Divine; Thou who hast sinned and suffered much, That hand is laid on thine. It crowns, it pardons. Grieve no more ! It lies divinely on thy heart. Arise and shine! His grace adore. Whose heritage thou art! He comes in love. His infant smile Its primal blossoming reveals; His Blessed Mother kneels, the while Its sweetness o'er her steals. O Bud of Heaven, unfold Thy rare, Ensanguined petals to the light! Bright Babe of Bethlehem, how fair Thou dawnest on our sight! The world is in Thy little grasp. Still lingering with delicious thrill; Oh, keep it in Thy tender clasp. And mould it to Thy will ! [112] SEA-DRIFT AMONG THE SEDGES Among the sedges, lo, the pulsing tide Comes throbbing up in rhythmic melodies; Their sturdiness of flint the surge defies, In serried lines they bristle, side by side. O comradeship of faith, by none denied! The amber glow of sunset softly lies In heaven-crowned blessing on their loyal- ties; While, far above, to measure high and wide The jasper walls, God's angel lifts a reed. Earth's frailest thing exalted evermore. For lowliness, 'mid water-floods of pain And doubt and sin, stands stronger for its need ; Its silent forces on their fury gain And closer fringe the Christ-illumined shore. [115] CONTROLLED OF GOD Up the soft, silent reaches of the sand The sea comes shining on, its silver line Encroaching tenderly, its mild design Love and love only. Princely, its demand — Insistent ever, — though at bay it stand. Awed by some spirit power occult and fine, Bound by the endless chain of the Divine. The passion of the world is in God's hand. Like shore and sea. He holds its limits good ! Nor will He force its unreceptive mood; Through thousand silvery ways of soft caress, Feeding its flame of love that else were dim, He sways it, curbs it, woos its wilfulness, To warm the earth and flash on, up to Him. [116] THE BREAKERS AT MONHEGAN They are swinging in their glory where the sea and mountain meet, They are tossing up their bursts of spray, the breakers wild and fleet; From out their green, translucent Vv'hirls they rush with sudden shock. And boil, in white exultance, round each jag of shattered rock. I share their exultation. I share their sense of power ! I drink in all their beauty, their strong, eternal dower ! Yet oh, ye mighty messengers of the Almighty One, The secret of your whirl is held in realms be- yond the sun. It fascinates our feebleness, it charms our quiv- ering sense; It quiets us, as though brought near to touch Omnipotence. So sweet, the creature's helplessness in the Cre- ator's arms That deeper grows its trust where force, love held, nor chides nor harms. O wondrous, sea-green surges, in our spirits' loftiest hour They yearn to understand and grasp the fulness of His power; [117] The power of grace that strengthens, the power of love that cheers, The power whose upHft shall endure throughout the endless years. Great waves of tenderness that come from high, celestial shores And break, like music, on the soul that rever- ently adores That Source of Might benignant, the Sacrificial Love Whose life is ever surging in golden seas, above. Ye baffle comprehension ! We faint and fail to mete Or fathom half your mystery of condescension sweet. Oh, pardon our beclouded souls, in earth-mists lying dim, The splendors of Thy might, O Lord, o'er- whelm the cherubim! Wherefore in silvery silence, like the sands upon the shore. We wait Thy mercy's tidal wave that swingeth evermore : Enfold us in Thy gracious clasp and smooth our roughened palms And softly show us all the deeps of Thine eternal calms ! [118] TRANQUILLITY A SEA-GULL, skimming high In blue air fine and thin, Cried, " Fly with us ! oh, fly ! " The Poet knew his kin; — And answered, " Cousin brave, I, too, can pierce the blue; But, calm, you sit the wave. Then — then! — I envy you." [119] THE VEILING MISTS In silence sweet they lie beneath a dawn Which Cometh not in plenitude of gold, The soft sea-marshes. For the fogs enfold Their grasses in a filmy grayness drawn Across their tender hues. This unmown lawn Of the sea-waters meek abides and cold, As in some virgin forest dank and old A doe lies calm beside her timid fawn. The wondrous greens on this wide waste un- stirred By aught save sea-wind or some wild sea-bird, Bear witness to the sun. The fogs, I wist, But save its scorching. Lo, its gentle call To lowly hearts declares, "Behind the mist Is radiance. In that knowledge lieth all." [120] THE CLASP OF HEAVEN When great, illumined cities fling their lights Down bay or darkling harbor, in its tide Low, tremulant reflections dance and hide, — Rare scarlet streamers, such as elfin sprites Weave, fanciful, in their mysterious rites ; — And when, overhead, the stars serene abide In silvery state, our poor earth-quivering pride And heaven's eternity one clasp unites. For Earth is full of trembling, daring deeds And hearts awakened to delicious thrills, Flashing and breaking. Their incessant needs Flame into prayer. Then, lo, the touch that stills. See, One in Heaven bends over! Mercies shine And melt our loveless wills to His Divine. [121] SEA-FOGS Softly the silent fogs come floating in, The river- valley fills with pearly gray; I fear a storm upon its giant way. The wiser rustic trusts in what has been; " Nay, leddie, nay ! " saith he ; "Nae storm will come to-day. It is the sea." So ghostly portents steal upon the soul; Dim pallid doubtings in their might arise. Until we lose our azure-gleaming skies. O timid soul, be glad! No clouds up-roll, But yonder lies the sea. Claim, recognize thy near Eternity! [122] THE SALT MARSHES The veiling mists drift infinitely sweet Across the marshes from the waiting sea: The near green melts to gray so tenderly Its pale gradations faint, in fair defeat, Where earth and sky in viewless purple meet. No line divides, no sharp, august decree Bars out from heaven ! — Can our lowlands be Thus honored ? — Yea, our lowliest ! — Thus most meet. O fair humility, thou shalt efface The great horizon-line 'twixt high and low Till earth is one with Heaven. Nay, even we Beneath the fine dissolving power of grace May lose our selfishness, and love and know These lowly places by the Eternal Sea. [123] MONHEGAN LIGHT Feom out the fog a melancholy horn Keeps up incessant crying, day and night; Doubt's misty moaning, solemn and forlorn, Giveth like warning of the piteous plight Wherein the soul, for lack of Faith, may lie — Who, with the doubter would or live or die? On the sharp Island crag a star is poised, The seaman's beacon light, revolving bright In beauteous silence. Faith is never noised Abroad — she needs no cry ! Upon her height Serene, majestic, her illumined dome Speaks for itself and guides the wanderer home. A steady light upon the darkling waves, Flashed on in streaming, undulating lines. Compasses untold distance. Faith, that saves Itself and others, looks to Heaven and shines, Unconscious of its seaward outer gleam ; — Sad soul, be thine, this royalty supreme! [124] SEA GRASSES Down soft, velvet slopings impearled with the dew, Toying with wealth and her fashionings new, Ever we mutter, " Braver are ye, O stiff, briny grasses that drink of the sea." Weary of softness, of gold and of gain. We catch a response from their station of pain: " Lowly and lonely. Blessed are we Who stand in our lot by the brink of the sea." " Sharp on your rocks ever beateth the foam ; Tender, the turf in the dooryards of home." " Yea, but no murm'ring Answereth thee ! Kingly, our calm by the infinite sea." "Inland, the blue-bird his song doth upraise." "Better to us, the surf-thunder of praise; Near the Eternal Chosen to be. Facing the tides of a limitless sea." "Bowed and brow-beaten, how may ye sustain Daily the shocks of the pitiless main? " " Nay, power hath pity ; Love-solaced, we! Odors rise sweet from the infinite sea." [125] "Silent uplifting ye surely must know, Bliss our best earth-love can never bestow." " Soul ! thou art lonely Even as we! Come into the swell of the infinite sea! Softly its voices thy spirit shall greet, Treasure of sea-bloom come up to thy feet; Strength shall betide thee. Sharp though it be. Thy priesthood of pain by the infinite sea." [126] SUN AND MIST A BURNING mist, in-lighted, veils the sea; The rising sun with plenitude of grace, The splendor of aerial, boundless space. Would glorify the flood's humility. Yet tarries he a moment. Can it be He hesitates, ere daring to displace The violet veil that shields her quivering face. Whose breathless pureness makes its mystery.'* That opaline, hushed purple, tranced and sweet, Joins earth and heaven; its mistiness, of earth. The ruby flame, of God. And Beauty's birth Is of these two, united. — Dazzled love On earth a veiled Divine alone can meet. But face to face communion flames above. [127] EASTER-TIDE VITA NUOVA I wandered sad within my garden-ground; " My one white rose is dying day by day." I whispered, mournfully, and turned away From its bare stalks ; the plant was love- encrowned. Long absence followed, yet the years crept round To my return. A magical display Of roses bade me welcome. Each brown spray Shone silver-white, each thorny stem had found Its destined crown. " O root and bloom," I cried, "Spirit and clay, transmutable ! How plain That life, once lived, must put on life again. The type, celestial! Thus shall it betide With us, when, sudden, from our earthly gloom The grand white flower of heaven shall flash and bloom." [131] THE MUSIC OF MARCH All melodies are under thy control, O mighty organ-month! Thy trumpet blare Athwart yon azure arch of thinnest air, Voices earth's tumult in its tempest roll, Intensities of passion, grief and dole. The tragedy of life, its last despair. Yet thou hast breathings soft as petals rare Of full-orbed roses — these reveal thy soul. Fluted in sweetness o'er each sun-warmed hour, We feel the uplift of thy music-voice ; Prophetic of the May and Love's full flower, Alive with promise, bidding Earth rejoice. Through storm and darkness cometh bud and bloom ; Yea, golden glories penetrate the tomb. [13S] SONG OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN I AM lingering in the pleasance Where the Master spake to me; And the sweetness of His presence Illumines every tree. The radiance of rosy hours, The dews that kiss the sward, Awake the re-arisen flowers. Flaming, odorous, In the garden of the Lord. Earth hath nothing any sweeter Than the memory of Him; Angel choirs have naught completer. Nor the blazing cherubim! Nay, They bend to me, divining Where His blessed feet have trod; Spirits, white as roses shining — Smiling softly — In the garden of our God. Since the Risen Lord hath called me Lower voices die away! That one " Mary " hath enthralled me. Love Eternal beareth sway. Word of love, thou failest never, Though in thorny ways I plod ; — Silvery fountain, gushing ever. Pure and holy. In the garden of our God. [ 133 ] Master ! — Now and through the ages Thine may our devotion be ! Altar-fires, while Satan rages, Keep our hearts aglow for Thee. Risen is the soul Thou greetest ! Thou bestowest sure reward; And our lilies blossom sweetest, — Softly cherished, — In Thy garden, Blessed Lord! [134] THE SKIES OF LENT O Lord of grace, we think of all The peace that might have been; We kneel abashed at many a shrine, Repenting many a sin. The bells of earth, in solemn wise. Throb o'er the meadows brown; Yet, over all, with loving eyes The tender blue looks down. The softest light of early spring. The budding of the trees Are sweet enough, yet heav'n is full Of sweeter things than these: The answer to our confidence. Our sorrow's sudden crown, We see it, shining! Love intense From out the blue looks down. Behind our misty veil of tears A sense of pardon gleams ; A Presence as of One beloved On our contrition beams ! O silvery hush of dawning light, O warmth of brooding wing! O Christ of God, like lilies white. Thy blessed Easter bring! [135] THE EASTER MOON O DIM gold moon ! O pallid, primrose moon, Pure as ethereal blossomings of spring That tempt the snowdrifts to late lingering! O silver showers ! O winds, that softly croon Among illumined cloudlets late and soon, Dispel the sky-drift, lest its shadow-wing Bedim that blessed disk in space a-swing, A golden paten, in her blue lagoon ! All hail! in Paschal joy participate! Moon of the feast ! Moon darkened by the cross. That saw the blood-drops of Gethsemane, Thou shinest for our peace. Our hearts await His pardoning word, who saves from endless loss. Whose is all power. Jesu ! We cry to Thee. [136] BELLS OF SORROW Drearily singing, wearily ringing, Lenten bells ! Sobbing and sighing For Him who is dying; Tolling our anguish in musical knells ; From tower and spire, as flashes of fire In ashes expire, Silent, ye die ! Bitterly weeping, patiently keeping vigil alone, Hearts of the lowly. Sorrows are holy. Bright in that Easter of glory unknown ! Lenten woe ending, life-tides are tending Heavenward, blending With billows of gold ! [137] LIFE'S FLOWERS In Life's fair garden, bitter, spirit-stirred, Its owner stands, despairing of defence. For Death is come. Ah, who shall drive him thence Or stop his scythe? Vain, each assailing word; Yet Life cries out, " I hate thee ! Who hath heard Thy voice without a shudder? Get thee hence !" Death answers, kingly, "Foes, in every sense. Yea, thou and I — And yet there is a third, A mighty Winged One, that f olloweth me To lift thy sweetest clusters lovingly And bear them where no snows may ever swirl Or frost bedim their grace of wax and pearl ; Transfigured, in the Lord's own light to dwell. Blazing amid His meads of asphodel." [138] PALMS OF EASTER The Easter morn is shining above the hills of gold, A sudden splendor glorifies the sea. Arise, thou weary weeper! One mighty to up- hold. The Master, He is coming unto thee. Thy heart is burning in thee, O disciple of to- day! Oh, the music of His penetrating voice ! — Rise, eager to adore Him, and cast thy sins away : Like Magdalen, behold Him and rejoice! Thy Lent is all behind thee; the Easter morn is here; See its whiteness flooding every dark ravine! Its softened light of pardon bids sorrow disap- pear ; In deeps of bliss ineffable, serene. Thy Saviour cometh, sinner! Be thy Easter welcome joy. Surpassing all that sinless angels know! Thy very deep of guilt is His, to conquer and destroy ; O pardoned soul, the tides of love o'erflow. [ 139 ] Your silver bells be ringing, O hearts with love aflame ! Your future be a glowing Easter psalm; For Paradise is chanting your great Redeemer's name; Behold its boughs of ever-waving palm! [140 THE SOUL'S BLOSSOMING The royal iris waits its flash of bloom Blue as the sky, in loving belief and trust: We wait for ours, O Lord, in puzzled gloom — Because we must! Yet life evolves in its appointed wise ; The spirit hath its motion, swift or slow, Be its unfolding 'neath diviner skies Or here below. Guard its faint blooming in discouraged days; Its poor impatience tenderly repress, Till, lily-like, its full imperial blaze Thy grace confess. Bid it expand in patient sweetness here. Touching Earth's lowlands with its azure gleam Till bog and fen cry out in hearty cheer, "Love is supreme!" Then, having blest the world with humble grace. Give it Thine Easter blossoming of power ! Set Thou, All Merciful ! before Thy face Its perfect flower. [141] THE LIGHT OF THE LORD O shine and song of Easter morn! O touch of heaven low-bending! Our souls, like April buds new-born, Ope at thy sweet descending. O Risen Lord! Thy golden light Transfigures our contrition, And tears are but as dewdrops bright Where guilt hath found remission. Thy lilied peace is solace sweet, Thy smile, uplifting power; It glorifies Thy Mercy-Seat, Love's full seraphic flower! It quickens our reluctant souls; — O warmth of deep desire. Thy strength abides, Thy grace controls, New flame of spirit fire ! It is Thy Presence, Lord of All ! Like Magdalen, divining Thyself in this. Thy festival. May we adore its shining! [142] FROM SHADE TO SUN Behold, the Easter miracle is here. Again the darkness shines with silver ferns, The rich black earth in transmutation burns, Its emerald brightness shining soft and clear; Ablaze with daffodils, aglow, austere, With purple violets, whose love-grief yearns Through tenderest Lenten tears. Lo, sorrow turns To resurrection glory. — Soul, draw near! Receive the rising from the dead, to-day ! The sun, the warmth, the light of Heaven descend To make the life of earth; — O doubting one. Why crouch in shadow? to God's Yea say Nay.'* Oh, rather, sing and shine, where seraphs bend. Lauding the Risen Christ, thy life, thy sun. [143] IN ECCLESIA Ye snowy bells of Easter-day, Swing and ring! Wonder-bloom of Eastern dyes, Roses faint with fragrant sighs. Blaze of tiger-lilies blent With creamy buds, love-sentient. Salute your King! The Lord is in His garden-ground Swing and ring ! Ye lily-bells of Easter-day, Swing and ring! Come and sing in merry bands, Little children ! Clap your hands I Virgins pure and lily-bright, Hail in reverent delight Your Risen King. The Lord is in His garden-ground, Swing and ring! Ye glory-bells of Easter-day, Swing and ring! Saints, arise, your Lord adore, Crowned, exalted evermore! Swell the full, triumphant strain To the Lamb for sinners slain. Our sceptred King! He walketh in His garden-ground, Swing and ring! [14.4] Seraphic bells of Easter-day, Swing and ring! Priest and people, to His praise. Learn His sweet, forgiving ways ! Sheep of His protected fold. Come and lovingly behold Your Victor-King In Holy Church, His garden-ground! Swing and ring! [145] THE EASTER GLORY Lo, BILLOWS of white light go rolling on Along the lowlands of our weary world; — And these flash out, like a rich rose uncurled, One burst of bloom. The silent glory won From out Gethsemane for souls undone Floods every grave of sorrow, tear-impearled, Till earth seems Heaven. Then, onward, upward whirled, The same great glory sweeps from sun to sun. Through quivering infinitudes of space Blue as great sapphire seas, its mighty glow Diffuses power. O realm of Paradise ! Thy saints, enraptured, see the Victor face Of their arisen Lord! Thy plains o'erflow With liquid gold. The tides celestial rise! [146] BIRD FLIGHTS THE SOUL'S WINTER In Arctic din, the storms begin, Rare hopes, they twitter low; Open thy heart and let them in, — Birds of the snow! For Patience sings of coming Springs, In whistling gales of woe. To little Loves, on silver wings, — Birds of the snow. [149] THE HOLY HOURS The silver-winged hours come out of the blue, Their feathers all tipped with gold ; Twelve in a flock, every morning anew. And each has a message sweet and true Under its wing to hold. They who come earliest tell us of prayer; Rose-tinted, in pearly light. The beautiful band, as they earthward fare To show the All-Father's love and care. Unfolding like roses bright. Another cluster delight us at noon, Like carrier-pigeons fair; " Labor is worship ! Reward shineth soon ! The toiler is winning a glorious boon ; None other his crown shall wear!" Such is the word of their golden wings ; — Calm hours of labor's rest. We welcome you, hail you! For every one brings That greatest of holy, transcendent things, Repose, as of spirits blest! Most fair of all are the sunset hours; Pathetic, though wondrous bright! Sweet is the scent of the closing flowers. And solemn the hush of the twilight bowers In the fading of the light. [150] "The Angelus rings and the little ones sleep," So runneth their word of cheer; "O trust in the Lord! And the trust shall keep Thy soul unscathed. Cry to all who weep, The Master is standing near!" O silver-winged hours, ye help us to learn Life-lessons of mystical light! The twelve darker hours draw on, in their turn. But the starlight of God doth eternally burn, Nor fear we, by day or by night! [161] BLOOM AND SKY In April days against the sky A torrent of white blossoms shy, Flung with a dash of eager grace, Touches the blue with just a trace Of tremulous earth-witchery. Fair bush a-bloom ! I hear thee sigh. Why seek to clasp the blue on high? Yet heaven shines down with winsome face In April days. Thy transient blossom hour flits by: Soon, thou wilt give thine all and die Of love's o'erflowing. Blue of space! — The whitest souls' one blooming-place — Thy mysteries call — and hearts reply, In April days. [162] RENUNCIATION My heart sings of roses to-day; Passionate-glowing, Fragrance-bestowing, A mystical darkness of rubied display. Why should repining Shadow thy shining, Sun-orb of Joy, on our glittering way? O, Life, give us roses. Red roses, to-day ! Here they are, my joys elysian, Changed into a deeper vision; Wondrous, white, death-scented roses, Pallid in the sun-lit mist, — Full of Pain, like saddened faces, — Under skies of amethyst; Ye are saintlier sweet to-day. Fair red roses, away! away! II Poor, crushed blossoms of Yesterday, Withered away! Sad is the song of a vanished May; Though soft and sweet its tremulous tune As a fainting rose in the heat of noon. For the years go darkling day by day; For life is cold, its skies are gray. — Where are the roses I flung away? [163] Ill An angel cometh, softly singing Songs of mine. Celestial roses he is bringing; How they shine ! For I hear afar and faintly Whirr of wings, — A voice that speaketh Gracious things. " Here are roses ! Here are roses ! " Slow it saith ; " Crowns of roses, white and saintly, Heaven-kept for you. Boundless mercy all bestoweth; The golden garner overfloweth. And I bring you All the red ones — All the burning red ones, too." [154] THE SOUL'S WITHDRAWAL I FEED soft fluttering pigeons every morn; Scattering free and wide the golden grain That all may fare alike and none complain. Yet they evade me and my glittering corn Falls to the nearer. Timid and forlorn A few seem frightened and aloof remain, Afraid of me and of the love-sent rain, In famine, of their own refusal born. And we, ourselves, go hungry of Thy grace, O Blessed Lord, like these, from pure mis- trust. Increase our love ! In every crumb and crust Bid us behold the shining of Thy face. That we may eat and live, from peril free; Yea, draw us closer, — closer yet! — ^to Thee. [155] FROM OUT THE BLUE Hark! afar the blue is thrilled With a song surpassing sweet; Earthly dissonance is stilled While our weary spirits greet Cadences that swing and swell O'er the meads of asphodel. Lo, the calm, translucent blue Lies between us, friendly-wise. Crossed by many a golden clue Dropped by us from Paradise : — Hearken, ye on earth who dwell To us, amid the asphodel! We would tell you of our peace, Soft, eternal, lily-sweet; Of our bliss, whose deep increase Grows with lying at His feet, Who the wine-press trod below. Who doth all your anguish know. Deep, His eyes of deathless love. Rapt, our gaze of answering joy;- Lamb of God, enthroned above. Be Thy praise Thy saints' employ ! Golden anthems, surge and swell O'er the blaze of asphodel! [156] Ye of earth can never know Our expanding spirit-power! Aspiration's eager glow Brightening with each splendid hour; Deeper, sweeter, richer far Than the fires of sun or star. Lift your hearts and lift your eyes To the bending blue, to-day! Love descends from Paradise Cries of grieving die away. Fear no longer death or hell! View our crowns of asphodel ! " [157 THE BLESSED END Aftee Loves's dawning Clouds hanging deep, Roses tear-laden, Mourners who weep. After our sunset's Passion-lit bars, Tremulous darkness. Quivering stars. After our Eden A fiery sword; After our grieving A pitying Lord. [168] THE VOICE OF HEAVEN O'er the weary, untilled meadows, O'er the fields of uncut grain. Through the dells and mossy shadows Comes a tone of love and pain; Like a breath from out the blue. Hear it calling, calling you. Yea, Incarnate Love is sighing — Soul, be swift and meek to hear; — In its tenderness undying Like an angel's pitying tear; — Flute-like, stealing from the blue. Hear it calling, calling you! Few the reapers, worn and weary, Singing in the twilight dim, " In the Christ-light, naught is dreary ; Sweet is labor — done for Him!" Through the quivering, crystal blue Hear Him calling, calling you! You He needs and you He seeketh ! Yours the heart-warmth He would win ; Yours to hasten when He speaketh! Yours to feel His peace within. Nearer bends the tender blue; He is calling, calling you. [159] Sweet among the dewy grasses Morning canticles begin; Leave the wearisome morasses ! Leave the sunken swamps of sin ! Seek His grace, who, through the blue Still is calling, calling you ! Light of Heaven, incessant drifting Down upon the golden grain, Brings a solemn, sweet up-lifting! — Whose the labor, his the gain. Christ repayeth. Seek the blue! Answer Him who calleth you! [160] BLOOM OF LILIES Out of glimmering watery deeps A stem in silence upward creeps; Sun-drawn, an eager bud upleaps And a silver crown is won! Out of gloom, poor Heart of mine. Creep up and live ! In whiteness shine ! The Bleeding Heart of One Divine Thy crown, thy warmth, thy sun! [161] A MOSS BASKET " The world is bleak, the boughs are bare, Snows are melting everywhere! The woods are dank and gray and cold: Go not forth till buds unfold." And yet I went. No warning voice Turns the heart's persistent choice! And all was gray: what bud would dare To open in that frosty air? Not e'en the willow, eager-eyed, Had flung his coat of mail aside, To sally forth, in garb of fur. In quest of Spring, to welcome her. " Though this be life," I said, " I know Search of love will melt its snow!" Then lo ! responsive, at my feet Shone emerald mosses, nestling sweet. Darlings of the forest gloam, Mine, to bear in triumph home! Window-baskets cannot hold Your rich significance of gold. Sweeter now, though sweet before, Swing and glitter ever more! To hearts aflame with love and prayer Spring-time cometh everywhere. [162] OCTOBER'S TOAST Burly October cried " Ha ! ha ! ha !" Shaking his sides in glee: " Come hither, come hither, ye sons of men ; Come from the valley and come from the glen, Come hither and feast with me. Let us be merry to-day, to-day. As honest hearts should be: Bonny young summer has done her best. Lavishing treasure with eager zest. Preparing the way for me. Winter is nearing apace, apace. His frosted breath I see. Come on, come hither, my boys and girls. Of the ruddy cheeks and the golden curls; Oh! you are the friends for me! A delicate haze from afar, afar, Broods over land and sea: Blossoming beauties my table adorn, Stately and gracious, with never a thorn ; Roses are not for me. Golden-rod, burning in princely amaze, Lighteth my banquet room; Gentians, the bluest will sing of the sky, Frost-flower, gayest when winter is nigh. Shine, in her spirited bloom. [163] Vintage is over and harvest is done, Gaiety floweth free; Winter we'll cheat and sorrow we'll cheat And life shall circle on twinkling feet; The world shall dine with me! A thought right good and a thought for you October's toast shall be; Oh, for the glory of life complete. Work that is finished and ripe and sweet, Fit for a King to see!" [164] CHIAROSCURO Ye velvet roses in the sun. Gray, pearly shadows, one by one, Creep underneath and underrun Your ruby blaze. O weary Earth ! O shadows thrown By very brightness ! Light alone, — The Sapphire Sea, the blazing Thron( Creates your grays. [165] A PREFERENCE I'm puzzled as to what is best; Shadows slant across my way And the blue is looking gray: Gentle robin, Robin Redbreast, Sing to me. It is very sad — I know it, — But I can not think, to-day; Bring me nothing deep, I pray ! Little poet, dainty poet. Sing to me. O musicians, literati. Give us songs to ease our care, Lightsome, gracious, debonair! Mighty masters, softly, softly Sing to me. Like wild roses, fresh and fearless, Still bedew our dusty ways. Till the dawn of happier days, Till the angels — blazing, tearless, - Sing to me. [166] IN DEWY GLADES "What is on the highlands, bonnie bride?" " Gold and pride ! Haughty-eyed, on they ride O'er the dusty road to the city towers, Dizzily cheating the God-given hours! Bitter, impenitent, driving in state — Pity them, pity them! — On to their fate." "What is on the lowlands?" "Toil and Woe." " Nay, not so ! — Whisper low! — Sweet, ah, no! — I' the lowly dell, oh, the birdlings sing. And Love condescendeth to furl his wing! Even the poet its beauty hath found, Lingering, princely, Elysian-crowned !" [167] A MIDSUMMER SCENE The Lord hath flung His brightness every- where : He dots the field with daisies ; through the dark He bids the stars shine out, lest some poor soul Should say, " He is not there ! He has for- gotten." Into our blackest moods He comes, — the heart Shall never lack His tender comforting. To-day, a fierce wind coursed the city streets ; No rain had come for weeks ; one mighty whirl Of dust swept through the ding}^ lanes and parched ; Poor, ragged children hung around the curb An-hungered and athirst. Across my path A coarse, hard woman strode, whose bitter face Suited the scene. I turned away in pain Which was half loathing. "O sin and misery," My spirit cried, " Is this the Lord's fair earth ? This, His dominion.?" Swift the answer came, A child's low, merry laugh! And looking back I saw the wretched woman take it up [168] Smooth its soft hair and gaze until her face Grew bright with mother-love. And while I stood abashed, still slow to believe, A flight of snowy pigeons fluttered down Into the dark, dead street. " Yea, sooth," I said, "So, in the Bible word, from out of the heavens Came once a dove. Earth is not hung in black. For love and purity are still her dower And God is with us, — even, at our doors." [169] THE UNSEEN LOVE A WRECK of fragile beauty Is all I greet to-day; Starry buds, their golden clusters Dim and drooping on the spray, Waxen bells and fiery blossoms Fainting, piteous, away. They perished in the coming Long e'er they reached my door; It is the same old story Which life hath told before ! — Yet the love behind the sending, I trust it more and more. [170] THE UNFADING LIGHT The fading things of earth are many, Lord! The sun of noon dies in the scarlet west; Imperial moons are fluctuant, at best, And music ends in its supremest chord. Art may be long; yet masterpieces fade, Fair statues crumble into marble dust. Naught lingers, save in our eternal trust That in Thee all abides — or sun, or shade. From Beauty's deeps they rise, these waning things — Seeds for Eternity — by Thy behest! Thou art their source, their centre and their rest! Through Thee they rise again with fire-flushed wings ! Yet long we more and more, as years swing by, For the Unfading Light, the endless plains. Whose calm all restlessness of thought re- strains, Outspread, one sheet of gold, eternally — That infinite, immutable domain. Where past and present mingle, in Thy hand ; While we, adoring, 'neath its blessing stand, That pierced Hand of Love, which bars out pain. [ ni ] ^1 1 ^ rt*' .' *°^*. -J '-'U.o^ «% .*" -'i *"'^'^^. .. it. AT s ♦ o •- •*'ao< '«^ia- ^oK*' i: \.^' yA \/ .*A'' "w" ym %1 ^9^ * •^*^^ ^-^0^ .« ^^'-^ V • 1 *:?- -»!,»*'' v*" • AT ^ * • • ' *. '^oS^