Poems

There came a call for help. The tempter spake, "No, not for you this work to undertake.

" Let us unite in silent prayer. " Dear God, The truth is here for all; let each one find New joy, new strength, a deeper confidence That as Thy son he lives today in Mind!

He is not servile who is meek. In meekness one finds might To spurn the tyrant's galling yoke And triumph in the right.

The snow-clad mountain height At early break of day Reflects the sun's first light, Though drear and dark below. And so I climb in Mind, When doubt and fear assail; Lo, there the light I find Dispels the dark below.

" What is that in your hand, Moses?" It was a rod, my simple shepherd's crook, Humble companion to me there For forty years In Midian, where I tended Jethro's sheep. "Cast it upon the ground, Moses!" The innocent rod, I saw it writhe Into a serpent on the sand Beside the burning bush.

Guard Thou my eyes that I may see the truth, Not human faces, And hold my thought above the fret of earth In holy places. Speak Thou within the quiet of my heart, That from Thine altar Swift I the glowing coals of Life may bear, Nor fail, nor falter.

I looked at my feet and said, "Will you take me a journey?" They said, "No, we are tired. " I looked at my hands and said, "Will you play me a song?" They said, "No, we've not practiced.

Now are there days when earthly shadows lighten, When holy promise yields to present good, As glorious glimpses came to olden prophets At Bethel and on mount where Moses stood. Now are there hours when nearer draws the city Where no lie enters and where nought defiles.

Send out Thy light and truth; we need Thy light. We are as children, fearful in the night.

It was a morn I never shall forget As we sat there, we three, mending our nets And musing as to what the catch would be And if it would be enough to pay the tax Which Caesar levied. That day it seemed our very livelihood Depended on it And we must toil till dark to make it pay, A grueling task to bring a share of gain.