Poems

Dear Father-Mother, Love Divine I thank Thee that Thy Truth doth shine Into this darkened heart of mine, Turning my darkness into day; And pointing out the perfect way, That I from Thee may never stray; But sheltered by Thy loving care May safely pass each seeming snare, And boldly for the Truth declare. I thank Thee for Thy Love so near; Thy presence doth each moment cheer, And scatter every doubt and fear.

ALL the earthly things around us, Which we prize and hold so dear Are not worth the joy they wive us, With the pleasure and the fear. For they waver and they vanish And they move at beck and call.

Dig channels for the stream of love, Where they may broadly run; And love has overflowing streams To fill them every one. For we must share if we would keep That good thing from above; Ceasing to give we cease to have, Such is the law of love.

WHAT can I ask of Thee, O God, Who giveth all to me? Life, Truth, and Love, the only Good, Thy gift eternally! And can I ask for less than these, Or do I plead for more! Have I with outstretched arms received Of that abundant store? Or do I ask for life to fill My cup with pleasures vain,— A human sense of life that leaves The dregs of want and pain? O Life divine! thy joys supreme Are far removed from these, And endeth not in discord, For all thy ways are peace. And when I ask for Thee to lend Unto my darkened way, The light of thy dear Love and Life, I know not how to pray, For Love and Life omnipotent Are omnipresent, too; And a true prayer would be to know And prove this statement true.

Shepherd of tender youth Guiding in love and truth, Through devious ways: Christ our triumphant King, Join we thy name to sing, And our dear children bring, Shouting thy praise! Most high and holy Lord, Glorious, revealing Word, Healer of strife: Thou didst thyself abase, That from sin's deep disgrace Thou mightest save our race, Giving us life. Thou art our great High Priest; Thou hast prepared the feast Of holy love: In all our sin and pain None call on thee in vain Help thou didst not disdain, Help from above.

Heaven is not reached at a single bound, But we build the ladder by which we rise From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies, And we mount to its summit, round by round. I count this thing to be grandly true: That a noble deed is a step toward God— Lifting the soul from the common clod To a purer air and a broader view.

O Son of man, what thoughts had'st thou, As near some solemn mountain brow, Out in the dreary wilderness, alone Thou did'st abide in prayer? But One There was with whom thou mightst commune. Did doubts or fears at times thy heart assail, To try thee; if like other mortals frail Thou could'st be tempted to give up the fight, And let the evil over-rule the right? Did there come nights when darkness would enshroud, When all around seemed naught but one dark cloud; When hope seemed blotted out, and when thy task Seemed but some great mistake, and thou would'st ask, " Why am I here? What good can I attain? Do not my efforts now seem all in vain? Why am I thus shut out from all my race? Must I not meet my fellows face to face If I would give them aid? How long doth seem this night, will morn ne'er rise And send some brighter gleam across the skies? Still would'st thou struggle on through night, through day, And as temptations 'rose, cast them away Behind thy back, and say, "Thus it is written.

We bend uncovered, as the dawn Rolls back the curtains of the night. The dark'ning shadows all are gone Mid morning's glow of golden light.

O Thou Supreme, Eternal Good! Thou art Life and Love, the Divine Infinitude. In Thee alone is All that truly is.

"And the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. "— John 10: 4.