Poems of Optimism Part 12

Up to the gates of gleaming Pearl, There came the spirit of a girl, And to the white-robed Guard she said: 'Dear Angel, am I truly dead?

Just yonder, lying on my bed, I heard them say it; and they wept.

And after that, methinks I slept.

Then when I woke, I saw your face, And suddenly was in this place.

It seems a pleasant place to be, Yet earth was fair enough to me.

What is there here, to do, or see?

Will I see G.o.d, dear Angel, say?

And is He very far away?'

The Angel said, 'You are in truth What men call dead. That word to youth Is full of terror; but it means Only a change of tasks, and scenes.

You have been brought to us because Of certain ancient karmic laws Set into motion aeons gone.

By us you will be guided on From plane to plane, and sphere to sphere, Until your tasks are finished here.

Then back to earth, the home of man, To work again another span.'

'But, Angel, when will I see G.o.d?'

'After the final path is trod; After you no more long, or crave, To see, or hear, or own, or have Aught beside--HIM. Then shall His face Reveal itself to you in s.p.a.ce.

And you shall find yourself made one With that Great Sun, behind the sun.

Child, go thy way inside the gate, Where many eager loved ones wait.

Death is but larger life begun.'

A VISION

My soul beheld a vision of the Master: Methought He stood with grieved and questioning eyes, Where Freedom drove its chariot to disaster And toilers heard, unheeding, toilers' cries.

Where man withheld G.o.d's bounties from his neighbour, And fertile fields were sterilised by greed; Where Labour's hand was lifted against labour, And suffering serfs to despots turned when freed.

Majestic rose tall steeple after steeple; Imperious bells called worshippers to prayer; But as they pa.s.sed, the faces of the people Were marred by envy, anger and despair.

'Christ the Redeemer of the world has risen, Peace and good will,' so rang the major strain; But forth from sweat-shops, tenement and prison Wailed minor protests, redolent with pain.

Methought about the Master, all unseeing, Fought desperate hosts of striking clan with clan, Their primal purpose, meant for labour's freeing, Sunk in vindictive hate of man for man.

Pretentious Wealth, in unearned robes of beauty, Flung Want a pittance from her bulging purse, While ill-paid Toil went on dull rounds of duty, h.e.l.l in her heart, and on her lips a curse.

Then spoke the Christ (so wondrous was my vision) (Deep, deep, His voice, with sorrow's cadence fraught): 'This world to-day would be a realm elysian Had my disciples lived the love I taught.

Un-Christlike is the Christian creed men fashion Who kneel to worship, and who rise to slay.

Profane pretenders of my holy Pa.s.sion, Ye nail Me newly to the cross each day.'

THE SECOND COMING

How will Christ come back again, How will He be seen, and where, Where His chosen way?

Will He come in dead of night, Shining in His robes of light, Or at dawn of day?

Will it be at Christmas time, When the bells are all achime, That He is re-born?

Or will He return and bring Wide and wondrous wakening On some Easter morn?

When will this sad world rejoice, Listening to that golden voice Speaking unto men?

Lives there one who yet shall cry Loud to startled pa.s.sers-by - 'Christ has come again?'

List the answer--Christ is here!

Seek and you shall find him near - Dwelling on the earth.

By the world's awakened thought, This great miracle is wrought, This the second birth.

While you wonder where and now Christ shall come--behold him NOW, Patient, loving, meek.

Looking from your neighbour's eyes, Or in humble toiling guise - Lo! the Christ you seek.

Look for him in human hearts, In the shops, and in the marts, And beside your hearth.

Search and speak the watchword Love, And the Christ shall rise and prove He has come to earth.

Sorrowful ofttimes is He That we have not eyes to see, Have not ears to hear, As we call to Him afar, Out beyond some distant star, While He stands so near.

Seek Him, seek Him, where He dwells, Chime the voices of the bells On the Christmas air.

Christ has come to earth again, He is in the hearts of men, Seek and find him there.