Poems (Gifford)/Lilies
For works with similar titles, see Lilies.
LILIES.
Well do we know them; are they not most fair?
Is not their loveliness all unsurpassed?
From the varieties so bold and grand
Planted and cherished with man's tenderest care
To the most common garden specimen
That half-unheeded grows in cottage plot,
What is there in the kingdoms of the world
That can outvie their evanescent charms?
Is not their loveliness all unsurpassed?
From the varieties so bold and grand
Planted and cherished with man's tenderest care
To the most common garden specimen
That half-unheeded grows in cottage plot,
What is there in the kingdoms of the world
That can outvie their evanescent charms?
How wondrously they grow! It is not long
Since they were nought but roots in a dry ground
Without or form, or comeliness, or power
To fashion their own glory; and frail man
Must needs cease from the utmost he can do,
And impotently leave them to their fate.
Yet, while he disregards and takes his rest,
They spring up silently, he knows not how.
First comes a peep of green, expanding soon
Into prophetic leafage, till at length
The beauteous, complex flowers in clusters bloom.
Since they were nought but roots in a dry ground
Without or form, or comeliness, or power
To fashion their own glory; and frail man
Must needs cease from the utmost he can do,
And impotently leave them to their fate.
Yet, while he disregards and takes his rest,
They spring up silently, he knows not how.
First comes a peep of green, expanding soon
Into prophetic leafage, till at length
The beauteous, complex flowers in clusters bloom.
To such fair flowers He pointed, He who spake
As spake none other; He interpreted
For us their precious import, bade them bear
Eloquent witness to a Father's love,
Teach profound lessons of the mind of God,
And speak of life and growth beyond their own,
And promise food and raiment, and proclaim
Vast stores of wealth for our incessant need,
And set our anxious questionings at rest.
As spake none other; He interpreted
For us their precious import, bade them bear
Eloquent witness to a Father's love,
Teach profound lessons of the mind of God,
And speak of life and growth beyond their own,
And promise food and raiment, and proclaim
Vast stores of wealth for our incessant need,
And set our anxious questionings at rest.
Yet deeper far our need than aught of earth
Can ever satisfy; more helpless we
Than words can utter, naked, cold, and faint.
Raiment we crave, and food, and all our toil
Is vain our spirit-yearning to appease.
What troubled thoughts arise! What fearful dread
Of bankruptcy and death.! Where can we look for help?
Listen we yet again. The lilies breathe
Sweet, restful hope into our fretful souls:
"Why take ye thought for raiment? God hath clothed
The fading flowers, and much more will He clothe
Thee with His own fair robe of righteousness.
One stainless flower hath blossomed; from His death
Thy life-germ is derived, and thou may'st be
Implanted in His kingdom, nurtured, fed,
And bathed in the warm sunlight of His grace,
So thou grow to His likeness, lily-fair,
All perfect through His comeliness, though yet
Though know'st not how, or what, such bliss may be.
Commit thou then thy way unto the Lord,
Trust, too, in Him, who shall bring it to pass;
Appropriate all thankfully His gifts,
For with His life and kingdom they are thine."
Can ever satisfy; more helpless we
Than words can utter, naked, cold, and faint.
Raiment we crave, and food, and all our toil
Is vain our spirit-yearning to appease.
What troubled thoughts arise! What fearful dread
Of bankruptcy and death.! Where can we look for help?
Listen we yet again. The lilies breathe
Sweet, restful hope into our fretful souls:
"Why take ye thought for raiment? God hath clothed
The fading flowers, and much more will He clothe
Thee with His own fair robe of righteousness.
One stainless flower hath blossomed; from His death
Thy life-germ is derived, and thou may'st be
Implanted in His kingdom, nurtured, fed,
And bathed in the warm sunlight of His grace,
So thou grow to His likeness, lily-fair,
All perfect through His comeliness, though yet
Though know'st not how, or what, such bliss may be.
Commit thou then thy way unto the Lord,
Trust, too, in Him, who shall bring it to pass;
Appropriate all thankfully His gifts,
For with His life and kingdom they are thine."
Oh! for the quelling of all vague alarms,
For the assurance of a Father's care,
For strong, unfailing comfort in distress,
For the investiture of all that fades
With glowing truth and interest divine,
For happy inspiration, finding here
Earnests of glory yet to be revealed,
Pass we not heedlessly the lilies by,
Let us consider them!
For the assurance of a Father's care,
For strong, unfailing comfort in distress,
For the investiture of all that fades
With glowing truth and interest divine,
For happy inspiration, finding here
Earnests of glory yet to be revealed,
Pass we not heedlessly the lilies by,
Let us consider them!