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 LESSER 
 STARS 
 
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LESSER STARS 
 
 By 
 Fanny de Groot Hastings 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 WILLIAM EDWIN RUDGE 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
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 COPYRIGHT, 1919 
 
 BY 
 
 FANNY DE GROOT HASTINGS 
 
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 <5 Foreword 
 
 ^ A tiny star took its unnoticed flight 
 From Heaven to-night. 
 
 Within the home of Jupiter and Mars 
 Small heed is paid to any lesser stars. 
 
 It fled to earth to hide its humble head, 
 But earth, receiving it, was comforted. 
 
 My verse may covet Heaven above ; 
 Grant, only, that it bring earth love. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 
 Foreword 
 
 5 
 
 Contents 
 
 7 
 
 The Morning Star 
 
 9 
 
 The Gift 
 
 10 
 
 To a Firefly- 
 
 11 
 
 Substance 
 
 12 
 
 Rainbows 
 
 13 
 
 Reality 
 
 14 
 
 Common Things 
 
 15 
 
 To a Paper Cutter 
 
 16 
 
 Blue 
 
 17 
 
 Activity 
 
 18 
 
 Essence 
 
 19 
 
 Some Winter Lavender 
 
 20 
 
 Forever 
 
 21 
 
 Inspiration 
 
 22 
 
 The Outriders of Spring 
 
 23 
 
 To the Giver of All Good Gifts 
 
 24 
 
 As Prodigals My Thoughts Go Home 25 
 
 Light of the World 26 
 
 The Pure in Heart 27 
 
 Highlights 28 
 
 Lighter of Lamps 29 
 
 King of Kings 30 
 
 When These Come Back 31 
 
CONTENTS— Continued 
 
 Our Trust 
 
 32 
 
 Swords 
 
 33 
 
 Wings 
 
 35 
 
 Wings of the Morning 
 
 36 
 
 To the Foreign Legion 
 
 37 
 
 Listen ! 
 
 38 
 
 To the Army of Occupation in 
 
 
 Germany 
 
 39 
 
 The Spirit of God 
 
 40 
 
 1492—1919 
 
 42 
 
 Hands 
 
 43 
 
 The New World 
 
 44 
 
THE MORNING STAR. 
 Christmas, 1917. 
 
 Only the shepherd eyes 
 Could bear the shining skies 
 Of Bethlehem. 
 
 When the star shone out 
 Upon a world of doubt 
 And sleeping men, 
 
 Only the pure in heart 
 Could see the heavens part 
 Before Christ's hem. 
 
 To-day, oh men of earth 
 Who think the Second Birth 
 Is still afar, 
 
 Redeem your first mistake, 
 Watch, with hearts awake 
 And doors ajar. 
 
 Lift up your eyes ! 
 There, in the riven skies, 
 The Morning Star! 
 
THE GIFT. 
 
 To capture and hold fast one gem 
 From Heaven's splendid diadem 
 
 Invisible to earthly eyes, 
 
 To give to men this God-like prize 
 
 In word or paint or music tone, 
 And comfort them — this gift alone 
 
 Would pay for my earth's pilgrimage, 
 Nor could I ask a fairer wage. 
 
 10 
 
TO A FIREFLY. 
 
 {To Mrs. T ) 
 
 Tiny bearer of the spark, 
 
 Could we as consecrated be 
 
 Men would have light enough to see 
 
 There really isn't any dark. 
 
 11 
 
SUBSTANCE. 
 
 Our castles in the air 
 Shall lift their domes 
 When mortal homes 
 
 Have crumbled and grown bare. 
 
 Fair dream and bright ideal 
 
 Brushing the skies, 
 
 Your prophet eyes 
 Have glimpsed the real. 
 
 12 
 
RAINBOWS. 
 
 As sunshine heals with rainbow wings the stormy sky, 
 So God shall wipe away all tears from every eye. 
 
 13 
 
REALITY. 
 
 We measure the distance from Pole to Pole, 
 But who can measure the length of Soul? 
 
 We know the size of the heart of man, 
 
 But the heart that is Life no hand can span. 
 
 We count the miles to the stars above, 
 But who can fathom the depths of Love? 
 
 Oh man, with your science exact and profound, 
 Thank God that Reality cannot be bound 1 
 
 14 
 
COMMON THINGS. 
 
 'I cannot write of this or that," 
 
 The little poet cries, 
 The subject is too stale, too flat 
 
 For me to improvise." 
 
 Pray God may give our vision wings, 
 And open wide our eyes 
 
 To see that even common things 
 Were made in Paradise. 
 
 15 
 
TO A PAPER CUTTER. 
 
 I had been blind for empty ages; 
 Now, from the living heart of the pages 
 Bared by your blade to set me free, 
 Truth has looked out, and I can see. 
 
 16 
 
BLUE. 
 
 I think there is no other hue 
 That satisfies the heart as blue. 
 
 The blue that gardeners so prize 
 To make their flower-paradise; 
 
 The blue of every tiny pool 
 
 That lies so still, so clear, so cool; 
 
 Transparent blue of summer skies, 
 That lifts and crowns and glorifies. 
 
 Oh endless blue of airy nights, 
 Of open spaces, clean delights, 
 
 Expand this narrow heart of mine, 
 And make it half as true as thine. 
 
 17 
 
ACTIVITY. 
 
 With mighty effort Dawn ploughed through the rich nighl 
 Heaving its dark heart as the ploughman the clay 
 
 Wide in her wake were deep furrows of fertile light. 
 Then man came out to sow the shining seeds of da) 
 
 18 
 
ESSENCE. 
 
 Let India keep her lilied drifts, 
 And France her poppied fields ; 
 To me one perfect blossom yields 
 
 All of creation's gifts. 
 
 19 
 
SOME WINTER LAVENDER. 
 
 I had not hoped for this sweet shower 
 When gardens yield but memory 
 
 Or expectation. Purple flower, 
 
 You built a fragrant bridge for me, 
 
 To span the chill 'twixt fall and spring, 
 
 And make my little world to sing. 
 
 20 
 
FOREVER. 
 
 Born of a wiser, ampler mind 
 Than that which animates mankind; 
 
 Untouched by doubt, unchecked by years, 
 Without maturing hemispheres ; 
 
 Unhurried by the lips that pray 
 To frame perfection in a day; 
 
 Forever is God's gentler time 
 
 To make the humblest life sublime. 
 
 21 
 
INSPIRATION. 
 
 * 
 
 How still and quiet the streams and brooks, 
 How pure and silent the white earth looks; 
 
 Like a holding of breath or a listening ear, 
 This winter, holy time of the year; 
 
 Till in answer to prayer the hand of spring 
 Releases the beauty in everything. 
 
 Oh turbulent heart, be still and know, 
 For a season rest as the silent snow, 
 
 Wait till you touch the infinite source, 
 Then, strengthened anew, resume your course. 
 
 In the spring of your growth you shall flow agaii 
 And freshen the thirsty desert plain. 
 
THE OUTRIDERS OF SPRING. 
 
 To-day at dawn I sallied forth 
 
 With the outriders of spring; 
 
 Soared with every feathered wing 
 Flying north; 
 
 Sniffed a freshness in the air; 
 
 Felt the sunbeams on my face, 
 
 And a kindly warming grace 
 Everywhere. 
 
 Now the papers prophesy 
 
 Cold and frost and wintry wind ; 
 If to-morrow be unkind 
 
 What care I? 
 
 I have been adventuring 
 
 For a brief but golden day 
 With the forerunners of May, 
 
 With the outriders of spring. 
 
 Courtesy of the Sun Dial. 
 
TO THE GIVER OF ALL GOOD GIFTS. 
 
 Too shallow far these phrases are 
 To thank for fresh anemonies. 
 Within my heart's immortal banks 
 Must start the quickened root of thanks 
 To grow you blossoms fair as these. 
 
 24 
 
AS PRODIGALS MY THOUGHTS 
 GO HOME. 
 
 As prodigals my thoughts go home, 
 
 My wandering thoughts that far did roam. 
 
 In wantonness and revelry 
 They spent their rich legacy; 
 
 From desert plain and tempest sea, 
 Now penitent they go to Thee. 
 
 Oh Love, receive these truant ones, 
 Thy lost and found and youngest sons. 
 
 25 
 
LIGHT OF THE WORLD. 
 "St 
 
 Soulless a colored window 
 But for the morning light 
 
 Lifting its hidden splendors 
 Out of a starless night; 
 
 Man but an outlined image, 
 
 Veiled his transcendent grace, 
 
 But for the inner splendor 
 Shining behind his face. 
 
 Visible bond of freemen, 
 
 Touch of immortal flame, 
 
 Grave on my palms and forehead 
 Thine indelible name. 
 
THE PURE IN HEART. 
 
 Blessed are the pure in heart, 
 The pure in heart whose hands can part 
 The garments of unrighteousness, 
 And fashion man a seamless dress; 
 Who tread through night a shining way, 
 And leave behind the trail of day; 
 Whose feet with fearlessness are shod, 
 Because their eyes see through to God. 
 
 27 
 
HIGHLIGHTS. 
 
 Each common thing 
 
 Has its highlight; 
 Winter its edge of spring, 
 
 Night 
 Its oriole wing 
 
 Of dawn, 
 And the black bowl 
 
 A fingerprint of white 
 For soul. 
 
 Straight from His shimmering sky 
 Into the dark 
 That I knew, 
 Love at His anvil let fly 
 The luminous spark 
 That is you. 
 
 28 
 
LIGHTER OF LAMPS, 
 
 You lit my lamp, and bade me keep it clear ; 
 Why should I wish to hold your presence here ? 
 
 Were you to linger longer where you are 
 The world would shine the less for one, lost star. 
 
 Unbarring doors and gates, I fling them wide, 
 Grateful you paused although you may not bide. 
 
 Along your pathway shall new splendors start, 
 Sufficient this bright certainty, my heart. 
 
 29 
 
KING OF KINGS. 
 
 No more from darkened wall to wall 
 And down the Royal Palace hall 
 Shall stones repeat the lackey's call: 
 "Make way for the king." 
 
 From hearts swept clean of fleshly things 
 There rise majestic, spirit wings 
 To brush aside these earthly kings. 
 Make way for the King! 
 
 Oh men, awake, rejoice and sing! 
 To-day Love comes on holy wing; 
 Go crown the only living King. 
 
 The king is dead; long live the King! 
 
 Courtesy of the Junior League Bulletin. 
 
 30 
 
WHEN THESE COME BACK. 
 
 Their eyes have seen His image face to face, 
 And since, they wear a new and shining grace. 
 
 Their hands have "touched and handled things unseen/ 
 Their hands will evermore be strong and clean. 
 
 Of hearts that give their utmost offering 
 They have made dwelling places for the King. 
 
 Out there where towns in ruins lie 
 
 They have built temples that shall never die. 
 
 Lo! every plain or trench or muddy mound 
 Where these make sacrifice is holy ground. 
 
 When these come back to you, oh world once old, 
 They shall transform your very dust to gold. 
 
 31 
 
OUR TRUST. 
 
 Jesus knelt in Gethsemane 
 
 To lift the world to the feet of God. 
 A lonely, deserted vigil he kept ; 
 His disciples slept 
 Prone on the sod. 
 'Could ye not watch one hour with me?" 
 
 Others have gone for Love's own sake 
 To keep a vigil with sacrifice. 
 
 To-morrow they'll come to us sanctified 
 And stand at our side, 
 And call us thrice. 
 Pray God we may answer : "Wide awake !" 
 
 32 
 
SWORDS. 
 
 Though I must be a stay-at-home, 
 I yet would use as valiantly 
 The gleaming sword of Liberty 
 
 As they who fight beyond the foam. 
 
 There is as great a battle-ground 
 Within the hearts of us who stay 
 As they will find who yesterday 
 
 Embarked in vessels eastward bound. 
 
 A greater need to strike and slay 
 
 (If righteousness is soon to win) 
 The selfishness that lurks within 
 
 Than to destroy insensate clay. 
 
 I, too, have heard the rolling drum 
 That calls each to his battlefield ; 
 I take my helmet and my shield, 
 
 And answer fearlessly: "I come!" 
 
 I pray to consecrate my sword 
 Within the borders of this land, 
 To wield it with as clean a hand 
 
 As they who carried theirs abroad; 
 
That when I hear returning feet, 
 
 The feet of men who've fought and won, 
 With sword unsheathed beneath the sun, 
 
 I, too, may march the shining street. 
 
 34 
 
WINGS. 
 
 "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Straight 
 And strong and free they mount and fly, 
 No air too rarefied, no sky too high — 
 
 They bear the key to that far shining gate ; 
 
 For Love and Sacrifice and Honor, too, 
 
 On tireless wing go with them where they go, 
 And who shall say there is no added glow 
 
 Across the clouds they brush as they pass through? 
 
 "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Shell 
 Is impotent to bring these down to earth, 
 Whose eyes have swept the height of man's estate — 
 Untrammelled space ; they must forever dwell 
 Close to the deathless light that gave them birth, 
 And bade them mount as eagles, free and straight. 
 
 35 
 
WINGS OF THE MORNING. 
 (To An Aviator) 
 
 When his wings failed him, think you it so strange 
 
 That he should change 
 
 Them for a better pair? 
 
 Wings of the Morning, swiftly, tenderly bear 
 
 This young Knight 
 
 To the High Court of Light ! 
 
 36 
 
TO THE FOREIGN LEGION. 
 
 A Legionnaire was seen to salute the 
 statue of Washington that stands on 
 the Treasury steps. — The Reporter. 
 
 No mortal time can make the spirit mute 
 That moved you to so gallant a salute. 
 
 It is a deathless spirit that makes one 
 All fearless men like you and Washington. 
 
 Accept the tribute of his outstretched hand 
 As symbol of our love, heroic band. 
 
 Courtesy of the New York Sun. 
 
LISTEN! 
 
 To-day there is a tendency 
 
 To celebrate the victory 
 
 Of Right with banner and with horn. 
 
 We who have bravely, nobly borne 
 
 The quaking of this world of ours, 
 
 And seen the whirlwind fell its towers, 
 
 And still looked on with quiet eyes 
 
 Because we trusted there would rise 
 
 Out of supremest sacrifice 
 
 At last the pearl of greatest price — 
 
 We should not waste the fruit of prayer, 
 
 Nor fill the pregnant, vibrant air 
 
 With blatancy; after the flame, 
 
 The devastating wind, there came 
 
 A still, small voice; His healing word 
 
 In the deep silences is heard. 
 
TO THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION 
 IN GERMANY. 
 
 Symbolic soldier of the free, 
 
 Go, mount your guard in Germany. 
 
 Leave, if you will, your gun behind, 
 But take to every darkened mind 
 
 The torch it lost, the torch you found 
 Upon the nations' battle-ground; 
 
 Take to blinded German eyes 
 This vision of a freeman's prize, 
 
 And to the ears that still can hear, 
 The gospel of your faith make clear. 
 
 Symbolic soldier of the free, 
 They need your light in Germany. 
 
 Mark well whom your command is from : 
 "Go, occupy until I come." 
 
 Courtesy of the New York Sun. 
 
THE SPIRIT OF GOD. 
 
 'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war 
 That shattered our century-bolted door, 
 And raised you up from your bed of ease, 
 And bore you forth on the militant breeze. 
 
 'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 
 That dwelt in the heart of the least of you, 
 Tender and strong and true, 
 That stamped on your soul a selfless creed, 
 Making your own, humanity's need, 
 Bidding you go in your fearless youth, 
 Clasping the two-edged sword of Truth. 
 
 'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 
 
 That stood by your side in the trench at night, 
 
 That soared with you in your morning flight, 
 
 High and high, 
 
 Brushing your wings across the sky, 
 
 'Twas the Spirit of God that made you fly, 
 
 Fearless and free as air — 
 
 It went with you everywhere. 
 
 Over the sea and over the land, 
 
 Hand in hand 
 
 With you whom He sent 
 
 Christ went. 
 
 40 
 
'Twas the Spirit of God that won the war, 
 Greater than gun, greater than mine, 
 Greater than all because divine, 
 Spirit of David and Joan of Arc, 
 Flame as a spark 
 
 Burning a path of light through the dark, 
 Bringing order from chaos and night, 
 And to our eyes, light. 
 
 Mighty as ever, the valiant few 
 
 Led by You — 
 
 Spirit of God that won the war, 
 
 You who are wise and compassionate — 
 
 Not the legions of lust and hate. 
 
 Brothers who stand at the open gate, 
 Pause and pray, 
 
 Lift up your hearts in thanks to-day, 
 Lift up your eyes, the world is free, 
 Free for you and free for me. 
 He walks abroad whom we adore — 
 The Spirit of God that won the war. 
 
 41 
 
1492 — 1919- 
 
 Columbus' sail is folded to its mast, 
 
 And here, instead, are wings for the first, fast 
 
 Flight o'er the deep. Rising, they brush aside 
 
 The little laws of time and space and tide, 
 
 And bring the earth's remotest limits face 
 
 To face: to-day there is no distant place, 
 
 No boundaries remain, for air is free, 
 
 And Mind has said : "There shall be no more sea." 
 
 Columbus, hail your sons so near the sky; 
 If you had failed, where were their faith to fly ? 
 
 42 
 
HANDS. 
 
 We have done what our hands have found to do, 
 We have done it with prayer and might, 
 
 All have helped to see it through 
 
 Because we have known it was right. 
 
 Oh many the idle hands before, 
 
 Foreign to toil and pain, 
 But during the four, long years of war 
 
 We learned to use them again. 
 
 And the work of our hands was balm to our soul, 
 We labored as friend and friend, 
 
 Shoulder to shoulder, facing the goal, 
 We strove to the very end. 
 
 And now that the end is here, Lord, 
 We wait for your new commands; 
 
 Silence the gun, sheathe the sword, 
 But consecrate our hands. 
 
 Give them a task that is worthy of Thee, 
 
 Sure of a rich increase, 
 Lord, who in darkness made us to see 
 
 That service is joy and peace. 
 
 43 
 
THE NEW WORLD. 
 Christmas, ipi8. 
 
 'Where two or three together claim 
 The power and presence of my name, 
 Lo! there am I." 
 
 The sacrificial fields of France 
 Were closer to his healing glance 
 Than the high sky. 
 
 No miracle to Love is this — 
 That Heaven should stoop the earth to kiss 
 And sanctify; 
 
 That Heaven should stoop and lift earth up 
 That Christ might pour His loving cup 
 Of living wine 
 
 On all the devastated land, 
 Until it bloom beneath His hand 
 Like Palestine. 
 
 Oh nations, guard His gift to you — 
 A world washed clean and fashioned new, 
 A holy shrine. 
 
 Where angel feet have lately stood 
 There kneel in one vast brotherhood. 
 
 44 
 
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