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tuned an instrument all shook and jarred。
31。
Therefore； O Lord； when all things common seem； When all is dust；
and self the centre clod； When grandeur is a hopeless； foolish dream； And
anxious care more reasonable than God； Out of the ashes I will call to
thee In spite of dead distrust call earnestly： Oh thou who livest； call；
then answer dying me。
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SEPTEMBER。
1。
WE are a shadow and a shining； we！ One moment nothing seems but
what we see； Nor aught to rule but common circumstance Nought is to
seek but praise； to shun but chance； A moment more； and God is all in all；
And not a sparrow from its nest can fall But from the ground its chirp goes
up into his hall。
2。
I know at least which is the better mood。 When on a heap of cares I sit
and brood； Like Job upon his ashes； sorely vext； I feel a lower thing than
when I stood The world's true heir； fearless as； on its stalk； A lily meeting
Jesus in his walk： I am not all moodI can judge betwixt。
3。
Such differing moods can scarce to one belong； Shall the same
fountain sweet and bitter yield？ Shall what bore late the dust…mood； think
and brood Till it bring forth the great believing mood？ Or that which bore
the grand mood； bald and peeled； Sit down to croon the shabby sensual
song； To hug itself； and sink from wrong to meaner wrong？
4。
In the low mood； the mere man acts alone； Moved by impulses which；
if from within； Yet far outside the centre man begin； But in the grand
mood； every softest tone Comes from the living God at very heart 》From
thee who infinite core of being art； Thee who didst call our names ere ever
we could sin。
5。
There is a coward sparing in the heart； Offspring of penury and low…
born fear： Prayer must take heed nor overdo its part； Asking too much of
him with open ear！ Sinners must wait； not seek the very best； Cry out for
peace； and be of middling cheer： False heart！ thou cheatest God； and dost
thy life molest。
6。
Thou hungerest not； thou thirstest not enough。 Thou art a temporizing
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thing； mean heart。 Down…drawn； thou pick'st up straws and wretched stuff；
Stooping as if the world's floor were the chart Of the long way thy lazy
feet must tread。 Thou dreamest of the crown hung o'er thy head But that
is safethou gatherest hairs and fluff！
7。
Man's highest action is to reach up higher； Stir up himself to take hold
of his sire。 Then best I love you； dearest； when I go And cry to love's life I
may love you so As to content the yearning； making love； That perfects
strength divine in weakness' fire； And from the broken pots calls out the
silver dove。
8。
Poor am I； God knows； poor as withered leaf； Poorer or richer than； I
dare not ask。 To love aright； for me were hopeless task； Eternities too high
to comprehend。 But shall I tear my heart in hopeless grief； Or rise and
climb； and run and kneel； and bend； And drink the primal loveso love in
chief？
9。
Then love shall wake and be its own high life。 Then shall I know 'tis I
that love indeed Ready； without a moment's questioning strife； To be
forgot； like bursting water…bead； For the high good of the eternal dear； All
hope； all claim； resting； with spirit clear； Upon the living love that every
love doth breed。
10。
Ever seem to fail in utterance。 Sometimes amid the swift melodious
dance Of fluttering wordsas if it had not been； The thought has melted；
vanished into night； Sometimes I say a thing I did not mean； And lo！ 'tis
better； by thy ordered chance； Than what eluded me； floating too feathery
light。
11。
If thou wouldst have me speak； Lord； give me speech。 So many cries
are uttered now…a…days； That scarce a song； however clear and true； Will
thread the jostling tumult safe； and reach The ears of men buz…filled with
poor denays： Barb thou my words with light； make my song new； And
men will hear； or when I sing or preach。
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12。
Can anything go wrong with me？ I ask And the same moment； at a
sudden pain； Stand trembling。 Up from the great river's brim Comes a cold
breath； the farther bank is dim； The heaven is black with clouds and
coming rain； High soaring faith is grown a heavy task； And all is wrong
with weary heart and brain。
13。
〃Things do go wrong。 I know grief； pain； and fear。 I see them lord it
sore and wide around。〃 》From her fair twilight answers Truth； star…
crowned； 〃Things wrong are needful where wrong things abound。 Things
go not wrong； but Pain； with dog and spear； False faith from human hearts
will hunt and hound。 The earth shall quake 'neath them that trust the solid
ground。〃
14。
Things go not wrong when sudden I fall prone； But when I snatch my
upheld hand from thine； And； proud or careless； think to walk alone。 Then
things go wrong； when I； poor； silly sheep； To shelves and pits from the
good pasture creep； Not when the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine；
And to the mountains goes； after the foolish one。
15。
Lo！ now thy swift dogs； over stone and bush； After me； straying sheep；
loud barking； rush。 There's Fear； and Shame； and Empty…heart； and Lack；
And Lost…love； and a thousand at their back！ I see thee not； but know thou
hound'st them on； And I am lost indeedescape is none。 See！ there they
come； down streaming on my track！
16。
I rise and run； staggeringdouble and run。 But whither？whither？
whither for escape？ The sea lies all about this long…necked cape There
come the dogs； straight for me every one Me； live despair； live centre of
alarms！ Ah！ lo！ 'twixt me and all his barking harms； The shepherd； lo！I
runfall folded in his arms。
17。
There let the dogs yelp； let them growl and leap； It is no matterI will
go to sleep。 Like a spent cloud pass pain and grief and fear； Out from
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behind it unchanged love shines clear。 Oh； save me； Christ！I know not
what I am； I was thy stupid； self…willed； greedy lamb； Would be thy honest
and obedient sheep。
18。
Why is it that so often I return 》From social converse with a spirit
worn； A lack； a disappointmenteven a sting Of shame； as for some low；
unworthy thing？ Because I have not； careful； first of all； Set my door
open wide； back to the wall； Ere I at others' doors did knock and call。
19。
Yet more and more of me thou dost demand； My faith and hope in God
alone shall stand； The life of lawnot trust the rain and sun To draw the
golden harvest o'er the land。 I must not say〃This too will pass and die；〃
〃The wind will change；〃 〃Round will the seasons run。〃 Law is the body of
will； of conscious harmony。
20。
Who trusts a law； might worship a god of wood； Half his soul
slumbers； if it be not dead。 He is a live thing shut in chaos crude； Hemmed
in with dragonsa remorseless head Still hanging over its uplifted eyes。
No； God is all in all； and nowhere dies The presen