Questions & Answers
Little lamb, do you seek the fold Where the shepherd is kind to you? Does he guard you well from the storm and cold, And tenderly watch the whole night through, Little lamb? Little lad, as you leave your play And seek the haven of warmth and light, Does the mother-kiss heal the scars of day As you safely slumber throughout the night, Little lad? Heart of mine, put thy fears away! God is near, though the darkness fall; Love will wake thee to peaceful day; Love is perfect, and All-in-all, Heart of mine!
The mask was played, the players gone: Yussuf Ben Orem lingered on And pondered o'er each mimic scene. Each player and his mirrored mien.
Where are the joys of yesteryear? Is no trace left behind? Have they taken wings, those treasures dear, And flown upon the wind? Not so; on Spirit, Truth, were stayed The joys of yesteryear. Thus they leave us not, nor can they fade, For Truth is always here.
You hold the wistful blue of mothering skies, The rose of tender dawns that glowed for you, The green of sheltering grasses,—myriad dyes,— And in your little heart, rimmed round with blue, Serenely shrined, a tiny likeness lies Of the gold sun, in whose great light you grew. You give your very self in blossoming; Your small largesse is prodigally spent; Joyously wide your tiny leaves you fling, Dispensing smiling what to you was lent.
Doth want and woe thy path attend? Art weary, sad, without a friend? Dear heart, from mortal dreams arise,— Only God's likeness satisfies. Seek not for ease or selfish gain; Let truth and justice ever reign, Thy life with unselfed love abound,— Thus Love's supply is always found.
Two patient pilgrims stood at eventide The eternal Ruler's palace gate beside, And sought admittance in the name of one They'd met on earth—the King's beloved Son. And when the Son had heard what they desired, Their proof of love and righteousness required.
How tenderly the veil of night Enfolds each sleeping flower, Till morning's all-pervading light Proclaims the waking hour. How lovingly God guards the thought Engrossed with that which seems, Till Truth's irradiance has brought Release from earthly dreams.
The title to our new-found wealth, dear friend, Runs with the power to make our lives more free, More generous, more gentle; to the end That all may share God's gift to you and me. I see thy features in each human face, I hear thy mandate in each civic call, I own thy kindred in the lowliest race, I love thy likeness in the souls of all.
A day seemed long when it came to earth, And many the hours it bore, And the daily tasks and waiting joys Lay heaped on the dusty floor. There seemed no sunshine of God's good will, No breeze of His promise kind, No generous breath of sacrifice On the still and sullen wind.
I humbly ask To tent today, O Love, in Thy pavilion, From dawn's first mask Of pearly gray To vespertine vermilion. Then, when the moon Shall slip adown And shapeless shadows close, Grant Thou this boon Thy day to crown,— Secure repose.