r minds grow dark, our hearts repine,
How, from sweet lives, dear Sister, like thine own,
Be-Mothering with mercy all who moan,
A light comes, and a warmth is in its shine.
We shade our eyes, as when we face the Sun
On level with the earth, at lives all love--
The Church Triumphant, as in Heaven above!
Aye, lives all love for Christ, in every one
Who suffers wrong, or any pain thereof,
As on His Throne--such lives as thine, dear Nun.
WINIFRED HOLT, THE LIFESAVER OF THE BLIND
Once, blindness was a burning ship at sea,
With panic-stricken souls on every deck.
The flame blew inward on that awful wreck,
Burning the hopes that make life glad and free.
Ah! then, through thee, it was, Philanthropy,
Who trains her searchlight on the smallest speck
And Speed out boats, like horses, neck to neck,
Reached the dark hulk and thrilled its crew with glee.
The flame is quenched, that burned out heart and brain.
The ship where woe was mute, is loud with joy.
Hark! hear the cheer on board, and cry, "Ahoy!"
As fast the sails are hoisted, and the main
Tides back toward hope for every girl and boy,
Who, else, might reach no star of night's whole train.
A CHOICE
Above and under life, eternally,
A subtle light and dark run parallel.
One prompts men to build Beauty, cell by cell,
In Home, Religion, State, Society;
The other, to destroy the fair they see.
Like Spring, wilt thou roof Earth with bloom and dwell
Thereunder? or, with Scalping Winter's yell,
Scour grove and bush? Choose--how else art thou free?
If Freedom is the gift of the all-wise,
It is because he will not have a slave
To serve Him. Which wilt thou be, base or brave?
With Morn, climb, or, with Night, skulk down the skies
To grope in caverns, or beneath the wave,
Creep, till aghast at monsters that arise?
ALL LUMINARIES HAVE ONE TREND
All luminaries have one source, one trend.
The stars that calm the sailor, long sea-swirled,
And canopy fond lovers from the World,
And those that lead the heart and spirit, blend.
Lo, only in the things and thoughts that tend
Toward Love's High Harmony, is truth unfurled;
All else are lies, whence heart, soul, mind are hurled
Back to the Right--to Progress without end.
The stars all chant as one. My soaring song
|