The poetical works of George MacDonald Volume I Part 63

Loved ones, I come to you: see my sadness; I am ashamed--but you pardon wrong!

Smile the old smile, and my soul's new gladness Straight will arise in sorrow and song!

_TO MY AGING FRIENDS_.

It is no winter night comes down Upon our hearts, dear friends of old; But a May evening, softly brown, Whose wind is rather cold.

We are not, like yon sad-eyed West, Phantoms that brood o'er Time's dust-h.o.a.rd, We are like yon Moon--in mourning drest, But gazing on her lord.

Come nearer to the hearth, sweet friends, Draw nigher, closer, hand and chair; Ours is a love that never ends, For G.o.d is dearest there!

We will not talk about the past, We will not ponder ancient pain; Those are but deep foundations cast For peaks of soaring gain!

We, waiting Dead, will warm our bones At our poor smouldering earthly fire; And talk of wide-eyed living ones Who have what we desire.

O Living, ye know what is death-- We, by and by, shall know it too!

Humble, with bated, hoping breath, We are coming fast to you!

_CHRISTMAS SONG OF THE OLD CHILDREN_.

Well for youth to seek the strong, Beautiful, and brave!

We, the old, who walk along Gently to the grave, Only pay our court to thee, Child of all Eternity!

We are old who once were young, And we grow more old; Songs we are that have been sung, Tales that have been told; Yellow leaves, wind-blown to thee, Childhood of Eternity!

If we come too sudden near, Lo, Earth's infant cries, For our faces wan and drear Have such withered eyes!

Thou, Heaven's child, turn'st not away From the wrinkled ones who pray!

Smile upon us with thy mouth And thine eyes of grace; On our cold north breathe thy south.

Thaw the frozen face: Childhood all from thee doth flow-- Melt to song our age's snow.

Gray-haired children come in crowds, Thee, their Hope, to greet: Is it swaddling clothes or shrouds Hampering so our feet?

Eldest child, the shadows gloom: Take the aged children home.

We have had enough of play, And the wood grows drear; Many who at break of day Companied us here-- They have vanished out of sight, Gone and met the coming light!

Fair is this out-world of thine, But its nights are cold; And the sun that makes it fine Makes us soon so old!

Long its shadows grow and dim-- Father, take us back with him!

1891.

_CHRISTMAS MEDITATION_.

He who by a mother's love Made the wandering world his own, Every year comes from above, Comes the parted to atone, Binding Earth to the Father's throne.

Nay, thou comest every day!

No, thou never didst depart!

Never hour hast been away!

Always with us, Lord, thou art, Binding, binding heart to heart!

_THE OLD CASTLE_.

The brother knew well the castle old, Every closet, each outlook fair, Every turret and bartizan bold, Every chamber, garnished or bare.

The brother was out in the heavenly air; Little ones lost the starry way, Wandered down the dungeon stair.

The brother missed them, and on the clay Of the dungeon-floor he found them all.

Up they jumped when they heard him call!

He led the little ones into the day-- Out and up to the suns.h.i.+ne gay, Up to the father's own door-sill-- In at the father's own room door, There to be merry and work and play, There to come and go at their will, Good boys and girls to be lost no more!

CHRISTMAS PRAYER.

Cold my heart, and poor, and low, Like thy stable in the rock; Do not let it orphan go, It is of thy parent stock!

Come thou in, and it will grow High and wide, a fane divine; Like the ruby it will glow, Like the diamond s.h.i.+ne!

_SONG OF THE INNOCENTS_.

Merry, merry we well may be, For Jesus Christ is come down to see: Long before, at the top of the stair, He set our angels a waiting there, Waiting hither and thither to fly, Tending the children of the sky, Lest they dash little feet against big stones, And tumble down and break little bones; For the path is rough, and we must not roam; We have learned to walk, and must follow him home!

_CHRISTMAS DAY AND EVERY DAY_.

Star high, Baby low: 'Twixt the two Wise men go; Find the baby, Grasp the star-- Heirs of all things Near and far!