Poems

What reason you among yourselves The while you walk with hearts immersed in gloom? Through mists of time come still those gentle words To those who mourn the crucifixion and the tomb. Oh, fools and slow of heart, he said, Ought not Christ thus to enter his own glory? But down the years from dull mankind is hid The joyous import of that wondrous story.

Not by dreaming, but by knowing, Is high happiness attained. Then why not dream when sapphire skies, Swept clean by western winds, Hold promise of bright treasure— Why must we know, and why not dream? Because your dreaming is the yielding To temptation's claim that good is far off, Not yet yours, may never be.

" Be still, and know that I am God. " What blessed assurance flows Into the quietened consciousness Which hears, responds, and knows That invitation comes from Him Who heeds the sparrow's fall, Who numbers, now, your every hair, Replies before you call.

Forever is a long word which will show The wide skies that no earthly vault can know. Forever is a true word to unclasp Bounties no carnal mind can grasp.

Transfigured on the mount He talked with those — Moses the sage, Elias, prophet of the Lord — The while his friends stood by, Peter and James and John, Amazed at the bright cloud Which overshadowed them, And at his raiment shining heavenly bright, And at the voice of God From out the cloud proclaiming him His Son. Descending from the quiet of the mount, He faced the pressing multitude, And healed forthwith that hapless, helpless one Who oft in his extremity would fall Into the very fire.

I lift my cross. With joy I see my brother bear his high.

They did not listen when the Saviour brought The light of Truth to clear their darkened thought. He turned his face away from Chorazin.

Our Father doth not dwell apart, Remote, beyond the farthest star; His omnipresent love is found Forever where His children are. Inseparable the glowing sun From each effulgent, beauteous ray; So, unity of God and man Can never change, nor pass away.

As winging birds cleave in their aerial flight The clouds which seem their passage to impede, And with unlabored motion skim the height, Their goal to compass with untrammeled speed, So does the Word of God on wings of thought Fly to its goal within the waiting heart; Bird-swift, precipitant, its passage fraught With eagerness His message to impart. Pinioned with might it still pursues its way, Cleaving with strength the clouds of fear and doubt.

I cried : Grant me grace and courage, Lord, To meet the coming day. Give me love, compassion, too, To guide me on my way.