“What means all this mass of wiring?” Asked the visitor from Mars. “We have nothing that is like it In our section of the stars. All these conduits and cables, This machinery that sings With its whirring wheels and motors --What have they to do with things?” “Very much,” the earth-child answered. “We’ve a giant, all unseen, Who serves every little household, Every factory and machine, Does our work, transports our people, Friendship’s kindly message bears. All this wiring you have noted Is the harness that he wears.” His Great Hour (1928) He headed the procession On many a parade. He heard the ringing echoes Where loud applause was made. But naught has ever equalled The time in early youth When first his folks discovered That he had cut a tooth. He published learned volumes And speeches made galore. He traveled and was feted The land and ocean o’er. But never was the hero So praised and sung, forsooth, As on that vanished midnight When first he cut a tooth. [Illustration of a heart overlaid with a young child. The child sits with legs straight out in front, right hand near mouth, and left hand holding what appears to be a rattle.] “I held a sea shell to my ears” (1928) I held a sea shell to my ears A little while today, And heard the echo of the years Sounding from far away. I heard ten thousand soft good-byes To hearts that needs must roam, Ten thousand weekly muffled cries For ships that came not home. I heard the story of the dreams Of those who journeyed far, But brought not back Wealth’s shining gleams To the home harbor bar. I heard the story of the brave Who Freedom’s burdens bore, Who fought their battles on the wave But struggle now no more. Imminence (1928) Like to the circuit of a bright day’s glory, Like to a shadow moving on the grass, Like to the telling of an evening story, God’s purposes all shortly come to pass. Like to the nearness of a dewdrop’s brushing, Like to the nearness of a breath of May, Like to the nearness of a wind uprushing, God’s promised kingdom is not far away. Like to the vastness of the stars’ swift motion, Like to the vastness of the course they swing, Like to the vastness of a shoreless ocean, God’s love is here enfolding everything. Iron (1928) A piece of iron was refined By highest skill of hand and mind, To steel that formed the keenest blade, Or instruments of wonder made, Or strings awaking symphonies From far across the centuries. Another piece lay dull and dead As days of hope and wonder sped. It felt no prompting of desire For the refiner’s purging fire. Passive it lay, nor ever wist The thrill and gladness it had missed. I speak no word of praise or blame. I only say it is a shame That metal, made for wondrous things, Keen instruments, responsive strings, Should be, its aspiration spent, Arrested in development. I Want (1928)