, 3503 t8425 Smiles of God BY Evelyn Gage Browne PUBLISHED BY THE ARPODENE STUDIO PiTTSFiELD, Mass. COPYRIGHTED 1918, BY EVELYN GAGE BROWNE SMILES OF GOD God smiled in the woodland bowers, — And violets answered, blue; God smiled on the fields, — and flowers Of white and gold shimmered through. Wherever His smile was given, A blossom was brought to birth; And the flowers that point toward Heaven, Are the Smiles of God on earth. JUL 2919,11 .0)C.l.A49y9^9 m ^ I MATINS At dawn the wild-flower breathes: "Oh, may I so uplift my face to-day, That all who pass along this way Will smile, and find the world more fair— Because I blossomed; — this my prayer." And deep within the wood is heard The morning-paean of the bird: "May I so sing, hearts will be stirred To soar with me, forgetting care — Because I sang; — this is my prayer." And, Father, I would add my plea: "May I so w^alk, where'er I be, — In Love Divine reflecting Thee, — That men will breathe a purer air — Because I lived ; — this. Lord, my prayer. BENEATH THE LEAVES I wandered through a lonely wood Long years ago, No flowers bloomed beside my path. The clouds hung low. And heartsick, faint, I struggled on For weary miles, While last year's leaves around me lay In dreary piles. At last, as worn and almost spent With pain and care, I pushed away the mouldering leaves That gathered there; And, searching 'neath them as they lay. Just at my feet, I found a perfect woodland flower, — Divinely sweet. And so beneath my broken hopes. In life's dark hour, I seek the blessing, as I sought The woodland flower; For,— having learned though rough the way And deep the gloom. Still underneath the withered leaves The flowers bloom, — I now have faith to ever know, — Though naught I see, — That God hath placed in every path — A flower for me. THE LILY Down in the mud and mire it came to birth In darkness deep, And there it stayed content — of little worth — Close-wrapped in sleep. But though its roots were twined in beds of clay, There gently stirred Within its heart a thrill of life one day. And lo, it heard A call to struggle upward from the strife Of mud and gloom. And reach toward Heaven to find its real life In perfect bloom. So up it grew straight toward the wondrous light, With purpose sure. And brought from out the mire, — a lily white, Unsullied, pure. Dov/n in the gloom and mire of earth he dwelt A.S one asleep. And seeined content, — nor in his heart e'er felt The yearning creep To wake and rise; but lo, one day he heard The call of Love, And felt the thrill of Spirit's power that stirred Him; while above Toward Heaven he raised his longing, earth- dimmed eyes, And through the night There came the call: — "O child of God, arise! — Thy Life is Light!" And so he mounted upward toward new-birth, — The Spirit's goal, — And brought from out the mud and mire of earth,- A spotless soul! SUMMER SNOW The fields are white; — and yet 'tis June! What trick is this? Did Nature miss? The flakes so pure are lightly strewn: — Doth Winter kiss Fair Spring? What bliss! Yet stay! whence come these flecks of gold? Is that the sun On every one? But still they tarry: — Winter's bold! His web is spun. His weaving done. Ah, look! they're daisies, — Summer-snow; Come up — not down From clouds afrown; Born of the sun on earth below, — A perfect crown For Spring's green gown. NATURE'S MAGIC Only a leaden rain-drop; But soon we see it pass, — An amethyst on the violet, An emerald on the grass, A ruby red on the columbine. Or a disk of gleaming gold. Transformled by Nature's magic; — The rain-drop's tale is told. Only a bitter tear-drop ; Yet out of the poignant pain. Love's wand will bring forth jewels, As the flowers are born of rain. AFTERMATH Only a withered blossom; — brief its hour! Yet, wouldst thou say 'Twere best the poor dead bloom had lived alway- One little flower? Behold! Unnumbered seeds have come to birth, To bless the earth. Only a burned-out torch; — a hope that died ' Ere scarce 'twas born! Yet, wouldst thou find the bright, Eternal Morn, — One ray to guide? Lo, Love brings forth new Light, — oh, soul that gropes, — From shattered hopes. JUNE May brings us a promise subtly sweet, A tender whisper of things to be; But June comes dancing, and spreads at our feet Her w^ealth of treasures for all to see. With open arms and lavish hand. She scatters largess o'er the land. Her feet rose-tangled, primrose-twined. Spring loiters, lingers, — loath to go; While Summer weaves a wreath to bind. Ensnaring her with daisy-snow. They meet and wed, then kiss and part; Yet ever one in Nature's heart. June: blest between, where God's best gifts cling; Half waking Summer, half waning Spring! OCTOBER O Crown of the Year, I bow to thy sway! Fulfillment is here Of the promise of May. Each seed, each flower. Spake — sesame. To this glad hour That welcomes thee. All Nature's athrill, And breathless with bliss Of color, until We know Life meant — this! The charm, of Spring, The Summer's bloom. Live — but to bring Thee from Love's loom. They weave through the days That herald thy birth. Till, — veiled in blue haze,- — Thou comest to earth, Then, full content. They fade and die: Earth — as God meant—'- Is flaming nigh. With beauty that thrills Till Spring splendors pale, Ablaze on the hills, Aflame in the vale,' Thou! — God's blest plan! Through thee is given To mortal man — A glimpse of Heaven. ANSWERED Where is God?— I asked my soul. Then I listened — listened; Not a whisper came my way; Just a purple violet lay At my feet, Dewy-sweet, Where the sunlight glistened. What is Life? — I questioned then. Not a breath came hither; Just a mother-bird flew by To her nest with eager cry: — Service, love. Flights above. On its journej'^ — whither? What is Love? — my query came. Long I waited, lonely; Just a gentle zephyr stirred, Came another homing bird, Violets twain Smiled through rain: — These gave answ^er only. What is God? — Oh, list, my soul! Silence still unbroken; Just the songsters downward flew Where the violets nestled blue: — Beauty, Life, and Love, All about — above. Like a flame Answer came, — Yet no word was spoken. ROSES One held a rose in his eager hand, — But his soul was empty quite; For he never knew, — so earth-blind was he, — There is more to a flower than the eye can see; So he smiled and kissed its petals white. But ah, soon he wept o'er a barren stalk; For his rose lay strewn on the garden-walk. One held in his heart Supernal Bloom, — But his hands were empty quite; Yet he joyed in the Real, for his soul saw true, — An Immortal Flower — forever new — - Though his lips were unpressed by petals white. But no tears, no loss shall his spirit see; For his Rose will bloom through Eternity. A SPRING PRAYER May kisses barren boughs to blushing bloom, And waves a wand that wakens all the wood. She breathes — and blossoms answer with perfume; Here life is fair and good — and understood. Make barren lives, O God, to swell From bud to blossom sweet; Wake sleeping souls that list hope's knell — New Life to greet. Make every heart blest answer give To Spirit's Spring at hand, Until, nev/-born, they rise, and live- And understand. VESPERS As day fades in the crimson west The blossom breathes: "To-night I rest In knowledge that I've done my best; Yet w^ith the morn I long to be A fairer flower, — worthy Thee." As darkness steals, from out the wood A bird-voice floats: "O God most good, I've sung my song as best I could; Yet would I sing to-morrow's lay Mere nearly perfect than to-day." And, Father, as descends the dew, I come to Thee, and whisper too: "I've lived to-day the best I knew; Yet may I rise with morning's light Far nobler, purer, than to-night." 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