Who is serene? Not he who flees his kind,
Some mountain fastness, or some cave to find;
But he who in the city’s noisiest scene,
Keeps calm within—he only is serene.
AFFIRM
Body and mind, and spirit, all combine
To make the Creature, human and divine.
Of this great trinity no part deny.
Affirm, affirm, the Great Eternal I.
Affirm the body, beautiful and whole,
The earth-expression of immortal soul.
Affirm the mind, the messenger of the hour,
To speed between thee and the source of power.
Affirm the spirit, the Eternal I—
Of this great trinity no part deny.
THE CHOSEN
They stood before the Angel at the gate;
The Angel asked: ‘Why should you enter in?’
One said: ‘On earth my place was high and great;’
And one: ‘I warned my fellow-men from sin;’
Another: ‘I was teacher of the faith;
I scorned my life and lived in love with death.’
And one stood silent. ‘Speak!’ the Angel said;
‘What earthly deed has sent you here to-day?’
‘Alas! I did but follow where they led,’
He answered sadly: ‘I had lost my way—
So new the country, and so strange my flight;
I only sought for guidance and for light.’