Part 2

In the shadows of the turf fire, Several figures knelt in pray’r, The soft breeze lingered by the door, While the oft repeated Ave’s, The sweet Hail Mary full of grace Their beads they counted o’er and o’er.

Oh for this the May breeze waited, And then at last went on its way, The hawthorn’s perfume filled the air, For the incense of those Ave’s It bore away to Mary’s throne, A tribute of love and prayer.

THE TRUTHS OF OLD, OH HEART OF MAN.

The truths of old, oh heart of man, Speak forth with free impressive tongue, For righteousness thy thoughts express, The seeming mysteries of God’s plan; Let thoughts emerge from heart and brain, In spoken accents sweet and low, Give to the world your very best, For in His plan God willed it so.

All nature moves in harmony, No discord mars the glad refrain Of sun, and moon, and stars above, Of trees and flow’rs on hill and plain; Oh! heart of man with truths of old, In love and justice rule the earth, Resplendent shine like purest gold, Without alloy, oh heart of man.

THE MESSAGE OF THE ROSE.

See a beautiful rose just unfolding Breathing its fragrance on the summer air, While on the emerald green at its feet A modest blue violet bloomed so fair; And thought oh how happy the rose must be Queen of the garden, nodding gracefully.

But there is ne’er a rose without its thorns While on its beauty we may always gaze If we go near why we must have a care Or those thorns will pierce while still we may praise.

Then the rose bending low her stately head Kissed the sweet violet tender and true As a pearly tear from her petals fell, On the violet’s lips bedecked with dew, And said, “Little flower contented be. No thorns probe your side, nodding gracefully.”

THE TIES THAT BIND.

How dear the ties that bind us to the past, Fond thoughts of them around our hearts doth twine; We seem to feel the essence of their love, Like fragrance of the rose in summer time.

Though passd from earth, their influence remain, Their earnestness, their work, their loving care: The rift within the clouds cast forth sunshine, Sweet rays of hope, The Beautiful Somewhere.

Somewhere beyond in that haven of rest, Where bright light divine shines forth from its dome, Where heavenly choirs are chanting His praise, We place forget-me-nots around their home.

WHERE SHALL I HIDE?

Where shall I hide? a sad voice cried, Where shall I hide I pray, Why is it so, where e’er I go, Along my weary way, The path seems all beset with thorns No roses can I see? Where shall I hide? where shall I hide? Lo! Christ says hide in me.

Oh child of sorrow, ne’er despair, Full well I loveth thee, For thee I died, so do not hide So far away from me, But look beyond this vale of tears, With faith’s unerring light, Roses you’ll see mid garlands free Along your path so bright.

EASTER MORN.

From the garden fair of heaven, Like dewdrops from the skies Falls the perfume of a flower That is now in paradise. May the essence of his virtues Steal softly o’er the dawn, Dispelling all the shadows grey As on that Easter morn.

As captives here we may languish All peace will soar away, ’Till refreshing dews from heaven Guide us on day by day. God’s love and light will sustain us Like the lily so fair We will drink of His sweet fragrance And banish ev’ry care.

LOVE’S SECRET.

I breathe it to the rose at dawn, To the violets blue, The secret of my soul new born, And love ’tis all of you. I tell them of a vision fair, A dream of bliss divine, And as their perfume fills the air, My heart seeks only thine.

I plucked the buds all blushing red, The violets so blue, They seem to say with drooping heads Fond thoughts we’ll take for you, To her heart we’ll bring sweet tidings While nestling on her breast, We’ll breathe of love the poet sings, Of love supremely blest.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CLOISTER.

Without the earth was robed in white, Stars glittered in the wintry sky, The altar lights shone fair and bright, Sweet heav’nly music rose on high, Breathing in the language of the soul, All that the soul so longs to hear, While from the sanctu’ry lamp there stole Soft rays that flickered far and near.

And lo! the scene, the Cloister choir, The nuns in silent pray’r with God, The crib of Bethlehem, all inspire, Uplift our hearts from earth’s cold clod; All hallowed by God’s holy priest, Raising the host of sacrifice, While rays from the star of the east Seem to guide us away from vice.

Non omnis moriar, they say, Not dead the flow’rs beneath the snow, They’ll come forth from the earth so gray, Live and bloom in the sun’s warm glow; Above the snow beyond the stars They who have gone in soft tones sing, Non omnis moriar, afar, We dwell in peace with Christ our King.

THE MUSICIAN’S LOVE-SONG.

A thousand harps are breaking music in my heart, In wild picturesque corners where the nymphs might prance, Strains, half sweet, half sad, in my daily life apart, Gush forth as from a fountain where the sun’s light dance.

The dusk of night is hov’ring o’er the twilight hour, Its hidden existence through ever changing years, The sun’s last rays shed a halo o’er our bower, The flowers in their beauty seem diffused with tears.

All nature blends in song, in harmony so grand, Oh why not my soul in sweet melody divine, Soar ever onward, upward over sea and land, Through space and eternity to the heav’nly shrine.

A VISION.

I gazed at the sky half dreaming, Through the whispering trees, I lay enrapt in its beauty, While hope sighed through the leaves, A sense of sublime awakening Stole o’er my slumb’ring soul, I awoke in this universe, Where, oh where was the goal?

Then the world seemed slowly fading The godlike seemed to shine My heart throbbed under the vision The infinite divine. I awoke to face life’s battles Those mem’ries floating o’er As a safeguard in temptation A safeguard evermore.

FOOTPRINTS OF GOD.

Ev’ry flower by the wayside, Ev’ry shrub, ev’ry tree, The little brooks ’neath mossy banks, Sing joyfully of Thee.

As we gaze upon the heavens, The solar system, where We see order all about us Thy footprints, God, are there.

Oh the glory and the grandeur Of Thy Godhead we see In all Harmony and beauty Revealed to us by Thee.

All creation speaks Thy presence, All hallowed be Thy name, From zone to zone, from east to west Thy footprints will remain.

IN MEMORIAM, A BEAUTIFUL ROSE FROM ASHES BORN.

Oh, sacred spot where ashes rest, Where thy dear form is laid away, ’Way from our sight so calm, serene, Only waiting the judgment day; Lo! from thy heart a rose is born, Like thy soul with beauty and grace, Opening its petals o’er thy grave, Yes, shedding its perfume through space.

Like bird on the wing a message As sweet as the nightingale’s song, Pure as the rose leaves o’er thy breast, Proclaiming to the world’s great throng, There is no death, sin, gloom or strife After we reach the other shore, From the ashes a rose is born, To bloom in God’s love ever more.

EVENTIDE BY THE SEA.

Far, far out as the foaming waves, Dance and glisten in caps of white, See the setting sun’s crimson rays, Reflected in the waters bright.

The crested billows rise and fall, The mermaids chant their evening song, In murmurs low the sea doth call, The evening bell its tones prolong.

Echoing softly o’er the sea, Then resounding along the shore, As ebbing tides flow glad and free, Forever sighing evermore.

The waters in green, blue and gold, As the mist arises from the sea In weird fantastic shadows bold, Seem gently calling you and me.

Behold, oh great Creator blest, Oh! Sovereign King of earth and heav’n, Thy myst’ries sooth our souls to rest, Faith and hope to us are given.

BEAUTY.

Now, “Beauty is what beauty does” We hear the poets say, As, “Beauty is what beauty does,” We all may hope and pray Our minds to high ideals will rise, Our bodies hold in sway; The thoughts within will shine without Emit the brightest ray, Of love, and sunshine, faith and truth Self sacrifice each day.

The souls that speak from out such eyes, With wondrous beauties shine, The smiles that hover o’er such lips, A wealth of love define, The graceful poise, sweet manners born Of deeds and truths sublime; All animation, charm, repose, Produced from such a mine Of wealth untold, of gifts so grand, We see at beauty’s shrine.

FAREWELL, SWEET SONGSTER.

Farewell, farewell sweet songster, We are sad from thee to part, Thy soul inspiring music, Cheered many a weary heart, The lark soars tow’rd the heavens, Yes, far upward in its flight, The nightingale’s sweet music Often thrills us with delight.

Sweet thoughts of thee we’ll cherish, Our bright shining star of love, Thy melodies would waken The celestial choirs above; For strains of sweetest music, Now seem wafted o’er the sea, List’ning to the grand old songs That so charmed us sung by thee.

THE LIGHT OF PRAYER.

Oh light of pray’r divinely blest, Within our hearts there find sweet rest; Oh vision bright of faith supreme More beautiful than poet’s theme, On all the beauty earth can give But to decay, with thee we live.

We’ll live with thee in heav’n above, Where all is happiness and love, When from this sphere we’re called away To live in the eternal day. The light of pray’r our guide will be, Faith’s vision of eternity.

VISIONS OF ETERNITY.

Far, far away o’er the meadow, Watching the sunset’s glow, List’ning to the songbirds chirping To the night, sweet and low, Oh there as the twilight shadows Bid goodbye to the day, How our souls go out in rapture From tenements of clay.

For there in the dim seclusion Of nature’s magic hour, A glorious beauty is revealed Of God’s most sacred pow’r. A sublime myster’ous vision, A halo from above, Casting sunshine o’er the shadows By virtue of His love.

LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT.

Love is the fulfillment for God is love, From Him all blessings flow, Peace, truth and righteousness comes from above, Deep in our hearts they grow; The world is progressing, aye, slow but sure, Time’s ever on the wing; A new day is dawning, born to endure, Love, truth and peace will bring.

Love ruleth ever and all men will be, Of one vast brotherhood, Kingdoms are tot’ring far over the sea, Yes, crumbling as they should, God will be apparent the God of love, All will know He is King, The rule of right like the carrier dove A message sweet will bring.

End of Project Gutenberg's Poems of Peace and War, by Elizabeth H. Connor