Poem March 12, 1949 Issue

GRATITUDE SPEAKS

Leland S. Thompson

This is the moment—this the accepted time
When I shall rise and speak my gratitude.
No longer may I sit inert—afraid.
Afraid of what? That God has gone away?
That Mind's words can be weak or substanceless?
Ill-chosen? Mispronounced? Ineptly marshaled?
Must Love be silent till another stand?
Does Soul's rare beauty need another's tongue?
Does Principle or Spirit? Life or Truth?
No! All are at hand through me to be avowed.
And all these children of the infinite One
Await to hear what I alone may tell.

How easily the words flow! How unhindered!
Is this my voice? And where grew such thought flowers?
And whence these smiling, kindly, loving faces
That for the first time now I see so clearly?

Yes, it was I who came through yonder door,
But only the Christ who just now had the floor.

Leland S. Thompson

Send a comment to the editors