SPRING PRAYER 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 By ADAM BRAND 
 
Class JiLl_.i.kiL 
 
 GoEyright}!^. 
 
 CDPmiGHT DEPOSm 
 
SPRING PRAYER AND 
 OTHER POEMS 
 
SPRING PRAYER 
 
 AND OTHER POEMS 
 
 BY 
 
 ADAM BRAND 
 
 THE CORNHILL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 BOSTON 
 

 Copyright 1922 
 By the CORNHILL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 All rights reserved 
 
 Printed in the United States of America 
 
 THE JORDAN & MORE PRESS 
 BOSTON 
 
 MAY 1 1 1922 
 
 g)CI.A661700 
 - . - f 
 
TO 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Spbing Peayee 3 
 
 A Song of Fate 4 
 
 Peace 7 
 
 The Message from the Sea 8 
 
 Songster 8 
 
 Twilight 10 
 
 The Silent Singer 11 
 
 Geniuses Differ 12 
 
 June 13 
 
 Tempest and Sunshine 13 
 
 To A Rose 14 
 
 When Autumn Leaves Have Deckeu the Ground ... 15 
 
 Indian Summer 17 
 
 Love's Smile or Tear 17 
 
 A Vision 18 
 
 Two Ideals 19 
 
 February 20 
 
 Survival of the Fittest 21 
 
 A Valentine 22 
 
 To A Physician on Her Birthday 23 
 
 Newark 24 
 
 Our Leader 26 
 
 Voices 28 
 
 The Song of the "Sub" 29 
 
 To A Friend on His Wedding-Day 31 
 
 The Essence of Life 32 
 
 The Cycle Divine 32 
 
 Alone 33 
 
 Poetry 33 
 
SPRING PRAYER AND 
 OTHER POEMS 
 
SPRING PRAYER 
 
 Wondrous Nature ! Visible God ! 
 
 I feel thy power divine 
 And humbly bow within my heart 
 
 To worship at thy shrine. 
 
 When gentle Spring transforms the earth, 
 
 Erstwhile so drear and cold, 
 Into a blooming Eden of life, 
 
 What need of marvels old! 
 
 Enough the smiling sunbeam's cheer 
 
 And earth 's reviving breast ; 
 Enough the modest sprouting bud 
 
 To hail thy bounties blest. 
 
 From every twig, on wings ethereal. 
 The song-bird's warbling lay; 
 
 From every sphere creation's hynm 
 Ascends to praise and pray. 
 
 Bounteous Nature! Provident God! 
 
 To thee I voice my lay : 
 Grant, O grant each yearning heart 
 
 A cheering, hopeful ray! 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 A SONG OF FATE 
 
 (Dedicated to the Allied Soldiers, April 191^) 
 
 Not yet the inevitable paean — 
 Wlio knows that glorious date 
 Which nature set when life began 
 And civilization dawned! — 
 Nor ever a savage Chant of Hate 
 With which they spur the heart of slave. 
 Let those by abject vassals fawned 
 Point flimsy fangs of calumny 
 To pierce eternal freedom's heart 
 And lay its immortal spirit low! — 
 This is a song for freedom's brave 
 Who have dared to take its part 
 And vowed to kill vile tyranny 
 That democracy may live. 
 This is a song that true men know 
 And, knowing, will not misgive — 
 This is a song of Fate ... 
 
 Where, where are the dreams of empire 
 That drenched the world in blood. 
 And held the clock of progress still. 
 With ambition's mad desire? 
 Where's Alexander, Macedonia's pride, 
 Who shook the world at will ; 
 Great Caesar, too, whose conquering heel 
 Made many a mighty kingdom reel 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 And oft on royal neck has trod; 
 
 Where's Attila, the Scourge of God, i 
 
 And his hordes like a human flood; \ 
 
 And Napoleon, beloved and feared, j 
 Who out of chaos dominions reared. 
 
 Who held a trembling world at bay i 
 
 And trampled on thrones with haughty stride ^ 
 
 Like a child with toys at play ! \ 
 
 Where are they all who sought their glory j 
 
 In sword and cannon and fields all gory, ! 
 
 Who saw no light save ambition's gleam — ■ 
 
 Where are they! — There too a kaiser's dream. ■ 
 
 Then fight once more brave freemen. 
 Wield sweet freedom's sword : 
 
 To save our babes and women , 
 
 And bend a tyrant's knee; I 
 
 Aim with an eye that sees no goal \ 
 
 Save bleeding heart of tyranny ! 
 
 Strike once more brave freemen ! 
 
 And make them pay the toll — f, 
 
 They who seek to conquer j 
 
 With iron, blood and lies ; \ 
 
 Strike once more brave soldiers, \ 
 
 Cut down that savage horde j 
 
 That knows no bonds of honor ! 
 And God and man defies; 
 Strike hard, you sacred soldiers 
 
 Battling for human laws: \ 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 'Tis a fight 'tween beast of jungle 
 And mankind it abhors ! 
 Fight on, you sacred soldiers, 
 You fight for a holy cause ! 
 
 Back of each steadfast sailor 
 
 Fighting upon the sea, 
 
 Back of each steadfast soldier 
 
 Fighting that the world be free. 
 
 Stands in its radiant glory 
 
 The spirit of liberty. 
 
 In place of each fallen sailor 
 
 Fallen upon the sea. 
 
 In place of each fallen soldier 
 
 Fallen in freedom's war. 
 
 Stands Liberty with flag unfurled 
 
 Proclaiming freedom for the world. 
 
 Then fight, imperilled freedom's soldiers 
 Battling for human laws. 
 Fight on, you valiant soldiers 
 Wresting the world from despot claws ; 
 Stand fast, you sacred soldiers. 
 Fight on for the holy cause — 
 Fight on and shout with every breath 
 'Till the world re-echoes ^'Liberty — 
 .Democracy or death!" 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 PEACE 
 
 Nov. II, I pip 
 
 Sleep! Sleep brave boys in sunny France, 
 
 In Flanders Fields and graves unnamed — 
 
 Sleep! ... No more the shrieks of hellish war, 
 
 The dying moan of gassed and maimed, 
 
 The fallen soldier's farewell glance 
 
 Seeking with darkened, glassy eyes 
 
 Beloved faces seen no more — 
 
 No more shall thoughts of broken ties 
 
 Break the hearts by battle steeled 
 
 To suffer wounds that can't be healed. . . . 
 
 Sleep ! Sleep brave boys you Ve given all — 
 
 What now to you who lost or won ! 
 
 Each heard his country's honor call. 
 
 Each fought its ^ght — your work is done. 
 
 German or Ally — Russian or Turk — 
 
 A man 's a man — the world is one. 
 
 No more shall breezes wafting by 
 
 Echo the dying soldier's cry. 
 
 From fields where war was wont to lurk 
 
 Paeans of peace ring to the sky. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 THE MESSAGE FROM THE SEA 
 
 'Tis a glorious day 
 
 To steal away 
 To the soothing sound of the sea. 
 
 Forget your troubles, 
 
 They are but bubbles, 
 On a thawing, roaring sea. 
 
 Winter is past, 
 
 'Tis Spring at last — 
 Rejoice with the wallowing waves set free. 
 
 Forget your troubles, 
 
 They are but bubbles. 
 Is the message from the sea. 
 
 SONGSTER 
 
 Tell me, birdie, 
 
 Why you sing 
 With your gurgling. 
 
 Trilling ring 
 In the sunshine. 
 
 In the shade. 
 Over mountain, 
 
 In the glade! 
 Does Reason never check your lay; 
 Does Feeling never cloud the day! 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 Soaring boldly 
 
 In the sky, 
 Weaving sweetness 
 
 As you fly, 
 Dropping music 
 
 Through the air. 
 Your spirit shuns 
 
 The world of care. 
 What giddy gladness swells your throat, 
 What merry madness trills your note? 
 
 Has nature drained 
 
 Creation's store 
 Of all delight 
 
 It could outpour. 
 To fill your breast 
 
 With gushing joy 
 And make your life 
 
 A singing toy? 
 I envy you the minstrelsy 
 And crave your joy, so full and free. 
 
 Winged siren. 
 
 Celestial sprite! 
 teach my soul 
 Your joyous flight! 
 Impel its earth-stained wings to fly 
 Beyond the cloud, to sunny sky. 
 
10 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 TWILIGHT 
 
 Twilight, faint and dreamy, veils the pallid dawn 
 From the rising blushes of the rosy mom. 
 
 Twilight, gray and gloomy, like a misty screen 
 Covers with its shadow sunset's glowing scene. 
 Sunken is the world-torch in a sea of light ; 
 Amid the waves of splendor, submerged in bound- 
 less night. 
 
 Neither morn nor evening ; neither sun nor moon ! 
 Hesitating twilight: What will follow soon? 
 
 Twilight, faint and dreamy, wraps my wandering 
 
 soul 
 In a silvery cloud drifting to a goal. 
 
 Twilight, sad and solemn, like the sages hoary. 
 Sheds reflective light on deluding glory — 
 Sheds prophetic light on departed sorrows 
 Which, like raven-shadows, cloud unborn to-mor- 
 rows. 
 
 Neither toil nor rest ; neither tax nor boon ! 
 Hesitating soul-light: What will follow soon? 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 11 
 
 THE SILENT SINGER 
 
 Silence seals my bursting breast 
 
 Where raging passion turns 
 To soul-tormenting tongues of fire 
 
 "Whose speechless anguish bums. 
 
 Fain would I bid my hoping heart 
 
 Beat loud with joyous song, 
 That all life's weary wanderers 
 
 Might hear a cheering tongue. 
 
 Fain would I forge poetic shafts — 
 
 Golden sparks from glowing rage ; | 
 
 Decry the ills of loveless life — - j 
 
 Invoke a Golden Age. ' 
 
 But ah ! when still in restless youth 
 
 My Muse communed with me, 
 She laid her finger on my lips j 
 
 To calm a Galilee — ; 
 
 To calm my wrathful, storming heart ' 
 
 That groaned with world-borne pain | 
 
 And bid unfettered feelings halt, , 
 
 Unwelcome song restrain. | 
 
12 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 Majestic Muse that high enthroned 
 Inspires the poet's heart, 
 
 Unseal my lips that to the world 
 A message would impart ! 
 
 teach my clamoring heart to pray 
 In hymns that reach the sky, 
 
 And rouse the gods to set aright 
 A world that 's gone awry. 
 
 tune my clamoring heart to sing 
 
 Or mark my star above : 
 He, also, sings who unheard prays 
 
 For brotherhood and love. 
 
 GENIUSES DIFFER 
 
 A Newton saw an apple fall 
 And forthwith found a law . . . 
 A huckster saw an apple fall — 
 Picked it up and looked for more. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 13 \ 
 
 \ 
 
 JUNE I 
 
 Joyful greetings welcome summer's advent; j 
 
 Unlocked is Nature's rejuvenating gift. j 
 
 New life again imbues the universe, j 
 
 Enriched by Nature's resourceful thrift. ! 
 
 TEMPEST AND SUNSHINE 
 
 The world grew dark and dreary, 
 
 Grim care eclipsed the sun; 
 My heart was sad and weary 
 
 With strife for goals unwon. 
 
 ^^But don't I love you still," she smiled 
 Like a blushing rose unfurled ; 
 
 Her luscious lips my care beguiled — 
 And sunshine filled the world. 
 
14 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 TO A ROSE 
 
 Good morning, Queen of the garden, 
 Good morning, lovely rose. 
 
 How balmy is the scented air 
 In which you breathe repose ! 
 
 I smell your perfume sweet, ere smiles 
 
 Your face of ruddy hue ; 
 I long to see your dainty cheeks 
 
 Kissed by the morning dew. 
 
 Oft when tired of life's contention 
 
 And seeking blessed calm, 
 I long to be in your presence 
 
 And breathe your soothing balm. 
 
 Ah, fairest of all fair flowers, 
 
 How happy is your lot ! 
 You please the king in castle. 
 
 The poor man in his cot. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 15 i 
 
 WHEN AUTUMN LEAVES HAVE DECKED 
 THE GROUND 
 
 When autumn leaves have decked the ground, • 
 
 Hear the sigh 
 
 Heaved to the sky, 
 With a weird and windy wail 
 
 Through the caves. 
 
 O'er the waves. 
 
 Hear the howling, fitful gust! 
 
 How he raves 
 
 'er the graves ! 
 Does he mourn o'er shrouded heart 
 
 Of our dearest, 
 
 Very nearest? 
 
 When autumn leaves have decked the ground 
 
 Then I see 
 
 Each solemn tree, 
 A phantom which the sod enthralls, 
 
 While it sways 
 
 As it prays. 
 
 Then I hear the Druids whisper, 
 
 Spirit lore 
 
 Tales of yore. 
 How some haunting, spectral creature 
 
 Lurked in woods 
 
 With fiendish broods. 
 
16 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 When autumn leaves have decked the ground 
 
 And birds have flown 
 
 To nests unknown, 
 Then a saddened eye is turned 
 
 Where the rose 
 
 Perfumed repose. 
 
 Then snowy winter's icy hand 
 
 Stretches forth 
 
 From the north, 
 With its frigid, chilling grip 
 
 To regain 
 
 His domain. 
 
 When autumn leaves have decked the ground 
 
 And bloom of May 
 
 Is blo^Ti away. 
 Then I miss, oh, how I miss 
 
 The cheering rays 
 
 Of summer days. 
 
 Then I stroll o'er leafy ways, 
 
 In pensive mood 
 
 Through naked wood, 
 As of a fading face I think. 
 
 Old but dear. 
 
 Far yet near. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 17 
 
 INDIAN SUMMER 
 
 Sweet, Love's greeting kiss that means 
 
 Far more than tongue can tell ; 
 But sweeter still the kiss that weans 
 
 Love's lingering farewell. j 
 
 Thus Indian summer, parting smile 
 
 From Nature's kindly heart, 
 That cheers the world yet a while 
 
 Ere warmth and bloom depart. 
 
 LOVE'S SMILE OR TEAR 
 
 Sometimes emotions strangely fired 
 
 Set the heart aglow. 
 And ere cold reason has inquired 
 
 Cupid draws his bow. ■ 
 
 But oh, how sweet is joy or pain — ; 
 
 Sweet love's smile or tear: i 
 
 The sun shines through the dimming rain \ 
 
 When loving hearts are near. ! 
 
18 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 A VISION 
 
 Night's glimmering curtain faded . . . 
 The sun peered through the gray; 
 And mirthful rays like dancing elves 
 Announced the birth of day. 
 
 The scattered stars with twinkling darts 
 Vainly sought to pierce earth's gloam; 
 But morning's glow — concentred light — 
 Eevealed man's future home. 
 
 There peace and plenty filled each land 
 And genial love each heart ; 
 There truthless trade and grasping greed 
 Were banished from the mart. 
 
 No liberty to license turned 
 Or Ego loomed sublime ; 
 No despot's trampling tyranny 
 To mar the tales of time ! 
 
 But onward, onward to the goal 
 Of universal right, 
 Ever rolled the future world 
 Propelled by love and light. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 19 
 
 TWO IDEALS 
 
 The rain poured down in torrents 
 
 Upon the aged head ' 
 
 Of a woman walking feebly 
 
 With labored, trembling tread. j 
 
 \ 
 
 She heeded not the torrents, | 
 
 The cold autumnal rain; ! 
 
 Her soul mth fervor kindled ; 
 
 Communed with soul's domain. I 
 
 \ 
 
 This was the Day of Atonement , 
 
 Set by her ancient rite — ; 
 
 Set by the faith of her Fathers, j 
 
 Her sole religious light. j 
 
 \ I 
 
 Pure as a soul untrammeled 
 
 By contaminating sod; 
 Yet, like repentant sinner, 
 
 She sought the House of God. ; 
 
 The rain poured down in torrents 
 
 Over the sheltered head j 
 
 Of a sprightly maiden hastening i 
 
 With animated tread. i 
 
20 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 She heeded not the torrents, 
 
 The cold autumnal rain; 
 Her heart was warm with kindness, 
 
 With love and deeds humane. 
 
 This was a day for kindness. 
 
 For acts of sympathy 
 Taught by her faith of the Saviour, 
 
 Her creed of Humanity. 
 
 An angel protecting the weak, 
 The young shielded the old ; 
 
 Up to the temple she led her, 
 Sheltered from rain and cold. 
 
 FEBRUAEY 
 
 Fast falls the snow in spangles white 
 Embracing close earth's frozen breast. 
 Beneath the sparkling canopy 
 Restfully sleep the baby buds. 
 Until returning summer's smile 
 Alighting on their nodding heads, 
 Revives each sleeping beauty 
 Yonder dreaming of sunny days. 
 
Spring Prayer cmd Other Poems 21 
 
 SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! 
 
 A burly brute — a coward — 
 Bushed from a sinking ship. 
 Heedless of his helpless mates, 
 Who moaned and groaned like death, 
 He pushed and cursed and fought his way- 
 Alas, his life was saved. 
 
 Another on this fated ship, 
 Of body slight but big of soul 
 Bravely calmed the frenzied mob 
 As one by one was saved. 
 And as the last jumped from the deck 
 A crash and splash were heard — 
 An angry eddy marked the tomb 
 Wliere ship and hero sank. 
 
22 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 A VALENTINE \ 
 
 Come, let me pass, my bonnie lass, \ 
 
 The fortress of your heart \ 
 
 To enrapture and to capture \ 
 
 The forge of Cupid's dart. ; 
 
 0, noble soul, my cherished goal \ 
 
 That taught me love to know! I 
 
 To you I pray this simple lay \ 
 
 With love's incessant glow. ■; 
 
 i 
 
 Your sweet face beams through daylight dreams ■ 
 
 In my distracted eye; | 
 
 And when dark night dispels the light ] 
 
 Your face in stars I spy. I 
 
 j 
 
 Fairest flower — noblest dower ! l 
 
 You, and only you, I woo. | 
 
 come to me and let us be j 
 
 Lovers blithe, forever true. 1 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 23 
 
 TO A PHYSICIAN ON HER BIRTHDAY 
 
 An Acrostic 
 
 Ennobling spirit and healing heart, 
 Triumphant star of your ascending sex! 
 How lofty yet earthly your souPs ideal ! 
 Ever giving your genial smile and aid 
 Like Good Samaritan and loving maid. 
 
 May blessings grow and ripening hopes bestrew, 
 As constant as flowers in returning Mays, 
 Your life's long path with golden days. 
 
24 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 NEWARK 
 
 "WTiere the calm Passaic glides into the bay 
 That joins its modest course with the Hudson's 
 
 flow 
 Whose praise a thousand legends loudly sing, 
 There grows a mighty city unobserved 
 By great historian or poet's eye. 
 There, like glorious Eome on Palatine hills, 
 Proud Newark with nigh half a million souls 
 Modestly prospers and bids for highest fame. 
 
 Unlike some cities built within a day, 
 That lured the transient settler to their gates; 
 Two centuries and one half now mark 
 Venerable Newark's mature and fruitful age. 
 Upward through all these years she forged her 
 
 way 
 By energetic work and honest trade. 
 Till now New Jersey's highest rank she holds 
 And vies witli the largest of our land. 
 Thrift multiplied her industries and wealth 
 And raised her banner in all useful fields. 
 There flows the traffic, a rich and steady stream, 
 With rapid pulse of strong commercial life ; 
 There tower the factory stacks high in the air — 
 Huge smoking torches of industrial fire. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 25 
 
 Yet through the darkest smoke of noisy mill 
 A brighter view of Newark homes is seen, 
 Where well-paid toil enjoys his peaceful hearth 
 And swells his manly chest with civic pride. 
 The shady trees that grace the city's streets, 
 The well-kept parks that still hold nature's own, 
 The model schools that lead in learning's light 
 To science, art and manual skill. 
 The city 's rule that seeks the common good — 
 These are but few of Newark's many claims 
 That set it higher than cities more renowned. 
 
 Then sing, proud Newark, for well you may. 
 'Tis meet you celebrate with joyful song 
 In which your sister cities can unite. 
 And with sincerest acclamation sing 
 The praises of the one time little town 
 That from a theosophic acorn grew 
 Into a great and mighty civic oak. 
 
26 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 OUR LEADER 
 
 Sept., 1915 
 
 Lead on, Leader, nobly wise ; 
 As ever, truth and justice prize ! 
 You showed a statesman's master-mind 
 Whose creed all future lands will bind. 
 You taught the world that right is might ; 
 Great men reason where small men fight; 
 That oft the resolute seem weak 
 And bravest souls appear most meek ; 
 That giant strength in patience lies 
 And Gordian knots good will unties. 
 
 Lead on, Leader, crowned with fame ! 
 A hundred million bless your name. 
 Let despots war, with hearts of steel. 
 Till mad ambition makes them reel ; 
 Let hirelings seek to cloud the truth 
 And make of man a beast uncouth. 
 You know the path that leads aright 
 Through old-world plots as black as night 
 Which, hatched in slavery's darkest clime, 
 Still mar the tales of freedom 's time ; 
 You know the lore of Clio's realm 
 To you we trust the Nation's helm. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 27 
 
 Lead on, O Leader, tried and true! 
 A world unbalanced looks to you 
 To set the scales of justice straight 
 And show that love outweighs man's hate; 
 To teach again that strife should cease, 
 Even as taught the Prince of Peace. 
 The warring hosts respect your word 
 For truth is mighty once 'tis heard. 
 Heed not the jingo's teasing taunts, 
 Nor what the craven weakling wants. 
 But war or peace we pledge to you, 
 With heart and hand, allegiance true. 
 Then lead to victory, lead to peace, 
 Good will among all by deeds increase. 
 And when historians meet their task 
 And ' ' How did Wilson lead ? ' ' they ask, 
 Then in our annals it will be said 
 '*As Washington and Lincoln led." 
 
28 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 VOICES 
 
 {Dedicated to Liberty Loan Campaigns) 
 
 Out of Eternity's most sacred Hall of Fame 
 Where Liberty's heroes wrote their names in 
 
 blood and flame 
 The souls of Washington and Lafayette exclaim, 
 
 ^^Lend!" 
 Out of the bleeding hearts of those who fight and 
 
 fall 
 And give for Liberty's life their life and all — 
 Out of the hungry mouths in ruined homes the call, 
 
 ^^Lend!" 
 Out of the souls of countless babes as yet unborn 
 Come cries as though their limbs by beasts are 
 
 torn . . . 
 **Save, save us" they plead ^'from a Kaiser's 
 
 pride and scorn — 
 
 Lend!" 
 
 Lend that our dead may not have died in vain, 
 
 Nor the living be doomed to bear a Kaiser 's chain. 
 
 For them who fight a million-fold murderous Cain, 
 
 ^^Lend!" 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 29 
 
 THE SONG OF THE ^^SUB^' 
 
 {Indebtedness to T. H,) 
 
 With brain too tired to think, 
 
 With body too weary to work, 
 
 A struggling ^^Sub'' clung to her job 
 
 Teaching day in, day out. 
 
 ^^Sub— sub— sub'' 
 
 Drearily dinned in her ear; 
 
 And still with a heart that hoped and prayed \ 
 
 She sang the ' ' Song of the ' Sub ' ". j 
 
 j 
 ' ' Sub — sub — sub — ' 
 
 For hunger wants his bread; 
 
 Sub — sub — sub — 
 
 Till youth and hope have fled. j 
 
 It's oh, to be a ^sub' J 
 
 And drudge from day to day; ! 
 
 To yield the best that one can give i 
 
 And then be turned away. j 
 
 Sub — sub — sub — 
 Till the heart begins to sink ; 
 
 Sub — sub — sub — 
 Till the brain no more can think. 
 
 Cram and worry and work. 
 
 Work and worry and cram, 
 And then the very noblest aim 
 
 Is shattered by an *exam.' 
 
30 Spring Prayer and Other Poems \ 
 
 — ^ j 
 
 O men, mth sisters dear! 
 
 O men, with brothers and friends ! 
 
 'Tis not a convict's soul you try 
 
 But teachers ' who work with brain and hands. 
 
 Sub — sub — sub — 
 Each day the task renew; 
 Filling a teacher's useful place 
 Yet getting no teacher's due." 
 
 With brain too tired to think, ] 
 
 With body too weary to work, j 
 
 The struggling *'Sub" clung to her job I 
 
 Teaching day in, day out. | 
 
 ^^Sub— sub— sub" I 
 
 Drearily dinned in her ear; ! 
 And still with a heart that hoped and prayed 
 She sang the ' ' Song of the ^ Sub " '. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 31 
 
 TO A FRIEND ON HIS WEDDING-DAY 
 
 AYhen friendship's eye scans youth's lingering 
 
 past 
 Enshrined in faithful heart till memory's last, 
 HoAv mighty looms each trifling youthful scene 
 Upon the present's reminiscent screen! 
 How trifling these thoughts, yet sweetly sublime — 
 Oases on the desert sands of Time . . . 
 And now with sacred friendship's longing thirst 
 For future memories to crown the first, 
 I quaif the nectar from the desert-spring 
 And ope my heart this wedding-wish to sing. 
 
 Bright as the brightest day in sunny June, 
 When Love and Joy with our souls commune, 
 Fraught with the fruit of true love's golden tree^ 
 Like a tropical harvest may your future be ; 
 May fortune smile her fondest smile on you. 
 Forever constant and forever true — 
 Aye, bear these blessings to life's farthest end, 
 And in your heart the Amen of your friend. 
 
32 Spring Prayer and Other Poems 
 
 THE ESSENCE OF LIFE 
 
 A little joy, a little sorrow, 
 
 And to-day disappears. 
 Making way for to-morrow 
 
 Which in turn weaves the years. 
 
 Hours of pleasure, days of pain. 
 
 And the years roll away, 
 Welding to an endless chain 
 
 New links that spell decay. 
 
 Alas ! fleeting years, fading hopes, 
 Extend the bounds of care ; 
 
 And resignation abruptly slopes 
 The path which all must share. 
 
 Yet we linger, always pining 
 
 For some distant goal. 
 Till 'neath star of hope still shining 
 
 Life's last dream frees the soul. 
 
 THE CYCLE DIVINE 
 
 Out of the vast Unknown — a God— - 
 A living force of love and light. 
 Out of the breath of God — a man 
 To crown creation's master-plan. 
 Out of perfected man — a God — 
 A spirit to guide the world aright. 
 
Spring Prayer and Other Poems 33 
 
 ALONE 
 
 "A great city is a great solitude." — Greek Proverb 
 
 I mingle with the throngs that drudge 
 Or strive for Mammon's throne; 
 
 I meet and greet a passing smile, 
 But ah, I feel alone. 
 
 I mingle where the sated feast 
 
 Or where the hungry groan; 
 Where millions swarm like stars above, 
 
 I feel alone . . . alone. 
 
 I mingle with the daily din 
 
 A deeper, softer tone ; 
 But lonely echoes seem to mock — 
 
 Alone, alone, alone. 
 
 POETRY 
 
 Who can fathom the secret of the rose's blush 
 Or know what tunes the golden throat of thrush? 
 A thousand passions in joy or anguish throng — 
 Ah, who can define the soul a-song! 
 
I;"; ■ :■ T ^'^^t^^^y'^'^kl ^^^'■y^::^^-^^ f^^f^/M^h^m 
 
 ■iiliiiii. 
 
 018 395 715 6 •