Poems

AT sunrise on some gallant day, Fling out no billowing flag for me! I would not see Your scarlet balconies, nor hear The plaudits of the roaring streets; I would climb up my secret stair And count the flowering moments of my days, How mercy came to me, and quiet peace, And love, for ease. And when the tired city lay at rest, The banners folded and the music gone, And the last lingering sparrow found its home, How swift I'd turn To place my hands, my two hands, Lord, in Thine Lest praise should do me harm.

WHEN shadows seem to cross my path, I can be still and feel God's presence, ever infinite, His love and truth, that heal The error that would dim my sight, Or make my footsteps slow. I can be still, 0 Love divine, I can be still, and know!

On the cool mountaintop the patriarch stood, With rugged faith and confidence in good; Here are the wood, the altar, and the fire, The uplifted thought aglow with deep desire. And here, behold, upon the altar lies That which the Lord demands for sacrifice— The son of promise, earnest of a nation As stars for multitude, from whom shall come salvation.

IN orderly formation, through the sky, A flock of birds is flying toward the north; No compass points the way, nor man-made chart, No calendar of seasons bids them forth. Omnipotence, the ever-present Mind That guides, and lifts as wings of birds in flight, With tenderness upholds us as we soar From sense to Soul, from darkness into light.

WHEN to Emmaus on that day Disciples of the Master walked— Two lonely men and sick at heart— Of grievous things they sadly talked. And disappointment ruled their thoughts And woe held fast their yearning eyes, Nor did they know that healing went Beside them in a stranger's guise.

The time is here To prove my trust in Thee; I need not fear, God gives the victory. Thus does my faith with firmness say "Be brave, Truth leads, this is the way," And I obey.

Across the valley deep the dawn is breaking, And mists disperse and melt as comes the light; On mountain crest the light of dawn is waking; Before the sunlight flees the phantom night. So comes the truth and heals all pain and sadness, God's purity appears, and sense dreams fade; We waken to the song of ageless gladness, We see the heaven and earth which God has made.

They bore him toward the north gate. Once before Had she, his mother, followed a like bier Beyond its portals.

I have fought for the bravest and best, I have longed for the greatest and true. I have followed the holiest quest, It has brought me, O Father, to You.

Mary , when you cherished him Deep within your heart, Did you dream adown the years, Misty visioning through tears, Of the Saviour's part? Was he just a babe to you, Cherished safe and sure? Could it be that then to thought Came the anguished hours fraught With his mission pure? Mary, as he grew apace, And you watched him grow, Could you vision by his ways Or his glorious God-filled days What he sought to know? We today are cherishing Deep within our hearts What his wisdom sought to give. Showing us the way to live Free from error's darts.