The poetical works of George MacDonald Volume Ii Part 20

Where now I sit alone, unmoving, calm, With windows open to thy wind, Shall I not know thee in the radiant psalm Soaring from heart and mind?

The body of this death will melt away, And I shall know as I am known; Know thee my father, every hour and day, As thou know'st me thine own!

_BLIND SORROW_.

"My life is drear; walking I labour sore; The heart in me is heavy as a stone; And of my sorrows this the icy core: Life is so wide, and I am all alone!"

Thou did'st walk so, with heaven-born eyes down bent Upon the earth's gold-rosy, radiant clay, That thou had'st seen no star in all G.o.d's tent Had not thy tears made pools first on the way.

Ah, little knowest thou the tender care In a love-plenteous cloak around thee thrown!

Full many a dim-seen, saving mountain-stair Toiling thou climb'st--but not one step alone!

Lift but thy languid head and see thy guide; Let thy steps go in his, nor choose thine own; Then soon wilt thou, thine eyes with wonder wide, Cry, _Now I know I never was alone_!

MOTES IN THE SUN.

_ANGELS_.

Came of old to houses lonely Men with wings, but did not show them: Angels come to our house, only, For their wings, they do not know them!

_THE FATHER'S WORs.h.i.+PPERS_.

'Tis we, not in thine arms, who weep and pray; The children in thy bosom laugh and play.

_A BIRTHDAY-WISH_.

Who know thee, love: thy life be such That, ere the year be o'er, Each one who loves thee now so much, Even G.o.d, may love thee more!

_TO ANY ONE_.

Go not forth to call Dame Sorrow From the dim fields of Tomorrow; Let her roam there all unheeded, She will come when she is needed; Then, when she draws near thy door, She will find G.o.d there before.

_WAITING_.

Lie, little cow, and chew thy cud, The farmer soon will s.h.i.+ft thy tether; Chirp, linnet, on the frozen mud, Sun and song will come together; Wait, soul, for G.o.d, and thou shalt bud, He waits thy waiting with his weather.

_LOST BUT SAFE_.

Lost the little one roams about, Pathway or shelter none can find; Blinking stars are coming out; No one is moving but the wind; It is no use to cry or shout, All the world is still as a mouse; One thing only eases her mind: "Father knows I'm not in the house!"

_MUCH AND MORE_.

When thy heart, love-filled, grows graver, And eternal bliss looks nearer, Ask thy heart, nor show it favour, Is the gift or giver dearer?

Love, love on; love higher, deeper; Let love's ocean close above her; Only, love thou more love's keeper, More, the love-creating lover.

_HOPE AND PATIENCE_.

An unborn bird lies crumpled and curled, A-dreaming of the world.

Round it, for castle-wall, a sh.e.l.l Is guarding it well.

_Hope_ is the bird with its dim sensations; The sh.e.l.l that keeps it alive is _Patience_.

_A BETTER THING_.

I took it for a bird of prey that soared High over ocean, battled mount, and plain; 'Twas but a bird-moth, which with limp horns gored The invisibly obstructing window-pane!

Better than eagle, with far-towering nerve But downward bent, greedy, marauding eye, Guest of the flowers, thou art: unhurt they serve Thee, little angel of a lower sky!

_A PRISONER_.

The hinges are so rusty The door is fixed and fast; The windows are so dusty The sun looks in aghast: Knock out the gla.s.s, I pray, Or dash the door away, Or break the house down bodily, And let my soul go free!

_TO MY LORD AND MASTER_.

Imagination cannot rise above thee; Near and afar I see thee, and I love thee; My misery away from me I thrust it, For thy perfection I behold, and trust it.

_TO ONE UNSATISFIED_.