POETRY.
NATURE'S REPLY TO THE PESSIMIST.
THE voice of God hath sounded in the ears
Of many men ; theirs is the happier fate.
But thou, leas favoured, who amidst thy tears Host scanned the riddles of thy present state, And brought them, child-like, unto Nature's knee, Turn not in wrath away, Because I give no answer; it may be That on some chosen day God will at last disclose Himself through me.
Wouldst thou have voices (inking down the wind Soft syllables and clear, To ease the noble torments of thy mind?
Dost thou desire to hear Oracular hymnings from the salty deep, And, lest thy hopes should sleep,
See graven on the air
Sweet parables against despair, And lines of gracious promise drawn On every little leaf that shades thy lawn ?
I cannot say if thou shalt win such things ; But God is merciful, and knows That not all minds ascend on spiritual wings To the eternal snows.
God may ennoble mortal sense, Step after step may guide its way Through my dark caves and thickets dense To His bright day.
Then, looking backward, men shall see
God's will writ large in me, And life's solution in my outstretched hand, Had they but known to read and understand.
CARYL J. EATTERSBY.
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