Golden Stars | Page 2

thine eyes foresee,--?The triumph of Democracy.
December 19, 1917.
RIGHTEOUS WRATH
There are many kinds of hatred, as many kinds of fire;?And some are fierce and fatal with murderous desire;?And some are mean and craven, revengeful, sullen, slow,?They hurt the man that holds them more than they hurt his foe.
And yet there is a hatred that purifies the heart:?The anger of the better against the baser part,?Against the false and wicked, against the tyrant's sword,?Against the enemies of love, and all that hate the Lord.
O cleansing indignation, O flame of righteous wrath,?Give me a soul to feel thee and follow in thy path!?Save me from selfish virtue, arm me for fearless fight,?And give me strength to carry on, a soldier of the Right!
January, 1918.
_FACTA NON VERBA_
_Deeds not Words_: I say so too!?And yet I find it somehow true,?A word may help a man in need,?To nobler act and braver deed.
FROM GLORY UNTO GLORY
American Flag Song
I
O dark the night and dim the day?When first our flag arose;?It fluttered bravely in the fray?To meet o'erwhelming foes.?Our fathers saw the splendor shine,?They dared and suffered all;?They won our freedom by the sign--?The holy sign, the radiant sign--?Of the stars that never fall.
_Chorus_
All hail to thee, Young Glory!?Among the flags of earth?We'll ne'er forget the story?Of thy heroic birth.
II
O wild the later storm that shook?The pillars of the State,?When brother against brother took?The final arms of fate.?But union lived and peace divine?Enfolded brothers all;?The flag floats o'er them with the sign--?The loyal sign, the equal sign--?Of the stars that never fall.
_Chorus_
All hail to thee, Old Glory!?Of thee our heart's desire?Foretells a golden story,?For thou hast come through fire.
III
O fiercer than all wars before?That raged on land or sea,?The Giant Robber's world-wide war?For the things that shall not be!?Thy sister banners hold the line;?To thee, dear flag, they call;?And thou hast joined them with the sign--?The heavenly sign, the victor sign--?Of the stars that never fall.
_Chorus_
All hail to thee, New Glory!?We follow thee unfurled?To write the larger story?Of Freedom for the World.
September 4, 1918.
SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC
Who knows how many thousand years ago?The twelvefold Zodiac was made to show?The course of stars above and men below?
The great sun plows his furrow by its "lines":?From all its "houses" mystic meaning shines:?Deep lore of life is written in its "signs."
_Aries_--Sacrifice.
Snow-white and sacred is the sacrifice?That Heaven demands for what our heart doth prize:?The man who fears to suffer, ne'er can rise.
_Taurus_--Strength.
Rejoice, my friend, if God has made you strong:?Put forth your force to move the world along:?Yet never shame your strength to do a wrong.
_Gemini_--Brotherhood.
Bitter his life who lives for self alone,?Poor would he be with riches and a throne:?But friendship doubles all we are and own.
_Cancer_--The Wisdom of Retreat.
Learn from the crab, O runner fresh and fleet,?Sideways to move, or backward, when discreet;?Life is not all advance,--sometimes retreat!
_Leo_--Fire.
The sign of Leo is the sign of fire.?Hatred we hate: but no man should desire?A heart too cold to flame with righteous ire.
_Virgo_--Love.
Mysterious symbol, words are all in vain?To tell the secret power by which you reign,?The more we love, the less we can explain.
_Libra_--Justice.
Examine well the scales with which you weigh;?Let justice rule your conduct every day;?For when you face the Judge you'll need fair play
_Scorpio_--Self-Defense.
There's not a creature in the realm of night?But has the wish to live, likewise the right:?Don't tread upon the scorpion, or he'll fight.
_Sagittarius_--The Archer.
Life is an arrow, therefore you must know?What mark to aim at, how to use the bow,--?Then draw it to the head and let it go!
_Capricornus_--The Goat.
The goat looks solemn, yet he likes to run,?And leap the rocks, and gambol in the sun:?The truly wise enjoy a little fun.
_Aquarius_--Water.
"Like water spilt upon the ground,"--alas,?Our little lives flow swiftly on and pass;?Yet may they bring rich harvests and green grass!
_Pisces_--The Fishes.
Last of the sacred signs, ye bring to me?A word of hope, a word of mystery,--?We all are swimmers in God's mighty sea.
February 28. 1918.
BRITAIN, FRANCE, AMERICA
The rough expanse of democratic sea?Which parts the lands that live by liberty?Is no division; for their hearts are one.?To fight together till their cause is won.
For land and water let us make our pact,?And seal the solemn word with valiant act:?No continent is firm, no ocean pure,?Until on both the rights of man are sure.
April, 1917.
THE RED CROSS
Sign of the Love Divine?That bends to bear the load?Of all who suffer, all who bleed,?Along life's thorny road:
Sign of the Heart Humane,?That through the darkest fight?Would bring to wounded friend and foe?A ministry of light:
O dear and holy sign,?Lead onward like a star!?The armies of the just are thine,?And all we have and are.
October 20, 1918,?for the Red Cross Christmas Roll Call.
EASTER ROAD
1918
Under the cloud of world-wide war,?While earth is drenched with sorrow,?I have no heart for idle merrymaking,?Or for the fashioning of glad raiment.--?I will retrace