Poems

Near shady wall a rose once grew, Budded and blossomed in God's free light, Watered and fed by morning dew, Shedding its sweetness day and night. As it grew and blossomed, fair and tall, Slowly rising to loftier height, It came to a crevice in the wall Through which there shone a beam of light.

We walk the earth as pilgrims, For here is not our rest, Our home is that condition Where peace hath made men blest,— The kingdom of the Spirit Where Life hath conquered sin, Where Light dispels the evil, And Love makes all men kin. We have passed through the waters The floods of whelming fear, And all our old task-masters Pursued but came not near; Though Marah's pools were bitter The waters were made sweet, And when we failed for hunger From heaven hath fallen meat.

My heart was heavy with thoughts of self, Tossed hither and yon with doubt and fear; And I longed for the rest that was promised "there" To recompense me for the burden "here. " I fought with discouragement weak with the strife, And hoped with a courage born of despair, That sometime and somewhere the Father would hear My cry in the dark, and answer my prayer.

O WAKING earth, thy story tell! O bear to men thy song of joy! Let thy full life be death's sure knell; Spread trust and peace without alloy. To all who sit within the gloom, To all who linger by the tomb, Shed thou upon them Life's full bloom; Shout immortality.

Roll ye away the stone For lo! the day is breaking. Let in the morning light, For earth to Life is waking.

O God, my Father, Mother, All, O Love, responsive to my call Teach me, that I may clearly see Myself as selfless, Lord, in Thee. A ray of light, its course to run To tell the world of Thee, its sun; A note of music, true and sweet, Of Thy great Harmony complete.

Imprisoned in the Shell Are echoes of the far-off Ocean's roar. May not these Hopes of Immortality That in us ever dwell,— Instinctive to the soul, and ever more Imprisoned in our hearts,—may not they be The sounds of waves on an Immortal Shore? James Terry White.

Fear was within the tossing bark When stormy winds grew loud And waves came rolling high and dark, And the tall mast was bowed. And men stood breathless in their dread.

Oh , this is the song I sing in my heart For hours and days together, No matter how dark the seeming may be, No matter how cloudy the weather. My heart keeps singing this song of His love That Good is the only Power, And so as my thoughts keep time with the tune It seemingly brightens the hour.

Before thee, Father, now is gladly poured The adoration of a grateful heart, Since thou didst send my brother and my Lord To teach me who I am, and what thou art: That men are not the slaves of doom and fear, But children of thy love, deemed worthy of thy care. The timid bird that glances 'mid the leaves.