Poems

Exiles in Babylon, They wept beside the rivers And hung their harps on the willow trees. Their captors required of them a song, Even a song of Zion.

There came a man who questioned long And asked and asked again: "How shall I know if I be strong? And who shall tell me when There is still need to seek afar, Or if I rightly heard?" The angel came, clear as a star, With power of the Word: "Know you now what man you are? The witness of the Lord!".

When Mary, with the infant one, Saw shepherds come by angels led, And Wisemen too in caravan Kneel at his feet, their gifts outspread, She marveled not, for she had known The angel promise to His own. And as the young child's growth increased In favor with both God and man, She kept these things within her heart And pondered on his Father's plan, Waiting in humble quietude To see the Christly magnitude.

God's way is in the sanctuary—the sanctuary of spiritual knowing. It is a safe and secret way, unknown to the fearful or proud, But to the trusting and humble heart it is happy and innocent going, For the angels of God go with you along this road.

Flocks and herds and shepherds, And a star! Wisemen from out the East Who traveled far to see, to worship, him. He who would replace All earthly sovereignty, high pomp and policy, With grace and truth, Lay cradled in the warmth of mother love— Pure, tender love, Midst flocks and herds and shepherds.

What have we here wherewith to medicine The endless frictions of contracting days? What magic will release thought prisoned in The deadly routines of our mortal ways? Is there no alchemy that may transmute A leaden selfishness to love's pure gold? No argument by which we may refute The accusations conscienceless and cold? A star has risen whose clear light will bathe In lambent fire the stones beneath our feet, Whose life, rich-burgeoning, in joy will wreathe With laurel all our symbols of defeat. Through Christly service is true freedom found; In love of God shall love for man abound.

Here find the vision of that clear, creative light of which dark chaos dreamt and still is dreaming, drawing the mind and heart up and above illusive cloud of temporal seeming. Freed from old earthward drag, here find a new direction; blessed by this quiet, find complete divine protection.

He spoke of lilies given such attire As that to which no monarch would aspire. He spoke of sparrows, who were always able To feed in plenty from the Father's table.

Think not that hope deep buried in the heart Is helpless, even dead, or has no part In Love's completeness. Watered from the spring Of Spirit, hope remains a living thing.

True joy is mine today, For I can see That what God saw was good Is now, eternally. It was not one great shout So long ago And then a dreary silence.