Then earth and heaven were rolled up like a scroll; Time and space, change and death, had passed away; Weight, number, measure, each had reached its whole : The day had come, that day. Multitudes multitudes- stood up in bliss, Made equal to the angels, glorious, fair; With harps, palms, wedding-garments, kiss of peace, And crowned and haloed hair. They sang a song, a new song in the height, Harping with harps to Him Who is Strong and True: They drank new wine, their eyes saw with new light, Lo, all things were made new. Tier beyond tier they rose and rose and rose So high that it was dreadful, flames with flames: No man could number them, no tongue disclose Their secret sacred names. As though one pulse stirred all, one rush of blood Fed all, one breath swept through them myriad voiced, They struck their harps, cast down their crowns, they stood And worshipped and rejoiced. Each face looked one way like a moon new-lit, Each face looked one way towards its Sun of Love ; Drank love and bathed in love and mirrored it And knew no end thereof. Glory touched glory on each blessed head, Hands locked dear hands never to sunder more: These were the new-begotten from the dead Whom the great birthday bore. Heart answered heart, soul answered soul at rest, I saw that one who lost her love in pain, Who trod on thorns, who drank the loathsome cup; The lost in night, in day was found again; The fallen was lifted up. They stood together in the blessed noon, They sang together through the length of days; Therefore, O friend, I would not if I might Therefore in patience I possess my soul; To pluck down, to build up again the whole But in a distant place. These thorns are sharp, yet I can tread on them; I lift the hanging hands, the feeble knees I, precious more than seven times molten gold — Until the day when from His storehouses God shall bring new and old; Beauty for ashes, oil of joy for grief, Garment of praise for spirit of heaviness: Although to-day I fade as doth a leaf, I languish and grow less. Although to-day He prunes my twigs with pain, Although to-day I walk in tedious ways, And stay upon my God. OLD AND NEW YEAR DITTIES. N' I. IEW Year met me somewhat sad: Old Year leaves me tired, Yet farther on my road to-day, New Year coming on apace What have you to give me? You shall not deceive me : Be it good or ill, be it what you will, 2. WATCH with me, men, women, and children dear, Some hug their business, some their pleasure-scheme; Heart locked in heart some kneel and watch apart. Watch with me, blessed spirits, who delight "How long?" with urgent utterance strong. loneliness: And cry, I, Love, am Thine; Thou, Lord, my God, art mine. 3. PASSING away, saith the World, passing away: Is the eye waxen dim, is the dark hair changing to gray I shall clothe myself in Spring and bud in May: Then I answered: Yea. Passing away, saith my Soul, passing away: With its burden of fear and hope, of labor and play ; Hearken what the past doth witness and say: Rust in thy gold, a moth is in thine array, A canker is in thy bud, thy leaf must decay. |