THE SOWER
| A Sower went forth
to sow, But His seed on the wayside showered; A bird-flock out of the air flashed low And the goodly grain devoured. A Sower went forth to sow, O'er hid rocks plying his toil; The seed leaped up at the warm sun's glow, But withered for lack of soil. A Sower went forth to sow, And his seed took steadfast root; But flaming poppies and thorns in row Sprang up and strangled the fruit. A Sower went forth to sow, And at last his joy he found; For his good seed's generous overflow Sank deep into gracious ground. Lord, when we look back on our lives, With penitent sighs and tears, Our evil that with Thee strives and strives In Thy parable's truth appears. As the wayside hard were our hearts, Where Thy good seed lightly lay, For the Devil's flock, as it downward darts, To bruise and to bear away. Thy winged words falling nigher Sprang up in our souls with haste, But they could not endure temptation's fire And withered and went to waste. [118] Within us Thy word once more Thou sowest, but—sore beset With worldly weeds—for Thy threshing floor Shall it ever ripen yet? Yea, Lord, it shall if Thou please, In passionate, patient prayer, To draw the nation upon its knees And fill it with Heavenly care. And so shall we all arise In the joy of a soul's re-birth To hold a communion with the skies That shall bring down Heaven to earth. |