BY WILLIS VERNON COLE v^gMm' Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from The Library of Congress http://www.archive.org/details/poemsOOcole POEMS BY WILLIS VERNON COLE p Author of "Our Leader and Other Poems" ELEVENTH THOUSAND PUBLISHED BY MANGER, HUGHES & MANGER INCORPORATED 209 to 219 West 38th Street NEW YORK \ \ 3 Copyright 1908 and 1913 BY Willis Vernon Cole All. Rights Reserved JAN -7 1914 CI.A3G1510 TO MY BROTHER Bond or free, of every creed or country, who seeks peace, health and immortality, these leaves of healing are lovingly dedicated. As a Man Thinketh, He is ... . A Healing Lullaby The Prayer that Heals The Healing of the Blind .... Behold the Man The Library at Stoneycrof t . . . Guide Thou me, Lord Death is Unreal . . . Illustration The Song of Life Animal Magnetism Dethroned . . The Practitioner's Room . . . . Fidelity Woman : Humanity's Helper . . . The Walk to Emmaus To My Blessed Grandmother . . . Gratitude and the Lepers . . , . To Maeterlinck The Prodigal Son A Healing Anthem Be not Afraid Good is My God Mind Healeth Sickness Song of Songs In Love I Rest The Spirit of Sure Success . . • . Thank God, My Heart .... The Secret of Christ To Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson . Transformed Abraham Lincoln The Sea of Galilee [6] Foreword ^JI^RUTH, understood, heals the sick and ^£]/ the sinful now, as certainly as when Jesus proved the power of God centuries ago by Galilee's quiet sea, through the healing of all manner of diseases, the destruction of sin in its myriad forms, and by his final and greatest victory over death. The might of Mind is still operative and available to all who are in need of purity, health and peace. This volume is designed as a vehicle by means of which to convey to the sufferers of earth, this spiritual truth : that Love makes free. Those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear " will find in these pages health for the sick, strength for the sinner, substance for the poor, and salvation for those who hunger for righteousness. Spiritual healing, fully demonstrated in the life and works of Jesus of Nazareth in ages past, and so conspicuous in the life and [7] teachings of Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy to-day, may be understood and proven by all who look sincerely to their heavenly Father in quest of freedom from ills of the flesh. To help the reader know that God is All, that God is Love, and heals all pain and fear; to aid him touch the seamless robe of Life, and gain the consciousness that man is pure and whole and perfect as his perfect Mind; to crush out weakness, worldliness, and woe, and help enthrone the reign of God in man ; to prove that Life triumphant con- quers death, Love wipes out fear, and Mind heals all disease; to help man love his brother and know God — these are the thoughts that give this volume birth. w. V. c. [8] God is My Strength " The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid ?"-Ps. 27. "In God have I put my trust. I will not be afraid of what flesh can do unto me. In God have I put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do unto me ? "—Ps, jZ(!) E strong, fair son of God, arise ! >J* Life's mighty hand hath struck the hour! Away, thou fears that mesmerize, Give place to Spirit's might and power! Ye sick, arise! Almighty God Doth hold you perfect, saying, "Wake!" Disease is but a finite fraud That Mind omnipotent doth break. Be strong! Free limbed and fearless be! Love's word is instant, bringing peace. Thyself as Life's expression see. Let pain, disease and sorrow cease! Thou sinner, weak one, from the night, Where thou doest lie in self-wrought chains, A knowledge of th' eternal might Thy freedom, as God's son, regains. [9] Though thou hast fallen, rise once more! Experience adds to thy strength; Each sin o'ercome exalts thee more To gain Mind's true idea — at length. Thy burden, mourner, Mind doth melt, And girds thee, fearless, fair and free; The crushing blow, fell chance hath dealt, Falls harmless when Love covers thee. Thou coward flesh and weakling earth, Thou hast no substance, truth, nor life! The Spirit never gave thee birth, Thou phantom scene of sin and strife! God is my strength! I have all might! There is no weakness; Mind is all! I shine the universal right, Man in God's likeness cannot fall! On! On! From strength to strength press on! Omnipotence doth hold thy hand. God's panoply of power don! No foe true Wisdom can withstand. O, irresistible and strong, The sword of Life with power swing! Bear up and shout Love's triumph song! Reflect omnipotence and sing! [ 10 ] "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." Prov. 23: 7. £\S A MAN thinketh, he is, my friend. skr\ The Mind of the Christ will a blessing send. Think of thyself as God's perfect son, His normal, harmonious, healthful one; Think of thy being, — Life's mirror pure Reflecting the Spirit from sense secure. O, let thy thought with thy Maker's blend: As a man thinketh, he is. Hast been long stretched on a couch of pain? Would'st freedom and vigor and health regain ? Think of thyself as the child of Life, God's master of anguish and fear and strife; Health is the law true man must express. Deny that life holds for him, pain, distress. Thinking Love's health will thy health regain: As a man thinketh, he is. [11] Art thou a sinner by Mammon bound? Would lustings of flesh thy true manhood drown ? Arise! Shine forth with one great desire; Denying thyself, to the Truth aspire. Think of real man as of nobler worth Than creatures that cling to the shameful earth. Through Mind mount high o'er earth's fruitless ground. As a man thinketh, he is. Art thou a weakling by impulse swayed? With thoughts on the Spirit, ah never stayed? Then let thy mind on true wisdom wait, Steadfast, ne'er waver nor vacillate. The lightning may flash and the senses roar, A sentinel stand at thy mental door, Then think of the way that our Saviour prayed. As a man thinketh, he is. [ 12 ] Art thou a pauper with hollow eye? Do chances of gaining success go by? Think of thyself with the wealth of Mind, A channel of Substance for all mankind; Think of Soul's resources, — infinite, Then manifest Mind by affirming it. Oh, end this limited slavery! As a man thinketh, he is. There is but one Mind and that Mind is God; Then why through earth's desolate by-ways plod? The harvest is white, and the laurel crown Is ready; now trample the senses down. 'Gainst majestic Truth naught can militate; Love's freedom and might naught can vitiate. Be strong! Be pure! Be God's perfect man! As our Lord thinketh — man is. [13] A Healing Lullaby "I will lay me down in peace, and sleep : For Thou, Lord only makest me to dwell in safety."— Ps. 4: & ^?THE moon is rising gentle o'er the mere ; Vi' And bathes the fevered brow of Earth with calm ; The night wind whispers softly "Peace is here;" All Nature brings her cool and healing balm. O, God's in His heaven, love; Fair in His heaven, dove; God's in His heaven near. The dreams of ev'en quickly fade away; Soon light will step through pearly gates of dawn, Rest little lamb until the gladsome day Shall bid the shadows of the night be gone. O, rest in God's bosom, love ; Soft in His bosom, dove ; Slumber sweet lamb, sleep on. The rosy sky fortells the waking Sun, Who brightly mounts the ladder of the morn ; The birds are singing softly "Night is done; Awake, thou child, another day is born! " O, God's in His beauty love; Full in His beauty, dove; God's in His beauty here. [14] Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son may also glorify Thee. Thou hast given Him power over all flesh "-John 17: 1, 3. [15] In silent prayer his heart goes out In virile, strong, repose. Affirming truth for God and man, As on through Love it flows : Within the silence of my heart, God hears me when I pray. "The hour is come to glorify Thy son, O Lord, to-day." Love's vital prayer is to affirm The Truth, and own God's sway; The deep and longing look toward Love That melts the earth away. His thought is ever one with Christ, His God is everywhere, He giveth life and strength and joy In answer to his prayer. Thou mak'st man loving, Lord, our Love, Compassionate and kind, Embracing all humanity, The perfect child of Mind. Thou mad'st him chaste, Thou God of light, As Thou art, pure in heart; Thou cleansed me, and to all who need, Thy healing I impart. [ 16] For Love I labor fearlessly, From apprehension free, Christ-crowned in strength and confidence, To light the world for Thee. Depression hath no place in man; Thy light, O healing Sun, Doth make me buoyant, glad, and free, Thou strong and joyous One, I have my being in pure Mind, All fear and woe above, Immortal, perfect, infinite, And patterned after Love. Mine eyes are perfect, and mine ears;* I strongly voice God's word; With action free, and being strong; Pure thought my loins gird. I breathe the air of Life divine, Free from disease or fear; No germ of earth, through sin or birth, May ever enter here. I have all beauty, symmetry; Love's glory lights my face; In form and outline I reflect The splendor of God's grace. * See "Science and Health, " by Mary Baker Eddy, page 585, line 1—4. Ibid 586 line 3-6. [ 17 ] I have all power, life and might, A Mind omnipotent; Thus panoplied in strength, I meet, And prove sin impotent. I have all substance, affluence, Abundance of Life's food; I break the law that limits man, And feed the multitude. Love gives an understanding heart With knowledge of Thee, Lord; I lift my voice in Wisdom's might To propagate Thy word. I heal all sickness, conquer sin, Annul the curse on man, Through Thee, Physician, great of strength I break earth's cruel ban. Strongest Redeemer! Mind of all! Thou pure light-giving Stream! Thou dost baptize the universe In Life, Thou Love supreme! O, what a wealth have I, O God, When I but realize Thou art my Father; I, Thy son, Am perfect in thine eyes. [ 18 ] The Healing of the Blind Go show John again those things which you do hear and see : The blind receive their sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me. "— Matthew 11 : 4-6. fiT OOD physician, give me aid! \z& "There's no help for you," he said And the blind one groped away with bitter tears. "Nature's therapeutic art Can no hope nor help impart To the one who knows the darkness of thy fears." Pray good pastor, make me free! "God afflicted you," said he. "Be thou reconciled, and say, 'Thy will be done.' In His mercy God doth dole Pain to cleanse thy sinful soul, And withholds from thee the gladness of the sun." [ 19 ] Canst thou help me, gentle maid? "God is Love, dear friend," she said. "In His grace He made man perfect, strong and free. What the senses say are lies; In Christ's name, lift up thine eyes! As thy faith in God, so be it unto thee!" Lord, Thy light streams down from heaven ! The discernment Thou hast given Of the Truth alights mine eyes to see Thy face. Pain and blindness disappear As Thy love removes my fear, And the consciousness of Christ my woes displace. O, ye sufferers of earth, Marred by accident or birth, When the theories of thine elders give no aid, From earth's barren creeds, above, Look to God, eternal Love, As the blind man to the God-inspired maid. [20] Behold the Man ! Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect/'— St Matthew 5:48. ^STHE man who knows that evil is not %&y power, When it seems to be about the only thing; And that matter has no life nor real existence, Though the false beliefs of error close and cling; The man who plants his standard on God's allness, Knowing God is good and good alone is Mind, Proving law the truth which some may hold is lawless, And adverse to every theory of mankind ; [ 21 ] The man who makes his mind a golden dais Where the moral purpose mounts with diadem, And his consciousness an open freedman's rostrum To affirm the truth, each baser thing condemn ; The man who keeps his mind so filled with goodness That no sin, disease or death may trespass o'er The threshold of his thought, nor find an access To the soul whose perfect selfhood guards the door;* The man who's great enough to lead the simple, And yet simple, meek enough to teach the great; Who is sage enough to nourish babe and suckling, Yet is babe enough to set the sages straight; The man who turns his business into pleasure And his pleasure business in the Soul's employ ; Who with stern resolve can conquer every treasure, Then capitulate the thing he's won to joy; •Spiritual sense— S. & H. [22] The man whose motto reads, " Semper paratus " Who with thought alert upholds his righteous Cause, Nor will justify in heat his own high calling, But can leave that better part to wisdom's laws; The man who loves with all his heart his neighbors, Though they seem to be his enemies galore, And when crucified and scorned for all his labors, From his cross can look and love them all the more ; The man who's always there when you may call him, Even more so in your sore extremity, Nor will recognize your need as claim or claimant, But will grasp it as an opportunity ; Who proceeds to figure out the situation And explain away the error you have feared, Leaving gratitude in place of condemnation, Till you wake to find the dream sense disappeared ; [ 23 ] The man who begs not God to make him perfect, But who holds creation at that point now; Who adores the Lord because He made him loving, Nor the knee to any lesser god will bow. The man who sees the climax of creation, As the entity that God has made his own; Behold beyond sin's premise or mutation, The rightful heir to Mind's eternal throne ! The Library at Stoney croft* "Most current for that they come home to men's business and bosoms/' —Lord Bacon. Good friend: this room is where the authors dwell, Come — meet them all and mark their discourse well. Beneath these leathern doublets, prithee, find, True men of thought, who dwell in realms of Mind. They teach, delight, admonish and exhort, If thou thyself art of the fertile sort. *The country seat of Charles Stinchfield, Esquire, at Birmingham, Oakland County, Michigan. [24 ] O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles/'— Psalms 43:3. Mind makes the sinner free, Mind bursts the bonds of false belief, Mind melts mortality. Life doth deliver man from death, Life brings earth victory. Life says, "O death, where is thy sting ? " Life giveth life to me. Truth casts out error, kills deceit, Truth brings surcease from pain, Truth lifts the veil that hides true man, Truth shows the Christ again. Love bathes all things in warm, sweet calm, Love maketh all men kind, Love with one tender touch quells hate, Love is my perfect mind. [ 54 ] Substance annuls the law of lack, Substance smites poverty, Substance reveals Christ's riches rare, Substance unlimits thee. Health is the atmosphere of Soul ; Health is Life's law divine; Health is unchanging, perfect, pure; Health is forever mine. Wake then, mine heart, and know thine own ; Thy birthright is God-given. Know that e'en now thou art His own ; Open is Love's sweet heaven. Song of Songs "The heavens declare the glory of Goa\"—Ps. 19:1 The cloud sailed triremes wing deep heaven's ocean, The field's flash vert, the odors all are dew ; A robin's note drift's through the cosmic motion, The bridegroom wakes and Love is calling you. [55] In Love I Rest Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.— Isaiah 26:3. JTN Love I rest: JU. A sweet and gentle calm, By spirit blest, Doth still the senses rage, As when a shepherd's psalm The lambkins' fears assuage. Then tranquil on His breast I breath this aftermath — In Love I rest. In Love I rest: The fleeting dream of pain No more shall be expressed; God's peace and joy are here. Low, sweet, Love's calm refrain, Glad angels' voices clear, In strains that heal and bless, Do murmur, as they heal, — In Love I rest. [ 56 ] In Love I rest: The barren joys of sin Fade 'neath the Spirit's test; Christ wipes all stains away, Fear's anguish and its din, And Love alone holds sway. No more by sense obsessed, In rapture soft I breathe — In Love I rest. In Love I rest: Life's yoke is light. I see, In shining raiment dressed, The Christ, whose tender tone Calls, soft, "Come unto Me;" And from the Spirit's throne, No more to be oppressed, My soul sings, winged with praise, — In Love I rest. ... -••o. .•••••. .•••••. .•••••. ••:• [57] The Spirit of Sure Success "Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths'"— Proverbs 3 : 6. 'Jjjt'RIEND, if thou desire me to express /^J\ The means of obtaining thy sure success, An unfailing road to Truth's treasury, Where windows of wealth open wide for thee, And the hidden bounty of endless Mind Hath an heritage vast for thee — all designed; I answer, be honest, be active and true, Then open thy mind, let Love enter through. Thus you'll realize, when you pray, There's no poverty, want, nor woe. In the substance of Mind All abundance you'll find, Through your being God's riches flow. The meek, we must know, inherit the earth; Thus nourished by Love they can know no dearth; Through foot-paths of peace Life doth lighten them To a kingdom, a crown and a diadem, [ 58 ] To a land without scarceness where longings cease, And abundant Mind doth their joys increase; While Christ to their hearts doth supply all things, As in rapture their soul to their Giver sings: — Dear God, Thou hast caused us to say, There's no poverty, want nor woe ; In the substance of Mind All abundance we find, Through man's being God's riches flow. Prosperity enters when fear is gone, Confide in God's grace and walk calmly on; Have faith in Truth ; in Love's sure reward, Make thine expectation, the blessed Lord; Lay up for yourselves, where no loss nor fraud May rob nor take from you the wealth of God. No blessing nor honor will He withhold, Whose thought is choice silver, whose love pure gold. Then shall we not know every day, There's no poverty, want nor woe. In the substance of Mind All abundance we find, Through our being God's riches flow. [59] Should you look to person, a place or thing, Or a mortal expedient, wealth to bring, Or outline the how and the when and where, Canst thou by searching find substance there? Thy friends will refrain and thy foes rejoice Till you list to the call of the inner voice; And breaking no longer the first command, Thy birthright— dominion through God demand. Almighty! Eternal God! There's no poverty, want nor woe; In Thy substance, O Mind, All abundance I find Through my being Thy riches flow! True substance is God, and our God is all; Then the lie that would limit all men must fall. Wealth gotten by vanity must decay, But the riches of Christ will remain alway. Real man reflects God, life's eternal Font, Who can manifest nothing of lack or want; But, blessed by a God who is all supply, He must prosper, enlargen, and fructify. . [ 60 ] As replenished, his soul doth sing, There's no poverty, want nor woe. In the substance of Mind All abundance I find, Through my being God's riches flow. Now, man of earth, be thou pauper or king, If thou seekest a way that will riches bring, Be loving, be pure, and cast out all fear. Be confident, strong; hold thy neighbor dear. Seek thine own reward in another's good. In wisdom establish Christ's brotherhood. You ask what practical good this may do ? It will make a channel for Wealth of you. Then you'll know, as pure Mind flows through, There's no poverty, want nor woe. In the substance of Mind All abundance you find, Through your being God's riches flow. [ 61 ] Thank God, My Heart JTf HANK God for the light, My Thank God that the night Has wasted and waned away; Thank God dark is gone, And the gladness of dawn Cries out, "Hail the joy-giving day!" Thank God Thou art near, Thank God there's no fear, O Love that hath brought men peace; Thank God that the tears That have burdened the years, Through Mind, the compassionate, cease Thank God I am healed, Thank God that the field Is gleaned of its tares of pain ; Thank God that the Christ Hath forever sufficed To establish the Spirit's reign. Thank God, O my heart, While Love doth impart The joy of the ransomed one. Thank God, for at last With sin's shadowland past, The laurels of Life are won. [ 62] The Secret of Christ 'Now abideth faith, hope, Love, these three; but the greatest of these is Love."— 1 Cor. 13:13.* JTJ EAR Jesus blessed the Magdalene, >^* She felt her sin forgiven; The little children loved him, Who before had been forbidden. Of publicans he sat as chief, Explaining Love's sweet leaven; He asked the conscience-smitten thief To sup with Him in heaven. At Jacob's well, the woman, lax, Was melted into tears; He loved the poor demoniacs And rid them of their fears. For prodigals and wanderers His love increased tenfold. And little lambs heard patient calls Restore them to the fold. * Revised version. t 63 ] The broken 'and the contrite one Came unto Him to rest, And every heavy-laden head Found room upon His breast. So when the little fisher band Were mourning o'er their loss, They saw their same companion stand To crown their seeming loSsS. O, sing again the happy hymn; Each time it grows more sweet, As hand in hand we walk with him Who washed the sinner's feet. m m To Sir Johnston Forbes- Robertson Your Stranger is the guest of Art; Your Hamlet, Shakespeare s dreamed of thing. Were Caesar as your finished part, Then would he had been Tiber's king. But when from out the painted wings; Most courteous, yet withal most true, Your life interprets nobler things, It is the finest role you do. £ w ] Transformed " Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -St Luke 12:34 Oh! believe me, when all these alluring sense- dreams Into nothingness vanish away; Like the mists of the vale when the glories of dawn Melt the shades of the night all away; Then Life's splendors untold in their true sense unfold, By their Master, exquisite, designed; And the objects of sense be replaced by real things, Finding birth in the infinite Mind. Then my heart count as gain thine ephemeral loss. As the land-marks of sense disappear, Like the will-o'the-wisp when the sun's golden flood Bathes the brow of the dew-bedecked mere. Spirit's handiwork fair; all the grandeurs of Soul, Where Life's lily, Truth's lake and Love's star, Ayont matter enshrined where true man reflects God, Midst the beauty of things as they are. [ 65 ] Since what we may love makes our world as it seems, Be it earthly or heavenly sphere, Where the heart doth sojourn there its sub- stance it finds ; Thought sees manifest what is held dear. O, choose ye to-day whom ye would obey; But our heavenly Father and Guide Makes us love not the world, but adhering to Thee On Thy kingdom eternal decide. Abraham Lincoln 44 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his (mortal) life for his friends."— St. John 15:13. Beneath the furroughs of that homely mask, Reposed the beauty of God's fairest son. Behind that awkward frame and clumsy hand, Resplendent in the Truth, dear Christ did stand, The animus of his collosal task. And through that rude yet rich humanity, Compassionate and tender friend of man, There shone the beauty of the One Divinity That freed the slave and brake the captive's ban. So South, North, East and West his love made one, As doth a lens the scattered rays of sun. [ 66] The Sea of Galilee "But after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee." -Matt 26:32 /i^ALILEE, my shimmer sea, ^EE^ How I love to dream of thee ; Oracle of prophesy! Mirror of Love's ministry; Glancing, dancing, soul-enhancing, Shining, shimmer sea. Galilee, dear shimmer sea, Christ hath proved the Word divine, From these limpid depths of thine, Turning aqua into wine; Rushing, gushing, crimson-blushing, Shining, shimmer sea. Galilee, deep shimmer sea, O'er thy heaving bosom strides, Lightly as a trireme rides, Lord and master of all tides; Splashing, dashing, moonlight- flashing, Shining, shimmer sea. Galilee, dark shimmer sea, Storms are shrieking, loud and shrill, Sailors quail while vessels fill, Jesus whispers "Peace, be still;" Thrashing, smashing, thunder-crashing, Shining, shimmer sea. [67] Galilee, blest shimmer sea, Multitudes bedeck thy shore, While a Saviour doth restore Binding hearts to break no more; Beaming, streaming, glory-gleaming, Shining, shimmer sea, Galilee, sad shimmer sea; Now thy shadows form a cross, While thy tearful wavelets toss, Breaking, breaking o'er earth's loss; Sighing, crying, weeping, dying, Shining, shimmer sea. Galilee, glad shimmer sea, Glory be to God on high ! Adam's conquered — death doth die, Christ is risen — Jesus nigh! Gleaming, beaming, glory-streaming, Shining, shimmer sea. « Galilee, my shimmer sea, History's seraphic scroll, Record of the might of Soul, Roll within me, cleanse and roll; Roaring, pouring, peace-restoring, Shining, shimmer sea! [ 69 ] OUR LEADER AND OTHER POEMS DEDICATED BY SPECIAL PERMISSION TO MARY BAKER EDDY DISCOVERER AND FOUNDER OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MIND HEALING AND AUTHOR OF ITS TEXTBOOK 'SCIENCE AND HEALTH, WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES' BY WILLIS VERNON COLE Single Copy, Two Dollars LIBRARY