Classic Poem

Said the roses, long drooping with drought,
Now shaken like snow from the tree,
By the gusts of the boisterous winds
That had learned their rough play on the sea:

" O winds, we are delicate flowers,
Queenly flowers! touch us gently, we pray;
For these light flakes ye scatter in jest
Do not gather again, like the spray.

" The waves break and gather, but we
Once broken, arise not again. "
But the winds frolicked wildly, and said,
" Never fear! we are bringing the rain. "

Said the corn, bending low as they passed,
" Take heed where your revels ye keep;
Ye are treading the fair fruitful Earth,
Not the salt barren wastes of the deep. "

But the winds laughed and swept on their way,
And said, " Children, never complain;
We are friends of your mother, the Earth, —
She has cried, and we bring her the rain. "

Said the sick child, in feverish unrest,
While the winds made rough riot about,
Whistling wildly where holes let them in,
Storming fiercely where walls kept them out:

" O winds, stop your gambols awhile,
Ye have frolicked and shouted all day;
Let me sleep, let me sleep in the night, —
Will ye never be tired of your play? "

Then the winds softly sighed, as they said,
" Dost thou too mistake and complain?
For thee we were sent o'er the sea,
For thee we are bringing the rain. "

But the roses still trembled and drooped,
And the sick child still murmured and wept,
Till a sultry calm fell on the land,
And the hushed winds all heavily slept.

Then the roses drooped lifeless and pale,
And the shrivelled corn parched as it grew,
And the sick child with burning lips sighed,
Tossing sleepless the sultry night through.

" Oh, why did I murmur and moan?
God sent His kind winds o'er the sea;
He sent them to bring us the rain,
They came for the earth and for me.

" God sent His kind winds o'er the sea,
And I murmured and moaned them away;
Come again! I would welcome you now,
Be your voices as rough as they may! "

Then the winds rose and cheerily sang,
" Fear not; He who sent, sends us still:
Your murmurs have marred your content,
But check not His merciful will.

" We come; He who sent us is good,
To your moans He gave sorrowful heed;
Yet paused not one hour in His care
To provide you the help that you need.

" Now all things are ready, we come,
We come on his errands again;
His fountains are full, and o'erflow,
We have brought, we have brought you the rain! "

Then the showers poured melodiously down,
And the rose-tree drank deep to the roots,
And the parched Earth looked up and was glad,
And laughed through her flowers and her fruits.

And the Love that is stronger than all,
Like the showers of the life-giving rain
Sank deep in the heart of the child,
Till the incense of praise rose again.

And flooding her soul to the brim,
Flowed the calm of the angels' " Amen, "
As with clasped hands she prayed ere she slept,
" What Thou wilt, O my Father, and When . "