• "Faith" is a fine invention

    For Gentlemen who see!

    But Microscopes are prudent

    In an Emergency!

  • Faith — is the Pierless Bridge

    Supporting what We see

    Unto the Scene that We do not —

    Too slender for the eye


    It bears the Soul as bold

    As it were rocked in Steel

    With Arms of Steel at either side —

    It joins — behind the Veil


    To what, could We presume

    The...

  • He strained my faith —

    Did he find it supple?

    Shook my strong trust —

    Did it then — yield?


    Hurled my belief —

    But — did he shatter — it?

    Racked — with suspense —

    Not a nerve failed!


    Wrung me — with Anguish —

    But I never doubted him —

    'Tho' for...

  • My Faith is larger than the Hills —

    So when the Hills decay —

    My Faith must take the Purple Wheel

    To show the Sun the way —


    'Tis first He steps upon the Vane —

    And then — upon the Hill —

    And then abroad the World He go

    To do His Golden Will —


    And if His Yellow feet...

  • Peace is a fiction of our Faith —

    The Bells a Winter Night

    Bearing the Neighbor out of Sound

    That never did alight.

  •         Securely cabined in the ship below,

                Through darkness and through storm I cross the sea,

                A pathless wilderness of waves to me:

            But yet I do not fear, because I know

                That he who guides the good ship o'er that waste

                Sees in the stars her shining pathway...

  • The Child's faith is new —

    Whole — like His Principle —

    Wide — like the Sunrise

    On fresh Eyes —

    Never had a Doubt —

    Laughs — at a Scruple —

    Believes all sham

    But Paradise —


    Credits the World —

    Deems His Dominion

    Broadest of Sovereignties —
    ...

  • DEATH cometh to the chamber of the sick:

    The ruler's daughter, like the peasant's child,

    Turns pale as marble. Hark! that hollow moan,

    Which none may soothe, and then the last faint breath

    Subsiding with a shudder.

                             Deep the wail

    That speaks an idol fallen from the shrine...

  • To lose one's faith — surpass

    The loss of an Estate —

    Because Estates can be

    Replenished — faith cannot —


    Inherited with Life —

    Belief — but once — can be —

    Annihilate a single clause —

    And Being's — Beggary —

  • To mend each tattered Faith

    There is a needle fair

    Though no appearance indicate —

    'Tis threaded in the Air —


    And though it do not wear

    As if it never Tore

    'Tis very comfortable indeed

    And spacious as before —