Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 78

With thee to meet.

She that has wept o'er thee, kissed my cold brow, Rears the sad marble to our memory now, In lone retreat.

"By the remembrance of her loyal life, [25]

And parting prayer, I only know my wife, Thy child, shall come- Where farewells cloud not o'er our ransomed rest- Hither to reap, with all the crowned and blest, Of bliss the sum. [30]

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"When Love's rapt sense the heart-strings gently sweep, [1]

With joy divinely fair, the high and deep, To call her home, She shall mount upward unto purer skies; We shall be waiting, in what glad surprise, [5]

Our spirits' own!"

Love

Brood o'er us with Thy shelt'ring wing, 'Neath which our spirits blend Like brother birds, that soar and sing, [10]

And on the same branch bend.

The arrow that doth wound the dove Darts not from those who watch and love.

If thou the bending reed wouldst break By thought or word unkind, [15]

Pray that his spirit you partake, Who loved and healed mankind: Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, That make men one in love remain.

Learn, too, that wisdom's rod is given [20]

For faith to kiss, and know; That greetings glorious from high heaven, Whence joys supernal flow, Come from that Love, divinely near, Which chastens pride and earth-born fear, [25]

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Through G.o.d, who gave that word of might [1]

Which swelled creation's lay: "Let there be light, and there was light."

What chased the clouds away?

'Twas Love whose finger traced aloud [5]

A bow of promise on the cloud.

Thou to whose power our hope we give, Free us from human strife.

Fed by Thy love divine we live, [10]

For Love alone is Life; And life most sweet, as heart to heart Speaks kindly when we meet and part.

Woman's Rights

Grave on her monumental pile: She won from vice, by virtue's smile, [15]

Her dazzling crown, her sceptred throne, Affection's wreath, a happy home;

The right to wors.h.i.+p deep and pure, To bless the orphan, feed the poor; Last at the cross to mourn her Lord, [20]

First at the tomb to hear his word:

To fold an angel's wings below; And hover o'er the couch of woe; To nurse the Bethlehem babe so sweet, The right to sit at Jesus' feet; [25]

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To form the bud for bursting bloom, [1]

The h.o.a.ry head with joy to crown; In short, the right to work and pray, "To point to heaven and lead the way."

The Mother's Evening Prayer

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power; O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour, Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!

Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye [10]

Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall: His habitation high is here, and nigh, His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear, For hope deferred, ingrat.i.tude, disdain! [15]

Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear No ill,-since G.o.d is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing; In that sweet secret of the narrow way, Seeking and finding, with the angels sing: [20]

"Lo, I am with you alway,"-watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain; No night drops down upon the troubled breast, When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain, And mother finds her home and heavenly rest. [25]

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June

Whence are thy wooings, gentle June?

Thou hast a Naiad's charm; Thy breezes scent the rose's breath; Old Time gives thee her palm. [5]

The lark's shrill song doth wake the dawn; The eve-bird's forest flute Gives back some maiden melody, Too pure for aught so mute.

The fairy-peopled world of flowers, [10]

Enraptured by thy spell, Looks love unto the laughing hours, Through woodland, grove, and dell; And soft thy footstep falls upon The verdant gra.s.s it weaves; [15]