78
Poems
And from its rays, a light flashed o'er the earth,
To 'waken charity, give justice birth,
To rouse the darkened heart to thoughts of God,
And leave more bright the paths his feet have trod.
With hands outspread in blessing, o'er the throng,
And heart rejoicing in the angels' song,
He walked life's pathway from the first to close,
As his God willed, and left a light for those
Who fain would follow on his stainless way,
And not by lust of power be led astray.
To 'waken charity, give justice birth,
To rouse the darkened heart to thoughts of God,
And leave more bright the paths his feet have trod.
With hands outspread in blessing, o'er the throng,
And heart rejoicing in the angels' song,
He walked life's pathway from the first to close,
As his God willed, and left a light for those
Who fain would follow on his stainless way,
And not by lust of power be led astray.
There is no victory in this blow for death!
The central jewel in the crown of faith
Has warming rays, that will all time endure,
To light the rugged pathways of the poor.
He was their hope, their guide, the beacon fire
They watched through storms of woe and darkness dire.
'*A commoner!" and yet a royal road he trod,
Prince of a royal house,—the house of God.
Oh, to have known him! or that hand to have pressed
That, raised in benediction, truly blessed!
Idle his sceptre, his throne vacant now;
Can one be found to grace it? or a brow
The central jewel in the crown of faith
Has warming rays, that will all time endure,
To light the rugged pathways of the poor.
He was their hope, their guide, the beacon fire
They watched through storms of woe and darkness dire.
'*A commoner!" and yet a royal road he trod,
Prince of a royal house,—the house of God.
Oh, to have known him! or that hand to have pressed
That, raised in benediction, truly blessed!
Idle his sceptre, his throne vacant now;
Can one be found to grace it? or a brow
