The Lone Trail at Thirty; Poems (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 Excerpt: ...road, Nor urged along by sharp constraint and goad, As herding sheep, I shall perceive the way My feet should follow, guided by a ray Of Thine intelligence. My spirit sleeps, Or in forgetfulness its idol keeps In close embrace. It pitifully clings To shreds of teaching and such baser things. One tells me I should leave the street and close My private door alike on friends and foes Lest I be tainted with the bloody stain Of commerce and the world's desire and pain. Yet I could hear the roar of city marts And the faint echo of those mighty hearts That broke in anguish while the mob looked on. 0 friend, dost think the heart can banish scorn From her secretest chambers as a child Forgets a moment later him who smiled Upon it in its play? If it were so Then life would not have room for grief and woe. Another comes from out the sad, dead Past; A mighty one, whose voice, like organ blast, Rings in my memory; nor shall it cease Until life ceases and I make my peace. "Why lingerest thou? Arise, the world has need Of men who hold no coward-purposed creed. The path is plain before thee. Canst evade The light that blazes 'bove thee? Undismayed Go forth among thy brothers; take thy place Among the chosen ones, and by that grace Thou shalt be deemed most worthy." And I said "'Fore God the king is dead, the king is dead." A cry came up from the dim city streets. 1 strove to lose its meaning, but it beats Eternally within my brain. It breaks Upon mine ear unceasingly and makes Me guilty as the felon who destroyed The habitation of the sanctified. I hear it. 'Tis a brother who is cast Among the animals to pray and fast. Soul of my soul cast out among the swine And the unclean. O charity divine What carest thou for him who meanly works Down in the dust ...