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29。
What though things change and pass； nor come again！ Thou； the life…
heart of all things； changest never。 The sun shines on； the fair clouds turn
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to rain； And glad the earth with many a spring and river。 The hearts that
answer change with chill and shiver； That mourn the past； sad…sick； with
hopeless pain； They know not thee； our changeless heart and brain。
30。
My halting words will some day turn to song Some far…off day； in
holy other times！ The melody now prisoned in my rimes Will one day
break aloft； and from the throng Of wrestling thoughts and words spring
up the air； As from the flower its colour's sweet despair Issues in odour；
and the sky's low levels climbs。
31。
My surgent thought shoots lark…like up to thee。 Thou like the heaven
art all about the lark。 Whatever I surmise or know in me； Idea； or but
symbol on the dark； Is living； working； thought…creating power In thee； the
timeless father of the hour。 I am thy book； thy songthy child would be。
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NOVEMBER
1。
THOU art of this world； Christ。 Thou know'st it all； Thou know'st our
evens； our morns； our red and gray； How moons； and hearts； and seasons
rise and fall； How we grow weary plodding on the way； Of future joy how
present pain bereaves； Rounding us with a dark of mere decay； Tossed
with a drift Of summer…fallen leaves。
2。
Thou knowest all our weeping； fainting； striving； Thou know'st how
very hard it is to be； How hard to rouse faint will not yet reviving； To do
the pure thing； trusting all to thee； To hold thou art there； for all no face we
see； How hard to think； through cold and dark and dearth； That thou art
nearer now than when eye…seen on earth。
3。
Have pity on us for the look of things； When blank denial stares us in
the face。 Although the serpent mask have lied before； It fascinates the bird
that darkling sings； And numbs the little prayer…bird's beating wings。 For
how believe thee somewhere in blank space； If through the darkness come
no knocking to our door？
4。
If we might sit until the darkness go； Possess our souls in patience
perhaps we might； But there is always something to be done； And no heart
left to do it。 To and fro The dull thought surges； as the driven waves fight
In gulfy channels。 Oh！ victorious one； Give strength to rise； go out； and
meet thee in the night。
5。
〃Wake； thou that sleepest； rise up from the dead； And Christ will give
thee light。〃 I do not know What sleep is； what is death； or what is light；
But I am waked enough to feel a woe； To rise and leave death。 Stumbling
through the night； To my dim lattice； O calling Christ！ I go； And out into
the dark look for thy star…crowned head。
6。
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There are who come to me； and write； and send； Whom I would love；
giving good things to all； But friendthat name I cannot on them spend；
'Tis from the centre of self…love they call For cherishingfor which they
first must know How to be still； and take the seat that's low： When； Lord；
shall I be fitwhen wilt thou call me friend？
7。
Wilt thou not one day； Lord？ In all my wrong； Self…love and weakness；
laziness and fear； This one thing I can say： I am content To be and have
what in thy heart I am meant To be and have。 In my best times I long After
thy will； and think it glorious…dear； Even in my worst； perforce my will to
thine is bent。
8。
My God； I look to thee for tenderness Such as I could not seek from
any man； Or in a human heart fancy or plan A something deepest prayer
will not express： Lord； with thy breath blow on my being's fires； Until；
even to the soul with self…love wan； I yield the primal love； that no return
desires。
9。
Only no word of mine must ever foster The self that in a brother's
bosom gnaws； I may not fondle failing； nor the boaster Encourage with the
breath of my applause。 Weakness needs pity； sometimes love's rebuke；
Strength only sympathy deserves and draws And grows by every faithful
loving look。
10。
'Tis but as men draw nigh to thee； my Lord； They can draw nigh each
other and not hurt。 Who with the gospel of thy peace are girt； The belt
from which doth hang the Spirit's sword； Shall breathe on dead bones； and
the bones shall live； Sweet poison to the evil self shall give； And； clean
themselves； lift men clean from the mire abhorred。
11。
My Lord； I have no clothes to come to thee； My shoes are pierced and
broken with the road； I am torn and weathered； wounded with the goad；
And soiled with tugging at my weary load： The more I need thee！ A very
prodigal I stagger into thy presence； Lord of me： One look； my Christ； and
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at thy feet I fall！
12。
Why should I still hang back； like one in a dream； Who vainly strives
to clothe himself aright； That in great presence he may seemly seem？ Why
call up feeling？dress me in the faint； Worn； faded； cast…off nimbus of
some saint？ Why of old mood bring back a ghostly gleam While there
He waits； love's heart and loss's blight！
13。
Son of the Father； elder brother mine； See thy poor brother's plight；
See how he stands Defiled and feeble； hanging down his hands！ Make me
clean； brother； with thy burning shine； 》From thy rich treasures；
householder divine； Bring forth fair garments； old and new； I pray； And
like thy brother dress me； in the old home…bred way。
14。
My prayer…bird was coldwould not away； Although I set it on the
edge of the nest。 Then I bethought me of the story old Love…fact or
loving fable； thou know'st best How； when the children had made
sparrows of clay； Thou mad'st them birds； with wings to flutter and fold：
Take； Lord； my prayer in thy hand； and make it pray。
15。
My poor clay…sparrow seems turned to a stone； And from my heart will
neither fly nor run。 I cannot feel as thou and I both would； But； Father； I
am willingmak