Poems (King)/A World Guest
A World-Guest
LIKE soft-falling snowflakes in silence thou comest,
Fair New Year, thou bringer of mirth;
And loud from each tower the mellow bells pealing
Proclaimeth thy coming to earth.
Fair New Year, thou bringer of mirth;
And loud from each tower the mellow bells pealing
Proclaimeth thy coming to earth.
To greet thee, sweet music doth lend her soft magic,
And fast speed the hours on fleet wing;
For thee the blithe-hearted are weaving gay garlands
To crown thee, young New Year, as king.
And fast speed the hours on fleet wing;
For thee the blithe-hearted are weaving gay garlands
To crown thee, young New Year, as king.
Draw nearer, O stranger, and read us the secrets
Fast hid in thy mystical scroll;
Will joy light our future, or wait us dark sorrows,
Nay, speak, shall we reach our heart's goal?
Fast hid in thy mystical scroll;
Will joy light our future, or wait us dark sorrows,
Nay, speak, shall we reach our heart's goal?
All mutely thou gazest, with limpid eyes lifted,
As if this sweet truth to impart;
God's plans, like to flower-buds, unfold when He listeth,
The future lies veiled in His heart.
As if this sweet truth to impart;
God's plans, like to flower-buds, unfold when He listeth,
The future lies veiled in His heart.
As curves the gay rainbow o'er sun-lighted showers,
So over man's tears e'er will bend
That bright arch of promise,—the words of a Saviour,—
Lo! with you am I till the end.
So over man's tears e'er will bend
That bright arch of promise,—the words of a Saviour,—
Lo! with you am I till the end.