Father Ryan's Poems (37)

    Silently —— shadowly —— some lives go, And the sound of their voices is all unheard； Or, if heard at all, 'tis as faint as the flow Of beautiful waves which no storm hath stirred. Deep lives these As the pearl-strewn seas.

    Softly and noiselessly some feet tread Lone¹ ways on earth, without leaving a mark； They move 'mid² the living, they pass to the dead, As still

    as the gleam of a star thro' the dark. Sweet lives those In their strange repose³. Calmly and lowly some hearts beat, And none may know that they

    beat at all； They muffle⁴ their music whenever they meet A few in a hut or a crowd in a hall. Great hearts those —— God only knows！

    Soundlessly —— shadowly ——such move on, Dim as the dream of a child asleep； And no one knoweth 'till they are gone How lofty their souls ——their hearts how deep. Bright souls these ——God only sees.

    Lonely and hiddenly in the world —— Tho' in the world 'tis their lot to stay —— The tremulous wings of their hearts are furled Until they fly from the world away, And find their rest On "Our Father's" breast, Where earth's unknown shall be known the best, And the hidden hearts shall be brightest blest.