Part 24 (1/2)

ODE TO PEACE

I

IN EXCELSIS

Two dwellings, Peace, are thine.

One is the mountain-height, Uplifted in the loneliness of light Beyond the realm of shadows,--fine, And far, and clear,--where advent of the night Means only glorious nearness of the stars, And dawn unhindered breaks above the bars That long the lower world in twilight keep.

Thou sleepest not, and hast no need of sleep, For all thy cares and fears have dropped away; The night's fatigue, the fever-fret of day, Are far below thee; and earth's weary wars, In vain expense of pa.s.sion, pa.s.s Before thy sight like visions in a gla.s.s,-- Or like the wrinkles of the storm that creep Across the sea and leave no trace Of trouble on that immemorial face,-- So brief appear the conflicts, and so slight The wounds men give, the things for which they fight!

Here hangs a fortress on the distant steep,-- A lichen clinging to the rock.

There sails a fleet upon the deep,-- A wandering flock Of snow-winged gulls. And yonder, in the plain, A marble palace s.h.i.+nes,--a grain Of mica glittering in the rain.

Beneath thy feet the clouds are rolled By voiceless winds: and far between The rolling clouds, new sh.o.r.es and peaks are seen, In s.h.i.+mmering robes of green and gold, And faint aerial hue That silent fades into the silent blue.

Thou, from thy mountain-hold, All day in tranquil wisdom looking down On distant scenes of human toil and strife, All night, with eyes aware of loftier life Uplifted to the sky where stars are sown, Dost watch the everlasting fields grow white Unto the harvest of the sons of light, And welcome to thy dwelling-place sublime The few strong souls that dare to climb The slippery crags, and find thee on the height.

II

DE PROFUNDIS

But in the depth thou hast another home, For hearts less daring, or more frail.

Thou dwellest also in the shadowy vale; And pilgrim-souls that roam With weary feet o'er hill and dale, Bearing the burden and the heat Of toilful days, Turn from the dusty ways To find thee in thy green and still retreat.

Here is no vision wide outspread Before the lonely and exalted seat Of all-embracing knowledge. Here, instead, A little cottage, and a garden-nook, With outlooks brief and sweet Across the meadows, and along the brook,-- A little stream that nothing knows Of the great sea to which it gladly flows,-- A little field that bears a little wheat To make a portion of earth's daily bread.

The vast cloud-armies overhead Are marshalled, and the wild wind blows Its trumpet, but thou canst not tell Whence comes the wind nor where it goes; Nor dost thou greatly care, since all is well.

Thy daily task is done, And now the wages of repose are won.

Here friends.h.i.+p lights the fire, and every heart, Sure of itself and sure of all the rest, Dares to be true, and gladly takes its part In open converse, bringing forth its best: And here is music, melting every chain Of la.s.situde and pain: And here, at last, is sleep with silent gifts,-- Kind sleep, the tender nurse who lifts The soul grown weary of the waking world, And lays it, with its thoughts all furled, Its fears forgotten, and its pa.s.sions still, On the deep bosom of the Eternal Will.

THREE PRAYERS FOR SLEEP AND WAKING

I

BEDTIME

Ere thou sleepest gently lay Every troubled thought away: Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress: Drop thy burden and thy care In the quiet arms of prayer.

_Lord, Thou knowest how I live, All I've done amiss forgive: All of good I've tried to do, Strengthen, bless, and carry through, All I love in safety keep, While in Thee I fall asleep._

II

NIGHT WATCH

If slumber should forsake Thy pillow in the dark, Fret not thyself to mark How long thou liest awake.