The Tree of Life stood budding there,
Abundant with its twelvefold fruits;
Eternal sap sustains its roots,

Its shadowing branches fill the air.
Its leaves are healing for the world,
Its fruit the hungry world can feed,
Sweeter than honey to the taste

And balm indeed.

I saw the gate called Beautiful;

And looked, but scarce could look within ;
I saw the golden streets begin,

And outskirts of the glassy pool.

Oh harps, oh crowns of plenteous stars,
Oh green palm branches many-leaved—
Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,
Nor heart conceived.

I hope to see these things again,
But not as once in dreams by night;
To see them with my very sight,
And touch and handle and attain :
To have all Heaven beneath my feet

For narrow way that once they trod;
To have my part with all the saints,
And with my God.

SLEEP AT SEA.

SOUND

OUND the deep waters :-
Who shall sound that deep?—

Too short the plummet,

And the watchmen sleep.

Some dream of effort

Up a toilsome steep ;

Some dream of pasture grounds

For harmless sheep.

White shapes flit to and fro

From mast to mast;

They feel the distant tempest

That nears them fast:
Great rocks are straight ahead,

Great shoals not past;

They shout to one another

Upon the blast.

Oh, soft the streams drop music

Between the hills,

And musical the birds' nests

Beside those rills

The nests are types of home

Love-hidden from ills,

The nests are types of spirits

Love-music fills.

So dream the sleepers,
Each man in his place;

The lightning shows the smile
Upon each face:

The ship is driving,-driving,

It drives apace :

And sleepers smile, and spirits
Bewail their case.

The lightning glares and reddens

Across the skies;

It seems but sunset

To those sleeping eyes. When did the sun go down On such a wise?

From such a sunset

When shall day arise ?

"Wake," call the spirits:

But to heedless ears: They have forgotten sorrows And hopes and fears; They have forgotten perils

And smiles and tears; Their dream has held them long, Long years and years.

"Wake," call the spirits again:

But it would take

A louder summons

To bid them awake.

Some dream of pleasure
For another's sake;
Some dream, forgetful
Of a lifelong ache.

One by one slowly,

Ah, how sad and slow! Wailing and praying

The spirits rise and go : Clear stainless spirits

White, as white as snow ;

Pale spirits, wailing

For an overthrow.

One by one flitting,

Like a mournful bird
Whose song is tired at last
For no mate heard.
The loving voice is silent,
The useless word;
One by one flitting

Sick with hope deferred.

Driving and driving,

The ship drives amain : While swift from mast to mast

Shapes flit again,

Flit silent as the silence

Where men lie slain;

Their shadow cast upon the sails

Is like a stain.

No voice to call the sleepers,

No hand to raise :

They sleep to death in dreaming
Of length of days.
Vanity of vanities,

The Preacher says:

Vanity is the end
Of all their ways.