Poems

As far as east is from the west! Oh, Father, can it be These words of David long ago Are meant for one like me? As far as east is from the west! The promise is to all Who, contrite, seek the Father's face, Upon His mercy call. As far as east is from the west, So far is sin removed From him who knows God's image, pure, By Love divine approved.

Yesterday in the meadow A lark did sweetly sing. Today, though veiled in shadow, My heart does freely bring To Love's o'erflowing storehouse Its tithes of joy and peace, For in the Father's dwelling There's naught but sure release.

Because innocency was found in him, We read, no shadowy vision dim Was Daniel's, but perception clear, That pierced the hatred and the fear That would have stilled the holy power, Reflected by him every hour. And as he faced the angry throng Of mortal thoughts, of cruel wrong, He felt within his heart the peace Of God, and knew that his release Was near.

When man shall understand, and own as mortal, The illusive shadows of this changing dream, There shall be opening of the heavenly portal And lifting of the loads that weighty seem. There shall be lifting up of hearts in praises, And eyes alight with joy to Life and Love; And making straight the crooked paths and mazes, And steadfast forward steps to Truth above.

O lift your thought above the seeming shadows, God knoweth not of doubt or fear or pain; He sees His own creation, whole and perfect, And you the image of His love remain At one with Him. It matters not what error In any subtle way may seem to say; You do not have to look into the future, The past forget—lift up your thought today!

A Beggar blind, he sat by the gate, The gate of Jericho, Asking an alms from each passer-by, Submissive, yet questioning why He was blind. Patient he sat, and quietly, By the gate of Jericho, And, listening, heard in a wondering way Of one who could bring the light of day To the blind.

I saw God on His heights of holiness— A vision of the almighty infinite; Then on the earth I backward looked, saw sin, And coming to the darkness dawning light. That vision to make my own I had to rise, To waken into being newly born, Though pain and fires of suffering tempted sore, And would have dimmed the radiance of the morn.

If I had known there was so calm a place, Or one so free, where sorrow held no part, Or that such kindness lit my Father's face— These had I earlier sought with all my heart. If I had known how fleeting in the grasp Earth's pleasure, or that riches make them wings, I should have taught my fingers to unclasp, And then, to touch and handle heavenly things.

Stone upon stone they built, so to erect A temple to the mighty God most high, Wherein to worship at the sacred shrine Of Love, in holiness and purity— In peace and quietness the work went on, Nor scorn nor ridicule could stay the skill Of willing hands from dawn till quiet eve. No lurking spy could make the smallest breach In all the walls, nor stem the steady tide Of loving thoughts which flowed from out the hearts Of all the builders, one harmonious band, Until at length the temple stood complete In all its finished glory, and athwart Its glowing portal, glinting in the sun, The message to mankind that God is Love.

An angel voice rings down the years: Awake, O man, and cease from fears, For God, thy God, is All-in-all; Thou canst not sin, nor grope, nor fall, For thou art in His image made, Upright and free and unafraid. Declare thy freedom, it is thine; Then walk within His love divine.