Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-04-29
TIE PRAYER OF AGAsSlZ.
BY JOHN q. WHITTIER.

on the isle OF Penikese,
Hinged about 10y sapphire seas,
Famed hy breeZes salt and cool,
stood the master with his SCHOOL
over sails that not in VAIN
vyooeI the west winds steady stan,
line Of coast that low anu Tar
Stretched lis undulatlng bar
NIng- asiant along the rim
If rhr waves they stopped 10 skim.
Hock and Isle. and gliterlng bay,
Fell tae beautiful white day.
said the master TO the youth
I'VE have come In search of truih
Trying with uncertain KEY
Door by door OF my stery
We are reaching. through ms laws
70 the garment-hem OF tiuse'
tim. The endless, unbeguh'
The Unnameable, the ohs'
t,rht of all our light the Source,
iifa OF life. and Force of force,
Asyith maze s1t the blind
Ne are croa.l- here 10 md
what the h.rH"-Gy yphlcs mean
pf the Unseen N he seen,
What The la,uEhi which underlies
Natures masking and disguise,
What is II 'ha' hides beneath
Bi;ght and bloom and birth and death
l'y pa-t efforts unayaillng,
Doubt and error, loss and falling
OF our weakness made aware,
Ca the threshold of our task
Let Us light and guidance ask,
Let US pause in silent prayer
Then The Master in his place
Bowed his head i little space,
And the leaves by SC fl airs stirred,
Lapse Of wave and cry OF bird
Lett The solemn hush unbroken
OF that wOrdless prayer unspoken,
While lis wish. on earth unsald,
L ,se 10 heaven interpreted.
As. in lies best hours, We hear
By the spirit ; finer ear
HIS low voice within US, thus
Tie Al-Fafner heareth US
And His holy ear We pain
VITA our noisy words and vain.
. for Him our violence
Sto-mng as the gates OF sense,
His the primal language, His
lhe eternal slences
E.on the careless heart was moved,
And the doubling gave assent,
With 4 gesture reyereni,
T1rhe Master ell-beloved.
As thin mists are glorified
IL the light they cannot hide,
Al who gaZed upon him saw
Through lis vail OF tender awe,
low his face was still npllt
Ev the Old sweet look OF II,
Hopeful. irustful, full of cheer,
And the love that casts out fear
Nh0the secret may declare
Di thai brief, unuitered prayer
Dil The shade before him come
pf tn inevitable doom,
Oi the end Of earth 50 near,
Ine Etcruiiy's new-year:
In the lap Of sheliering seas
Res. the isle of Penlkese
But the lord of the domain
Come not TO his own again
Where The eyes that follow fail.
"a VasTcr sea his sail
Drifts bryond onr beck and ha y
other lips within lis bound
>nall the laws OF life eXpound;
O,hcr eyes from rock and shell
Read the worlds old riddles well
iiut when breezes light and bland.
Blow from summers blossom land,
When the air is glad with wings
And her Lllthe song the sparrow sings,
MANY Al eye with his still face
'.hll, The uving ones displace,
Naug al ear the word shall seeA
lie l-pnr rualI iitly SPEAK,
Ana ole name ioreverInore
S.illl he uttered DER and Ger
Ey The waves thar kiss the shore.
BS The curlew's whistle sent
Down the cool. sea-scented air;
In all voices known TO her
Nature own her worshipper,
Half IN triumph, half lament.
Ihther love shall fearful turn,
Flcu l-hIp pause, uncovered there,
And The wissst reverence learn
From the Masters silent prayer.
-Chri>tiGa [ .iica.