"NOW."
A night of danger on the sea,
Of sleeplessness and fear!
Wave after wave comes thundering
Against the strong stone pier;
Each with a terrible recoil,
And a grim and gathering might,
As blast on blast comes howling past,
Each wild gust wilder than the last,
All through that awful night.
Well for the ships in harbor now,
Which caught the morning tide;
With cable out and anchor sure,
How peacefully they ride!
Well for the barque that came at eve,
Though watched with breathless fear;
'Twas sheltered first ere the tempest burst,
'Tis safe inside the pier!
But see a faint and fitful light
Out in the howling sea!
A vessel seeks the harbor mouth,
As in death agony.
Though strong stone arms are open wide,
She misses the only way;
Alas! too late, the storm drives fast,
The mighty waves they sweep her past,
And against that sheltering pier they cast
Their wrecked and shattered prey.
The billows drive the barque along,
Over the deck they dash,
Where sailors five are clinging fast
To broken stump of sail-less mast,
Waiting the final crash.
Is it too late? Can succor yet
Those drowning men now reach!
Life is so near—the firm-built pier
Must be the death of each.
The daring hearts—the sturdy arms,
The swift and steady feet,
They rush into a yawning grave,
In strong recoil of mightiest wave,
Treading most awful path to save,
As they tread a homeward street.
Over the boulders 'mid foam they rush
Into the ghastly hollow;
They fling the rope to the breaking wreck;
The aim is sure, and it strikes the deck,
The shouts of quick hope follow.
Reached—not saved! there is more to do,
A trumpet note is heard;
Over the rage,—over the roar
Of thundering billows on the shore,
Rings out the guiding word.
There is one chance, and only one.
All can be saved, but how?
"The rope hold fast, but quit the mast,"
The trumpet signals "Now!"
There is a moment when the sea
Allays its furious strength;
A shuddering pause with sudden whirl,
Gathering force again to hurl
Billow on billow, whirl on whirl;
That moment comes at length:
With single shout the "Now" peals out.
The answering leap is made.
Well for the simple hearts that just
Loosing the mast with fearless trust,
The strange command obeyed!
The rope is good, the stout arms pull
Ere the storm-lull is o'er;
'Tis but a swift and blinding sweep
Through waters wild and dark and deep—
The men are safe on shore—
Safe! though the fiend-like blast pursue;
Safe! though the waves dash high;
But the ringing cheer that rises clear
Is checked with a sudden cry:—
"There are but four upon the shore,
And five were on the deck!"
And strained eyes that pierce the gloom
Still trace, swift drifting on to doom,
One man upon the wreck.
Again they chase in sternest race
The far re-coiling wave;
The rope is cast, the tossing mark
It reaches not, the windy dark
Hides him they strive to save.
They rush again, again they fail,
Again, and yet again:
The storm yells back defiance loud,
The breakers rear a rampart proud,
And roar, "In vain, in vain!"
Then a giant wave takes up the wreck
And bears it on its crest;—
One moment it hung quivering there
In horrible arrest.
The lonely man on vengeful sea
A lightning flash uplit,
Still clinging fast to broken mast
He had not dared to quit.
Then horror of great darkness fell,
While eyes flashed inward fire;
And over all the roar and dash,
Through that great blackness came a crash,
A token sure and dire.
The wave had burst upon the pier,
The wreck was scattered wide;
Another "Now" would never reach
The corpse that lay upon the beach
With the receding tide.
God's "Now" is sounding in your ears,
Oh, let it reach your heart!
Not only from your sinfulness
He bids you part;
Your righteousness as filthy rags
Must all relinquished be,
And only Jesus' precious death
Must be your plea.
Now trust the one provided rope,
Now quit the broken mast,
Before the hope of safety be
Forever past.
Fear not to trust His simple word,
So sweet, so tried, so true,
And you are safe for evermore,
Yes,—even you!
—Frances Ridley Havergal.