June 7
Companions of the Way (Evening)I MMORTAL Love, for ever full, For ever flowing free,
For ever shared, for ever whole, A never-ebbing sea!
Our outward lips confess the name All other names above;
Love only knoweth whence it came, And comprehendeth Love.
Blow, winds of God, awake, and blow The mists of earth away!
Shine out, O Light Divine, and show How wide and far we stray!
Hush every lip, close every book, The strife of tongues forbear;
Why forward reach, or backward look, For Love that clasps like air?
The letter fails, and systems fall, And every symbol wanes;
The Spirit over-brooding all, Eternal Love, remains.
We faintly hear, we dimly see, In differing phrase we pray;
But, dim or clear, we own in Thee The Light, the Truth, the Way.
Our Friend, our Brother, and our Lord, What may Thy service be?—
Nor name, nor form, nor ritual word, But simply following Thee.
JOHN GREEN- LEAF WHITTIER
MANNERS