Poems

That winter night when Christ Jesus slept in a manger bed on the sweet cropped hay, a star arose to light the way of those who followed its quickening ray, and lowly shepherds knelt to pray. And here tonight in quiet room or on battlefields in a world war torn, when a proud heart yields, or a soldier kneels, a child is born.

At the heart's midnight listen— for the angel song (glory in the highest) silencing earth's cries of desolation. An ark once lifted the faithful above the floods of evil, and as those receded a new world began, began in the minds— always first in the thinking; the listening ear, the obedient heart, built afresh, to specifications.

The sun rose upon Jacob as he passed over Penuel, The struggle behind him, the dark night spent, Blessing of peace after battle seeping into his seeking thought. In the private bastion of his meekness he had fought a good fight, Fear and false dealing, the facade of a renegade selfhood, Surrendering to the angel of God, The blessed, reclaiming, renaming angel of God.

Some who would walk on the water must have a boat deck intervene. Some who would transcend time feel dependent on scrapbooks and clocks (or fantastic imagined machines), not knowing that Jesus talked with Moses through the effortless, natural inclusiveness of elevated thought.

Elijah and Elisha, on their way To cross the Jordan at the Lord's command, Passed through successive towns but did not stay Their feet. Then fifty watchers took their stand As these two reached the river.

They who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion. having the Father's name written in their foreheads, sing a new song.

Here peace and quietness of thought are found. The readings set the spiritual tone.

Carry us up on mighty wingspread of Science, Beyond where the eagle rides the wind And the skylark is lost in light. Heal us so that we tender no demands, But, claiming freedom, help mankind spring free, Free and light in the joy of their progressing, Safe and sure in the grandeur of the Word.

"Greater works .

No wonder hearts began to burn, smarting first, then chastened, finally chaste as lamp in hand this stranger led us down through Scripture to the very gate of Emmaus. Then all at once, to gain the point as if by loss, farewell! and into the dusk he started away—silently coaxing us to coax him not to part.