Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/379

.N 1840-50.] PHCEBE GARY. 363 EQUALITY. Most favored lady in the land, I well can bear your scorn or pride ; For in all truest wealth, to-day, I stand an equal by your side ! No better parentage have you — One is our Father, one our Friend ; The same inheritance awaits Our claiming, at the journey's end. No broader flight your thought can take — Faith on no firmer basis rest ; Nor can the dreams of fancy wake A sweeter tumult in your breast. You may have lovers, many score, To follow always at your call ; I have one friend, so good and true, I would not give him for them all. And in your most triumphant hour — O beauty's perfect consciousness — When thousand lips have praised your face, Or the rich Sowings of your dress, You cannot know the quiet joy. With which one friend my heart can thrill, When I have made some simple dress To wear, and he has praised my skill ! Life may bring to you every good Which from a Father's hand can fall ; But if true lips have said to me, " I love you," I have known it all ! WORSHIPING AFAR OFF. Shining out whitely, from the lily's white- ness. Or purple from the morning-glory's cup. In the pure dew-drop, I had seen God's brightness Flash proudly up. In his great mountains, standing grand and hoary. And in the star-lamps swinging over- head, I recognized the grandeur and the gloiy About him spread. I saw the wine gush out from full red presses. The water, that keeps singing as it runs, And said, how liberally the Father blesses His thankless sons. In the free rain, that swells the buried treasure. In the white harvest field's thick-bearded crop, I saw, how from his good hand, without measure, His riches drop. And I believed that he would always hear me, Care for me now, and raise me from the dead. Only he was not brought doAvn very near me, For all I said. I did but stand within the outer portal, I was below, and he was far above, — I loved him not, until I loved a mortal, As mortals love. For, though he may trust God, and wor- ship purely, Who but liis commonest blessmgs under- stands. The human heart is touched by him most surely With human hands. And through its deepest love, our God unto us, Clearly and perfectly, himself reveals, All faith believed, and all to which hope drew us. Love knows and feels.