Questions & Answers
Shepherds still watch through the night their sheep, Hopes of heaven the flocks they keep. Angels still sing, as they sang of old,— Though faith be faint, and the night be cold,— And the same sweet message still they bring, "Come, see in a manger the new-born king.
When Christ appears within the hearts of men, The bells of love shall ring from sea to sea, Across the land from mountain peak to peak, To cheer the thought of all humanity. When Christ appears the gray earth shall be new, The flowers of day be fairer than of old.
Great captains,with their guns and drums, Disturb our judgment for the hour, But at last silence comes; These all are gone,and,standing like a tower, Our children shall behold his fame, The kindly-earnest,brave,foreseeing man, Sagacious,patient,dreading praise,not blame, New birth of our new soil,the first American. From Lowell's From "Harvard Commemoration Ode.
Upon the rugged field the wrestlers fought Till far into the night, and Jacob wrought For mastery, till his foe for mercy sought. And still they strove, and still with brave intent, Though torn his thigh, the sinews reft and rent, Our father bore his baneful chastisement.
A woman was given a candle, And she hid it away on the shelf. It is all I have, she murmured, And hardly enough for myself, So I must not let any one see it, But all through the coming night I'll know it is ready and waiting, In case I should need the light.
Full is our harvest, and the waving grain Whispers through sun-filled hours of mercies sent; Heaven's ear bends low to catch the faintest strain Of human gratitude midst life's content. Oh, sing a song that naught of sorrow leaves; Send forth unceasing thoughts of love untold; Then blissful, go and gather in thy sheaves And lo! thy harvest is a thousandfold.
"He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver. "— Mai.
For all the error dark and deep, Father, forgive: I did not know That this existence was a sleep In which the shadows come and go. I did not know that grief and pain, Those old-time chasteners named "the rod," Can no dominion hold again Over the happy child of God.
Emblem of mortal mind and evil power, Of seething sorrow and of man's deceit, Though passing fair in thine unangered hour, When the pale moon has paced with wanderings sweet Her pathway o'er thee: or when thy soft beat, Sifting the sand beneath thy lisping wave, Whispers of innocence—ah, wanton cheat! The morn will hear thee sing a different stave, When the wild north wind blows from Norway's blustering cave. Unsated tomb of earth's unhallowed hope And uncontrolled desire! thy plumbless deeps In their untried recesses give good scope To dreams of th' infinite: the plummet creeps To meads all marvel stored, where darkness keeps Thy hoarded lumber house, and leads us then To grottos where the treasure-galleon sleeps In ooze and slime, afar from earthly ken, And stored with gold and guns, and memories stark of men.
Oh , may we know Love at earth's midnight cold? Or see Love by the radiant light of day? Or doth God dwell in heavenly heights away, And all unseen His beauteous works unfold? Aye, we may see Him, like the seers of old, Through eyes that scorn the senses' darkening sway, By understanding's light illumined: nay, Look not afar, Love here thou mayest behold! Thou Love may'st see when mists of self depart, That hide God's image from thy slumbering eyes; When o'er the barren soil Love's stream doth start, And fertile make it till fresh flowers arise Of joy and tenderness upon the heart! Who loving lives, he Love alone espies!