Poems

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.

Our mortal thoughts inscribe their tracings—clear As prints upon the sand; Yet thoughts from God erase these signs of fear, As tide-waves plane the strand.

Lord, at the threat of wind and wave I feel Thy hand outstretched to save; Defying error's surge and swell, I hear Thy precept, All is well. The darkness of appalling night Is lost in Thy revealing light; The floods recede, the waters part, And I am gathered to Thy heart.

Because Thou madest me, Because Thou madest me the image of Thy love, Help me to know myself as Thou dost know me, Obedient, holy, perfect in Thy sight. Willing and eager, this Thy glorious truth to prove.

Love is not in the tumult, not in the fear, The crash, the desolation, pain. The voice Of the winds that rend the nations is not The voice of Love, bringer of peace.

Dear Lord, when those in trouble come to me For help and comfort in their seeming woes, Let me at once in healing ministry See man as faultless, in the light that glows Before Thy throne of grace; so may I view The glory of Thy perfect image there. To see man as Thou seest him is true Perception; and my quickened sight must share This wonder with them, that they may behold Thy love, which they in loving may profess.

Certainly I will be with thee, No matter how stormy the way; The fiery pillar shall guide by night, The cloudy pillar by day. Though the Red Sea lie before thee, And Pharaoh's hosts behind, Look up, go forward trusting — Thy guide, eternal Mind.

Rejoice in Love alway, Forget thy foolish fears; Love's presence, day by day, Will wipe away all tears. Rejoice, I say again, Lift up thy thought in praise; Love banishes all pain, Enriches all thy days.