Excerpt
The Valley of VisionFighting for PeaceThe Unknown QuantityThe Ruling PassionThe Blue Flower
Out-of-Doors in the Holy LandDays OffLittle RiversFisherman's Luck
Poems, Collection in one volume
Golden StarsThe Red FlowerThe Grand Canyon, and Other PoemsThe White Bees, and Other PoemsThe Builders, and Other PoemsMusic, and Other PoemsThe Toiling of Felix, and Other PoemsThe House of Rimmon
CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
GOLDEN STARS AND OTHER VERSES FOLLOWING "THE RED FLOWER" BY HENRY VAN DYKE
NEW YORKCHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS1919
Copyright, 1918, 1919, by Charles Scribner's Sons
Published February, 1919
Copyright, 1918, BY THE OUTLOOK COMPANYCopyright, 1918, BY THE NEW YORK HERALD CO.Copyright, 1917, BY NEW YORK TIMES CO.Copyright, 1918, BY NEW YORK TRIBUNE, INC.Copyright, 1917, BY LAND & WATER PUB. CO.Copyright, 1918, BY THE PUBLIC LEDGERCopyright, 1918, BY THE PRESS PUBLISHING CO.
NOTE
The only reason for printing this little book is that many people have expressed a desire to have the memorial poem, "Golden Stars," in a permanent form.
The other verses are included simply because they are a wayside record of some of the varied feelings of an old lover of peace who was willing to fight for it,—feelings which may find a response in other American hearts.
Henry van Dyke.Avalon, January 6, 1919.
CONTENTS PAGE 3 4 5 6 7 10 13 14 15 17 19 21
THE PEACEFUL WARRIOR
I have no joy in strife,Peace is my great desire;Yet God forbid I lose my lifeThrough fear to face the fire.A peaceful man must fightFor that which peace demands,—Freedom and faith, honor and right,Defend with heart and hands.Farewell, my friendly books;Farewell, ye woods and streams;The fate that calls me forward looksTo a duty beyond dreams.Oh, better to be deadWith a face turned to the sky,Than live beneath a slavish dreadAnd serve a giant lie.Stand up, my heart, and striveFor the things most dear to thee!Why should we care to be aliveUnless the world is free?
May, 1918.
THE WINDS OF WAR-NEWS
The winds of war-news change and veerNow westerly and full of cheer,Now easterly, depressing, sourWith tidings of the Teutons' power.
But thou, America, whose heartWith brave Allies has taken part,Be not a weathercock to changeWith these wild winds that shift and range.
Be thou a compass ever true,Through sullen clouds or skies of blue,To that great star which rules the night,—The star of Liberty and Right.
Lover of peace, oh set thy soul,Thy strength, thy wealth, thy conscience whole,To win the peace thine eyes foresee,—The triumph of Democracy.
December 19, 1917.
RIGHTEOUS WRATH
There are many kinds of hatred, as many kinds of fire;And some are fierce and fatal with murderous desire;And some are mean and craven, revengeful, sullen, slow,They hurt the man that holds them more than they hurt his foe....