Page:Near nature's heart; a volume of verse (IA nearnaturesheart00jack).pdf/27

 "They call us imitators evermore,           And this forever be our life and joy,            For master angels whispered unto us,            'Follow song and God, and rise to life,            Aye, ever, ever more.'"

HIGH NOON

The sun had climbed high and as birdlings should feast, My morsel I finished and fell fast asleep; And dreamed a sweet dream, so rich and so deep, Till arches of gold reached the rose-portaled east, Aye! West wedded East and their glories increased—

A dream so sweet, And marvelous meet; My soul took wings, Though captive my feet, And up-lifted high midst eternal springs, My heart again heard an old, new word: "Prophetic and incomplete                 All earthly things."

In bright, celestial realm they sweeter sang, The happy birds that blessed my spell-bound soul, Upraised to that high world, without a pang. I saw a shining One with mystic scroll, The which He, smiling, waved, in full control Of birds and beings, translated from the earth, From every land to a great, inviting Goal. Enthralled by the mighty throng in sacred mirth— Ah now, me-thought, has come with joy my highest birth!

Angels were rising, many and swift and sheen; While others, likewise moving with rhythmic grace, Descending in sweetest song, were heard and seen— All clothed in the beauteous light of the Father's face. Those downward-going bore, in charming case, The melodies which men and birds might make. The rising throng made perfect the chords a-pace Produced below, ecstatic in their wide wake; I longed to tarry ever there, without a break.

TWILIGHT

But ho! Presto-"Bob-White! Bob, Bob-White!" "I announced the morn and now the night."

Bestirred in the gloaming by Bob-White's last call, I awakened to music the sweetest of all.

The flutelike peals of the Thrush of the wood Still bound me to the world of angelhood.