按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and anxious pride； And in thy garment； as under gathering wings； Nestle
obedient to thy loving side； Easy it were to love thee。 But when thou
Send'st me to think and labour from thee wide； Love falls to asking many
a why and how。
11。
Easier it were； but poorer were the love。 Lord； I would have me love
thee from the deeps Of troubled thought； of pain； of weariness。 Through
seething wastes below； billows above； My soul should rise in eager；
hungering leaps； Through thorny thicks； through sands unstable press
22
… Page 23…
The Diary of an Old Soul
Out of my dream to him who slumbers not nor sleeps。
12。
I do not fear the greatness of thy command To keep heart…open…house
to brother men； But till in thy God's love perfect I stand； My door not wide
enough will open。 Then Each man will be love…awful in my sight； And；
open to the eternal morning's might； Each human face will shine my
window for thy light。
13。
Make me all patience and all diligence； Patience； that thou mayst have
thy time with me； Diligence； that I waste not thy expense In sending out to
bring me home to thee。 What though thy work in me transcends my sense…
… Too fine； too high； for me to understand I hope entirely。 On； Lord； with
thy labour grand。
14。
Lest I be humbled at the last； and told That my great labour was but for
my peace That not for love or truth had I been bold； But merely for a
prisoned heart's release； Careful； I humble me now before thy feet：
Whate'er I be； I cry； and will not cease Let me not perish； though favour
be not meet。
15。
For； what I seek thou knowest I must find； Or miserably die for lack of
love。 I justify thee： what is in thy mind； If it be shame to me； all shame
above。 Thou know'st I choose itknow'st I would not shove The hand
away that stripped me for the rod If so it pleased my Life； my love…
made…angry God。
16。
I see a door； a multitude near by； In creed and quarrel； sure disciples all！
Gladly they would； they say； enter the hall； But cannot； the stone threshold
is so high。 》From unseen hand； full many a feeding crumb； Slow dropping
o'er the threshold high doth come： They gather and eat； with much
disputing hum。
17。
Still and anon； a loud clear voice doth call 〃Make your feet clean；
and enter so the hall。〃 They hear； they stoop； they gather each a crumb。 Oh
23
… Page 24…
The Diary of an Old Soul
the deaf people！ would they were also dumb！ Hear how they talk； and lack
of Christ deplore； Stamping with muddy feet about the door； And will not
wipe them clean to walk upon his floor！
18。
But see； one comes； he listens to the voice； Careful he wipes his weary
dusty feet！ The voice hath spokento him is left no choice； He hurries to
obeythat only is meet。 Low sinks the threshold； levelled with the ground；
The man leaps into liberty he's bound。 The rest go talking； walking；
picking round。
19。
If I； thus writing； rebuke my neighbour dull； And talk； and write； and
enter not the door； Than all the rest I wrong Christ tenfold more； Making
his gift of vision void and null。 Help me this day to be thy humble sheep；
Eating thy grass； and following； thou before； 》From wolfish lies my life；
O Shepherd； keep。
20。
God； help me； dull of heart； to trust in thee。 Thou art the father of me
not any mood Can part me from the One； the verily Good。 When fog and
failure o'er my being brood。 When life looks but a glimmering marshy
clod； No fire out flashing from the living God Then； then； to rest in faith
were worthy victory！
21。
To trust is gain and growth； not mere sown seed！ Faith heaves the
world round to the heavenly dawn； In whose great light the soul doth spell
and read Itself high…born； its being derived and drawn 》From the eternal
self…existent fire； Then； mazed with joy of its own heavenly breed；
Exultant…humble falls before its awful sire。
22。
Art thou not； Jesus； busy like to us？ Thee shall I image as one sitting
still； Ordering all things in thy potent will； Silent； and thinking ever to thy
father； Whose thought through thee flows multitudinous？ Or shall I think
of thee as journeying； rather； Ceaseless through space； because thou
everything dost fill？
23。
24
… Page 25…
The Diary of an Old Soul
That all things thou dost fill； I well may think Thy power doth reach
me in so many ways。 Thou who in one the universe dost bind； Passest
through all the channels of my mind； The sun of thought； across the
farthest brink Of consciousness thou sendest me thy rays； Nor drawest
them in when lost in sleep I sink。
24。
So common are thy paths； thy coming seems Only another phase oft of
my me； But nearer is my I； O Lord； to thee； Than is my I to what itself it
deems； How better then couldst thou； O master； come； Than from thy
home across into my home； Straight o'er the marches that I cannot see！
25。
Marches？'Twixt thee and me there's no division； Except the meeting
of thy will and mine； The loves that love； the wills that will the same。
Where thine meets mine is my life's true condition； Yea； only there it burns
with any flame。 Thy will but holds me to my life's fruition。 O God； I
wouldI have no mine that is not thine。
26。
I look for thee； and do not see thee come。 If I could see thee； 'twere a
commoner thing； And shallower comfort would thy coming bring。 Earth；
sea； and air lie round me moveless dumb； Never a tremble； an expectant
hum； To tell the Lord of Hearts is drawing near： Lo！ in the looking eyes；
the looked for Lord is here。
27。
I take a comfort from my very badness： It is for lack of thee that I am
bad。 How close； how infinitely closer yet Must I come to thee； ere I can
pay one debt Which mere humanity has on me set！ 〃How close to thee！〃
no wonder； soul； thou art glad！ Oneness with him is the eternal gladness。
28。
What can there be so close as making and made？ Nought twinned can
be so near； thou art more nigh To me； my God； than is this thinking I To
that I mean when I by me is said； Thou art more near me； than is my ready
will Near to my love； though both one place do fill； Yet； till we are one；
Ah me！ the long until！
29。
25
… Page 26…
The Diary of an Old Soul
Then shall my heart behold thee everywhere。 The vision rises of a
speechless thing； A perfectness of bliss beyond compare！ A time when I
nor breathe nor think nor move； But I do breathe and think and feel thy
love； The soul of all the songs the saints do sing！ And life dies out in
bliss； to come again in prayer。
30。
In the great glow of that great love； this death Would melt away like a
fantastic cloud； I should no more shrink from it than from the breath That
makes in the frosty air a nimbus…shroud； Thou； Love； hast conquered
death； and I aloud Should triumph over him； with thy sa