Poems (Blake)/In Faith and Trust

by Mary Elizabeth Blake

IN FAITH AND TRUST.

When May-time fills the charmèd air,
 Across the trees her sweet blooms flinging,
When May-time suns are shining fair,
 And all the woods with song are ringing,
We bare our Mother Nature's breast
 As first she wakes from winter's sleeping,
And lay the seedlings there to rest,
 In faith and trust for future reaping.

We may not see if bane or blight
 The summer holds, our fond dreams chiding;
We may not read with prophet sight
 What change the far-off days are hiding;
Though storms arise and tempests blow,
 Though Fate its darksome web be folding,
We walk our way, content to know
 That His dear hands our trusts are holding.

Now, too, where battle thunders roar,
 And battle hail of shot is crashing,
On Southern plain and Southern shore
 The lightning of its death-fire flashing;
Where blood-stains dim the glowing sod,
 Where pulsing streams of life are flowing,
Where dying eyes are raised to God,—
 We plant again fair seed for sowing.

Each brave heart lying still and cold,
 Far, far away from those who love it;
Each grave the quiet hills enfold
 Where some dear face may bend above it;
Each torture-pang of brain and soul,
 Each tear from eyes unused to weeping,
Within His hands we place the whole,
 And wait in faith the time of reaping.

In Faith and Trust, O God of might!
 No dark despair, no vain repining;
Beyond the depths of sorrow's night
 We see far off the morning shining;
Give us Thy strength, O Wise and Just,
 To wait till Time shall ope the portal,
And perfect faith and perfect trust
 Shall reap their fruit in joy immortal!