MY HICKORY FIRE.
127
No man dared say to curve, to line,
"Be beautiful, by word of mine!
I crown thee lovely on the earth!
I am thy Lord of life and birth."
Before all men the line, the curve,
Stood suddenly, and said:
"Preserve
What joy ye can. O blind of eye!
Behold us once before ye die!"
O hidden secret of all things!
O kingdom earlier than kings!
Before earth was, yea, and before
The Heavens, Eternity forbore
All haste, waiting each sign and bond,
For seal of thee, to set beyond
All time's impatience the decree
And record of thy sovereignty!
"Be beautiful, by word of mine!
I crown thee lovely on the earth!
I am thy Lord of life and birth."
Before all men the line, the curve,
Stood suddenly, and said:
"Preserve
What joy ye can. O blind of eye!
Behold us once before ye die!"
O hidden secret of all things!
O kingdom earlier than kings!
Before earth was, yea, and before
The Heavens, Eternity forbore
All haste, waiting each sign and bond,
For seal of thee, to set beyond
All time's impatience the decree
And record of thy sovereignty!
MY HICKORY FIRE.
HELPLESS body of hickory tree,What do I burn, in burning thee?
Summers of sun, winters of snow,
Springs full of sap's resistless flow;
All past year's joys of garnered fruits;
All this year's purposed buds and shoots;
Secrets of fields of upper air,
Secrets which stars and planets share;
Light of such smiles as broad skies fling;
Sound of such tunes as wild winds sing;
