Poems

I had not known such beauty could be hidden Within the shelter of a word's embrace Until I stood beside hope's ash-gray embers And prayed to know the perfectness of grace. I saw a grace expressed in grassy meadows, In rain-swept hill, in budding boughs of spring; In native instinct of the homing swallows; In countless feathered lyrists' caroling.

No one can chart my way save God. Friends' love may comfort hold.

The sacred proofs that God is ever near Have blessed us through the years when hopes grew dim; And now we recognize, past every fear, That always we can walk the way with Him. We knew the nearness of His grace and power; Our watchful vigil was not kept alone.

Never an hour to grope in grief and sadness; Never a time to waste in bitter tear! What if your dream has been a dream of parting? Wake to the dawn of endless day and clear. Wider horizons ever lie before you.

Man dwells in ever-present Love. He does not go From here to there, nor travel to and fro, Leaving a point which anchors him below Or seeking for some freedom far above.

We are thankful, God, For all the wonder spread before us; Tears of gratitude come unbidden To eyes first dazzled By the brightness of Thy truth. Then gradually our vision clears, And glimpsing true creation we are blessed; The shadows vanish one by one From the scene before us: There is ever less shadow, ever more color; We see the rich hues of Thy love In the clear light of Truth.

Quick as the flash of anger came the heart's recoil. Aghast, I scanned the weapon I had used, and asked: "Is this my concept of the sword of Spirit? Will I never learn to trust the power of Truth?" I bowed My head.

The room is hallowed by its very aim, A refuge for the storm-tossed and depressed Who seek the Christly touch of him who came To kindle hope anew in every breast. I turn the key and open wide the door And breathe a psalm, the day's task to begin, The psalm that tells us God doth evermore Preserve all going out and coming in.

Though claims of dismal woe, of hate, of lack, Seem to confront us, ready for attack, Dark shapes of menace swiftly disappear Before the light of Love, which casts out fear. There is no bestial force to make man cower For he is panoplied with Spirit's power, Which from all threat of conflict gives release; Hence God's ideas forever live in peace.

Because the verdure is not seen, Hidden beneath the snow, No one can doubt that one day grass With emerald blades will grow. Because the trees do not bear leaves In winter of the year, No one can say that in the spring Green leaves will not appear.