Class TS^SZS nr-> Book_tZ^i£2 Gofi^TiglrtN?_-. /f/5^ COPYJ^IGHT DEPOSIT. n---. POEMS BY FRANCES E. MOORE KANSAS CITY, MO. SMITH-GRIEVES COMPANY, PUBLISHERS OCTOBER, MCMXV dedicated to lovers of "the quiet hour" i/oj. Copyright, 1915 by Frances E. Moore, Kansas City, Mo. ©GI.A416131 OCT 28 1915 THE TRIUMPHANT LIFE No repining ever, But the rejoicing lever Raise to high endeavor, All thy ways. Soul, be ever winging; Heart, keep ever singing; Thus new hopes keep springing. And to fruitage come. Not a look behind thee. No regret to bind thee. All of joy to find thee, For today. Poised on wings that bear thee From all foes 'twould snare thee, Faith's immortal pinions fair, thee. Save the day. J J THE TRUSTING LIFE I am hiding in the shadow, In the covert of His wing; And my heart knows only trusting, And my life knows only spring; For the child-like heart I bear me In the presence of my King, So kind is He who leads me And how well He knows the wav There is never any danger that My feet shall go astray, While o'er me is His light by night, And banner of love by day. Though sometimes tears are raining And sorrow bows my head, 'Tis that I might see the rainbow Of His promises instead; And thus I know, continually, By His own hand I am led. THE SURRENDERED WILL The starry heavens to divinest laws now move, How blest is man when as these God's goodness prove, And most in harmony divine when Faith's illum- ined eyes can view And thus behold the all things new. Oh, gracious law, which causest me in morning's light To soar on wings — with dews of night I decked mv brow And lo! they turn to diamonds now. The soul, unfettered, flashes forth And mounts the heights of highest worth, And thus proclaims to all the earth That miracle — a second birth. The soul, released, hails her primal natal hour And demonstrates a higher power Where all things move In harmony with perfect love. TESTED Beloved, think not strange of the fiery trial you are passing through, For 'tis that abounding grace may be given unto you. It v^ill e'en destroy the dross And e'er refine the gold, And always casts the life in a more heroic mold. To seven times the heat of ordinary power The furnace may for you be made ready in an hour, But never fear the test that for thee prepares, For well thy Father knows all thy tears and prayers. And know thou shalt come forth all pure and well refined, And not a hint of fire on garments shall they find; And of thy love and faith the half shall not be told Till that abundant entrance, when the gates to thee unfold. ALONE WITH GOD "My soul, lean thou only upon God." To stand alone with God — Oh, precious boon to frailest mortals given, And have His presence thee enfold when the mounts with thunders riven ; To hear Him speak alone when all the earth is moved. And then to know of Him that we are well beloved. And though the way was rough and through a bloody tide (To reach the height we must all bear his wounds in hands and side), Yet this is all forgot — our suffering and our tears — When He doth make an end of all our doubts and fears. For we know all not now, but hereafter shall we know. That by leaning on His word our faith and hope may grow; And though our dearest friends may turn away their face, Sufficient is His word, sufficient is His grace. RESURRECTION. I nothing from my Lord do hide, But as He asks, my mouth I ope wide, And grace comes in and overflows And every comfort on me bestows. Sometimes to Calvary's mount I go With bleeding wounds and weight of woe And am cast down, but not forgot, Because His love, it changeth not. And though grief lingers for a night, The dawn comes in with glory bright. The songs burst forth, the sun's ablaze, And my whole being thrills with praise! ASPIRATION. His eagle eye was fixed on light; His soaring wings w^ere spread for flight; His mark he knew, to that he flew, and set his stake. And ere 'twas done, another light, Intense — more brilliant — far in height He saw and could not rest. With such a view ahead The present ground had paled and fled; His hope sped on. To other climes he now must wing, In loftier spheres his sonnets sing, Nor here be e'er content. No bound canst set for such an eye, Nor height for such a wing to try; Illimitable his goal. From sphere to sphere, from star to star, He marks his course to realms afar, Nor stops nor stays to sing. SPRING Have you heard it, have you seen it, Have you felt it passing fair; Have you sensed it, have you breathed it, That spring is in the air? Whisperings and flutterings Of things as on the wing, Mysterious muffled voices That presently will sing. For in the world just out of sight Expectancy is great; And out of darkness shall arise This growing life elate; And as with new and tender face The glorious dawn they'll view. We, too, shall rise to greet them, The old friends and the new. ODE TO MORNING GLORIES Morning Glories! Morning Glories! Adorning the spring of day; Out of the night into the light Thou comest in bright array. With thee all nature rejoices,^ Hailing the new-born day In myriad voices. 'Tis thus thou dost cheer When fair summer is here. Morning Glories! Morning Glories! Kissed by the dew, Flaunting thy colors Of red, white and blue. Glorious emblems of liberty's ruth ! The three immortals, Love, Purity, Truth ; All gayly thou comest, our glad eyes to greet, A pathway inviting thou dost make for our feet. AFTER THE STORM 'Twas eve, and silently and steadily the drizzling rain congealed, And covered o'er at every pore the wood, in copse and field; The village church was blanketed e'en to its steeple's top, And the eaves were being fringed about and lacquered drop by drop. The dawn had come; the morn awoke; the sun god raised his head; And earth became transfigured as if risen from the dead; For flashing, dazzling, scintillating showers, his work was done! You'd think ten thousand suns had burst and cast their diamonds — every one! OUR FLAG Fling out the banner, let it float o'er patriots brave ! The red of sacrifice for love; The blue of truth, eternal, all above; The white of purity and peace: Oh, never may its meaning, cease ; But always when this flag is seen Its emblems to our hearts may mean, Inseparable is God's great plan, And patriot true who lives for fellow man! THE AFTERTIDE Roll, roll, roll, the drums begin to roll; Toll, toll, toll, the bells begin to toll; How they toll ! Longer, longer, longer, the bells now toll; Louder, louder, louder, the drums now roll; O, my soul! Who is rolling of the drums, tell me, who? Man is rolling of the drums, 'tis his view! Man's view ! Who is tolling of the bells, tell me, who? Man is tolling of the bells, 'tis his, too! Man's, too! What will stop the drum she hears. What will stop this knell she fears? Woman's tears! Then shall earth be purified by the cleansing of that tide; Naught but glory shall abide, Af tertide ! At the tomb Mary wept, but her tears got re- ward By the presence of her Lord; Blessed Lord! Hush! See that none the silence breaks! Day is dawning! Glory wakes! Glory wakes ! GOD'S PLAN. God is not mocked, for soon or late His word is all fulfilled; And comes to naught in word or thought all that frail man has willed. As waters to the ocean run, God's plan, in steady tread, By all the wonders of His grace, continually is fed. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He thy life shall plan; And blessings rich shall come to thee, the true and God-like man. Abundant fruit — an hundred fold — the child of God shall bring; And praises, praises, joined to praise, to crown his glorious King. MISUNDERSTOOD Art misunderstood? Our greatest hearts and souls have ever been; Who with purpose high and faith and truth have risen above the world's din. Even when they quivered 'neath the lash and bled at every pore, They still maintained that outward calm that One on Calvary bore. So, for you, too, a secret strength, a mighty power comes in, For He will aid who was misjudged — who did atone for sin; For He it is who calms the soul and supplieth all your need, And reveals Himself in all His grace to the pure in heart, indeed. DOUBTS Oh, soul, how grieved art thou when friends thy words do doubt. Even after thou hast been faithful in every deed and thought; Yet cares t thou not how thy Father's heart dost grieve Because His faithful promises thou hast not believed? The One whose presence satisfies all else above; The One whose love encompasseth e'en all our love ; The One whose light irradiates our darkest night — The Christ, who shows Himself, and all is bright. GRATITUDE Fairer flower never grew Than the one I give to you; 'Tis refreshing as the dew — Gratitude. It is grown in every cHme, And is fragrant all the time; Let it be both yours and mine — Gratitude. But the one who has it most The very least of it does boast, Yet it always counts a host — Gratitude. Make it of your life a part, Keep it ever in the heart. Whence its deepest roots do start- Gratitude. NOT DEATH, BUT VICTORY Victory or death ? No, never. Victory! Victory! altogether. That our watchword e'er should be All-sufficing Victory! As on the steeps our footsteps trace Forward — not backward — in the race; Upward we climb, if only one step, for that day, We shall behold a brighter ray. And when at last the heights we mount And no more goals remain to count, With perfect view and perfect day We shout " 'Tis Victory! Victory!" all the way.