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Home  »  The World’s Best Poetry  »  Van Elsen

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

V. Death and Bereavement

Van Elsen

Frederick George Scott (1861–1944)

GOD spake three times and saved Van Elsen’s soul;

He spake by sickness first and made him whole;

Van Elsen heard him not,

Or soon forgot.

God spake to him by wealth, the world outpoured

Its treasures at his feet, and called him Lord;

Van Elsen’s heart grew fat

And proud thereat.

God spake the third time when the great world smiled,

And in the sunshine slew his little child;

Van Elsen like a tree

Fell hopelessly.

Then in the darkness came a voice which said,

“As thy heart bleedeth, so my heart hath bled,

As I have need of thee,

Thou needest me.”

That night Van Elsen kissed the baby feet,

And, kneeling by the narrow winding sheet,

Praised Him with fervent breath

Who conquered death.