Poems

The Christ calls, Come, my feast will meet your need; Forsake your worldly tasks and come apart To rest awhile in peace and learn of me; Obedience fulfills expectancy. Not for yourself alone, but for the world, The banner of Truth's power must be unfurled.

Men are not hostile natively In international ill-will, For Spirit works creatively The world with gracious thoughts to fill. Of every color men are kind; Some follow Christ of every race; And, from the treasury of Mind, Men are enriched in every place.

The Master spake in words of love, And bitter doubts were stilled: Ye blest, who hunger after Truth, With Truth shall ye be filled. He marked with Christly tenderness The humble gathered there, And taught them that the meek should claim The wide earth for their share.

Dream not, O child of God, that fear can bind you, Can dim your eyes or fetter your free thought; The power of Love divine strikes off its shackles, Above the waves Christ's voice still calls, Fear not! Dream not that seeming loss can close Love's portal, That lack can hold you fast with iron chains; Nothing is lost of what your God bestoweth, The cup that runneth over still remains. Dream not, O child of God, that sin can hold you; The Father's image has no power to stray.

O Love of God, compassionate and wise, Open our eyes, Cleanse thou our thinking now of sinful fears, Wipe from our faces self-condemning tears; O love of God, compassionate and wise, Open our eyes! O love of Christ, compassionate and free, We come to thee, Ready for service to our brother man; We see our task within the Father's plan. O love of Christ, compassionate and free, We come to thee.

It was a clean, well-ordered house, That dwelling of the Shunammite; The proffered bread was fresh and sweet, And warm the yellow candlelight, When with the dusk Elisha came Seeking a pillow for the night. The Shunem wife perceived that he Was sent of God.

To weary wanderers along life's way A cup of blessing lift to parched lips. Perchance, your written line may bring the day To one who slumbers deep in night's eclipse.

God giveth me a joy no man can take Away from me, a joy that e'er remains Untouched by sadness or by human fears, Unchanged by sense-dreams or the passing years, For sinless joy of Spirit never wanes. Mine is the perfect joy come from above, Redolent with meekness, radiant with love.

How quiet falls Peace on the heart, Like gentle rain from heaven, Within the calm enclosure of these walls! Hushed is the clamor of harsh mortal fear In the loved stillness of this place. Here, Courage new is given, Pain doth retire, And yielded to the fullness of God's grace Is every false desire.

Why did you sail away amid the weight Of cargoes, rich in spices, purple dye, The peacock, and the golden date, to lie Asleep, while work at Nineveh must wait? For rude the awakening, though not too late To learn that he who puts God's mandate by, To follow truant byways that belie, Forsakes the harmony of man's estate. Oh, now, with chastened sense, obey the call: Go, preach to Nineveh the saving Word! Truth frees from sin by knowing Love is All; This healing message some have never heard.