My
Garden
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My garden shows no bright array
Of rich exotics in its beds,
But little sunbeams in it play,
And leafy maples lift their
heads.
The walks but scanty labour get,
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5 |
No
skilful hands their borders trim,
But when the grass with dew is wet
And distant hills are growing
dim,
A quiet beauty round me falls,
Wherein all imperfections
hide,
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10 |
And
darkness builds her nunnery walls
Between me and the world
outside.
Then on the stone seat, looking far
Into the distance o’er
the vale,
I watch the friendly evening star
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15 |
| Grow
brighter as the sky grows pale.
Strange little people round me sleep,
The ants that have so
active been
Now in the sand their vigil keep
Around the chambers of
their queen.
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20 |
The gentle birds are warm and still,
Tucked in their nests among
the trees,
While sweetest thoughts their dreaming fill
In the soft rocking of the
breeze.
And patient worms that ere the day
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25 |
Will
push their noses through the soil,
Now gather all the strength they may
To aid them for the morrow’s
toil. [Page 42]
Haply a toad hops now and then
Across the flagstones
at my feet,
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30 |
To
tell me that not only men
Have found that darkness
is most sweet.
So in my garden night and day,
With sunshine or with
stars above,
God takes my petty cares away,
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35 |
| And
fills me with His perfect love. [Page 43]
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