Bees in Amber.

by John Oxenham.

AUTHOR'S APOLOGY

In these rushful days an apology is advisable, if not absolutely essential, from any man, save the one or two elect, who has the temerity to publish a volume of verse.

These stray lines, such as they are, have come to me from time to time, I hardly know how or whence; certainly not of deliberate intention or of malice aforethought. More often than not they have come to the interruption of other, as it seemed to me, more important--and undoubtedly more profitable--work.

They are for the most part, simply attempts at concrete and rememberable expression of ideas--ages old most of them--which "asked for more."

Most writers, I imagine, find themselves at times in that same predicament--worried by some thought which dances within them and stubbornly refuses to be satisfied with the sober dress of prose. For their own satisfaction and relief, in such a case, if they be not fools they endeavour to garb it more to its liking, and so find peace. Or, to vary the metaphor, they pluck the Bee out of their Bonnet and pop it into such amber as they happen to have about them or are able to evolve, and so put an end to its buzzing.

In their previous states these little Bonnet-Bees of mine have apparently given pleasure to quite a number of intelligent and thoughtful folk; and now--chiefly, I am bound to say, for my own satisfaction in seeing them all together--I have gathered them into one bunch.

If they please you--good! If not, there is no harm done, and one man is content.

JOHN OXENHAM

CREDO

Not what, but WHOM, I do believe, That, in my darkest hour of need, Hath comfort that no mortal creed To mortal man may give;-- Not what, but WHOM!

For Christ is more than all the creeds, And His full life of gentle deeds Shall all the creeds outlive.

Not what I do believe, but WHOM!

WHO walks beside me in the gloom?

WHO shares the burden wearisome?

WHO all the dim way doth illume, And bids me look beyond the tomb The larger life to live?-- Not what I do believe, BUT WHOM!

Not what, But WHOM!

NEW YEAR'S DAY--AND EVERY DAY

_Each man is Captain of his Soul, And each man his own Crew, But the Pilot knows the Unknown Seas, And He will bring us through_.

We break new seas to-day,-- Our eager keels quest unaccustomed waters, And, from the vast uncharted waste in front, The mystic circles leap To greet our prows with mightiest possibilities; Bringing us--what?

--Dread shoals and shifting banks?

--And calms and storms?

--And clouds and biting gales?

--And wreck and loss?

--And valiant fighting-times?

And, maybe, Death!--and so, the Larger Life!

_For should the Pilot deem it best To cut the voyage short, He sees beyond the sky-line, and He'll bring us into Port_.

And, maybe, Life,--Life on a bounding tide, And chance of glorious deeds;-- Of help swift-born to drowning mariners; Of cheer to ships dismasted in the gale; Of succours given unasked and joyfully; Of mighty service to all needy souls.

_So--Ho for the Pilot's orders, Whatever course He makes!

For He sees beyond the sky-line, And He never makes mistakes_.

And, maybe, Golden Days, Full freighted with delight!

--And wide free seas of unimagined bliss, --And Treasure Isles, and Kingdoms to be won, --And Undiscovered Countries, and New Kin.

_For each man captains his own Soul, And chooses his own Crew, But the Pilot knows the Unknown Seas, And He will bring us through_.

PHILOSOPHER'S GARDEN

"_See this my garden, Large and fair_!"

--Thus, to his friend, The Philosopher.

"'_Tis not too long_,"

His friend replied, With truth exact,-- "_Nor yet too wide.

But well compact, If somewhat cramped On every side_."

Quick the reply-- "_But see how high!-- It reaches up To G.o.d's blue sky_!"

Not by their size Measure we men Or things.

Wisdom, with eyes Washed in the fire, Seeketh the things That are higher-- Things that have wings, Thoughts that aspire.

FLOWERS OF THE DUST

The Mills of G.o.d grind slowly, but they grind exceeding small-- So soft and slow the great wheels go they scarcely move at all; But the souls of men fall into them and are powdered into dust, And in that dust grow the Pa.s.sion-Flowers--Love, Hope, Trust.

Most wondrous their upspringing, in the dust of the Grinding-Mills, And rare beyond the telling the fragrance each distils.

Some grow up tall and stately, and some grow sweet and small, But Life out of Death is in each one--with purpose grow they all.

For that dust is G.o.d's own garden, and the Lord Christ tends it fair, With oh, such loving tenderness! and oh, such patient care!

In sorrow the seeds are planted, they are watered with bitter tears, But their roots strike down to the Water-Springs and the Sources of the Years.

These flowers of Christ's own providence, they wither not nor die, But flourish fair, and fairer still, through all eternity.

In the Dust of the Mills and in travail the amaranth seeds are sown, But the Flowers in their full beauty climb the Pillars of the Throne.

NOTE.--The first line only is adapted from the Sinngedichte of Friedrich von Logau.