SONG OFFERINGS
I
RECOGNITION
Hail to Thee, Scion of Glory, whose utterance poureth abroad
- The joy of the heavenly knowledge and the light of the greatest of Days
Poet of mysteries, chanting in rapture the beauty of God,
- Unto thee be thanksgiving and praise!
Child of the darkness that wandered in gloom but dreamed of the light,
- Lo, I have seen Thy splendor ablaze in the heavens afar
Showering gladness and glory, and shattering the shadows of night
- And seen no other star!
Thy words are to me as fragrances borne from the gardens of heaven,
- Beams of a lamp that is hid in the height of a holier world,
Arrows of fire that pierce and destroy with the might of the levin
- Into our midnight hurled!
Sword of the Father! none other can rend the dark veil from my eyes,
- None other can beat from my limbs with the shearing blade of God’s might
The sins I am fettered withal and give me the power to rise
- And come forth to the fulness of light.
Lo! Thou hast breathed on my sorrow the sweetness of faith and of hope,
- Thou hast chanted high paeans of joy that my heart’s echoes ever repeat
And the path to the knowledge of God begins to glimmer and ope
- Before my faltering feet.
Weak and unworthy my praise. Yet as from its throbbing throat
- Some lone bird pours its song to the flaming infinite sky,
So unto Thee in the zenith I lift from a depth remote
- This broken human cry.
- —GEORGE TOWNSHEND.
II
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
O! Thou Invisible Essence of the Universe
Whence sprang adown the ages glorious orbs
To illume the abysmal darkness of mankind
And manifest on earth the self of God—
What hast Thou now bestowed to clear the mists
That still o’erhang the consciousness of soul
And hide from it the vision of the Infinite?
Out of the East, as ever, comes the dawn
Of a new day. Again the wondrous light
Shines from the horizon of Thy boundlessness,
Only this day in such effulgent power
As ne’er before. There leaps into the sky
A sun which to the eyes of groping men
Reveals a vista to that perfect day,
Nor yet a distant day, when all the earth
Bathed in Its beauty shall be purified
And all Thy creatures realize their oneness
With all their kind and Thee.
- Bahá’u’lláh!
God’s Glory! True Revealer of the Sign!
For by Thy potent Word, from God the Infinite,
The seals have fallen from the hidden mysteries
And man stands face to face with Truth and God.
- —H. H. ROMER.
III
THE BÁB
Immortal Man!
Forerunner of amazing things,
Of things but shadowed by our puppet-Kings!
How could’st Thou know the King of Kings was near?
Thou had’st not seen nor heard
And yet did’st see and hear?
** *
It was not in ambition’s cause thou gavest Thy body;
Not glory called Thy spirit to be brave.
Was it for pleasure’s use
That Thou did’st welcome venom and abuse?
Could aught of happiness remain
In days passed in persecution and in pain?
What goal of gain was that which beckoned
To the martyr’s grave?
** *
Ah no!—such music played upon thy mystic lyre
As unsensed thee to wind, to earthquake and to fire.
How low Olympus must have seemed,
How plain Parnassus!
How vain the utmost man attains
Which man’s ambition mars?
What wonders, therefore, met Thine eyes
In the envisioned countenance
Of Him who Reigns
Crowned with the jewelled splendor of the Stars!
How gladly did’st Thou then proclaim Him
With full sacrifice!
- —CHARLES STEELE DAVIDSON.
IV
IN MEMORIAM—THE GREATEST HOLY LEAF
O Thou pure flame of evanescent light,
That radiant glows beyond the mystic Gate,
We lift our souls, sad with the darkened night
Of earth’s “supreme affliction’s” heavy weight,
- To Thee, in grateful and adoring love,
- Thou Blessed Inspiration, from above.
O Thou who lived the sacrificial life,
E’en as did Those, who lit the torch of Dawn.
Thou Star of Glory! Shining through the strife;
Left burning in His Sky, when They were gone.
- To Thee, we breathe our reverential prayer;
- To Thee, in Abhá’s realm, so glorious fair.
O Thou, bright golden Link, that joins our time
To Those who knew the weight of prison chains,
Who knew the depths of woe,—yet rose, sublime,
To know the joy of martyrdom’s red stains.
- Thou golden Link,—e’er hold us with thy love,
- Linked fast to those great souls, who paved the way
- That we might pass, rejoicingly, to prove
- Our love, in chains of service, in this Day.
- This Day of Life, renewed,—the glad re-birth.
- This Day of God, resplendent, o’er the earth.
Thou blessed Candle, radiant with His Light,
Whose precious life was given,—drop by drop,—
To feed the flame of Guidance, through the Night
Of dark dissension—when we blindly grope
- To know His Will,—His gracious Plan Divine,—
- And in our hearts its Purpose to enshrine.
Thou Greatest Holy Leaf, upon the Tree
Of Life; once more reborn from Ancient Root,
In this millennial Day. It is through Thee
The Spirit speaks,—as sunlight is the lute
- Which lures the leaves to lift their verdure high,
- And breathe from out the heaven’s blue. Each bough
- Doth aid to build the form, and testify
- To the incarnate Purpose of God’s Vow.
- Maid-servants of His Will, whate’er it be,
- O may we serve as leaves upon His Tree;
- To bring into the form, the spirit free.
- Thou Greatest Holy Leaf, we bow to Thee.
- —GESENA KOCH.
V
THE DUNGEON OF SÍYÁH-CHÁL
- (Unseen, these twain, the heavenly Guide and he
- Who followed where the Master led with feet
- Awing with love and heart with ecstasy,
- Passed through the mob-filled market and the street
- Which echoed hate, yet was with joy replete.
- The frenzied crowd rushed madly, crying—“Kill!”
- They burst into the Bábí homes with—“Kill!”
- They drag out women, ever crying—“Kill!”
- And children in their father’s arms with—"Kill!”
- Still others, tradesmen, formed in armed bands,
- Demanded of the magistrates their prey,
- Who, with the priests, delivered to their hands
- Those blessed ones who, unresisting, pay
- Their lives as proof of what their lips may say.)
- Man Speaks:
What courage this! How can these helpless ones
Approach their tortures with such light-shod feet?
It is as if each joyful heart outruns
His executioner his doom to greet!
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
My son, thou seest more than courage—far,
Far more! These walk above this sordid world
In God’s Great Name! Upon the glorious star
Of Revelation is their vision fixed,
The standards of all worldly measures furled.
These are not with the world’s deceptions mixed;
From out that matrix are they now re-born
Into the World of Light. Its coverings torn
Through love for Him Who hath unveiled the Face
Of God. They drink the Cup of Certitude,
Th’ Immortal draught of Faith, and every trace
Of that dark, cramped and narrow mortal tomb
Which dead call life, but which they know the womb
Of Life, they have forgot. Their gaze is turned
Towards God. Within that Fire of Love is burned
All thought save Him. For Him they have renounced
Their substance and their kindred—yea, their lives
And all beliefs of old. They have announced
Through all the worlds: “There is no God save Him!”
So overwhelming is their love for God;
So raptured they with heavenly ecstasy,
That all in this dark world has ceased to be.
- He Chants:
“O Son of Being! Seek to die for Me
A martyr’s death. Content and thankful be
For that which I ordain, that thou mayest dwell
Forever ’neath the Tent of Loveliness,
Veiled in the Temple of My Holiness.”
“Is it thy wish, O son of man, to die
As other men upon thy bed,
Or thy life-blood with joy to shed
A martyr in My Path, and thus to stand
Eternally a proof of My Command?
O servant! Judge thou in thy heart aright
That thou mayest shine with My eternal Light!”
- (It ceased—that Voice which echoed choirs unseen.
- A moment gazed He where the mob had been,
- Now rushing madly towards a distant flame
- Which marked the spot new horrors to proclaim.)
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
Come, My dear son, I’ll show thee whence the Light
Which into Day shall turn earth’s darksome night.
This is the Dawning: cycles yet unborn
Shall bless the Day of which this is the Morn!
- Man Speaks:
What dreadful place is this! These steps that wind
And wind into the pit? Mine eyes are blind
So dense the darkness is, and ’neath my feet
Such filth—the cold and dripping wall—no man
Could be so base—his fellow-man so treat—
As to confine him in such dungeon foul!
- (With steady tread and with majestic mien
- The Master led the Seeker down the stair.
- It was as if He went to meet His King
- Enthroned in palace: crowned, though fettered there.)
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
Men call this Síyáh-Chál—that is to say
The Pit.—Here hath the Sháh imprisoned Him
Whom God did manifest, Bahá’u’lláh.
He lieth now in chains. For nigh four months
He hath forborne such trials as no mortal hath
Before in all the world.
- Tortured He was:
With cruel rods they beat His blessed feet.
Three days He walked beneath a blazing sun,
From Shímirán unto this Capital,
‘Neath galling chains: the sport and victim of
The crowds of enemies who flocked from far
To jeer and vilify this Blessed One.
As He approached this dungeon an old crone,
Decrepit, cursing, thrust her through the crowd,
A heavy stone clutched in her trembling hand.
“By him who died on plain of Karbilá,”
She cried, “I beg of thee to let me cast
This stone into His cursèd face!”
- “So let
It be,” the Blessed Beauty spake, “Do not
Deprive this soul of that which she esteems
An act of merit in the sight of God.”
- (They now had gone full sixty feet below
- The light of day. The foulness and the stench
- O’erwhelmed the Seeker, but the Master held
- His way serene, as entering a room
- Perfumed, and filled with joyous melody.
- All suddenly He stopped and fell upon
- His knees, while on their ears there came such tones
- Of Love and Majesty that time stood still.)
- Báha'u'lláh, Chanting:
To Him be Glory Who doth quicken men
By merely saying “Be!” and lo, it is!
To Him be Glory Who doth by His Pen
Cause Verses to descend on knowing hearts!
Blest is My God Who on this Servant hath
Caused to descend Words guiding to His Path!
Blest is My God Who such calamity
Hath sent upon this Servant that the hearts
Of those within eternal Gates were rent
With anguish, and those near to God with pain.
Blest is My God Who from the clouds of fate
Hath rained the arrows of disasters great,
And yet hath found this Servant of His Throne
In Patience equalled but by God alone!
Blest is My God from Whose Decree appears—
For which I thank Him—detestation’s spears!
To Him be praise Who on this Servant hath
Caused to descend the torrents of men’s wrath!
For which I praise Him—yea, for this I yearn!
Blest are the souls who with their hearts discern!
For sacrifice supreme was I create,
Wherefore I glory over worlds and fate!
- (Spoken)
When at the summit of calamity
I raised My eyes and, Lo! there shone
A Light from God, and in that Light a form—
An angel of surpassing loveliness.
Upon her face such happiness was writ—
Such exultation on her brow—that all
My being was in tumult, and such joy
Possessed Me that the dungeon was forgot.
Then, with her finger pointed at My head,
She called to all in heaven and earth and said:
“I swear by God the world’s Beloved One
Is here, if men but understand. The Sun
Supreme shines in His mirroring heart. Lo, this
Is God’s own Beauty incarnate again!
This is God’s Majesty enthroned ’mongst men!
If only they would list and heed His Word!
This is God’s mystery, His treasure and
His Glory and the Source of His Command!”
- —HOWARD COLBY IVES.
VI
GLAUBE
Wenn fern in höchsten, reinsten Himmelsorten
aus Lieb und Licht ein Seelenkeim entstand,
dann gab ihn der Allmächtige mit den Worten
- “Ich glaube dir” aus seiner Vaterhand.
- So gleitet die Seele
- aus herrlichen Höhen
- hernieder zum Leben
- im irdischen Schoss
- und vereint sich dem Fleisch,
- das in Wehen sich windet,
- und eratmet sich jauchzend
- Prägung und Los.
Dann aber spannt sich aufwärts die Spirale.
Noch saugt sie gläubig von der Mutter Brust
die guten wie die blutverdorbenen Male
und glaubt ihr treuverwandt und unbewust.
- Durch der Kindheit Gefilde
- läuft sie dahin,
- ihrer himmlischen Heimat
- kaum mehr gewahr.
- Mit froher Begierde
- ergreift sie das Leben
- und baut sich die Ringe
- Jahre um Jahr.
Bald hat sich so gewaltig angesammelt
in Jugendkraft ein kernig Lebenssück.
Und, was das Herze auch verworren stammelt—
die Seele glaubt an sich und an ihr Glück.
- Und sehnt sich unendlich
- hinein in das Dunkel
- verheissender Zukunft,
- und findet nicht Ruh.
- Da erlebt sie die Andere,
- die Schwesterseele,
- die Traute, die Eine,
- das herrliche Du.
So hält die Macht der Liebe sie umschlungen.
Sie schlürft der Wonne süsses Elixir
und fühlt vom Andern sich so tief durchdrungen
und glaubt ihm, gleich wie einem Stück von ihr.
- Da packt sie die Welt,
- ein lockender Garten,
- in prächtigen Farben
- ein funkelnd Gewand.
- Und sie treibt sich herum
- zwischen Lachen und Tränen,
- Zagen und Hoffen,
- Perlen und Tand,
bis sich die Schuld an ihre Schwelle kauert,
bis ihr das Leid durch schwere Träume zieht.
Da fühlt sie, wie kein Ding zu lange dauert,
und wie doch alles—ach!—so rasch verflieht.
- So ersteht ihr der Glaube
- an den Einen, den Starken,
- den nimmervergänglichen
- Vater der Welt.
- Und sie liebt wie ein Kind ihn
- und sehnt sich ihm näher
- und will nur noch leben,
- wie ihm es gefällt.
Sie sucht, wo sie den Gott im Glauben fasse,
durchschweift die prächtigen Reiche der Natur,
der Künste Tempel und des Wissens Masse,
und fühlt dort überall der Heimat Spur.
- Doch am hellsten erstrahlet
- die Sonne der Wahrheit
- im vollkommensten Spiegel,
- im Propheten aus Gott:
- In seinem Geist,
- im erhabenen Beispiel,
- im belebenden Worte,
- in Zucht und Gebot.
Wie sie auf diesem Pfade mutig schreitet,
lernt sie mit eigenen Augen klarer schauen.
Durch rechte Tat wird Hirn und Herz geweitet,
Vernunft und Glaube können sich vertraun.
- So schwingt sich die Seele
- dem heiligen Ruf
- des Schöpfers entgegen,
- der einst sie erschuf.
- Durch Glaube begnadet
- zu ewigem Glück,
- findet sie wieder
- zum Vater zurück.
- —ADELBERT MÜHLSCHLEGEL.
VII
THE REWARD OF THE MARTYRS TO KEITH RANSOM-KEHLER
Lo, for her soul! Behold! It is morn!
Freshness and fragrance and joy everywhere,
After the rose-gold of Life’s passing day.
Out from soul windows in rapture she views
Glistening dew drops of Assurance and Faith,
Foretelling endless realms of Unfoldment;
Round her are fairest fields of Fulfillment;
Plane beyond plane are swirls of Attainment;
Luminous Life, Reward of the Martyrs;
Dreams melting in blessed Reality;
Fellowship with the Blessed Perfection
In the pure Kingdom of El Abhá!
- —RUTH J. MOFFETT.
VIII
THE BELOVED
A son of separation had traveled to a far off country
- and,
Satiated with the non-satisfying fruits of desire,
Longed with an ever-increasing longing for the home
- of his Beloved.
“Where can I find my heart’s desire?
Where, oh where, is the land of my Beloved?”
So loving, seeking and longing, on the wings of
- vision he traveled
Through many kingdoms and spheres, seeking;
Perchance he might find Him who alone could allay
- the hunger of his soul.
He traveled through many lands;
In every niche, corner and place the traveler found
- signs of his Beloved One;
Stately fanes, gleaming shrines in alabaster purity,
Flowers of beauteous hues with delectable fragrance,
All redolent of the Traceless Friend.
In embroidered fabrics of many hues—in ornate
- design and symbols old—
His traces were present on every hand.
But still his longing remained unallayed and, weary
- of search,
He sat down and wept.
The longing unassuaged, again impelled to the search
- of the Friend,
Again he went forth and on the wings of hearing he
- traveled.
“Perhaps through the kingdom of hearing I may find
- Him I love—
Perchance I may hear the melodies of His voice that
- will allay the longing of my heart.”
He traveled long and far.
In rolling chant and music of many lands, faint
- echoes of His Beloved’s voice he discerned;
But instead of soothing it increased the hunger that
- made his life a fretful dream.
His nights were full of unrest, his days but lonely
- despair.
His longing but grew stronger and more intense;
He sought again in churches and temples fair.
Perchance in stately chant and ancient word the
- voice of his Beloved may be heard.
He listened and from a far off land came words
That through the circumambient air soothed and
- calmed his love torn soul:—
“My son, give me thy heart.”
“Come unto me ye who art weary and heavy laden
- with care.”
“Love me that I may love thee.”—
And soothed and comforted he slept content.
Again he hungered for the Friend and his heart’s
- desire;
Nothing but attainment could allay his inward fire.
“Not by vision of mortal eye nor by sounds on
- fleshly ear,
Can I find my home and my Beloved.”
Again the lover pondered, “‘Not by vision,
Not by hearing can I find my quest.”
Again he set forth, this time on the wings of Love,
That ineffable Love that penetrates all space,
Overcomes all barriers, passes through all veils.
Behold as this lover swept through the halls of
- limitless space,
The Beloved of his heart from the unattainable
- heights of glory
Met and enveloped him with the glorious garment of
- His Beauteous Robe—
The goal was won, his hunger forever appeased, his
- eternal home attained,
The journey ended and the eternal reunion, that
- nothing can sever, was made.
“Now what shall be the measure of his devotion?”
No longer perturbed by grievous longing and desire,
This disciple hastens forth with shining eyes, an
- undaunted courage, an undying faith.
No longer futile in word and act by his human
- frailty,
But armed with the sword of truth, robed in the
garments of devotion,
[Page 732]
Crowned with the crown of severance, filled with
- the Holy Spirit,
Encircled by the glory of the divine Presence,
With the tongue of power and lowliness of Jesus,
And perfect worldly detachment and severance;
A witness on earth to the Glory of the Most High,
He sets forth to complete his earthly pilgrimage,
To win the victory with the power of the Spirit
- over the hearts of men,
To be a shining star in the darkness of mortal life,
A tree to guide the wanderers of the desert to their
- heavenly home.
Is it not told in an Eastern parable how the lover
- longed for his Beloved;
How he made a long and arduous journey to the
- home of his Beloved;
How when the lover arrived at the door that
- separated him from his heart’s desire
He knocked once, twice, and once again.
Behind this door that stood between the lover and
- his heart’s desire,
He heard the Beloved’s voice saying in gentle tones,
“Who is there? Who is there?”
The lover replied in faltering tones, “It is I,”
But no answer came, the door remained closed.
Sorrowing, with many tears, the lover returned to
- earthly life.
But longing was not appeased, and torn with hope
- and despair
Again he assayed this journey to the home of his
- Beloved.
Again he knocked with trembling hand, one, twice,
- and once again,
Once again was hear the gentle voice,
“Who is there? Who is there?”
This time the lover, with sobbing voice,
“It is not I, but Thou!”
As the lover waited at the threshold of this door
That hides the Traceless Beloved from mortal eye,—
- behold—it opened,
Radiant light streamed forth, and, enveloping the
- lover, reunited him forever
With the Eternal Beloved.
- —W. B. GUY.
IX
WEIHNACHTS-LIED
Melodie:—O Tannenbaum
O heilige Nacht du nahest uns und bringst uns deine
- Lieder.
Gar oft schon war im Weltenrund, wie heute diese
- Feierstund.
O heilige Nacht du bringest uns auf’s neu das Licht
- nun wieder.
O Menschenkinder höret all’ was diese Nacht
- geschehen.
Der Himmel kehrt beim Menschen ein, damit wir
- sollen seelig sein
O Menschenkinder denkt daran, was diese Nacht
- geschehen.
Es ist gar gross das Wunderwerk, dass da vor sich
- gegangen.
In’s kleinste Herzenskämmerlein, da dringt’s mit
- hellen Lichte ein.
Es ist gar gross das Wunderwerk, dass wir auch heut
- noch schauen.
Schlies’ auf die Tür zum Herzen dein
Und lass das Licht nur voll hinein.
Dann schwindet Sorg’ und üb’le Lust,
Es wird dir ganz und gar bewusst.
Von Gott allein der helle Schein
Er führt die Menschen wieder heim.
- —PAUL KÖHLER.
X
THE ADVENT
Adam was the Tree of Life,
That grew in Paradise.
When The Word moved from the Primal Will Branches appeared.
Each Branch a mighty Prophet:
Enoch and Abraham; Noah and Zoroaster;
Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus and Muḥammad.
Through these Day-stars of the inmost heavens,
God—the Ancient One—
Revives the heart of man.
“Thus have the signs descended
And the matter been decreed.”
For the sincere ones,
His Message is “a Sea of Light.”
For the deniers among His creatures
And the impious, “it is a Ball of Fire!”
O misery of men! No Messenger has come to you,
But He has been denied, reviled and execrated,
As no pen dare describe.
That sinless Essence of Humility,
Who wears the precious Diadem of God’s Command,
And brings the priceless Book,
To which the hosts of heaven certify.
Through Him man’s knowledge came—of God;
The vision of obedience and love.
He did adorn with Faith the consciousness of man,
Enkindle reverence and true submission.
But only those endowed with hearing
And with “the iron sight”
May comprehend the Fragrance of that Presence.
The haughty seek a sign, a proof!
“What!” cry unbelievers,
“Shall we our gods abandon for a distraught poet?”
And great is their derision!
O the pity that man should deprive himself
Of this eternal draught,
And on his tongue the mention of the Name of God
Become an empty phrase!
Its glory and its potency
Obscured by superstition, arrogance and greed,
Till unbelief makes chaos in the earth!
Then, from the Glorious Orb, the Primal Will,
Again, The Word: “Be.” And behold,
The Owner of the House is manifest;
For in the earth and in all the worlds of God,
A Messenger, Sweet Singer of the Realm,
Reiterates: ‘Remind My people of Me, God,
The King, the Mighty One!”
With a New Name inscribed upon the Tablet of his heart,
Man builds a new creation.
“O denizens of the earth!” “O gazing questioner!”
Rejoice! For in the East a stream of Light
Has rent the horror of satanic gloom!
A Harbinger, at Dawn, proclaims “The Day of
God!”
[Page 733]
Alone, against the world,
Crying the coming of a Mighty One!
Fearless of consequence! His witness, God.
Serene He moves and with authority!
Who in the earth is able to transcend His power,
His influence? Nothing can hinder Him,
Nor change the destined utterance of His every Word.
Tragic His days—divine His martyrdom!
His chosen ones abased, slain, burned, betrayed!
Those twin immortals, Ḥusayn and Quddús!
The noble Váḥíd and the mighty Ḥujjat!
And Qurratu’l-‘Ayn!
Ten, twenty, thirty thousand martyrs
Yield their lives, their love, their spirit,
To the Cause that Youth is heralding!
Lord of the Age, the Mahdi, He,
With flaming Name “Yá Sáḥibu’z-Zamán!”
Trembled the earth in shame and grief!
Not Since the Day of Adam,
Had the world witnessed such agitation,
Such violent commotion!
Of sacrifice, enough in six short years,
To speed the universe millenniums!
“© traveler in the White Path and in the Red
- Support!
Unless empty-handed, you shall never reach the
- homestead!”
O Letters of the Living!
O Martyrs of Ṭihrán!
Heroes of God!
Where is the pen to sing your glory?
Your blood, your deeds, your ecstasy,
Have wrought a living organism!
And yet, “wert thou to tell these wonders
For a thousand years to stones,
Say, would they take effect?”
Thus came the onslaught, dealing death and desolation.
Only One was left: Bahá’u’lláh!
Serene and awe-inspiring!
And He—destined to reach “the plains of ‘Akká,
The Banquet Hall of God!”
Is in a dungeon, in the bowels of earth,
Where no light can penetrate,
In chains and stocks,
Breathing stench with thieves and murderers!
He, that shall change the earth into a Paradise!
Then speaks the Voice of God:
“Thou shalt triumph by Thyself and by Thy Pen.
Thou art of them that are secure.”
Of Him a swift and noble Pen must sing.
Hasten, O people to His shelter,
With this Garment of Assurance clothe yourselves,
And sail upon the Sea of Glory!
For the Books are opened, wide!
The mysteries revealed!
The Resurrection and the Signs made manifest!
“O land of Syria! Where is thy righteousness?
Bethlehem! Do the children know the Father?”
This is the Lord of Hosts!
The Promised One!
The Mighty Counsellor!
The Prince of Peace!
He “taught the birds of souls another flight,”
And after Him, no more shall strife and terror
Stalk the earth;—
He has effaced them with His Book.
Like Brother Souls of Light,
He, too, is Witness of a future Age,
When Nightingale upon the Tree of Life,
Shall sing the mystic melodies.
- —OLIVIA KELSEY.
XI
LIKE A FLAMING SUN
How shall I tell of Him, the Primal One?
Has He a parallel, saving the sun?
Has He a likeness, save Effulgent Light?
Did He not break our bonds and cleave our night?
How shall I sing of Him, the Beauteous One,
Who came at Midnight like a flaming Sun,
Who came in Winter like eternal Spring
And told us of the coming of the King?
And who amongst the Saints that dwell in bliss
Has known the ecstasy of Love like His?
Has ever nightingale more gladly bled
To tell his tale of love ere night was fled?
What Harbinger of unbeholden days
Sang Hymns of Dawn with such a flood of praise?
Was ever flute or tabret half so clear
As His sweet crying to the dumb and drear?
Was ever harp or psaltery half so sweet
As the Sweet Music of His running feet?
Were ever lips divine more like a sword
Hewing a path for a Beloved Lord?
Did ever Hands more white bring back again
The native loftiness to bowed down men?
Who taught the desolate again to dream?
Had ever Sun of Truth a John like Him?
How shall I tell of Him, the Primal One?
Has He a parallel, saving the sun?
Has He a likeness save all Truth that be?
Did He not carve the Second Calvary?
- —SILVIA MARGOLIS.
XII
GOTT, PROPHET, MENSCH
Gott hat nicht Not, dass er verherrlicht werde,
Er thront erhaben über Ruhm und Preis.
Doch hier, der kleine Mensch auf dieser Erde—
in Augenblicken, da er plötzlich weiss:
jetzt überkommt es mich mit mächtigen Schwingen—
erzittert, und er muss ein Loblied singen.
Gott wird von keinem Menschenherz umschlossen,
Er wird von keinem Menschenhirn gedacht.
Denn, was als Schöpfung Seiner Hand entsprossen,
rührt nicht hinan zu Seines Wesens Macht.
Wohl kannst du einen Schimmer widerspiegeln,
doch Sein Geheimnis kannst du nicht entsiegeln.
Darum bedarf die Menschheit jener Grossen,
die Mittler seiner Gnadenströme sind,
die sich der Kraft des Vaters so erschlossen,
dass sie, sein Ebenbild zugleich und Kind,
das Übermenschliche im Blute fassen
und andere es durch sich erleben lassen.
Sie wirken durch die Lehre, die sie spenden,
und durch ihr hohes Beispiel und Gesetz.
Sie führen so mit treuen Hirtenhänden
die Seelen durch der Lebenswege Netz
und öffnen für Jahrtausende die Pforten
zum ewigen Sonnenglanz von Gottes Worten.
Der Mensch begreift nicht dies erhabene Walten:
er trägt es nicht, ein früh geknicktes Rohr.
In Ehrfurcht muss er seine Hände falten,
vertrauend tastet sich sein Blick empor.
Er fühlt, wenn er sich hingibt allem Guten,
dann wird ein höheres Leben ihn durchfluten.
Ihn überströmt die Liebe zu dem Vater,
aus ihr entwächst der Glaube klar und fest,
in allen Fragen treulicher Berater,
der ihn in keinem Kampfe mehr verlässt.
So reift der Mensch durch Tat und Überwindung
zu immer heiligerer Geistverbindung.
Dann wird er erst, wozu er einst erlesen:
ein Held und König, der den Drachen zwingt,
ein Tempel für die höchsten Himmelswesen,
aus dem das Wort der Offenbarung klingt.—
Das Ziel ist herrlich. Lasst uns darum ringen!
O, lasst uns alles ihm zum Opfer bringen!
- —ADELBERT MÜHLSCHLEGEL.
XIII
THE NEW YOUTH SPEAKS
The Clarion peals, the Trumpet sounds
- Through every bowed and blasted land;
The heavens are a flaming Scroll:
- The Day of Oneness is at hand.
The Balances are laid in Justice,
- All hidden issues are disclosed:
And we will hold the reigns of government,
- And make the Peace that you opposed.
The Night is passing, and the morrow
- Will find us with attentive mind
A-forging and reforging still
- The broken fortunes of mankind.
The Rivers strained from out their courses
- To wash some conqueror’s domain
Will now forget their long abasement
- And find the Ocean once again.
For ours will be the Light of Justice
- And ours the fortitude sublime
To bring back rivers to their sources
- And men to men in every clime.
Our task will be a task of grandeur
- Supernal and Elysian—
For here is a planet to refashion
- Into a peaceful home for man.
And here are barriers to sunder,
- And hearts to render free and rife,
And souls to teach that they are Kindred,
- Upon the Ancient Tree of Life—
The Offspring of one Holy Father,
- The Children of one Mother Earth;
For in the long and drear dispersion
- Mankind forgot their common birth.
Ah! Ours will be the work stupendous,
- And superhuman the Ideal,
But We will have the lasting ardor,
- And We will know the Martyr’s zeal
To end the falsehood and delusion
- Of many Gods and many Nations,
Of many Creeds, and many Races,
- And high and low degrees and stations.
And nevermore will Tyranny
- Command the Peoples, or console,
Nor greed, nor exile, nor banishment
- Obstruct the Light from any Soul.
For in our hands will be the Power,
- And in our hearts the Emanation,
The love of Kind that hears and haloes
- And blesses with divine creation.
And we will heal men of their Blindness
- And they will be like Seers and Sages—
A race reborn and transfigured
- Returning to the God of Ages.
- —SILVIA MARGOLIS.
XIV
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
LOVE WAXED COLD
(“Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”—Jesus.)
- In the loveless cold of wintertime
- Far seems the warmth of Love’s June Day.
- The Son of Man would bring it near
- To souls possessing power to hear
- And will to walk Love’s Way.
WINTER PASSED
(Suggested by the Song of Solomon.)
- Lo, the winter even now is passed,
- The time of soul-depressing dearth;
- The certain signs of Spring are clear;
- The time of singing birds is here,
- The flowers appear on earth.
- Though the little foxes spoil the vines
- Because of tender grapes they bear,
- They shall be taken soon, and God
- Shall feed His people with His Rod
- And make His Garden fair.
- He will take away the bramble patch
- And bring a beauty before unknown!
- Earth shall become a garden spot,
- A joyous life the common lot,
- With Love upon the throne.
“IN THAT DAY”
(“Prove me now, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”—Mal. 3:10.)
- In the day when the people perforce shall prove
- The God of Love who waits to bless,
- The windows of heaven shall be opened wide;
- All hungers shall be satisfied—
- All fed from Love’s largesse.
- —WALTER H. BOWMAN.
XV
HYMNE
- Mein kleiner Blick kann Dich nicht fassen,
- Du gross’ Gesicht.
- Doch will ich nimmer von Dir lassen,
- ich kann es nicht.
- Oft kehrt’ ich mich zu nichtigen Dingen,
- Du aber bliebst in meinem Ringen
- und führst mich über viele, viele
- verschlungene Pfade hin zum Ziele,
- zum ewigen Licht.
- Du bist in meinem heissen Herzen
- der heilige Schrein.
- Sein Altar strahlt im Glanz der Kerzen
- für Dich allein.
- Umhüllt vom Lichtmeer Deiner Gnade,
- worin ich rein und froh mich bade,
- sehnt sich im Planen und Beginnen
- nach Dir, Geliebter, all mein Sinnen,
- nach Deinem Sein.
- So fühl’ ich mich von Deinem Willen
- ein winzig Stück.
- Was könnte sonst die Sehnsucht stillen?
- Wo wäre Glück?
- Du bist der Vater, und uns allen
- der Weg zur Heimat. Wenn wir fallen,
- und wenn sich unser Ich will bäumen—
- wir finden doch aus eiteln Träumen
- zu Dir zurück.
- Du bist der Herr, der meine Seele
- in Händen hält.
- Sie kämpft nach Deinem Schlachtbefehle.
- Das Böse fällt.
- Ist in uns erst der Feind vernichtet,
- wird um uns bald Dein Reich errichtet.
- Gereift, verkündet seit Äonen,
- wird es auf neuer Menschheit thronen.
- Dein ist die Welt.
- Dein ist der Tag, Du Allergrösster,
- Du stärkster. Hort,
- Du Langverheissener, Du Tröster,
- Du höchstes Wort!
- Mein Licht, Geliebter, Vater, Meister,
- von meinem Sehnsuchtsflug Umkreister,
- der Du mir Glück und Ziel und Frieden,
- ich diene Dir, ich dien’ hinieden
- und ewig dort.
- —ADELBERT MÜHLSCHLEGEL.
XVI
FULFILMENT
He, whom the world had exiled and reviled,
To Haifa came—and distant Hermon smiled
And ‘Akká gleamed and Carmel proudly glanced
O’er sunlit waves that rose and fell and danced.
“This is the One,” the sea-wind broke in song,
“Who comes to reign, to triumph over Wrong;
This is the Day wherein the Heavens are thrilled
And earth shall find all prophecies fulfilled.
Bring forth your flowers, Jezreel, to brightly greet
The Lord of Love who treads with lowly feet
The sacred dust of your immortal land
And uttereth Peace by God’s Supreme Command.
This is Bahá, the glory of the Lord,
Whose golden heart with Heavenly gifts is stored!”
“O Blessed Day,” a land-breeze gently sighed,
“The Light hath dawned for which the martyrs died!”—
And through the world an etherial tremor ran
Which even now is slowly changing Man.
- —E. T. HALL.
XVII
HOLY MOUNTAIN—A PRAYER
(Written to a Pilgrim to Haifa, Palestine)
Take my heart to Mt. Carmel,
O friend of the Golden Dawn!
I’ve tried to send silver and incense,
At my touch they have faded and gone;
Rose petals have turned to ashes
And floated away in tears, . . .
My deeds of the past and the present . . .
Oh, there’s nothing but on-coming years
To give to the Lord of the Ages,
So, the life of the future that’s mine,
Take it, my friend, and lay it
At the High and Holy Shrine.
Take my heart to Mt. Carmel,
O friend of the Shining Light!
And as you go, remember,
The world is crying tonight,
Out of sorrow and anguish,
Calling to you and to me,
Asking the Life Eternal
That is found on bended knee,
The Life with Love enkindled,
The power, the peace, the pulse-throb,
The exuberant joy and the splendor
That is known on the Mountain of God.
Take my heart to Mt. Carmel,
Thou radiant servant of Day!
And there under azure heavens
Where the sun sends a pure white ray,
Where breezes are healing and holy,
Where rains wash clean and renew,
Lay it among the flowers,
Rich blossoms fragrant with dew;
Oh, pray that this, my offering,
Be cleansed on that sacred sod,
That I may give to earth-children
Of the Life that comes from God!
- —ALICE COX,
XVIII
THE TEMPLE BEAUTIFUL
O Temple of the Beautiful,
- O Temple of the Lord;
That for God’s Oneness e’er will stand,
- And for His Holy Word;
Thy radiance shall shine afar,
- As shines the sun above,
A refuge thou to weary hearts,
- A Fortress of God’s Love.
O Temple that doth symbolize,
- God’s Word made flesh to man;
Thou art the body of His Law,
- Revealing His great Plan;
All nations shall in Thee rejoice
- And gather from afar;
Shall hold aloft the Glorious Name.
- That Name—Bahá’u’lláh.
O Temple of true Unity
- Of Knowledge and of Light,
O Temple of the Living God;
- Of day that knows no night;
Thou art a mystery divine,
- But one that all may read
Who enter in with hearts made pure,
- With Faith and loving deed.
O Temple of the Beautiful,
- O Miracle sublime!
In Thee the nations join as one,
- From every land and clime;
Thou art the symbol of God’s Peace,
- Which cometh from above;
The symbol of His Word Divine,
- His Manifested Love.
- —SHAHNAZ WAITE.
XIX
SONGS OF THE SPIRIT
NEW SONGS TO SING
Too long have we borne with rancor
- And woes of an ancient weaving!
Too long have we borne with conflict—
- And what have they brought us but grieving!
Behold! We have cleared our hearts
- Of each bitter and withering thing:
We have seen a Light in the Darkness:
- We have New Songs to sing!
WE CAN SEE AT LAST
Our eyes, that were blinded with groping
- Are healed! We can see at last!
We can see all around every limit,
- And Beyond our portionless past!
Never more shall we hate at a bidding,
- Or slay at a warrior’s command!
At last we can see that the earth
- Is really one native land!
WE HAVE WINGS
We have Wings! We may fly, at last!
- At last we may search and explore!
We may soar, at will, like the angels,
- We shall chafe in confinement no more!
Past the fogs and the mists of tradition
- Our flight will be steady and smooth:
We have Wings of Faith and of Reason,
- At last we shall search out the Truth!
WE ARE FREE
We are free! We shall sing to the world,
- We shall sing to the sad and the drear!
We have Truth and Beauty to give—
- All the nations shall waken and hear!
We shall quicken the dead with our singing,
- We shall free all the bound! We are strong:
We shall sing of the Oneness of Mankind
- And renew all the earth with our Song!
OF A NEW REVELATION
Away with all blind imitation!
- Away with ancestral beliefs!
We have done with the strife they engendered,
- We have done with humanity’s griefs!
We sing of a new Revelation,
- Of a Cycle untrammeled by rage!
We sing of Divine Civilization,
- And Humanity’s Coming of Age!
LIKE THE FALCONS
We shall fly, neath the sky, like the falcons
- And lift up our Voices with strength!
Far and near over Valleys and Mountains
- We shall cry the Good Tidings at length!
We shall fly, neath the sky, like the falcons
- And cry to the dwellers on earth:
“Lo! the ways of all freedom are opened,
- And the gates to the ways of rebirth!”
- —SILVIA MARGOLIS.
