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diff --git a/75153-0.txt b/75153-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e3c62a --- /dev/null +++ b/75153-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1137 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75153 *** + + + + + + + + The Little Grey Lamb + + And Other Christmas Poems + + + BY + + HERBERT H. GOWEN + + + + MOREHOUSE PUBLISHING CO. + MILWAUKEE, WIS. + A. R. MOWBRAY & CO. + LONDON + + + + + COPYRIGHT BY + MOREHOUSE PUBLISHING CO. + 1928 + + + + +Contents + + +Foreword + +The Christmas Message + +I. The Little Grey Lamb + +II. Jerusalem, 1917 + +III. The Quest of the Christ + +IV. What the Wise Men Saw + +V. Under Which Sign? + +VI. Through the Windows + +VII. Over the House-Tops + +VIII. Shepherds of Men + +IX. No Room in the Inn + +X. Mother and Child + +XI. The Vision of the Kings + +XII. A Prayer for the New Year + + + + +Foreword + +It has been a habit of mine, for some years, to send an annual +Christmas greeting to my friends in the form of a little poem. Of +the following selections most have been published in the annual +Christmas number of the _Town-Crier_ of Seattle, whose editors kindly +permit their reproduction. They are reprinted because some have +liked one or other of the poems sufficiently well to request this; +also because I feel that the treatment of the Christmas story may be +fresh enough and varied enough to win the liking of some others. +H.H.G. + + + + +The Christmas Message + +The story is told that when King Edward I of England sought to +reconcile the Welsh people to his rule he presented to the assembled +chiefs his baby son, just born in Caernarvon Castle, as a native son +of Wales to be their prince. The king manifested in the act a very +sound appreciation of what is, according to the Christmas story, the +heart of the divine method for reconciling a rebellious world to God. +For the divine fact which makes the Christmas festival so dear to all +alike, and draws together them that are afar off and them that are +nigh is nothing less than that the Child who comes to reign in a +world of human hearts is truly named the Son of Man. + +That the jarring interests of a warring world may be brought together +in one common devotion to the best is always plain when we substitute +the child attitude for the selfish and sophisticated ideas of men +soiled by too long contact with material things. And when men return +to the child mind, with its simplicity, its purity, and its ready +response to love, the world will certainly be a little nearer to that +emulous heaven which yearns downward to touch the earth as the earth +at Christmas time seems to be doing its best to reach the skies. The +celebration of such a truth is the best antidote for the horrible +doctrine of an absentee God and of a humanity left to wander unaided +in the dark. + +In the great temple, Shi Tenno-ji, in Osaka, is the shrine of the +Guiding Bell. The rope is made up of the bibs of dead children, and +little Japanese go thither in order that by ringing the bell they may +help and be helped along the road to Paradise. The Christmas bells +are always guiding bells to all mankind. Wherever they ring, whether +they sound only in the imagination which carries us back to the days +of long ago, they summon man unfailingly to a Paradise wherein all +may become as little children in the spirit of faith and hope and +love. + +And wherever these bells are heard the heart will never cease to sing +and dance away the dust of the world and charm men from the +sordidness which keeps us back from entry within the gates of gold. + +"A little child shall lead them"--this is the veridical prophecy of +the good days to come. In fulfilment of such a prophecy let us share +the good-heartedness and charity of the Christmas season. Let us +lend our ears to hear once more the song which, though it comes from +heaven through the voice of angels, has its message for the souls of +men on earth. Let us turn our backs upon the selfish and the +discordant till the angelic anthem is echoed back with human voice to +the Throne of God. Then heaven and earth shall have become one +indeed. + + + + +I. + +The Little Grey Lamb + +_Founded upon an old legend_ + + + + The Little Grey Lamb + + _A simple tale of long ago, + How the little grey lamb became white as snow._ + + On Bethlehem's hills on a winter night, + Shepherds kept watch in the cold star-light. + The sheep, safely folded, were fast asleep: + There was nought to trouble their slumber deep. + But one little grey lamb was filled with woe + For he longed to be white as the winter snow. + + Then sudden the heavens grew bright like noon, + With a light which was neither of sun nor moon. + And music rained down ineffably sweet, + As the shepherds sprang to their trembling feet. + But the sheep slumbered on through that wonderful night, + Save the little grey lamb who longed to be white. + + Then forth from the skies came an angel's voice: + "Good tidings, ye shepherds! God bids you rejoice. + In Bethlehem's inn the Child ye shall see, + Who is born to make all men happy and free." + Then swiftly they journeyed the Christ Child to find, + And the little grey lamb followed closely behind. + + From his little white heart rose a timid prayer: + "Is it only for men, O Baby most fair, + Thou hast cleansing from all that is sinful and bad? + Wilt Thou not heal me and make me glad?" + So he followed the shepherds and entered with them, + When they came to the stable of Bethlehem. + + They entered, they worshipped, and homeward returned, + While a solemn joy in their bosoms burned: + But the little grey lamb nestled close in the hay, + Quite close to the crib where the Baby lay. + And a tiny hand stole forth from the bed, + And rested awhile on the little lamb's head. + + At that touch there passed a wonderful thrill + Through the lamb as he lay by the crib so still: + He felt all his sadness melting away, + As the night mists scatter at break of day. + The little grey lamb in that holy glow + Knew he was white as the driven snow. + + * * * + + _May the Christ Child today this blessing bestow, + That the lambs of His flock be made whiter than snow!_ + + + + +II. + +Jerusalem, 1917 + +_No incident of the Great War gripped the imagination of the +Christian world so much as the taking of Jerusalem in December, 1917, +by General (Lord) Allenby. Though an incident in war, it yet had in +it the promise of peace, since no shot was fired against the Holy +City and the victorious commander entered the city on foot without +parade of war._ + + + + Jerusalem 1917 + + O Mother, with the halo round thy brow, + Yet conscious of the Cross which looms so near-- + What is the grim surprise which greets thee now? + What spectre grips thy maiden heart with fear? + + What is it that, with half-averted face, + Thou seest sweep across the holy land, + Where all the towers and domes of David's race + From age to age in silent witness stand? + + How ill, meseems, become those sacred fields + The tramp of warriors and the blast of war, + The gleam of steel and shock of swords and shields, + The noise of cannon booming from afar! + + Is this the peace the angels sang when high + The glory burst upon the shepherds lone? + Is this the promised dawn when all the sky + Flamed with good news from Heaven's Almighty Throne? + + Yet constant shines the Star from out the dark, + Heaven's finger touching earth with silvery ray. + Though Time tell of despair and misery stark, + Eternity assures us of the day. + + O Mother with the sword within thy breast, + The Child Divine within thine arms may see, + E'en from thy lap, the issue sure, the rest + For man appointed after victory. + + And when, in later years, He shall ascend + The painful Cross, He shall be satisfied, + And all the travail and the strife shall blend + In manhood, saved, redeemed, beatified. + + O Child, in Mother's arms thus nurs'd and held, + Give us from love like her's to wake and rise, + Till from the Cross we see the dark dispell'd, + The City of God descending from the skies. + + Give us Thy courage firm, Thy patience long, + Thy willingness to suffer for the right; + O give us of Thy faith, Thy love so strong, + The vision of the victory of the right. + + Jerusalem, encompassed with arms, + Shall yet become the city of the free, + And discord, hatred, war, and war's alarms + Shall disappear for all eternity. + + + + +III. + +The Quest of the Christ + +_The picture this poem was intended to illustrate represents one in +vision beholding the Wise Men on their camels journeying towards the +goal of their quest._ + + + + The Quest of the Christ + + In the dark night, while all around me sleep, + My questing thoughts go backward through the years, + To find and bring some worthy thing + Shall waken life from out its slumber deep-- + Shall scatter lowering clouds of doubts and fears, + And crown Love King. + + Taking old forms from tales of days long dead, + Like slow beasts padding softly through the night-- + Yet, far or nigh, I shall descry + Somewhere my Bethlehem--so piloted + By tinkling bells of hope that catch the light + Of star-lit sky. + + I know not where my search for Christ shall end-- + The kings and priests I question answer not. + Perhaps their will is still to kill:-- + Perchance He seeks to walk with me as friend:-- + Or, all unknown, shares the despised one's lot, + Rejected still. + + Yet am I sure that I shall know the sign; + My heart shall wake and cry: "This--This is He!" + Him shall I find, however blind + And slow to recognize the hand divine. + He shall His own unfailing witness be:-- + Him shall I find. + + And, oh, what joy the news abroad to speed, + That men from sorrow as from toil who sleep + May hear the song that Heaven's throng + Brings down to earth, and so be comforted + For woes that make strong men like women weep, + And all the wrong. + + Then all the dark shall melt into the dawn; + Like jewels of the New Jerusalem, + Earth's streets shall shine with light divine, + And all her roof-tops gladden with the morn; + Then every home shall be a Bethlehem + Where Christ is born. + + + + +IV. + +What the Wise Men Saw + +_Founded upon an old legend_ + + + + What the Wise Men Saw + + Back to their homes returned, the Wise Men three + Reported on the King they went to see. + Said they: "The star our guide, the King we found; + Now are we hither come His praise to sound." + Then said the Wisest of them all: "'Tis well; + What was He like? First let the youngest tell." + + "What was He like? Why, this my task + Is surely easy, answering what you ask. + He was so young: His was the spirit of youth, + Ardent and hopeful, forward-faced; in truth, + His courage seemed to leap from height to height, + Like golden sunshine driving back the night. + So I my beating heart obeyed; + My fine gold at His feet I laid." + + "And you, our next in years, what did you see + In this your King? Pray, tell, what like was He?" + + "What was He like? Yea, sir, although + Not as my brother saw Him saw I so. + His was our manhood's prime; from out His eyes + Experience looked, and wisdom: sacrifice + Waited the altar whereon lifted high, + Bruised but not crushed, He saw His destiny. + So drew I incense from my store, + Bruised too, but odorous the more." + + "Well said! But you, our eldest, tell us, pray: + What was He like? How saw you Him that day?" + + "What was He like? I saw Him sage + With all the gifts that spring from ripest age; + Eyes that beheld the eternal; youth and prime + Both clean forgot, with all the things of time; + Beyond all earthly effort, passion, strife; + Beyond all heart-ache, pain or lust of life. + I could not Him my myrrh deny, + In readiness with Him to die." + + Then some, less wise than meet, looked up and smiled. + Surely, they said, our brethren were beguiled, + And took, for all their questing, but the thing + In their own hearts for Him, the Lord, the King. + + "Nay, Nay!" the Wisest answered; "for I deem + The King fulfils for each his dearest dream, + Hear me, for though these mortal eyes are blind, + Within my soul I seem the King to find. + + "As in a mirror's polished face + The lineaments of him that looks you trace, + So in the King reflected back you see + The likelihood of all you fain would be: + The all beyond your all, the goal + Of every striving of your soul. + + "Whate'er your age or station be, + He looketh eye to eye, so that you see + The very self of self which God did plan + When first He said: 'Behold, I make a man.' + And with the vision given is the dower + Of the King's own communicable power." + + + + +V. + +Under Which Sign? + +_On the one hand is a world of material things, a murky, +smoke-dominated world in which men struggle and hate and fight. On +the other side of the picture a star shines over the place where the +Christ Child lies as the prophet and earnest of the good time to +come._ + + + + Under Which Sign? + + Watchman, what of the night? What of the day that's to dawn? + Is it bale-fire, battle, and blood? Is it hate in a land forlorn? + Is it benison, brotherhood, peace--peace to the near and the far? + Shall the earth with its phantoms beguile, or God utter Himself + through His star? + Blow, O ye winds of heaven, mighty the dark to dispel! + Shine, star of hope, on our world, vexed with delusions of hell! + + Lure of the delved ore, mock-sun of our low estate! + Shadowed, time-born and time-doomed, on the hell-gendered + smoke-clouds of hate! + Shalt thou win for thy gloom-spread realm the limitless vault + of the sky? + With thy will-o-the-wisp wilt thou quench the lights of Eternity? + Shall thy angels proclaim from beneath the coming kingship of wrong? + 'Glory of hate and ill-will!'--Shall this be our Christmas song? + + Rout of poor, purblind souls: Have ye found your Bethlehem here-- + Godless, and brotherless, fighting, in shame and sorrow and fear? + With your dollar for star would ye seek the goal of your + heart's desire? + Greet, as ye bloodily battle, the victor as king and Messiah? + Trample the noble and pure into slush to proclaim yourselves free? + Is your struggle success at the last, your victory liberty? + + Dark beyond all the dark! Deep Heart of Eternity, + Whence streameth the starlight divine, from bounds of infinity! + Love that beats in the dark--beats and breaks through from afar! + Passionate purpose of God, breaking through in the signalling star! + Omnipotent Love, finding voice in evangel insistent as strong, + Streaming forth for our earth in angelical presence and song! + + Child, with the out-stretched arms and heaven-uplifted eyes! + To Thy pure heart alone comes the message of the skies. + Yet out of thy joy shalt thou speak; yea, to all the world + shalt thou cry: + "Turn ye, O perishing fools! O turn ye, why will ye die? + See, 'yond the rolling clouds shines the coming kingdom of peace, + Where all men shall mingle as brothers and wars and discords + shall cease!" + + Child! Nay, Prophet! we hail thee--Lord of the future age! + In a world of the sightless, seeing; in a world of the + foolish, sage! + Faint not nor fail in thy witness, though the world around + thee grow old; + Let not thy faith grow feeble; O let not thy love grow cold! + Interpret the times to our time; interpret thy hope to the race. + That the glory which shines in thine eyes may illumine + humanity's face! + + * * * * * + + Watchman, what of the night? Cometh the dawn from afar! + Dreams pass away and clouds scatter. We will trust the voice + of the Star. + + + + +VI. + +Through the Windows + +_Some children from within a bare and comfortless room are looking +forth upon a wintry night. The world outside is bleak and pitiless. +The very church seems empty of suggestion till one notes how the +spire with silent finger is pointing to the Christmas Star._ + + + + Through the Windows + + "_It came and stood over where the young Child was._" + + Winter--and winter's gloom--without, within-- + The ice on heart and hearth and sunless earth! + Cling close, ye hapless victims of man's sin-- + Companions sad of misery and dearth! + + Cold church, thy heavenward-pointing spire appeals + To empty skies, all heartless, voiceless, dumb. + No clang of bells through all the city peals. + O grieving ones, your very griefs are numb. + + Yet see! Thank God for windows! From afar, + Sweet envoy from a world where all is bright, + Behold, in silver radiance shines the star, + Distilling through the dark its healing light. + + Over the place where hearts are sore and lone; + Over the place where priests and creeds of late + Have stammered news of God and man at one, + And seen men doubt and sleep, and wake to hate. + + O windows, made for light to enter in! + The Light is there, beyond the darkened sky. + To reach, impinge, and pass your barrier thin, + To lift our captive, earth-bound souls on high! + + Come to the windows! There adoring kneel! + Beyond your aching hearts the Heart Divine! + Heart seeking heart, beyond where systems wheel, + Seeking, yea, finding! Lo, the starry sign! + + O Hand that leads yon Star that shall not fail! + O Eye that watches through each guiding ray! + O Home, beyond our habitations frail! + O Church, complete in Heaven's eternal day! + + Be ever for us all 'above the place,' + Bringing all comfort, joy, assurance, peace! + Healing the desperate sorrow of the race, + From all earth's discords gaining glad release! + + O Lord of Light and Life, grant us to know, + Through windows crystal-clear of faith and love, + Beyond our winter night of grief and woe, + The steadfast Star still shines our world above! + + + + +VII. + +Over the House-Tops + +_Above the house-tops of a big, modern city, with its skyscrapers and +its factory chimneys, the vision passes across the clouds of the Wise +Men on their way to Bethlehem._ + + + + Over the House-tops + + God knew no wings were mine; I could not soar + Into the unplumb'd heavens' ethereal vault. + E'en could I climb the hills, the infinite more + Of space above had left me still at fault. + Yet hath He will'd that I should reach the light, + Accepting steps let downward to my feet, + That I should find His ladder in the night + From shop and office, factory and street. + Yea, when the heavy-headed toilers sleep-- + Life from day's fret and fume awhile immune,-- + When darkling shrouds of night their sentry keep, + The heavens with the house-tops hold commune. + Then am I one with all the quests of old, + With all the wise ones whom the stars of night, + No wandering waifs of space, their message told + And crowned their heads with aureole of light. + These loved not earth the less that she provides + Foothold for souls whose gaze may pierce the skies; + Time's many travailings and changing tides + Made past and future equal in their eyes. + And this the song that, soundless, thrills the air-- + One with the voice of human hearts that beat + Their living diapason to the prayer, + One with snow peaks that soar, still waters at our feet: + + + (1) + + Up to the house-tops of Faith, ye sons and daughters of Doubt, + Up from the dungeons of Time, where sick and imprisoned ye lie! + Out from your wilderment waken, + Deem not the world God-forsaken! + Come ye, for, piercing the night, see the star in the sky + shining out, + Splendid o'er mountain and moonlight, Faith's witness which + none may deny. + See, we are here, for your helping, your bodiless pilots of old, + We whose example and aid all the world's patient pilgrims made bold. + Slow Science has humbled her pride; + She takes us and trusts as her guide; + For we are the prophets and seers + Who lead on the hesitant years; + We follow the spirit's surmise, + We hear the voices of night; + Already there dawns on our prescient eyes + The Sun of Eternity's morn, the kingdom of limitless light! + + + (2) + + Up to the house-tops of Hope, ye downcast sons of Despair, + Ye whom experience has cheated and left defeated and bare! + Back to your childhood's fond dreaming-- + Truer was this than your deeming! + Up from the purlieus of earth where men stifle and struggle + for air; + Catch from the roof-tops the joy of the vision outshining + our prayer! + Lo, where we stand, we are yours, whom the world hath not + shaken nor shocked, + We who still hoped and went on, though the multitudes melted + and mocked. + Yet fainting hearts watched from afar + And followed our beckoning star, + For God made us Hope's pioneers, + To hearten men out of their fears! + While the myriads wander and stray + In the mists of a starless night, + We are steadfast and march on our forward way, + On to Eternity's morn, to the kingdom of limitless light! + + + (3) + + Up to the house-tops of Love, ye generations of Hate, + Up from the man-made hells where ye struggle and slander and slay! + Up from your loveless stagnation, + Up from your hearts' slow starvation! + Come, for humanity calls to the heights where all benisons wait, + Speaking through stars of the night of the luminous earnest of day! + See we are round you, your brothers, the soldiers and martyrs + of Love, + Who poured forth our souls like a river, and labored and suffered + and strove! + From the flame and the gallows-tree, + From the life-long, slow agony, + Oh, we climbed up our Calvary, + So winning Love's victory. + We followed the Lord of the Star, + Who died to discover Love's might! + God grant we may herald to men near and far + The dawn of the kingdom of Love, the kingdom of limitless light! + + + + +VIII. + +Shepherds of Men + +_The picture for which this was written shows the shepherds standing +over their slumbering flock under the shelter of a great rock. To +them appears an angel, his feet almost touching the ground, bearing +in one hand a star and raising the other hand to call attention to +his message._ + + + + Shepherds of Men + + Shepherds of men--not sheep-- + Your age-long watch who keep, + Have ye grown weary waiting for the light? + Are ye resigned to see + Your silly charges free + To wander lost and helpless in the night-- + For whom the word was given of old + That all should reach at last the eternal fold? + + Or, sunken in despair, + Deem ye the cruel lair + Of wolf and lion safe as man's domain? + Think ye too deep, too deep, + The human lies asleep, + And nought but beast awake in blood and brain? + Is there no inward-turning eye, + No pitiful great yearning for the sky? + + Or faint you at the dearth + Of comfort in the earth? + Is Nature with the bad in man and beast + So straitly leagued the rocks, + That shelter now your flocks, + Might flow like lead from furnace fires released, + And e'en the soil on which you tread + Prove fleeting as the clouds above your head? + + Have all your passionate cries + 'Gainst solid-seeming skies + Shivered and fallen in mocking echoes back? + Does prayer in vain assail? + Do tears for nought avail? + Does the bright maze of stars all language lack? + A world where struggles, griefs, desires, + Make streams in hell but light not heaven's fires? + + Blesséd, O Shepherds, ye, + Who now the glory see, + Though still your flock for vision unalert! + Light lifted not too high, + Nor opening quite the sky, + Yet quickening skyward yearnings long inert; + Yea, making pathways for the feet + To find the spot where earth and heaven meet! + + Blesséd, again, since, borne + Unto a world forlorn, + Heaven's herald comes, yet no-wise alien! + Of heaven the cross-like wings, + Yet man's the voice that rings, + Human the eyes that meet the eyes of men; + Human the feet that seek the ground; + Human the hands that scatter light around! + + O Star, with heaven-born beams, + Awake us from our dreams! + O clothed with light, miraculous messenger, + Set us upon the way + To greet the coming day, + Where, worshipping the Very Light, it were + Foretaste of Heaven's eternal peace-- + Of earth's unquiet wanderings surcease! + + Shepherds, forget your fear! + The dawn, the dawn is near! + Though upstart Herod and the Roman might + Combine with all the tribe + Of faithless priest and scribe + To quench in mists of unbelief the light, + The long-expected King's at hand, + To rule in peace and righteousness the land! + + Say you the vision fades, + While all around the shades + Creep coldly on and all your courage dies? + Go forth, while round you ring + Strains ye heard angels sing + When all heaven flashed upon your startled eyes. + For though your vision fade away, + 'Tis but that dawn may broaden into day. + + The Child your eyes shall see, + As yet laid lowlily, + Not yet full-statured risen to the skies-- + Not yet with tongue that speaks, + Not yet with arm that breaks + The iron fetters of earth's tyrannies-- + Is earnest of the struggle won, + And all life's shadows smitten of the sun. + + Oh, once again the tale + Makes faith o'er doubt prevail! + Oh, once again the vision wakes to deeds + That god-like grow and shine + Till, grown to the divine, + Man soars to heights beyond where doubt impedes, + And in one glimpse of Heaven's glory + He reads the fulness of the human story. + + + + +IX. + +No Room in the Inn + +_A picture of two contrasted abodes. On one side is the Inn, the +House of Chimham, crowded with revelers whose ideal is expressed by +Herod. On the other side is the humble crib where angels are finding +fellowship with ox and ass in adoration of the Christ Child._ + + + + No Room in the Inn + + _The Angel Gabriel speaks:_ + + Unseen I stand and marvel; mysteries twain + Becloud my understanding. Here the train + Of seraphs worship as before the Throne, + With glory vast, unseen of man alone. + Even the ox and ass, dumb, with meek eyes, + With ecstasy atremble, recognize + The crib where sleeps their Lord. Yet, o'er the hills, + Back turned on this, a crowded world which fills + The House of Chimham, anxious but to see + The little lights of princely puppetry + Where Herod's palace flaunts its feeble ray, + With lure, alas, to lead man's soul astray + From this, the light which burns eternally, + And brings to earth her full felicity. + + * * * * * + + O fools, and blind! I seem to hear your sin + Proclaim'd with revelry within the Inn + Ye deem so sure a dwelling. Hark, the song + Which shrills so loud the ages all along: + + "No room, no room, in the world's wide Inn, + For Age when the wine of life is thin! + This carpenter, Joseph--push him aside; + If he cannot keep up, let him lodge outside, + With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem! + + "No room, no room, for Mary as guest, + When Woman is weakness and sore distrest! + As thrall or as toy she awhile may abide; + If she come but to suffer, why, shut her outside, + With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem! + + "A child, a child--on our hands tonight! + Oh, no room for Childhood, whatever its plight! + Children are cheap: for the travail hour, + Send the woman away to discover a bower + With the beasts of the stable of Bethlehem!" + + Poor, foolish world! How are your revels mocked! + E'en while ye feast, your Inn is earthquake shocked, + Though Time but move a finger. The dumb beasts + Are sager than the prophets of your feasts, + Who lift their empty voices to the night-- + Made deaf by hearing, blind through gift of sight. + This stable whither ye the weak ones ban, + Stands on the rock of God's eternal plan; + And far above the ribald song ye sing, + I hear the ages with glad chorus ring: + + "Room, O room, in the Kingdom, for the trampled of power + and pride, + For Age that sinks under its weakness, with life's full + fruition denied, + Starved faculty hungry for service, impatient for uses of + heaven-- + O enter, but stoop as ye enter, for life abounding is given + By the way of the stable of Bethlehem. + + "Room, O room, in the Kingdom, for Womanhood tender and true-- + Handmaid of God, quick oblation, elect evermore to renew + Life, with Hope ever re-risen for the generations of earth-- + Enter, albeit with pangs of the soul and with travail of birth, + By the crib of the stable of Bethlehem. + + "Room, in the Kingdom, for Childhood--for children the + chiefest seat! + Such shall be dear to the King, He shall gather them + round His feet. + In their joy He shall greatly rejoice, and their sadness shall + make Him sad. + Yea, their joy shall turn earth into heaven, and their gladness + shall make men glad, + As they tell of the stable of Bethlehem." + + * * * * * + + Sometime it will dawn, that Gospel. Then shall shine + This stable, brighter than the Orient sun; + And men shall worship at this humble shrine, + Where, all unmarked, Redemption's work's begun. + The dumb brutes know; yet, for man's sake I go, + By other signs to stir him in his sleep. + My errand now--some few prepared I know-- + To light the hillsides where they watch their sheep. + + + + +X. + +Mother and Child + + "_The Christ Child lay in Mary's lap, + His hair was like a crown.... + And all the flowers looked up to Him, + And all the stars looked down._" + --G. K. CHESTERTON. + + + + Mother and Child + + Mother and Child! + Symbol eternal, and Fact, Prediction sublime! + Read the sweet story of Love, upheld in the arms of Time! + Mother and Child! + + Read the great story of Earth, struggling up through her + Sorrow and Pain, + Till, chosen the Bride of God, she bring forth, washed clean + of all stain, + Truth undefiled. + + Far back in the youth of the world, out of water and mist and slime, + I see thee, Earth-Mother, arise, both Mother and Daughter of Time-- + Stern, sacrificially cruel, with passionate spirit aflame, + Cybele, Ishtar, Isis, adored under many a name, + Striving through waste and through weakness, onward and upward ever, + Slain for Love's sake and slaying, yet failing in sacrifice never, + Bearing with anguish of heart, big with the life of the morrow, + Lifting our soul from the soil, thy Body transfixed with our sorrow-- + Till, lo, the fair fruitage of life, upheld in thine arms for + a Throne, + Opens eyes to the kiss of God, His Child, yet thy very own. + + Far back ere the brooding wing of the Spirit o'er Chaos stirred, + God thought of Creation to be, and His Thought took flesh as + the Word-- + Child of eternal Love, awaiting the fulness of days, + Downward descending in dreams, seeking our earthward ways, + Struggling for birth through the ages, piercing through many a cloud, + Worshipped at many an altar, wherever faces were bowed, + Or hands uplifted to Heaven in passionate yearning to see + In thy Face the transfiguring vision of life-giving Deity. + Till, lo, the idea of God, His Child, thou art brought to birth, + Making glad all thy brethren to be, and thy Mother the travailing + earth. + + O Mother dear, to whom came Gabriel + With message like a sword, + Who bowed thyself in meekness at the well-- + The Handmaid of the Lord! + Mother of Men, triumphant o'er the brute, + Hailed highly favored from the Holy Place, + The splendor of Earth's meaning in thy Face, + Her ultimate Flower and Fruit! + + O Babe Divine, for whom the angels sang + O'er Bethlehem's fields of old, + When through the darkness heavenly carols rang + And heavenly tidings told! + O Child of Heaven, to whom all hearts aspire, + In incense clouds of prayer that upward burn, + In wakening throbs of Life that constant yearn-- + Rich Spring-tide of desire! + + Beyond the temporal tides whose course has run + In realms where space has burst her ancient bars, + I see the Woman clothed with the Sun, + And circled with the stars. + + With feet upon the changeful Moon, she stands, + And on her face a look divinely mild, + She holds secure with tender, human hands + The Everlasting Child. + + O ancient Mother, ever Virgin, young + With youth renewed through all the ages, Sign + Of Hope, the age-long prayer of every tongue, + And Victory divine! + + Hold Thou that Hope that bursts upon our night-- + Babe by thee suckled, sustenant of thee, + Beacon enkindled from the Eternal Light, + For all the world to see! + + Sing all ye angel conclave of the skies, + Who at Creation's birth did shout for joy, + And hailed the task begun! + Now let your songs of triumph higher rise, + And all your heavenliest melodies employ, + To praise Creation done! + + And sing, ye creatures from the lowest deep, + Whose groans have risen: 'O Lord, O Lord, how long?' + Expectant of the dawn! + High festival with men and angels keep, + Upraise from Earth to Heaven the endless song, + And hail the Babe new-born! + + + + +XI. + +The Vision of the Kings + +_A woman, with her baby at her breast, is depicted meditating, half +to herself and half to her child, upon the Christmas story. The poem +endeavors to trace the pathway of her thought._ + + + + The Vision of the Kings + + + I. + + O Virginal mother of men, in whose fathomless eyes-- + Soft eyes too familiar with tears, + Past sorrow and faith in the future both wistfully wait + The gladness that comes with the years! + Asleep on your breast and content, that futurity lies, + Nor frets nor frowns at its fate. + While half to yourself and half to your baby you sing + The story undying miraculous Christmases bring: + + "There came three kings from far away, from far away, + from far away, + And o'er the crib of Bethlehem their guiding star its + course did stay. + Along the road beneath that star the way ahead like + silver shone: + So came they to the King of kings and poured their gifts + before His throne." + + + II. + + Then sudden before your eyes the walls material fade + And melt away in the light, + While, full in that ray, as on stairway of stars, descend, + In robes of splendor bedight, + Three kingships on pilgrimage questing, with Heaven their aid, + And God within them their friend. + They move all majestical onward, as eager to greet + The slumbering Infant who draws them to kneel at His feet. + + + III. + + The first is the kingship of Love, that walks in the van-- + Of Love that kneels only to Love, + And vows unto Love a devotion Love only may pay. + Since Love is endowed from above. + How else could mortality offer such worship to man, + Or clay so reverence clay, + Did Love not know Love as predestined from death to win free, + Though lying all feeble and helpless asleep on your knee? + + + IV. + + The second is kingship of Service, carrying high + Its casket of frankincense rare, + As ready in glad self-oblation to cast at Love's feet + The vessel fashioned so fair; + In gladness releasing, as incense that floats to the sky, + The odors of sacrifice sweet; + Lest self claim the fragrance that clings to one drop of the nard, + To shatter the vessel so fine to the uttermost shard. + + + V. + + The third is the kingship of Wisdom, lingering still, + With hands that grope as they bear + No visible gift, and with footsteps that feel for the light, + And with eyes turned inward, from fear + Lest soon all their questing be ended, lest soon they shall fill + Their seeing with fullness of sight; + Still wise in their seeking for wisdom, yet wiser to be + In serving the Christ of their seeking on worshipping knee. + + + VI. + + Is all but a dream, O my mother, as, plain in your sight, + These march on their star-lit way? + Or see you, through casements celestial, on Heaven's bright floor, + Some earnest of Heaven's new day, + When all things on earth, or in heaven, or in hell's blackest night, + Bow down to give praise evermore-- + When they sing the new song of release from earth's sorrow and thrall + To Him who, though born in a manger, is King over all? + + + VII. + + Still dream, and with life as it passes still mingle your dream, + Nor fear for the ages unknown! + All fear shall your Babe laugh to scorn, however heavy its weight, + Since man is not faring alone! + 'Emmanuel'--'God with us all'--this is solace, we deem, + Sufficient to front any fate; + Though sharp be the Cross He must bear, when the conflict is o'er, + The kingship of earth and of heaven is His evermore. + + + + +XII. + +A Prayer for the New Year + + + + A Prayer for the New Year + + O God, whose days are without end and Whose years cannot + be numbered! + We, the seeming creatures of a day, reach onward through + the passing years + To claim Thy kinship in Eternity. + We thank Thee for the solemn pause wherein we put the dead + past behind us, + And face the new unknown with courage new. + Lift up over Thy bewildered world the sunshine of Thy presence + That we this year may see the world, Thy handiwork, + Emerge victorious, purposeful from Chaos, + Grant us to see, clear of cloud and battle-smoke, + The Eternal City, real before our eyes, + Stable on earth, the world of all our dreams, + Home of men reconciled, redeemed from hate. + Grant us to see Creation, after travail pangs, + With Love again made young, young Hope within her arms, + Her sorrows healed, her tears to pearls transformed. + Then we, strangers and sojourners of Time, shall gird ourselves + For the march which ends not but in rest with Thee. + O hang the lamp of hope above our onward path; + Give clearer light to understand the things which hitherto were dark; + Give strength to work the work for which our hands were hitherto + too feeble; + Enlarge our hearts to love all that is worthy love, though + hitherto unloved; + Whatever seed Thou scatterest along these unknown days ahead, + Help us to reap therefrom harvests of blessing for ourselves + and others + Which Thou wilt garner safe beyond the flux of years. + + + + + PRINTED IN + THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + BY + MOREHOUSE PUBLISHING CO. + MILWAUKEE, WIS. + + + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75153 *** |