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Poems

Inspirational verse submitted by readers.

We know as sure as the rain falls down...

We know as sure as the rain falls down That the green is hiding beneath the brown, The sunshine behind the cloud. Then why not trust for a little space? The life will return to the brown earth's face, The sky cast aside its shroud.

ESCAPE FROM PAIN

Why linger ye in aisles of pain, Where joy is dead and hope is vain? Why walk ye here with bleeding feet, When life without is glad and sweet? Oh, leave behind the aisles of pain, Nor weep o'er graves where hope is slain, For just beyond, Love opens wide The door to joys that will abide. We walk no more in aisles of pain When this we learn, hope is not vain— That God is Love—and good supreme— And evil nothing but a dream.

"BASE COIN"

If all material things are mortal thought Made manifest, unholy misconception, And human ills a falsity distraught, A dark, untimely phantom of deception, Then let us undeceive our quickening minds, And to the morn's true radiance raise the blinds. If mortal man be but a false impression, E'en at his best, of God's true counterpart, And thou uplift thy voice in full confession That thou art ignorant of what thou art, Then, in the name of wisdom manifest, Plead we to set thy wandering doubts at rest And all who learn the torture and distress Of pain and tears, the ferment and the fret Of foul disease, or sin's deep bitterness, Would ye unlearn them? Long ye to forget? Then take to heart the lesson of the years, Truth is revealed, and man's true Life appears.

THE OPEN DOOR

Like one who wanders in fell darkness vast. I trod the paths of pain and all unrest For weary, weary years, and came at last To dream that death of all things was the best.

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

He is our Father! Yet how oft We close our eyes in fear, Forgetful that by day and night, His guardian care is near. He is our Father; Then indeed His love must answer every need! And if perchance my straying feet Should tread the shadowy vale, My heart shall still be unafraid, My courage shall not fail.

A TRIBUTE

What is the fruitage of that high estate, To be of those the greatest of the great? Surely, not wealth nor its ephemeral shows, Nor spoils of war, nor all the pomp of state! For great indeed are geniuses whose thought Arts and inventions to mankind has taught, And civilization hitherto unknown,— For they to earth immortal gifts have brought. And great indeed are artists who inspire Our thoughts with high incentive and desire, Through music, painting, poem, and high theme, To help and cheer our race to heights still higher.

INSPIRATION

"Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way" ( Science and Health, p. 454 ).

THE DREAM OF FINITENESS

I dreamed I saw the world a misty void, And darkness lay upon the watery deep. 'Twas vague and meaningless, no purpose lent it motion; I looked more closely, and the darkness deepened, Yet seemed it that I saw with more distinctness; Could this be Mind, expressed thus in confusion? Or this be Life, hedged in by finiteness, And stayed by this strange thing called time With nameless terror spreading apathy? Held by some spell, in fear and doubt I watched The fruitless birth-throes of its centuries; The cruel wars for wealth, for pride, for power, That knew no mercy for the vanquished foe; Vain wars where blinding superstition strove To force with carnage unity of thought; Then wars for freedom, that each might pursue In his own way his own concept of good; Then kindlier feelings, sacrificing self For others' welfare.

O father, hold me close! the little child...

O father , hold me close! the little child Cries out, as breaks and beats the tempest wild. He rests secure within his father's arms, Yet murmurs, startled at the wind's alarms, O father, hold me close! O Father, hold me close! I too would cry.

"A CUP OF COLD WATER"

' Twas only an earthen pitcher She brought, with a cooling draft; 'Twas cracked in a dozen places, And many who saw it laughed. The little one's sweet lips quivered, And her smiling eyes grew sad: "You wanted a drink of water, And this pitcher is all I had.