Poems with Power to Strengthen the Soul Part 148

THE STRUGGLE

"Body, I pray you, let me go!"

(It is a soul that struggles so.) "Body, I see on yonder height Dim reflex of a solemn light; A flame that shineth from the place Where Beauty walks with naked face; It is a flame you cannot see-- Lie down, you clod, and set me free.

"Body, I pray you, let me go!"

(It is a soul that striveth so.) "Body, I hear dim sounds afar Dripping from some diviner star; Dim sounds of joyous harmony, It is my mates that sing, and I Must drink that song or break my heart-- Body, I pray you, let us part.

"Comrade, your frame is worn and frail, Your vital powers begin to fail; I long for life, but you for rest; Then, Body, let us both be blest.

When you are lying 'neath the dew I'll come sometimes, and sing to you; But you will feel no pain nor woe-- Body, I pray you, let me go."

Thus strove a Being. Beauty fain, He broke his bonds and fled amain.

He fled: the Body lay bereft, But on its lips a smile was left, As if that spirit, looking back, Shouted upon his upward track, With joyous tone and hurried breath, Some message that could comfort Death.

--Danske Dandridge.

THE THREE FRIENDS

Man in his life hath three good friends-- Wealth, family, and n.o.ble deeds; These serve him in his days of joy And minister unto his needs.

But when the lonely hour of death With sad and silent foot draws nigh, Wealth, then, and family take their wings, And from the dying pillow fly.

But n.o.ble deeds in love respond, "Ere came to thee the fatal day, We went before, O gentle friend, And smoothed the steep and th.o.r.n.y way."

--From the Hebrew, tr. by Frederic Rowland Marvin.

AN OLD LATIN HYMN

How far from here to heaven?

Not very far, my friend; A single hearty step Will all thy journey end.

Hold, there! where runnest thou?

Know heaven is _in_ thee!

Seek'st thou for G.o.d elsewhere?

His face thou'lt never see.

Go out, G.o.d will go in; Die thou, and let him live; Be not, and he will be; Wait, and he'll all things give.

I don't believe in death.

If hour by hour I die, 'Tis hour by hour to gain A better life thereby.

--Angelus Silesius, A. D. 1620.

The chamber where the good man meets his fate Is privileged beyond the common walk Of virtuous life, quite in the verge of heaven.

--Edward Young.

Life-embarked, out at sea, 'mid the wave-tumbling roar, The poor ship of my body went down to the floor; But I broke, at the bottom of death, through a door, And, from sinking, began for ever to soar.

--From the Persian.

Truths that wake to perish never; Which neither listlessness, nor mad endeavor, Nor man, nor boy, Nor all that is at enmity with joy Can utterly abolish or destroy!

Hence in a season of calm weather, Though inland far we be, Our souls have sight of that immortal sea Which brought us. .h.i.ther; Can in a moment travel thither And see the children sport upon the sh.o.r.e, And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore.

--William Wordsworth.

APPENDIX

MISCELLANEOUS SELECTIONS

BE STRONG![1]

Be strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift, We have hard work to do, and loads to lift.

Shun not the struggle, face it, 'tis G.o.d's gift.

Be strong!

Say not the days are evil--who's to blame?

And fold the hands and acquiesce--O shame!

Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in G.o.d's name.

Be strong!

It matters not how deep intrenched the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day, how long; Faint not, fight on! To-morrow comes the song.

--Maltbie D. Babc.o.c.k.

NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO

O Lord, I pray That for this day I may not swerve By foot or hand From thy command, Not to be served, but to serve.

This, too, I pray, That for this day No love of ease Nor pride prevent My good intent, Not to be pleased, but to please.

And if I may I'd have this day Strength from above To set my heart In heavenly art, Not to be loved, but to love.

--Maltbie D. Babc.o.c.k.

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