Poems of Optimism
death—these guns and swords,— These uniformed, hate-filled, destructive hordes,— These hideous things, that are each nation’s pride. So long as men believe in armèd might Let arms be brandished. Let not Peace be sought Until the race-heart empties out all thought Of blows and blood, as arguments for Right. p. 22The world has never had enough of war, Else war were not. Now let the monster stand, Until he slays himself with his own hand; Though no man knows what he is fighting for. Then in the place where wicked cannons stood Let Peace erect her shrine of Brotherhood.

p. 22

p. 23MISCELLANEOUS

p. 23

p. 25THE WINDS OF FATE

p. 25

One ship drives east and another drives west, With the self-same winds that blow,  ’Tis the set of the sails And not the gales That tell them the way to go. Like the winds of the sea are the winds of fate, As we voyage along through life,  ’Tis the set of the soul That decides its goal And not the calm or the strife.

p. 26BEAUTY

p. 26

The search for beauty is the search for God Who is All Beauty. He who seeks shall find. And all along the paths my feet have trod, I have sought hungrily with heart and mind, And open eyes for beauty, everywhere. Lo! I have found the world is very fair. The search for beauty is the search for God.

Beauty was first revealed to me by stars, Before I saw it in my mother’s eyes, Or, seeing, sensed it beauty, I was stirred To awe and wonder by those orbs of light All palpitant against empurpled skies. They spoke a language to my childish heart Of mystery and splendour, and of space, Friendly with gracious, unseen presences. Beauty was first revealed to me by stars.

p. 27Sunsets enlarged the meaning of the word. There was a window looking to the west; Beyond it, wide Wisconsin fields of grain, And then a hill, whereon white flocks of clouds Would gather in the afternoon to rest. And when the sun went down behind that hill What scenes of glory spread before my sight; What beauty—beauty, absolute, supreme! Sunsets enlarged the meaning of that word.

p. 27

Clover in blossom, red and honey-sweet, In summer billowed like a crimson sea Across 
 Prev. P 17/48 next 
Back Top
Privacy Statement Terms of Service Contact