Poems (Kimball)/God's Silence
GOD'S SILENCE.
GOD'S Silence! Holiest speech that is Is but a dew-fall out of this; And human Love's own tongues of bliss But broken language caught from His.
Why should we question, though our cry—"Lord, hear me—answer, or I die!"— Seems echoed from an empty sky? He hears—He answers, utterly.
"Lord, answer!" And with shuddering breath, As those already doomed to death, We wait for Him who rescueth The very bird that perisheth.
O sword of doubt, two-edged with pain, That cuts the quivering heart in twain! As if His Love could ever wane! As if our cry could be in vain!
His Silence! once, indeed, it broke With Love's great stress, when He did take A mortal guise for Loves sweet sake, And spake as never mortal spake.
Since He his own Divine did blend With Human in that Saviour-Friend, That we enough might comprehend His Love to trust Him to the end;
And guided by His perfect care, Find all dark places everywhere Wind upward, a celestial stair To Love's own heights divinely fair;
He must forever bless; and aye, At the dear break of Heaven's sweet day, Wipe all earth's bitter tears away, And give us more than heart can pray!
Oh, should He speak, and could we guess That Tongue of Infinite Tenderness, His Silence still would more express His Love's unspeakable excess!