Poems

The portion that my father gave Was generous, so far exceeding every need, And yet to feel this as my own Is not what I remember now; Nor yet the journey into a far country, Each step to suit my will and erring mood: Nor yet the wild abandon as I spent my all, A prodigal, nor recked the lessons Of the years within my father's home. Not even to rehearse my degradation I would wish, when in the depths I ate the very husks for daily food.

Dear Father, but a few months hence These lads go forth. Keep Thou my lens of consciousness From slightest spot so free That brilliant rays of Truth divine, Emitted straight from Thee, Pass through with perfect clarity And come to focus bright In youthful hearts, and kindle there A steady, glowing light.

I stood within the vale of indecision With heavy heart and vision blurred and dim; I did not know which way to go— And so I turned to Him. Beseeching earnestly, humbly, I prayed, Dear God, show me the way! When I arose from bended knee, The light of day enveloped me; The sun shone forth in all its splendor, A voice so loving, meek, and tender, So clear, I heard Him say, My child, this is the way.

" Why seek for man in matter— The living in the dead? He is not here, but risen," The angel message said. Man is the child of Spirit; His substance, changeless Soul— Immutable, unfettered, Diseaseless, sinless, whole.

Never an idea of God but holds in itself completeness, As the common wayside flower has sun and sod to sustain it, As the tiny bursting seed has within all the tree is needing. For every rising tide there is a law to detain it.

God gives us gladness, and He gives us grace, That each may fill acceptably his place. He gives the tempered zeal, the loving thought, The quietness wherein good works are wrought.

With the hot breath of pursuit on my neck and the load of guilt in my heart, the hard, suspicious looks of the strangers through whom I passed, the long miles straggling by under a harsh sun, the growing desolation, and nothing before me but grim uncertainty, questions, guesses, then nightfall and the slow chill creeping up through the hostile darkness and the desert place where I halted, footsore and parched, my eyes still aching with day, and the night no comfort, and made my bed, found a pillow of stone, sank into numb sleep— there, in that very place, God unfolded the light from the heart of light, and I suddenly knew. It came like a vision with bright-faced messengers going to and fro on a ladder of light that reached from the shining dew to the shining sky, brighter than moon or sun, singing with light, radiant with soundless music, triumphant yet gentle, washing my tired eyes, wiping away my stains, filling my heart with sweetness, and crystalline wonder mounting on wings of fire.

Oh, let my thoughts be as the fledgling eagles are— Poised for the upward flight, Piercing the earth mists rejoicing, and winging far Into Truth's spacious light! Scarce higher than the sparrow's homely flight, it seems, My laden thoughts attain; Yet, since the way be heavenward, seeking noble themes, Each small ascent is gain. Truth's mighty tasks await us; attempt them and be free: Spread wide those wings and rise! Courageous as the eagle, let thought win liberty In Godlike enterprise.

Young Joseph knew no bondage. Neither bands Of father's human love nor brethren's hate His onward course could check or deviate.

How fine Luke's tale about small Zaccai, Who sought to see the Master passing by, "And could not for the press," so ran before To climb the branches of a sycamore. Our Lord looked up and hailed him as a friend; He bade Zacchaeus speedily descend; Who, coming, glowed with truly humble pride, When told, "This day must I with thee abide.