A Century of Emblems Part 3

O suns! O founts! O domes of fire, O palaces of seraph kings!

O s.h.i.+ning ones who all aspire To fan the stars with flaming wings!

My soul, what gracious glorious power To hue and radiance G.o.d hath given!

I felt as though for half-an-hour I stood before the gates of Heaven.

Now all is dark, and so I bring With joy my splendid memories home, And think of heaven whene'er I sing The bright Girandola of Rome.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THE MOON

ON EARTH DISOWNED, IN HEAVEN ENTHRONED.

When first behind the woods arose The moon with red distempered fire, We feared beyond the hilly close Some conflagration dire.

But see her now enthroned on high, Clear of the thwarting trees, She glows upon the watchet sky G.o.d's seal of golden peace.

So spirits rich in grace divine Misunderstood, distorted, here, Shall with unsullied l.u.s.tre s.h.i.+ne In Heaven's congenial sphere.

HEAVEN LIGHTS AND HOME LIGHTS.

Pale broken lights that close our heavenly view Caressing eve ere weeps the twilight dew, Tender ye are as love smiles s.h.i.+ning through Life's parting hour: adieu, dark day, adieu!

Ye cheer our footsteps on the wintry way, Kind hints from Heaven when earth is cold and gray.

Heaven is our home; and we but wanderers through This glimmering vale: adieu, dark day, adieu!

Short is our journey now, nor steep the road; Sound still our limbs and light our daily load; Chill night we leave behind, and hasten through Home's glowing door: adieu, dark day, adieu!

Dear emblems, these we cherish till the last Deep nightfall on our brows the shadow cast, And we by faith see glory s.h.i.+ning through The door of death: adieu, dark day, adieu!

CLOUD EMBLEM.

Beneath the vault of yonder clouds A lake of suns.h.i.+ne lies, The rent between those s.h.i.+fting shrouds Reveals it to our eyes.

The glory of its amber light Clasped by an opal sh.o.r.e, Melts me to joy I cannot write And makes my heart adore.

I feel as if the great white throne Rose dazzling there above, Nor inaccessible its zone To those that feel and love.

Beneath, the elders all bow down Each in his radiant stole-- Each in the lake hath cast his crown, The homage of a soul.

Emblem of Heaven! sublime device!

No air can thee retain: Read in the Word, the Heart, the Skies, Thee we shall meet again.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

COTTAGE SMOKE ASCENDING.

The silent smoke in column true Streams from the poor man's hearth, Right up into the ether blue, Uniting heaven and earth.

From lowly hearts thus quiet prayer Sends up a golden cord To G.o.d's right hand, uniting there The labourer to his Lord.

SMOKE NOT ASCENDING.

The lolling smoke which clouds the noonday skies And mars the outline of our orchard trees, Smirching the buds and blossoms, here supplies An emblem of the gross ign.o.ble ease

Of apathetic souls, which lost in sloth, Lifting no thought to heaven, with sordid care Infect young hearts around, and check the growth Of aspirations craving purer air.

THE CARELESS SHEPHERD.

How like the world these flowery leas On which fantastic shadows play; And, lo, the shepherd sleeps at ease, And sheep like sinners go astray.

The night mist broods o'er yonder mere; Wake, slumberer! lest thy Lord complain When the dim folding hour draws near, And thou shalt seek His lambs in vain.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHILD AND SNAKES.

Haste! ere the simple infant die Which, lured by glistening strakes, With tender fingers would untie That knot of tangled snakes.

Thus man with a perverted skill, In his own darkness blind, The mystic coil of Fate and Will Seeks madly to unbind.