Part 21

A weed is but an unloved flower! Go dig, and prune, and guide, and wait, Until it learns its high estate, And glorifies some bower. A weed is but an unloved flower!

All sin is virtue unevolved, Release the angel from the clod— Go love thy brother up to God. Behold each problem solved. All sin is virtue unevolved.

STRENGTH

Who is the strong? Not he who puts to test His sinews with the strong and proves the best; But he who dwells where weaklings congregate, And never lets his splendid strength abate.

Who is the good? Not he who walks each day With moral men along the high, clean way; But he who jostles gilded sin and shame, Yet will not sell his honour or his name.

Who is the wise? Not he who from the start With Wisdom’s followers has taken part; But he who looks in Folly’s tempting eyes, And turns away, perceiving her disguise.

Who is serene? Not he who flees his kind, Some mountain fastness, or some cave to find; But he who in the city’s noisiest scene, Keeps calm within—he only is serene.

AFFIRM

Body and mind, and spirit, all combine To make the Creature, human and divine.

Of this great trinity no part deny. Affirm, affirm, the Great Eternal I.

Affirm the body, beautiful and whole, The earth-expression of immortal soul.

Affirm the mind, the messenger of the hour, To speed between thee and the source of power.

Affirm the spirit, the Eternal I— Of this great trinity no part deny.

THE CHOSEN

They stood before the Angel at the gate; The Angel asked: ‘Why should you enter in?’ One said: ‘On earth my place was high and great;’ And one: ‘I warned my fellow-men from sin;’ Another: ‘I was teacher of the faith; I scorned my life and lived in love with death.’

And one stood silent. ‘Speak!’ the Angel said; ‘What earthly deed has sent you here to-day?’ ‘Alas! I did but follow where they led,’ He answered sadly: ‘I had lost my way— So new the country, and so strange my flight; I only sought for guidance and for light.’

‘You have no passport?’ ‘None,’ the answer came. ‘I loved the earth, tho’ lowly was my lot. I strove to keep my record free from blame, And make a heaven about my humble spot. A narrow life; I see it now, too late; So, Angel, drive me from the heavenly gate.’

The Angel swung the portal wide and free, And took the sorrowing stranger by the hand. ‘Nay, you alone,’ he said, ‘shall come with me, Of all this waiting and insistent band. Of what God gave, you built your paradise; Behold your mansion waiting in the skies.’

THE NAMELESS

Unnumbered gods may unremembered die; A thousand creeds may perish and pass by; Yet do I lift mine eyes to ONE on high.

Unnamed be HE from whom creation came; There is no word whereby to speak His name But petty men have mouthed it into shame.

I lift mine eyes, and with a river’s force My love’s full tide goes sweeping on its course To that supreme and all-embracing Source.

Then back through all those thirsting channels roll The mighty billows of the Over Soul. And I am He, the portion and the Whole.

As little streams before the flood-tide flee, As rivers vanish to become the sea, The I exists no more, for I AM HE.

THE WORD

Oh, a word is a gem, or a stone, or a song, Or a flame, or a two-edged sword; Or a rose in bloom, or a sweet perfume, Or a drop of gall, is a word.

You may choose your word like a connoisseur, And polish it up with art, But the word that sways, and stirs, and stays, Is the word that comes from the heart.

You may work on your word a thousand weeks, But it will not glow like one That all unsought, leaps forth white hot, When the fountains of feeling run.