The Poems of Henry Van Dyke Part 29

There are many kinds of love, as many kinds of light, And every kind of love makes a glory in the night.

There is love that stirs the heart, and love that gives it rest, But the love that leads life upward is the n.o.blest and the best.

_FACTA NON VERBA_

_Deeds not Words_: I say so too!

And yet I find it somehow true, A word may help a man in need, To n.o.bler act and braver deed.

FOUR THINGS

Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow-men sincerely; To act from honest motives purely; To trust in G.o.d and Heaven securely.

THE GREAT RIVER

_"In la sua volontade e nostra pace."_

O mighty river! strong, eternal Will, Wherein the streams of human good and ill Are onward swept, conflicting, to the sea!

The world is safe because it floats in Thee.

INSCRIPTION FOR A TOMB IN ENGLAND

Read here, O friend unknown, Our grief, of her bereft; Yet think not tears alone Within our hearts are left.

The gifts she came to give, Her heavenly love and cheer, Have made us glad to live And die without a fear.

1912.

THE TALISMAN

What is Fortune, what is Fame?

Futile gold and phantom name,-- Riches buried in a cave, Glory written on a grave.

What is Friends.h.i.+p? Something deep That the heart can spend and keep: Wealth that greatens while we give, Praise that heartens us to live.

Come, my friend, and let us prove Life's true talisman is love!

By this charm we shall elude Poverty and solitude.

January 21, 1914.

THORN AND ROSE

Far richer than a thornless rose Whose branch with beauty never glows, Is that which every June adorns With perfect bloom among its thorns.

Merely to live without a pain Is little gladness, little gain, Ah, welcome joy tho' mixt with grief,-- The thorn-set flower that crowns the leaf.

June 20, 1914.

"THE SIGNS"

_Dedicated to the Zodiac Club_

Who knows how many thousand years ago The twelvefold Zodiac was made to show The course of stars above and men below?

The great sun plows his furrow by its "lines": From all its "houses" mystic meaning s.h.i.+nes: Deep lore of life is written in its "signs."

_Aries_--Sacrifice.

Snow-white and sacred is the sacrifice That Heaven demands for what our heart doth prize: The man who fears to suffer, ne'er can rise.

_Taurus_--Strength.

Rejoice, my friend, if G.o.d has made you strong: Put forth your force to move the world along: Yet never shame your strength to do a wrong.

_Gemini_--Brotherhood.

Bitter his life who lives for self alone, Poor would he be with riches and a throne: But friends.h.i.+p doubles all we are and own.

_Cancer_--The Wisdom of Retreat.

Learn from the crab, O runner fresh and fleet, Sideways to move, or backward, when discreet; Life is not all advance,--sometimes retreat!

_Leo_--Fire.

The sign of Leo is the sign of fire.

Hatred we hate: but no man should desire A heart too cold to flame with righteous ire.

_Virgo_--Love.

Mysterious symbol, words are all in vain To tell the secret power by which you reign.

The more we love, the less we can explain.

_Libra_--Justice.

Examine well the scales with which you weigh; Let justice rule your conduct every day; For when you face the Judge you'll need fair play.