Poems

Toiler and drudge, look up, The sky is blue, And clouds as white as wool Float lightly there; The love-light of the heavens Is over you, And like a floating cloud Becomes your care. Great peace have they who love The heavenly way; The upward look of joy, The tender tone, Brighten the toilsome hours; How bright a ray Of God's love-light springs up When love is sown.

Alone? with Thee, when the bright day is breaking? Alone? with Thee as evening shadows fall? Still, still with Thee in the dark hour of midnight, How can I fear, since Thou art All-in-all? And I to Thee, in the glad hour of triumph, And I to Thee all praise and glory give. Still, still to Thee, when error loudest calleth To Thee I look, in whom I move and live.

In a nightmare of unrest, I battled with the wave, Mortal mind was tempest-toss'd, No beacon light to save. Friends yearned to "lend a hand," But murmured in my ear,— "We too are wreck'd, can see no land, We are submerged in Fear.

It often has with truth been said Life's as we make it; I only know that life to me, Was like a dark, inclement sea; Without a ray of hope in sight Till Science came, and gave me light. Since then how changed is life to me, For light has come and I am free; There is no Law but Truth and Love, For God is Truth and God is Love.

Come hither, weary one, and rest,— Here, where all is peace,— Rest in the consciousness of Truth, In which all joys increase. Stay, wand'rer, and be ever blest; Thy Shield and Buckler Truth will be In all thy future years, And nought but good thine eyes shall see,— Nor gaze through blinding tears.

If thou in Truth abide thou art secure; His Love thy footsteps guide, making them sure. Love is thy fortress strong, Thy refuge from all harm; Thy God with outstretched arm, waiting to save.

Love, seeking beauty, finds in every place A grace, unseen by sordid eyes, appear; Beholds the pageant of the passing year, Each marching day with glorious morning face And evening smile, when golden clouds enlace The peaceful West—whose colors are brought near To lowly earth by flowers, in whose dear Heart-blessing faces present love we trace. In time of storm, love knows the storm will pass, Her heart at peace finds no storm enter in; She hath no fear to cloud the present sight Of beauty ever—beauty of the grass Refreshed by rain: of humble ones from sin New-cleansed, reflecting Heaven's gracious light.

In Nepthalim of Galilee, beyond Swift flowing Jordan and Zabulon's hill, To those who sat in darkness and the shade Of death a glorious light hath been revealed By that dear Lord who preached those warning words "Repent! for now God's kingdom is at hand. " And to those simple fisher-folk who toiled Both late and early with their busy nets In the deep waters of Gennesareth Their daily bread to win, he spake and said, "Come ye; leave boats and nets and follow me, And I will make you fishers e'en of men.

To rest in God—to feel that all the life We have is given of Him; to open our souls To all the sunlight of His truth; To grow in shine or shade, in storm or calm, Knowing that underneath each changing scene Is the All-Father's everlasting arm. Not to strive and struggle, as though to grow Meant agony and grief, but just to watch The lilies, learn of them, and harmonize With Nature's God who would our souls should grow In gracious sweetness, loveliness, and calm, Knowing that underneath each changing scene Is the All-Father's everlasting arm.

Give to the winds thy fears, Rise in thy conscious strength, The mountain heights of Love are thine, There thou can'st hear the Song divine, The Song that to thy heart brings peace, And from all fear, the mind's release. The Courage Song whose measures bind The ills we fear, which never come, And leads us to the portal bright Where safe within the Eternal light We dwell in sweet repose.