Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
III. Faith: Hope: Love: ServiceThe Self-Exiled
Walter Chalmers Smith (18241908)T
Gliding slow—
A soul that was ransomed and forgiven,
And white as snow:
And the angels all were silent.
Of the radiant maid,
But there also lay on its tender grace
A mystic shade:
And the angels all were silent.
Seem not to stir,
So to the golden gates of morn
They carried her:
And the angels all were silent.
And fling it wide,
For she has been cleansed from stain of sin,”
Saint Peter cried:
And the angels all were silent.
She answered low,
“I came not hither to enter in,
Nor may I go:”
And the angels all were silent.
To see the Throne
Where sits the Lamb on the Sapphire Floor,
With God alone:”
And the angels all were silent.
To Him that died,
And note where the healing waters spring
From His piercèd side:”
And the angels all were silent.
“For I must go
Across the gulf where the guilty dead
Lie in their woe:”
And the angels all were silent.
To where they be,
Though the wail of their bitter pain, alas!
Tormenteth me:”
And the angels all were silent.
My soul’s desire
For them that are lying distraught and weak
In flaming fire:”
And the angels all were silent.
Whom I loved well;
What if, in anguish, they curse each other
In the depths of hell?”
And the angels all were silent.
When all my praise
Would be so wrought with grief-full warps
Of their sad days?”
And the angels all were silent.
And yet be glad?
How sing the songs ye are fain to sing,
While I am sad?”
And the angels all were silent.
Of the city fair,
And the tree of life it maketh sweet
The lightsome air:”
And the angels all were silent.
Are good to see,
And oh, so grand are the sounding psalms!
But not for me:”
And the angels all were silent.
“To go away,
And help, if I yet may help, the dead
That have no day.”
And the angels all were silent.
And answered grim:
“Can you love the Lord and abide without,
Afar from Him?”
And the angels all were silent.
And leave the place
Where His glory is all disclosed to view,
And tender grace?”
And the angels all were silent.
It were not meet:
Nothing they lack, for He is here,
And bliss complete.”
And the angels all were silent.
“By pitying less
The sinful living or woful dead
In their helplessness?”
And the angels all were silent.
To love no more
The loved, who in their anguish lie
Outside the door?”
And the angels all were silent.
And bear its shame,
And clasp to His heart, for love of me,
My guilt and blame?”
And the angels all were silent.
Forgetting this,
Singing all day with the Seraphim,
In selfish bliss?”
And the angels all were silent.
And heard her speak
Those tender words compassionate,
Gentle and meek:
And the angels all were silent.
In human hearts,
And from that way He ever trod
He ne’er departs:
And the angels all were silent.
Dear child of love,
I am weary of all this glory, too,
In heaven above:”
And the angels all were silent.
If they will hear,
They who are worst but need me most,
And all are dear:”
And the angels were not silent.