VASTNESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1886, Page 5

VASTNESS.

ADDENDA TO TKNNVSOS'S POEM, 01 not like tlie " bees in their hive," Kor the gnats in " the gflooni of the day, But in millions of angels, with golden winga Thronging tho milky-way ■ ' 2. This is vaslneas- not in the hum Of miserable worlds of strife, But the glory-burst when saints oi God Shall enter eternal life! 3. When weary hearts on this dark globes Shall sigh for their peace and rest. And And it, " not in burnt up suns," But near' to the Father's braast. 4. Not in burnt up .worlds, whero "the chist ot fate" Speaks of a ruined land, But in the roll of a million _una Fresh from their Maker's haridl ■ 5--01 " not in politics "—that ever were But kingdoms "bnilt on lies," ■ • ■ ''»"> • But in the foith of the Hindoo and Turk, And the Father's mysteries, 6. 01 not In the faith of learned men, Who make a hell of their schools f ■■■ • • <.; But in the truat of ohildren sweet. And the "simple faith of fools 1" ' :■: 7. > . . Not in poesy, wrung from the soul. As the poet works for bread; But tlie vastneßS of thought, oar-reaching th« pole, Till tho gifted one lies dead. 8., Vastness of glorious "thought upon thought,'' The good of his kind, aud his God; Thou vastness of worlds, 01 cover him o'er With the scorn of a pauper's sod! 9. Not the vastness of bishop and priest, Nor the vastness of prince or of king. But the vastness of millions of achingHhearta That suffer, and hunger, and sing. 10. Singing, not of sceptre and cupwn. . Made of glory-bubbles that rust. Not of suffering nailed to the cross, That only turns to dust: ."• 11. Not wealth, and its painted harlots. Nor "avarice lean OS a bone,"But virtue, as pure as the snowflake Clinging for strength to the throne t • ii 12* , !.''■"> This is vastness—and greatness—when The hoart breaks, being strong I' Bleeding with want— o'erooming the sinTriumphing ovor tho wrong. 13. i :, . ''.',.. •' 01 not in the wealth of tyrant kings. Who covet the name of gods! .. • Not in the cringing of millions Beneath their accursed rods!

0! not by the stako, "or in fire. Not an the bloody rack, But in the Godhead that thundors, '•' Ay I thunders their hell-flames buck t . 15* '.VI I, This is vastness—when gyved slaTea Turn back the oppressor, rod! This Is vastness—when the worm Puts on the bright sword ol God I i 16. " What is it all, but a trouble of ants V Nay! 'tis a ohwus of saints, A lifting from earth to glory-landa Of a heart that ln Borrow t alnta. . :i t a7 _ . 0! not in " summor or winter," Ol not in "autumn and spring," -' ,r; ■ But when the frozen hearts of birds Still with God's glories ring I 18. 0! notin the "love of the maiden" ' Youth decks and crowns with gold. But in tho vastness of the heart, >m When love is.truo and old. ~ . '"- ' ' ■•"' 19. ' •*"-•'■ "" Not the hero, as " brave aa a lion* In armies on land "or in fleet," But the weakling, who Blays a devil When hunger and heaven meet 1 , ... 20." ;' ■'■''■■"'] 0! notin "murmurs" of anger. ;" "Like ants" in a world of guile, But the vastness of millions doing right In the faith of a Father's smile. Otahuhu. W. K. Wills.