Many hours were spent under this old oak tree. discussing religion and politics or just visiting friends
Here are some more poems by Edwin Arnold Brenholtz
sounds
Far reaching voice of nightingaleshrill chirp of crickets tangled note
Hoarse neigh of stallion greeting mate afield
Ear splitting wail of wind among the boughs
A welcome here for thee
Soft loving voice that lulls my babe to sleep
Discord's embodiment voice from war guns throat;
Wave lashed destroyer of my ships at sea
Soft indrawn breath of babe held close
A welcome here for thee
Pant of wrestlers straining fierce
Voice of the wave less wood bound lake
Rorer of the furnace white flame
A lilies whisper to it's mate "come close"
A welcome here3 for thee
Majestic organ's being-thrilling tone
The lisp of her who shyly says "I love"
The raindrops freezing on the pane
The sighing of summers stifling heat
WA welcome here for thee
The voive of God commanding "Be"
The voice of death commanding "Cease"
The voice of the grave "lie still, lie still"
The voice of God "Arise, Arise"
A welcome here for thee
The Quest
My soul went forth upon a questTo find out who is most blest
It traveled north
it traveled south
It trusteth no report hence fourth
It trusteth not the word of mouth
It traveled east
It traveled west
It trusteth heart throbs great and least
It trusteth love throbs as the test
It gazed upon the poor and lone
It gazed on king upon the throne
It gazed while some chased bubbles blown
It noted discontent and groan
My soul returner to me and said
"Perchance the most blest are the dead"
My soul went forth at my command
To dwell with him who ruled the land
With wealth and beauty take it's stand
Reside with earths most joyous band
My soul returned to me and said
" In blessings thou are far ahead
"
Hope
Trimvuir of the Trinity abideth stillHander of happiness to man through endless time
Soft voiced assimilator of unbounded woes
Sweet lipped tranquilities' announcer
Neer failing necromancer , subtly sensuous
I am thy slave
Forgetter, unexcelled. of slights and wrongs
Forgetter, un approached, fortunes fickle love
Forgetter, paramount of past particepalions crime
Fantastic fiddler on the strings of hearts
Full foolish , fond unreasoning and doubly dear
I am thy slave
Dreamer of dreams beyond the dreams of Gods
anger to the pipes played by the willow-wisp
sacristan in the virgins Templed heart
Misleader of the harlots brothel bed
Flame feeder of the light of days to come
I am thy slave
Corps strewn when thou dost anguish producer when thy face is hid
withdraw
Sun blotter when thy smile is forgot
Solemnifier , when desires fulfilled
Grave opener when thou dost return
Then, always ,now
I am thy slave
Today
We face each day unknowingWhat tortures are in store
Or joys- they, still un-showing
Face as some did of yore
At daybreak we are thanking
for ignorance of what
what ths moment outranking
brings to our earthly lot
Some seek to know tomorrow
before it draweth near
of God himself would borrow
foreknowledge full and clear
And some by prayer are seeking
His will to overrule
and some their faith are eking
with self-sufficient tool
out through the realm unending
we send one constant note
"Here's praise and thanks for sending
this life to love denote"
not prayers for lifted burdens
no asking to know why
not claims for special guerdons
but only "here am I"
Here far from source of knowledge
Here far from perfect love
here among men who acknowledge
direction from above
Here stand I ,waiting, willing
to do, endure and bear
all that each moments filling
so mans lot be made fair
no pleas for self promotion
alike for teeming crowd
no promise of devotion
nor faith profession loud
through ages gone proponed
were questions,"why ans where"
not here and now unbounded
this trust in equal care
Een thus we face days breaking
and what it may contain
in all the love-thirst slaking
less great the loss than gain
Prayer
Partakers of life's sacramentImmortal mortals kneel
some beat their breast in loud lament
some voice loves sweet appeal
proclaimer of the peace of God for him who
asketh all or naught
deluder to the day of death of him who
preys for self
consolator divine for woes unshared
preemptor of domains beyond purchase
price, beyond the reach of greed
be thou our friend
would be manipulator -by a breath
of the eternal will
0ff-cast accessory of fear that flatters
with out end
confider, childlike , of thy wishes ,woes
to ear of patient friend
voice touched with true devotions praise
or hushed wit awe at what we
cannot comprehend
be thou our friend
To the Live oak's leaves
Brave Leaves !Fixt-form's slight-variant verdure's life!Enduring through long days ablaze, unbleached!
enduring still; though death, through winter reached
O smiting hand that spared not child or wife)
An icy hand , with harshness armed and strife,
To chilling change your state-- through all you preached
Persuasively of vital strength , impeached
No motives __left to man fame's drum and fife
Yet, we who will listen well and, loving, grow--
conforming to the form prescribed--as ye
Shall love all life, and learn life's lessons well.
Stiff forms ,--still bendable!-- that undergo
Wind's thrashing of branches ceaselessly,
What ye have spoken, who besides might tell
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