Religious Poems. Stowe Harriet Beecher

lies around us like a cloud,

      A world we do not see;

      Yet the sweet closing of an eye

      May bring us there to be.

      Its gentle breezes fan our cheek;

      Amid our worldly cares,

      Its gentle voices whisper love,

      And mingle with our prayers.

      Sweet hearts around us throb and beat,

      Sweet helping hands are stirred,

      And palpitates the veil between

      With breathings almost heard.

      The silence, awful, sweet, and calm,

      They have no power to break;

      For mortal words are not for them

      To utter or partake.

      So thin, so soft, so sweet, they glide,

      So near to press they seem,

      They lull us gently to our rest,

      They melt into our dream.

      And in the hush of rest they bring

      'Tis easy now to see

      How lovely and how sweet a pass

      The hour of death may be; —

      To close the eye, and close the ear,

      Wrapped in a trance of bliss,

      And, gently drawn in loving arms,

      To swoon to that – from this, —

      Scarce knowing if we wake or sleep,

      Scarce asking where we are,

      To feel all evil sink away,

      All sorrow and all care.

      Sweet souls around us! watch us still;

      Press nearer to our side;

      Into our thoughts, into our prayers,

      With gentle helpings glide.

      Let death between us be as naught,

      A dried and vanished stream;

      Your joy be the reality,

      Our suffering life the dream.

      MARY AT THE CROSS

      "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother."

      O WONDROUS mother! since the dawn of time

      Was ever love, was ever grief, like thine?

      O highly favored in thy joy's deep flow,

      And favored, even in this, thy bitterest woe!

      Poor was that home in simple Nazareth

      Where, fairly growing, like some silent flower,

      Last of a kingly race, unknown and lowly,

      O desert lily, passed thy childhood's hour.

      The world knew not the tender, serious maiden,

      Who through deep loving years so silent grew,

      Full of high thought and holy aspiration,

      Which the o'ershadowing God alone might view.

      And then it came, that message from the highest,

      Such as to woman ne'er before descended,

      The almighty wings thy prayerful soul o'erspread,

      And with thy life the Life of worlds was blended.

      What visions then of future glory filled thee,

      The chosen mother of that King unknown,

      Mother fulfiller of all prophecy

      Which, through dim ages, wondering seers had shown!

      Well did thy dark eye kindle, thy deep soul

      Rise into billows, and thy heart rejoice;

      Then woke the poet's fire, the prophet's song,

      Tuned with strange burning words thy timid voice.

      Then, in dark contrast, came the lowly manger,

      The outcast shed, the tramp of brutal feet;

      Again behold earth's learned and her lowly,

      Sages and shepherds, prostrate at thy feet.

      Then to the temple bearing – hark again

      What strange conflicting tones of prophecy

      Breathe o'er the child foreshadowing words of joy,

      High triumph blent with bitter agony!

      O, highly favored thou in many an hour

      Spent in lone musings with thy wondrous Son,

      When thou didst gaze into that glorious eye,

      And hold that mighty hand within thine own.

      Blest through those thirty years, when in thy dwelling

      He lived a God disguised with unknown power;

      And thou his sole adorer, his best love,

      Trusting, revering, waited for his hour.

      Blest in that hour, when called by opening heaven

      With cloud and voice, and the baptizing flame,

      Up from the Jordan walked th' acknowledged stranger,

      And awe-struck crowds grew silent as he came.

      Blessed, when full of grace, with glory crowned,

      He from both hands almighty favors poured,

      And, though He had not where to lay his head,

      Brought to his feet alike the slave and lord.

      Crowds followed; thousands shouted, "Lo, our King!"

      Fast beat thy heart. Now, now the hour draws nigh:

      Behold the crown, the throne, the nations bend!

      Ah, no! fond mother, no! behold him die!

      Now by that cross thou tak'st thy final station,

      And shar'st the last dark trial of thy Son;