Now and Then

Now and Then

by Rev. W. C. Richards

Now - the tumult of the battle surging,

Now - the clouds that shut the warriors in;

Some who faint, and more the conflict urging -

Sighs and shouts together in the din!

Then - the splendor of the conquest shining,

Not a victor on the plain uncrowned;

Not a sigh for any loss repining -

Rapture waking all the sky around!

Now - our shrinkings from so many crosses,

And life's valleys watered by our tears.

Foolish tears we weep o'er little losses -

Trailing always through their mists our fears.

Then - the one cross we'll remember only -

Making of our crosses steps to Christ;

One dear cross whose passion vast and lonely

Bound us sweetly in redemption's tryst.

Now - the hidings of our Father's glory -

Walls that close around the earth and sun;

Weak unrest with nature's half-told story,

Knowledge only evermore begun.

Then - then the curtain of the universes

Rolled away, as mists at morning fled;

Each star that shines its history rehearses,

And ignorance, with sin and death, is dead.

Now - the anguish of all mortal sorrow.

Now, the groans that from our hearts are wrung,

Vain expectancies of bliss to-morrow,

All to-morrows with deep sackcloth hung.

Then - all sorrow from the bosom banished,

God himself to wipe our tears away;

Then - the cheats of earthly hopes evanished,

All to-morrows merged in heaven's to-day!

Now - the psalm that tells us death is strongest:

Strongest, surest of the foes we have;

Now - the waiting for the shadow's longest,

Till it falls upon the hallowed grave.

Then - the anthem of the resurrection -

We shall chant death's sure destructive o'er;

And shadows to the grave in dark direction,

From heaven's sunlight shall grow long no more.