C. H. R.
(LOST OFF HAI-MUN IN THE CHINA SEA)
In what wide Wonderland, or near, or far, Press on to-day thy swift adventurous feet— Thou who wert wont the Orient skies to greet With song and laughter, and to climb the bar Of mountain ranges where the Cloud-gods are, With brave, glad steps, as eager and as fleet As a young lover’s, who, on errand sweet, Seeks the one face that is his guiding star? The far blue seas engulfed thee, oh! my brother, But could not quench thy spirit’s lofty fire, Nor daunt the soul that knew not how to quail. Earth-quest thou didst but barter for another, Where Alps on Alps before thee still aspire, And where, in God’s name, thou shalt yet prevail!
A NEW BEATITUDE
L. G. W.
“A new beatitude I write for thee, ‘Blessed are they who are not sure of things,’ Nor strive to mount on feeble, finite wings To heights where God’s strong angels, soaring free, Halt and are silent.” Ah, the mystery! To-day, O friend, beyond earth’s reckonings Of time and space, beyond its jars and stings, Thou enterest where the eternal secrets be! Ay, thou art sure to-day! No more the bars Of earth’s poor limitations hold thee back, Setting their bounds to thine advancing feet. Soar, lofty soul, beyond the farthest stars, Where hope nor yearning e’er shall suffer lack, Nor knowledge fail to any that entreat!
COMPENSATION
I.
Life of my life, do you remember how, At our fair pleasance gate, a stately tree Kept silent watch and ward? Majestic, free, Its head reached heaven, while its lowest bough Swept the green turf, and all between was row On row of crested waves—a sleeping sea— Or heaving billows tossed tumultuously, When the fierce winds that smote the mountain’s brow Lashed it to sudden passion. It was old. Storm-rocked for many centuries, it had grown One with the hills, the river and the sod; Yet young it was, with largess of red gold For every autumn, and from stores unknown Bringing each springtime treasure-trove to God.
II.
Then came a night of terror and dismay, Uproar and lightning, with the furious sweep Of mighty winds, that raged from steep to steep, And ere it passed the great tree prostrate lay! Sleepless I mourned until the morning gray; Then forth I crept, as one who goes to keep Watch by his dead, too heartsick even to weep, And hardly daring to behold the day. Lo! what vast splendor met my startled eyes, What unimagined space, what vision wide! Turrets and domes, now blue, now softest green, In one unbroken circuit kissed the skies; While, veiled in soft clouds, radiant as a bride, Shone one far sapphire peak till then unseen!