Poems

AND throned on her hills sits Jerusalem yet, But with dust on her forehead, and chains on her feet; For the crown of her pride to the mocker hath gone, And the holy Shechinah is dark where it shone. But wherefore this dream of the earthly abode Of Humanity clothed in the brightness of God? Were my spirit but turned from the outward and dim, It could gaze, even now, on the presence of Him! Not in clouds and in terrors, but gentle as when, In love and in meekness, He moved among men; And the voice which breathed peace to the waves of the sea In the hush of my spirit would whisper to me! And what if my feet may not tread where He stood, Nor my ears hear the dashing of Galilee's flood, Nor my eyes see the cross which He bowed Him to bear, Nor my knees press Gethsemane's garden of prayer.

THERE'S an eye beyond the human, That beholdeth only good. That sees God's vast creation, And man's real brotherhood.

Jealousy is dangerous selfishness. The heart writes its lines on the face.

HE whom now the Son makes free, No more in sorrow bowed shall be; For now our Master makes it plain, That joy, no sorrow can contain. The Harmony to earth thus brought, From no material source is sought; For matter's claims denied must be, Before the Son can make us free.

The liquid notes of harmony From Nature's feathered choir; The softened hues of eve; the brilliant morn; The sweet caressing winds, spiced with the breath of bloom; The whispering leaves; the nodding pendant boughs; The glowing sky; the snow white isles of feathery down; The waving fields; the silvery, rippling lake; The river winding to the sea; the hills, Sun-kissed, rock-ribbed, majestic, grand; The quiet sheltered vales with blossoms strewn; All speak the gentle tenderness and peace Of Nature's sweet unselfishness, and voice The Love Divine. And thus through Mother's Love—the Way, the Truth, the Life, We mortals learn the sweet divinity of gratitude; The lesson of unselfishness; The sweetness of existence for the Good alone; The consciousness of Christ's immortal bonds; The Brotherhood of Man; the Motherhood of God; The loyalty of Principle; the unity of Love, And though on earth, we breath the atmosphere of Heaven, And live and move in Love.

O Brother , rise! Cast off thy chains, be free! O Son of the Most High, be not deceived! Thou ne'er wert born a slave,—look up and see! Look up and find thy heavy heart relieved. Cast off the flimsy bands of craven fear! Thy God is Love who all thy steps doth guide! Lay hold on Him with trust both calm and clear.

The following poem was written by a blind Irish girl of a past generation. It outlines the world's woes, and asks the old, pathetic question,—to which Christian Science is the answer.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee. " — Isa.

Oh gentle presence, peace and joy and power;      Oh Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!       Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night. Love is our refuge, only with mine eye      Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall; His habitation high is here, and nigh,      His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

Do not grovel in the dust, Do not let your talent rust, Work and pray and love and trust, You will win. Rise above the care and strife Of a vain and selfish life Where the air with peace is rife: Free from sin.