Poems (Hoffman)/Pacific Grove
PACIFIC GROVE
(Dedicated to the Methodist Episcopal Annual Conference, meeting at Pacific Grove.)
Again the pines wave welcome at our coming;The waves sound forth glad ecstasies of greeting,And like an old-time friend, Pacific GroveMakes room for all the joyous throng, who loveHer sea-breeze, where in blended charms are meetingFragrance of flowers and church-bell's mellow chiming.
Once more we look in kind, familiar faces,And clasp glad hands,And see friends meet who have grown wiser, older,In distant lands.For Thou, O Lord, who formed this resting spot,Thou only changest not.Though storms dissolve the beach's granite bowlderTo shifting sand, that at their mercy rolls,They enter not thy temple's holiest placesIn human souls.
A little while to gather living pleasures,Like flowers from crag and cliff,And cast old care, like sea-weed on the billowsTo drag and drift."Peace," is the motto of this seaside nest;Fold tired wings and aching hearts, and rest;World-weary brains find sleep on Nature's pillowsBy blossoms overgrown,And leave to heaven the earth-begotten treasuresThy human heart has known.
Again the pines wave welcome!Shall we, coming, bring hearts alive to swellAt artist's visions, poet's inspiration—The true musician's spell?Souls with the Christian's heaven-born hope attune,And from the earliest dawn to night's high noon,In street and temple—by the grand old ocean—We shall see pictures, feel immortal poems, hear God's Recessional.