Father Ryan's Poems (81)

    Star！ Star, why dost thou shine Each night upon my brow？ Why dost thou make me dream the dreams That I am dreaming now？

    Star！ Star, thy home is high —— I am of humble birth； Thy feet walk shining o'er the sky, Mine, only on the earth.

    Star！ Star, why make me dream？ My dreams are all untrue； And why is sorrow dark for me And heaven bright for you？

    Star！ Star, oh, hide thy ray, And take it off my face； Within my lowly home I stay, Thou, in thy lofty place.

    Star！ Star, and still I dream, Along thy light afar I seem to soar until I seem To be, like you, a star. The Star's SongFlower！ Flower, why repine？ God knows each creature's place； He hides within me when I shine, And your leaves hide His face.

    And you are near as I to Him, And you reveal as much Of that eternal soundless hymn Man's words may never touch.

    God sings to man through all my rays That wreathe the brow of night, And walks with me thro' all my ways —— The everlasting light.

    Flower！ Flower, why repine？ He chose on lowly earth, And not in heaven where I shine, His Bethlehem and birth.

    Flower！ Flower, I see Him pass Each hour of night and day, Down to an altar and a Mass Go thou！ and fade away.

    Fade away upon His shrine！ Thy light is brighter far Than all the light wherewith I shine In heaven, as a star.