On Reubens' Painting of Saint Peter

On Reubens' Painting of Saint Peter

What fleeting moment has the painter wrought

In lines eternal on this graphic square?

How wrapt the prince is gazing - unaware

Of all save one soul-baring ardent thought!

Just such a look - impulsive and untaught,

So charged with love, so redolent of prayer -

Must flame from Angel faces when they dare

Gaze full on God, and by His glance are caught.

Perhaps a breeze from Esdraelon Plain

Has stirred a pensive pool in mem'ry's stream

To raise that mist of half-apparent tears.

Perhaps a far-off shepherd's lovely strain

Beguiled his willing ears until they deem

They catch the Master's hymn of former years.

Evelyn Coffey

Opportunity

OPPORTUNITY


The fields are wide and green --

Wide as the rolling


Slimness of foam that limns the ocean’s endless edge;

Green as the copious vibrance of spring-fed waters;

Green as the waving turrets of trees in summer woods.


The fields are beckoning –

Fruitful fields with their


Fertile mouths lifted to your touch; hungry fields,

Avid for the irrigation of blood:

Young blood, happy blood, holy blood – your blood!


Spread your scythe gently

Over the rough grasses;

Over the fruitful, hungry fields;

Spread your scythe slowly –

Temper your stroke

With thoughtful, tender rhythm –

The beckoning fields are wide and green!

Evelyn Coffey