And in my dream I leapt for joy—
"'Twas but an awful dream," I said,
"The Lord of Life, for evermore
He lives—'twas once for all He bled!"
And waked from sleep by beating heart,
I heard the first red robin sing,
And knew that once again had come
Fresh from the life of God the spring.
[NATURE.]
The large, far intent
Of the Kingly One
Is only begun
In rearing the tent;
To nurture a soul
Is the shining goal.
Keen science speaketh
A word clear and fair
"The carbon in air
The young oak seeketh
In the greening years,
Lo, a giant appears!
"Shelter and warmth, see!
Here final cause
Of nature's wise laws;
And the breath of the tree
Is life unto man
And lengthens his span.'
But the Chemist who moves
The atoms in dance,
His all-seeing glance
By His working proves,—
From far-off to nigher,
Feeds life that is higher.
From blade to full ear,
From acorn to beam,
Unfoldings of dream,
Linkëd series of cheer,
Evolvings of grace,
Shadows bright of His face!