Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/113

 Which captivate yet elude? What or who and where? The richest radio this, and the first, of the ascending years? I ask myself, being alone, and I seek to answer. I listen still. My awakened soul is rising; I look around, all around. I continue to think, and very gently Truth appears. What? Yes, the winds, the winged winds, have joyfully yielded To the goddess Harmony, And together they are producing this matchless marvel. My soul is at peace, yet longs for more, More of such wooing of the eternally tender goddess, Brought to me, with approval of Aeolius.

THE GOD-MAN AND MYSELF

I answered truly with both heart and head, "Not guilty" of the things they said, My plotting foes, with envy's cruel rod; Yet frailties mine oppressively controlled, And perilous waves o'er me were rolled, When lo! a symbol of the meek but mighty God. Again I saw and loved the sinner's Friend, From first missteps to abysmal depths of his darkest end— A friend to even me, a crushed clod.

But how, O Jesus, how Can a stainless one, the such as thou, Again receive a sinner like myself? With weakened faith in thee, with pride and pelf I went my way, And leaned for stay On feigned things that fell; And down I dropped to hell, A bitter burning hell, A hell of fire, consuming fire within, In a mind and heart of sin— A fire which broke out all around, Because the flame in me was found— For in the human heart doth heaven and hell begin.

But I willed, not in such a state to dwell, If, O Christ, I may return, And once more learn The power of thy love and grace. While I may not behold the glory of thy face, I only ask to see and to adore, As many a penitent and I afore,