Poems

I know a nature like a tree; Men seek its shade instinctively. It is a choir for singing birds.

I dreamed of wandering through a leafy wood The birds sang blithely; in white, fragrant showers, Across my path the jasmine flung its flowers, And Nature seemed in her most joyous mood. I paused a while—when circled silently A cloud of bright-winged creatures round my head; One, bolder than the rest, approached and said,— "We are your Days—those past and yet to be; I am To-day.

OUR Father, while our hearts unlearn The creeds that wrong thy name, Still let our hallowed altars burn With Faith's undying flame! Not by the lightning gleams of wrath Our souls Thy face shall see, The star of Love must light. the path That leads to heaven and Thee.

Grant me, O God, the "seeing eye,"      The Spirit's vision clear, That, in the place of error's lie,      The perfect may appear. Grant me, O God, the "hearing ear,"      That, error's din above, My listening sense may ever hear,      The sweet concords of Love.

'Tis mine to sow the seed, Though I may never know Whether the tender rootlets find Good soil in which to grow. 'Tis mine to sow the seed At morn, or noon, or night, Or even at the midnight hour, For Love will furnish light.

Truth leads us to that Fountain, pure and sweet, Where songs of deathless harmony arise, Where Beauty's being greets our spirit-eyes, And soul's desire and heaven's fulfilment meet. There find we Love enthroned in Mercy's seat, The golden glory of diviner skies Enfolding her with light that never dies— All these we find, if Truth but guide our feet.

I dwell not here; this sense of life With all its fret, and jar, and strife Is not true living, 'Tis slavery. I live above, Where time is joy, where life is love, Its freedom giving.

Ancient of days, my simple father's God, Of substance—All; My mother's Hope,—the stars obey thy nod: Thou that dost call Orion forth from out the chambered east! Thou that dost seal The firmament! Who art an endless feast To them that feel For thee one constant, evergrowing need:— Sufficient thou For ev'ry day and hour. Thy love my creed.

Seek not in this world for its gold, Seek not for its houses and lands; But seek to unfetter the hold Of anger, and tyranny's bands. Seek not for the power of might, But seek that your efforts ne'er cease To live for the good and the right; Seek this, and you shall find peace.

My heart looks out toward Judah's hill, But duty bids me "Peace, be still!" While throngs pass by, And songs of jubilee ascend, And faith, and hope, and beauty blend To make the day of sweet accord, In which we greet our coming Lord— Amen. Sense whispers to my waiting heart, "You'll miss the sweet, the better part, By absence from the feast;" But Love, omnipotent, supreme, Dispels the shadow of my dream, Reveals Communion ever here, Dependent not on place nor year, What then? Small matter where my body is, If I but love and worship His Eternal will, And, loving thus, some duty do To prove my love and motive true, Whilst sweet Communion whispers, still, No time, no space, no self, no will, But His.