Helen Hoyt

From “Poems of Life and Death”

LIFE,

The great Life,

Came unto me:

He of old ages,

The eternal,

The owner of all,

Came, and his word was for me,

Calling my name:

And the radiance of his presence shone about me.

With leaping heart I heard his voice

And the entering of his steps over my threshold:

Heard, and was not troubled;

Because it was known to me a long time

What answer I should make to Life.

With outstretched, quiet hands,

With unreluctant face,

I stood before him,

And let my eyes look into the eyes of Life:

And I gave, and delivered up to Life,

Myself:

Utterly.

Yielding me

As one yields and delivers to another

A dumb vessel.

Mighty and splendid is the presence of Life.

By a far road he comes

And travels a great way before

And sways the world.

I trembled to be near his glory,

But with unbowing head I stood before him,

With unbowing head and proud heart;

Knowing my service that I should perform to the honoring of Life.

And in his dignity I was exalted.

Now for a term I am not my own,

But Life is my master:

And I dwell under his commandment,

Beneath the fostering of his wings.

Wrapped in the mantle of Life,

Patient, by ways apart, I go;

Bearing in my flesh his sign

That I am one of his chosen:

The instrument of his purpose; the way of his will.

Slowly day follows day,

Laying its hands upon me with invisible touch,

Molding my flesh;

And I tarry waiting upon Life

Until the use he purposes for me shall be accomplished,

And his intent be fulfilled:

Until the wonder is wrought upon me that now possesses my days.

Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD