Two Inspiring Poems

Here are two poems from my Pathway reader~M

The Old Lamp

A lamp once hung in an ancient town
At the corner of a street,
Where the wind was keen, and the way was dark,
And rain would often beat;
And all night long, its light would shine
To guide the travelers' feet.

The lamp was rough and plain and old,
And the storm had beaten it sore;
'Twas not a thing one would care to show,
Whate'er it had been before,
But no one thought what the lantern was,
'Twas the light that, within, it bore.

The lamp is a text for young and old,
Who seek in a world of pride
To shine for their Lord and to show him forth,
And never their light to hide;
You are the lantern, a thing of naught,
But Christ is the light inside.
-Anonymous



Afterwards

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wandering, praise after tears.

Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.

Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss-
Right was the pathway leading to this.
-Frances R. Havergal