Page:Poems Denver.djvu/347

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THE ATHEIST.
"There is no God!" All nature sighed with terror,
When first these words fell on her startled ear;
The dark green forests heard the willful error,
And whispered to each other words of fear!
The skies were clear, there spoke no voice of thunder,
Yet the sun blushed, indignant at the wrong;
The wild-rose hid her head her green leaves under,
And thought of Him who nourished her so long.

"There is no God!" Go ye who heard the story—
Repeat it not, but cast an upward glance
Unto the stars arrayed in all their glory;
Then ask yourselves, Could they be made by chance?
The thousand, thousand gems that nightly cluster
Upon the brow of night, children of love,
Upon us look, with stronger, brighter luster,
And answer "No!" from their high homes above.

Go ye, who heard it, to the dark blue ocean;
Watch the strong waves that move for good or ill;
Then think, if thou canst do it, without emotion,
Of Him who said unto them. "Peace, be still!"