Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 87

I am all want and hunger; this faint heart Pines for a fullness which it finds not here, Dear ones are leaving, and as they depart, Make room within for something yet more dear.

More of thyself, oh, show me hour by hour More of thy glory, O my G.o.d and Lord!

More of thyself in all thy grace and power More of thy love and truth, Incarnate Word.

Love that asketh love again Finds the barter naught but pain; Love that giveth in full store, Aye receives as much, and more.

Love, exacting nothing back, Never knoweth any lack; Love, compelling love to pay, Sees him bankrupt every day.

--Dinah Maria Mulock Craik.

Such power there is in clear-eyed self-restraint And purpose clean as light from every selfish taint.

--James Russell Lowell.

HIS BANNER OVER ME

Surrounded by unnumbered foes, Against my soul the battle goes!

Yet, though I weary, sore distrest, I know that I shall reach my rest.

I lift my tearful eyes above; His banner over me is love.

Its sword my spirit will not yield, Though flesh may faint upon the field; He waves before my fading sight The branch of palm--the crown of light; I lift my brightening eyes above, His banner over me is love.

My cloud of battle-dust may dim, His veil of splendor curtain him, And in the midnight of my fear I may not feel him standing near; But, as I lift mine eyes above, His banner over me is love.

--Gerald Ma.s.sey.

THE SPILT PEARLS

His courtiers of the caliph crave: "O say how this may be, That of thy slaves this Ethiop slave Is best beloved by thee?

"For he is hideous as the night: Yet when has ever chose A nightingale for its delight A hueless, scentless rose?"

The caliph then: "No features fair, No comely mien are his; Love is the beauty he doth wear; And love his glory is.

"Once when a camel of my train There fell, in narrow street, From broken casket rolled amain Rich pearls before my feet.

"I nodding to my slaves that I Would freely give them these, At once upon the spoil they fly The costly boon to seize.

"One only at my side remained-- Beside this Ethiop none; He, moveless as the steed he reined, Behind me sat alone.

"'What will thy gain, good fellow, be, Thus lingering at my side?'

'My king, that I shall faithfully Have guarded thee,' he cried.

"True servant's t.i.tle he may wear, He only, who has not, For his lord's gifts, how rich soe'er, His lord himself forgot!"

So thou alone dost walk before Thy G.o.d with perfect aim, From him desiring nothing more Beside himself to claim.

For if thou not to him aspire, But to his gifts alone, Not love, but covetous desire, Has brought thee to his throne.

While such thy prayer; it climbs above In vain--the golden key Of G.o.d's rich treasure-house of love Thine own will never be.

--Saadi, tr. by Richard Chenevix Trench.

THE HIGHER PRIVILEGE

For some the narrow lane of "must,"

Be mine the big, broad "may"; Better to love--be happy--trust, Than simply to obey.

O troubled over many things, Choose thou the better part; Service unconscious of itself, And childlikeness of heart.

Why cast your burden on the Lord And strive to drag it, too?

Call work an opportunity Till it grows joy to you.

"Ought" is a servant's work, not mine; I sign no grudging pledge; I am a child and son; my toil Is only privilege.

Who'd be a thrall to vain debates Of "were this right or wrong,"

When he might toss these cares to G.o.d And catch instead a song!

Why breathe earth's heavy atmosphere, Forgetful we can fly, When the high zenith, "G.o.d is Love,"

Allures us to the sky?

The virtues hide their vanquished fires Within that whiter flame, Till conscience grows irrelevant, And duty but a name!

--Frederic Lawrence Knowles.

THE WIDOW'S OIL

2 Kings 4. 1-6

Pour forth the oil, pour boldly forth, It will not fail until Thou failest vessels to provide Which it may freely fill.

But then, when such are found no more, Though flowing broad and free Till then, and nourished from on high, It straightway stanched will be.

Dig channels for the streams of love, Where they may broadly run; And love has overflowing streams To fill them every one.

But if at any time thou cease Such channels to provide, The very founts of love for thee Will soon be parched and dried.

For we must share, if we would keep, That good thing from above; Ceasing to give, we cease to have; Such is the law of love.

--Richard Chenevix Trench.

ONLY LOVE