Clear Crystals | Page 3

All hail Red Cross! White robes of light, all hail!
On brave and noble
brows the symbol shines.
A cry for help is never called in vain,
For
these courageous ones go everywhere,
On sea or land, in sun and
stormy sky.
They face all dangers--carry succor forth
To save their
fellowmen--with speed and skill
The aid goes out to rescue friend and
foe.
They know no enemy but heed each call.
A line is thrown to
stranded waif or man.
In flood they rush like water down the slope

To bring relief to those who toss in waves.
They care for mothers left
to starve, alone.

In pestilence, they labor long to soothe
The fevered
brow and ease the gnawing pain
With medicine and shelter, food and
clothes.
In war the wound is dressed and duly nursed
With gentle

supple hands--with nourishment
For mind and body. Cross of red, all
hail!
They serve for us most willingly and well.
Then chide
themselves when they have come too late!
Like mothers when their
sons have fallen short;
In early dawn and through the night they toil.

O God do bless this noble work of love;
Let's give and further this
most worthy cause.
All hail Red Cross! White robes of hope, all hail!
OUR MORNING PRAYER
God our Father give us strength
In these days of selfish strife,
Let
us smile amid the pain,
Now to meet the care of life
In the sunshine
and in rain.
SOLDIER TO HIS MOTHER
Remembering those happy days of youth--
The earth was filled with
gladness then,
And you, dear Mother, taught me love and truth,

Taught me to seek the best in men.
With heart full of faith and noble thought
To bear my load and do
good deeds.
And cherish worthy things, the hope not bought,
With
visions for the living needs.
You said be honest with my God and soul,
Devoted to my land and
home,
And all that men hold dear. In loyalty
Respect and prize the
fertile loam.
Today my country calls, she needs her son
To fight the Japs and
Hitler too.
No coming back until the job is done.
This is as honest
men would do.
IN THE STORM
Hear the gale roaring through the woods!
Trees bend and snap and
sway;
They race and break on this dark day.
If I could fashion some
sturdy hoods
To hold the storm at bay,
Then trim and straight

would all trees stay.
But great trees knotted by winds' moods,
Like
men who face their care,
Stand scarred yet stanch and bravely there.
TO US
O petty trifles! Why cling to us so?
Our time in doing small things
quite consumed,
And hearts protected like earth worms encased,

Always singing childish songs, sol me do,
And crawling safe in shady
vales below,
Like snails advancing, scoff and hurt endured,
Dead
there upon the rack, no port secured.
O brother plant, some grains of
corn will grow!
The faithful farmer sows live fertile seed.
Be not a
grub but rise and stretch hands up
When on the height reach down to
troubled friend,
And lift your fellowmen, toil not for greed.
Wash
out the grounds and fill the empty cup.
The rose will bloom where
rocky pathways wend.
THE FLY AND THE SPIDER
The big black fly was in a sorry plight;
She hung and dangled in a
spider's web.
It was too late to make a hurried flight.
The sand is
sifting and the tides will ebb.
The spider then drew dose his silken thread,
It was no use to ask the
reason why.
He only wished to eat and save his head,
And he must
catch his breakfast, or die.
HER GOOD BYE
I love you, Darling, sweetheart mine,
Our troth is pledged, O joy
divine!
With apple blossoms in my hair
I hope and breathe a fervent
prayer
To keep my trust all down the years,
And love you always
through the tears.
O heart of mine, my feet do sing
As down the
aisle into the Spring
Of bursting bud and lilac time,
Of budding
trees and robin rhyme,
So tenderly, Dear, I love you.
In happiness I
go with you
Now in sunshine to follow on
And into dark when you

are gone.
Then back again from misty night
And at the dawn in
coming light.
At sunup when the Japs are caught
You will come
when the battle's fought.
And then glad shouts the whole day long,

With ringing bells 'ten billion strong.
HILLS AND VALLEYS WAKE
My ears have heard the larks at dawn,
Their bright sweet carols sing,

With burst of morning sun
And all the meadows ring.
My eyes have seen the shining gold,
That rimmed a purple cloud,

And sheets of olive green there spread,
While night puts on a shroud.
And in the east a moon that gleamed
With grey blue light and sheen,

On misty, drooping willow trees,
O fair and silent scene.
These are not half the things I see
On lovely nights and brilliant days,

It seems that hills and valleys wake
To make such holidays.
MORNING THANKSGIVING
We thank our God this Autumn day,
As birds are waking in the vale,

For health and strength to walk his way,
Let justice and peace
prevail.
And for this food that's waiting here,
Now fill our hearts
with faith and love;
And bless our