AN IMPROVISATION.
The stars cleave the sky.
Yet for us they rest,
And their race-course high
Is a shining nest!
The hours hurry on.
But where is thy flight,
Soft pavilion
Of motionless night?
Earth gives up her trees
To the holy air;
They live in the breeze;
They are saints at prayer!
Summer night, come from God,
On your beauty, I see,
A still wave has flowed
Of eternity!
EQUITY.
No bird can sing in tune but that the Lord
Sits throned in equity above the heaven,
And holds the righteous balance always even;
No heart can true response to love afford
Wherein from one to eight not every chord
Is yet attuned by the spirits seven:
For tuneful no bird sings but that the Lord
Is throned in equity above high heaven.
Oh heart, by wrong unfilial scathed and scored,
And from thy humble throne with mazedness driven,
Take courage: when thy wrongs thou hast forgiven,
Thy rights in love thy God will see restored:
No bird could sing in tune but that the Lord
Sits throned in equity above the heaven.
CONTRITION.
Out of the gulf into the glory,
Father, my soul cries out to be lifted.
Dark is the woof of my dismal story,
Thorough thy sun-warp stormily drifted!—
Out of the gulf into the glory,
Lift me, and save my story.