The Stundist in Siberian Exile AND OTHER POEMS, William Fetler, 1922

oon— I was out of tune ! There still are humble souls joined not by dead forms or creeds, Born from above by the Spirit, washed white from their wicked deeds ; They sit in heavenly places, though walking still on earth, Their sorrows are so different, and different is their mirth. Their faces—whether radiant with peace and joy serene. Or whether solemn and earnest from struggles and trials unseen— Show that on earth they are strangers—their Homeland is far away— That’s why the strains of their music sound like one who has started to pray ! It’s the talk of a soul with its Maker, of one who is born from above. Who knows that the Lord is gracious, who is sure that God is Love . . . 64 OUT OF TUNE Then as they sing—oh, what music ! So full of fragrance and grace ; What harmony, full of heaven, transfiguring life and face ! Yea, when we touch such people, how easy and what a boon— To sing in tune ! May 6, 1920. TRUE GOLD CAN WAIT 65 TRUE GOLD CAN WAIT True gold can stand the trial. True gold can afford to wait; The fiercest flames of judgment Will only prove it first-rate. So welcome whatever your fate, For soon or late, If you are real gold, Your value will be told. Why, therefore, should you worry, Why should you fret ? If others do not esteem you— Forgive and forget. . . . For can their lack of esteem Diminish the price of your soul ? And can the blindness of multitudes Make also your vision small ? And what if a hundred years Should pass, after you are dead. Without your being appraised aright ? What if you were taken for lead ? Why worry ? One’s life would be poor, indeed, Should it last just a year or two ; A piece of wood may perish, in need ; But as for gold, which is true— 5 66 TRUE GOLD CAN WAIT A thousand years are like yesterday, It laughs at corruption and rust; Dig it up from the sod, take out of the pyramids, Wipe off the centuries' dust: And again it will shine as it did on that day, When it saw its imperishing birth, And nothing will take its value away— Neither secret vaults nor the earth. . . . There is a day that will come at last, A day of justice and right, When Passion Friday will turn to Easter, And darkness will turn to light ! A day when values will be revalued, And perfect truth will be told, When spade is called spade, base tin is un¬ masked, And real gold called gold. January 21, 1919. GOD'S HEROES 67 GOD’S HEROES Thou still dost need Thy heroes, Lord, Who will obey Thy every word; Thy Jephthahs and Thy Gideons, Thy John-the-Baptists, “ Thunder-sons.” No special men ’cause of their birth— Just dust as we, earth of our earth, Men of like passions with the rest. But men of mighty faith possessed— With childlike faith! For a child’s faith is great and strong. It’s full of innocence and song. It loves the right and shuns the wrong. That’s