The Washington herald., 1910-08-14
THE DREAM GARDEN.
written for The Washington Herald)
By ALLIE SHARPE BALCH.

Midnight from the sky swept in solemn
vision. and in this garden of dreams
something black and formless reached
out to me. From the earth came damp
doors, and against the walls beat blind
bats. and an owl rushed upward with
boiling scream. Scared by the wild
flight of this unholy bird. started to
shrek. when a voice as soft as a sigh
came to me across the garden and spoke
these words "A land that wears. a laurel
crown may be fair 10 see. but weave
few cypress leaves across the brow Of
any land, and be that land bleak. barren.
a desert, it becomes lovely in consecrated
sorrow. A land without sorrow is
land without memories"
Thus God was kind and loving to me,
and the little violets lifted their heads,
the roses yawned in their sleep. show
ing their little red mouths In the
branches over my head many warblers
came as II awakened by pulse Of light.
Thrush after thrush called 10 his mate
who answered assuringly until the whole
garden throbbed and thrilled in the subtle
melody of a passion song. 1 felt the
ocean of life beating within me- and
tiger lily, dauntless in desertion and de-
hant I'm decay. pushed a head Of tawny
fire out Of the tangled ranlness around
her. Life, Life, Winged-ike souls ev-
erywhere through the garden; thick
sprays of lilac floated nuptial perfume
in the air--and mignonette. sweet with
nights kiss, waited its fragrance like
fair memories from a faraway home.
Butterflies slept with their velvety heads
on the breasts of the lilies, The south
wind that brushed the blossoms from of
the trees danced merrily through the
garden, thrilling all the life therein; the
roses opened their hearts TO the wander
ing bees; the long silver rays of the
moon penetrated TO the very hearts Of
the lilies: the harpischord of the wind.
with its clear and caressing voice. muir
INJURED songs long forgotten. Thus God
gave me song and story in my dreams:
the gloom that had wrapped around me
became luminous; the bats that had
frightened me now wore silver wings:
my dreamtide grew triumphant; my heart
walled out its JOY, and the knowledge Of
new life awoke I'm my soul. Life, help
lessi Life dumb. but life beating open,
quivering in this garden of bliss.
seemed TO be climbing the stairways. the
very pillars of Paradise. under the light
ming Of myriads Of stars, up up. 10 the
flaming whiteness Of God. And the voice
continued TO speak TO me. "Dost thou
not know that God is more gentle than
man when human hearts by storms are
tossed Oh, thou who hath dwelt in the
shadow. come thou into the air and sun
shine Of Gods world Of love, for the
chrism Of pain does not set forever apart
those who receive It for the hope of fu-
ture joy" And I felt Gods heart throb
near my own. and my soul sweued as a
full sea rises 10 flood. The nightingales
in the trees above me began singing L
love, I ,ove, 1 love-" And though my
pulses ran a full chorus and all the Joys
Of life and love. all the memories Of my
childhood burned within me. and. rap
turous, dulcet. and plaintive. l heard
voices singing.
That al'thy paths be light.
Let darkness 'all cn me.
II all thy DAYS Dc bright
Mine black night can be-
And the warm ear of Heaven seemed
bent 70 hear; the leaves in the trees muir
INJURED with tenderness; the lilies near
me looked like like great white pearls,
and / bent and kissed them; my eyes
seemed dazzled by the marvels Of an
other world. At the hour that separates
one day from another I awoke with a
start: the moon. clothed IN the white robe
of bride. was smiling in at my window
. and I asked my soul. rs it midnight or
break o day for thee and me?" Then the
sweet wind Of night closed my eyes again
and on the faint murmuring tongue Of
the dreamtide came these words:
Sleep thou, and fear no CITY from times bygone.
But sWcctly dIelm-th0u art desired.