A FEW MORE VERSES.

By SUSAN COOLIDGE.

UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME.
———
VERSES.
By SUSAN COOLIDGE.
Price, $1.00.
ROBERTS BROTHERS,
PUBLISHERS.

A
Few More Verses.
By SUSAN COOLIDGE,
AUTHOR OF “VERSES.”

BOSTON
LITTLE, BROWN, AND COMPANY
1907

Copyright, 1889,
By Roberts Brothers.
Printers
S. J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U. S. A.

GIVING to all, thou gavest as well to me.

A myriad thirsty shores await the tide:

They drink and drink, and will not be denied;

But not a drop less full the brimming Sea.

One tiny shell among the kelp and weed,

One sand-grain where the beaches stretch away,—

How shall the tide regard them? Yet each day

It comes, and fills and satisfies their need.

What can the singing sands give to the Sea?

What the dumb shell, though inly it rejoice?

Only the echo of its own strong voice;—

And this is all that here I bring to thee.

A BENEDICTION.

GOD give thee, love, thy heart’s desire!

What better can I pray?

For though love falter not, nor tire,

And stand on guard all day,

How little can it know or do,

How little can it say!

How hard it strives, and how in vain,

By hope and fear misled,

To make the pathway soft and plain

For the dear feet to tread,

To shield from sun-beat and from rain

The one beloved head!

Its wisdom is made foolishness;

Its best intent goes wrong;

It curses where it fain would bless,

Is weak instead of strong,—

Marring with sad, discordant sighs

The joyance of its song.

I do not dare to bless or ban,—

I am too blind to see,—

But this one little prayer I can

Put up to God for thee,

Because I know what fair, pure things

Thy inmost wishes be;

That what thy heart desires the most

Is what he loves to grant,—

The love that counteth not its cost

If any crave or want;

The presence of the Holy Ghost,

The soul’s inhabitant;

The wider vision of the mind;

The spirit bright with sun;

The temper like a fragrant wind,

Chilling and grieving none;

The quickened heart to know God’s will

And on his errands run;

The ministry of little things,—

Not counted mean or small

By that dear alchemy which brings

Some grain of gold from all;

The faith to wait as well as work,

Whatever may befall.

So, sure of thee, and unafraid,

I make my daily prayer,

Nor fear that my blind zeal be made

Thy injury or snare:

God give thee, love, thy heart’s desire,

And bless thee everywhere!