PS 3513 .1645 PS 1915 Copy 1 As The Fire Burned ELLMORR J. GILSTRAP Wife, MARY EDNA and DAUGHTER ELIZABETH JOSIPHINE AS THE FIRE BURNED A Vol ue of Poems by ELLMORE JACKSON GILSTRAP Author of "Renaissance and Other Poems" Pudlished by Versatile Art Press SPOKANE Wn. 19 15 COPYRIGHT 1915: By Ellmore J. Gilstrap. DEC 20 1915 ©CI.A4I 7S'>« VS' •6^ m-^j-^q p^mu;uoD s-m^od aq:^ jo pj3A3S st? ^ooq sxq:^ o; n9AiS pixB psSri-BqD XpqSijS si ,,sra90j •noT:^S9SSns 91^; TO^ 90:iT3pJOODB 1:1 p9V.I9S3.ld SI 9UIU[OA SXq^ flUJOJ :^looq ni ;i qsiyqncT piiB spnauj siii iCq paXofua ;som 9soq; jo'siii9<:)d siq iiiojj iiopo9ps "b ^-^x^m. 9i| ;T3q; Joqv-^B 9q; o; p9;s9SSns U99q suq ij HXON HOHXilV — •aji[ .im o:iui aunjsnns :}:;.Jinojq OAir-; pru? orn o:} .n^-»a os uaaq SABq i^aq:^ a.suis '41 ufei^qnd o:} aiu p3:i;?3nijOJ aMjq oqAi spu9Uj Xui sasBaid ;i ji Xdd^q oq [{^qs | 'i^uiAJOs qonui JO saaeo au:j H^l-^^ Asnq 'paim amos ,Sui;s9.i jo 'ajq pD:iB[Osi 9UIOS ui .{q;v,-dniAs jo pjoD b JIuia^j.qiA ij^^mzoD 5[aBp araos o:}ui 'adoq j 'JsuqjRj puB 'uoi^-.^ui.'i^^mi .^ni j.o ssBi.o-uns aq; qSnoaq:^ 5uu3:qij aAO[ s^poQ jo 'i[:i,?quns ax;:iq b sb ^iduiis ;nq 'a.in:iB.io:}q jo sa.)3-,d.rrt4Sf!iii o.[% SuouiB aaad b sr ^ou -- s:^aod ajH uioqAi jo ip7 — 'spaouj Kxu o:[ 5^ooq ap:}q sut:j iJuii^uasoad uib j 'aaojajaqj^ \^paAOui aq q;aBa aq:} :|ai'uiiqu.Taip aq:} aAoqi? it'4apis ^H -aiqraaa:} a^doad aq; :^a[ 'Ji:}au.S:a.i qBAoqap,, 's.Cws 'gui>}Bads'aDuapuo.) au:} su a[i'.Lq:^ oi:}3od u q^i-vv paqsnjj :)ou ajB suiaA aaq ao siq sauit:^ ;ij '^^q; jbj os p3pi!j:s'o.T -:idJL seq oqAV aAq :jou saop ubixiou .lo u-biu aq; aAOij^q I •raq^Aqj Di^safBiu pus aa^j^ a^iuijui qqi.vi sp^a-o.id viMv. saziuouwBq qDiq.vi 'asaaAiun aqj jo .lo^uaaQ aq; jo aSBini aq; ui pa;T?9ao SB,vi aq iajn;TJOJD oi;aod v si u^j^^ 33VJ3ad e5 • 81 -Aoaj •^,9uiDip9ui pooS TS SI :nBaq jnjaaaqo y,. "AS THE FIRE BURNED'* PROLOGUE *'i WMS musiMa: and the firr burned," This said an ancient poet Ai\d hfted his heart to the Infinite Then feebiy in words expressed The reach of Iiis lofty muse As it scanned the patn of a boundless existance. Thus every poet. With infinity centered upon him, Turns, with the hunger of a conscious limitation To the fuHness of the expanse of Deity, Above, below, and in every direction. Then back to the depths of his soul; For an assurance of befitting; destiny. Upon the hearth the glowing* embers crackle But within the breast The lire of passiouat* intellig:ence burns. Page & So the i^rcrat questions of life are ever asked As the ray stories of Jehovah's heart Are revealed in .conquering: blaze; And the victory which shapes the future of millions Is wr-n at the hearth-stone. \ hajf a hundred centuries back Upon God's high-way; turn about and see Primeval man, in lowly quartex-s bending, His repast to prepare. In his forest, prehistoric; B cautious still as any wild thing. The lightening bolted free as now. Came and v;cnt uncliallenged, Kor nailed the device of laan Mis tb.oiigl-ts to flash across tLe heaven Or load to lift. His fuel gathered neath those ancient boughs; ' That proud, tho simple mind contrives, llow different from the beast, 'io bring the Deity within his grasp And use the mistic po\v( r. Then fiiat t:» flint anA s'eidy stroke. The spark!- again tr e sqfirk is droped And now the tinder blazes. Vho doieb to say it wns not Cod Who ij-ade that spark successful. Ar.d as t!r.e light leaped on and en Eevealed the path to civilization's noon-day? Wao darefl to say that any path to civilization leads And passes not tKni fire? i'a^v 1 Me thinks, before that bon-fire died That |2:!orious autumn evsn, Onr fathers gathered round To feast their hearts and vent imagination: Who dares to say man would have found That God made him a poet Had he not found the vital spark That bade him be a conqueror— *'?riirievalman a conqueror?"— He even dares to rise from the musings of that fireside To mount the skies, and place his hand in God's, Then with that heavenly vision on his heart Subdue the earth, Make divistating floods Andpaiched desserts clasp their hands In graceful union, and send forth a blessing. The fire in his breast aglow- Tiie fire on the forge leaps up To me!t the hearts of iron mountains And stauip divine impressions on them. Yet in man's breast a devil hides And grins at such achievments. And prompts satanic motives Where virtue breathes a blessing on intelligence. So hatred springs from virtue As man views man's enlightenment Nor reckons yet with God, But turns his lofty jjowers tx> rain destruction And shed a brother's blood. "I was musing and the fire burne^^* Two blazing altars stand, Two brothers musing by there One is the world's first faithftil soa The world's first murdered brother Whose God -accepted sacrifice Adorns the ancient fire. Oh! Unhappy Cain, What murderous vipers issue From thy unfaithful fire. To fasten on thy rctusing heart ;- How soon the action springs. Candid beauty and cunning treacht ry And all the associated passions rise;- Now the fire sparkles cherrily Now it dies away, and ugly shado^^s Grotesque and lurking, Encroach upon the smoulderirg embers. So the world's great deeds, both g<«od and bad. From humble firesides issue; And the history of the world we read In the musings at her burning altars. Stir up the coals till the flame sho<>ts torth The muse, right heartily to w«;lcome. Nor president account worthy Whose arbitrary limits Obscures the real and vivid. Page IB M U 5 3 C God verily loveth music; His creation lauds Him w ith song; From the Murmuring trees That are swayed by the breeze. To the tide as it rolleth on. The little birds of the forest. Which twitter their carols so sweet, In the wide spreading fieltls And the beautiful dells. Do verily God's song repeat. And thou; my soul, my inmost self, Shalt not refuse a song, When stream and breeze and bird, In harmony are heard. And nature sings God's sweetest song. Page 1 3 MAPLE LEAVES On the moss-covered bank of the river I listened one summer day. To the g-entle murmuring Avaters; As they went on their long, long way The zephyrs of summer, waving The foliage on the banks; The perfume, sound and symmetry Spoke mutual returning of thanks. A maple tree hung o'er the river Among ail the otiier trees, With its old moss-covered body Hidden among its leaves. Thourrh the autumn -.vas only beginning. There were bigiii oi f r'y ciecay, For among- tiie green hosts, living, Slione a few golden leaves that day. The breezes rocked them, whispering: "it were sweeter to float away From your living- leaf-friends. busy Adorning the maple all day" I 4. An! the gentle urging ar.d coasiny; Was more than the heart eonld stand; So a ]ct\t hero do\vn on tl.e hrccxcs 'l"o the bosom of the strand. An;l I wacched as it tossed and floated In the cradle so lately found, A-.v.iy i'rr.iii tue gnarled old ma;).'e. O'er the shimmering ^vaves, beyond, As I tarried. watching the river, A fiOod of thoughts came fast. And I gazed on tb.e weltering path-way L'ntil many a leaf had passed. To see thera so >rently nestle In those soft waves, moving on; Brought thoughts of the tired pilgrim Ae he goes to the great beyond Of the silver waves, I inquired Where the leaves at last were to be. On those zephyrs born, came the answer back; '"They Milll>e in Eternity". God spoke to me on that self-same day On those very same zephyrs. born. Came a message sweet, from His very lips, And it makes my pulse beat warm. Page 1 o For that messag-e sweet, still compells a thought, "As the beautiful leaves float on: Has your influence graced life's maple tree? Then with joy you shall go beyond. "And the ebb and the flow and the swelling. Of the stream to Eternity; Nor of sorroAving thoughts will be telHng Nor forboding of what shall be, "But the waves shall speak in harmony The reward of beautiful life; And tKe hearts left behind, the eulogy: 'The balm of thy presence was life' " Page 1 6 JOSIPIilNE Tl'NE: , Cj/? GP 0/> Who is sweeter, tell me, '1 iian our Josiphine? Graceful in her actions ;- Lovely little queen. CHORUS Josiphine, Prettiest flow'r I've seen; Token of love sent down from Heaven- How could a sweeter gift be jfiven? Josiphine, Sweeter than any dream. Purer than Springtime's breath May she e'er remain Sweet Josiphine. If we knew her language Could she, think you, tell "Of that blessed country Where the Angels dwell?" Page 1 7 THE EARLY BUTTERCUP ^nU,me aumor'(> ^irxf/ioem^waj^ written After a thaw in January, The snow lay on the flats; Jack Frost, witK fun and fury. Danced o'er the hilU' bare backs. He noticed, as lie passed along, A buttercup in full bloom; She surely heard a snow-bird's song* And came out ail too soon, "I'll teach her," he thought, "For she breaks winter's rule; This night she'll drink a cup Of experience, extremly cool,'* "Hey there! little buttercup. Aren't you pretty cold? 'Tis too early you've got up. Wliat made you be so bold? Page 1 S '"Vou sliouid have slept on, To awake with the spring And hear the wild hiids'song; As they sweetly sing." *'0h yes, it is bleak; But I don't raind, the least; When I can give those who seek The vernal fragrance, a feast" '*Oh no," said Jack Frost, '•You are surely mistaken; And I'll not be bossed Until winter's forsaken. "And tonight you shall see, To your dissatisfaction. Where you will be With such a notion." But Jack's brother, North Wind, While eaves-dropping about. Heard, and thought it a shame Cruelly to blot her out. So he set off with a skip And gathered together A downy white blanket As soft as a feather Page 1 9 And e er night fe'l on her She was tucked sniigriy in. Away from Jack's torture. By her friend, North V^'ind. V/here she slept undisturbed Till the thaw in the spring". When again she appeared. To hear the wild birds sing. ^CO All months have their sorro^ys, All seasons their pain. But there's always a flower. E'en in Winter's cold reign. Page -;?0 ROSES AWAY o'er the eastern mountains, Is a green little valley of flowers, Crossed by a limpid river, Hiding beneath the bowers; There's where ray heart gently leads me As the twiJight softly falls; There in fancy now I see you And hear your gentle call. Ah! well I remember the evening. Though months and the years have flown, When I placed a ring on your finger, And you said your heart was my own. Ah, darling, don't you remember ? The roses were wet with dew; You picked me a crimson bud, and asked, "Will the return of the roses do?" Page ^21 The roses have con-e and gone, dcur. And we are far apart; But time or distance, dear. Can never change my heart,. And alone in the solemn twilight I offer this earnest prayer, ''When next I stray amongst roses, May my own httle Rose be there/' Page 22 MY PRAYER JESUS, Savior, I would pray thee, Bowing- here before thj^ feet, To look kindly on Thy servant. While I solemnly entreat. Vrouldst thou cheer me when I sorrow. Let thy light shine on the way. Be my guard in all temptation, Near me would 'st Thou always stay. Jesus, Savior, friend of sinners, I would live and die for thee. Teach me how to win the tender To Thy fold; where'er they be. As I ripen in Thy knowledge, If it be Thy blessed will, I would fight the host of evil. Guarded by Thy mercies still. Page 28 Jesus, Savior, strong and oiighty, Still for grace I do implore; Would 'st Thou heavenly manna send me, 'Till I reach the Golden Shore. And when angel wings shall bear me Safely o'er the dashing foam, May I hear Thy voice, dear Savior, Welcome me to "Home, Sweet Home". Pa;e A MARRIED DUTCHMAN tint zince you axed me; Veil; i dell Vhy I am alvays Looking- veil, Zince 1 got married. Ust almost every Blessed night, I vent rae oudt, Yah! dot ish right. Dill I got married, Unt vagon bills Unt orse« doo Do dake mine gals, Dey made ma blue, Dill 1 got marriad. Uot somedimes uit To be a shport, I'd buy fmc dings Uf every asort. Dill I got married. Pagii ^S Unt loost ntine shiec-p Unt den mine pall* Vouki somed lines make rae Loost de i^nlii, l^i-'I I p;ot nian-ied. Gosh.' I vorried Like a zinner; L>l^^en I got dhin Unt got me schiirner Dill I ^ot married. Now all dhose droubles In a hurry Left de bL^ce, Unt, "I should vorry" Zince I got married Mine gloths don't sphend me Quite so now. As vhen I didn't Got mine frow, Zince I ^ot married. Because she cuts dem Half mit dwo, Unt makes me vone As g-oot as new, Zmce I jjTot married. Page Unt nov/ I never Bay mine gash For 03'ster zoup Unt restaurant hash, Zince I got married. "Ust dirty zents" Dwo ice gream zundaes; Unt den I fond I's Broke en Mondays — Dill I g'ot married. But vhen 1 hears de Voman say: "Yockeb; Dear, Its varm to-day" Zince I got married. 1 valks me off Right straight do down; You bet mine life 1 never vrown, Zince 1 jfot married. Ice gream gones,l get; Dey's fine; I gets de dwo for Ust vone dime, Zince 1 got married. Pag« 9 7 Mine viie.she ihiirelr Is a vonder; She's ust like lightening- I o do duucor, Zince I g-ot nifirried. Unt den ders somcdings More you knou — It makes me laugh ;- You didn't know? Zince I jrot married Mine vife;she got dwo Leddle dwins. About as big as Dady's shins, Zince I got married. Unt so I'm looking veil, Dank you; You do like I unt You vill doo: Uit get married. Pafc ^ RENAISSANCE 'Tis even;at my study window I contemplate the day, With its faikires and successes [Marking out the toilsome way. And I see my bit of knowledge: Science, philosophy and myth, As an atom of debris Upon the pyramid of truth; 1 see my helmet, shield and breast-plate, F'or defence in mental strife, Scarce doth warrant me an entrance At the tournament of life My acquired refinement, Aye, all my pohshed art. Are as thorns and nettles In Nature's throbbing heart. 'Tis evcn;now fades this Vernal equinoxial day, And from out my study window Aphrodite and Demeter say : Page 8 9 "Come into the class room Of the beautiful, the true, And study renaissance Of classics nearer you" I betake myself to musing, And the blood leaps in my veins. As I think how very vaguely I have seen God's divine plan; I was made in His own image, With judy:eraent, purpose, and with love. And I died thi-oug-h my rebellion, To induement from above. So I enter God's great class-room V/ith lessons unprepared, But a huitgry heart that's grateful For His treasures, with me shared; A tongue quite dumb with praises Which mere words could never tell And a brain that's not been measured By an arbitrary scale. For He teaches: not as do His humble students, men; Ihe achievements and the progress On the towpath of mankind. Ah, truly they fail To teach the whole man. Taii-e 3 For they surely are failures Who man's mission would find P';ach propelling life's argo, These frail Argonauts, By things througli sensation Made analytic thoughts, To hear,to taste, to smell, to feel. To use the miracle of vision. Doth solemn thought and praise compel. Yet God gives intuition. So the teachers I hear In this free-thinking class. Are the springtime freshets And zephyrs that pass; Yet my soul is outpoured In hearty response To the words, as they Echoing, say "renaissance;" And I try to express In my homely way. My soul's sweet content At the close of this day ; But though the five senses May serve j'ou well, A sixth you must have If to you I tell Page 3 1 The brawty of holiness t Potentiality of faith In Die g'ift to creation Cf universal life. As the white, fleecy clouds, Fring-ed with purple and i?old. Like a virgin's white bossom. Half concealed in the fold, Are swelling to curves Of beauty and grace. Covering the heart Of this grand Renaissance. I pray the mighty Benefactor of man: "May the renaissance of thy Spirit In my heart have free reign." TT^rs^^ Page S3 TiilL i3ANQliLT Ai.tuiiia in sp'.eudid livery. Graceful as ripened love, is here, Nor comes with empty hands. Her harvest basket, Hfe to sustain. Is emptied at our feet; But no good queen is satisfied To feed the physical. And starve the truer man, the soul; So f?ood queen Autumn spreads a feast For eyes and ears and heart. Then gently lifts the gauzy fringe Of summer's wasting curtain That we may peep within; Our eyes and ears and sense of smell And taste and intuition, At once are asked to enter, - The banquet now is served. And course on course brings new surprise And strange enchantment fills the heart. Page 3 3 The forest is the banquet Iiail, Kor richer walls have any; Eadi humble leaf in gorgeous beauty Contributes to the whole, Nor waits couiplaininij^ for a p^ace Of more exalted station. Each thrilling sonir.liarnionious. Is blended with a thous?tnd, Nor discord makes Nor asks a special notice. Each whispering zephyr, Preg-nant v/ith a varied fragi'ance. Is wafted in the wake of many kindred breezes. Nor claims a freer path Down through the trembling foliage. Thus all, combining, speak of God And infinite agreement; A benidiction,not in words But loving sacrifice. I'a-e 3 -I CONTRASl . A. /^ ('(>//■((/' flf/jc/t The f-iiys of empires mark the fields Ol" conquest gore and anguish, And flaunt their all-assuming pride Where millions, wounded languish Th-rnk God! "OM Glory" mounts the breeze To send a positive message Across the waters, born of God, Yet to spare His heritage. As o'er a hundred battle fields Insane with aweful carnage, The ensigns of delirious pride Are torn with devilish rage *'Gld Glory" proudly flings her out Above ten thousand school-grounds To tell the honor of the race Where yet christian peace abounds. Fa-( fviEDSTATSONS I lay awal-.e on my pillow last night, For sleep had fled afar; And watched throug-h the open windo^v The twinkling evening star; The past reappeared before me, Aud the present vanished, quite; And Father Time in his flight turned bad To my childhood days, last night, I seemed to be in the garden, With my brotlierjust younger than I, Hoeing and talking and langhing. As we did in the days gone by; Watching the bees select their flowers. And wondering the reason why,- Listening to the chirp of the cricket. Or catching a butterfly. Fai'c 3 G Af.ba ppy Hii- tin^e-^ wo spjt' <'Aa had <•- .st his shadow; Wht-r: V. ^' «yn:p.'i1:bi.':ed in <.-aoh other's grief, Aiid felt each oth