Description Poetry by Evan R. Fraser

1937

 

Oh watchmen at the empires gate,

Protecting home and king,

Who faithfully doth stand and wait.

It is no little thing-

That thou shouldst ever watchful be,

A safeguard o’er democracy.

 

Shy is it peace, or is it war?

A trembling world we know.

Same would thy prestige gladly mar,

And likely a deadly blow,

But thou purposes a peaceful way,

And would the hand of the aggressor stay.

 

Yet thou dost rule with a firm hand,

And grantest liberty to them that dwell health thy command

_ horns on land, and sea.

When aliens from their own land are driven

A safe abode by thee are given.

 

This priceless gift let other scan,

Who hold as serfs their breed,

And trample down their fellow man,

Regardless of their heed,

And countless souls doth ever stand in fear before the cruel hand.

 

O watchman. Tell us of the night?

They pledge remaineth strong,

Those who stand for truth and right,

Thou takest sides against wrong,

For thou regardeth righteous claims or greater worth than worldly gains.

 

So may thy bulwarks be secure,

Not on thy strength alone

But on foundations that are sure

Fast by the eternal throne.

Let none distain nor idly mock

At that which rests on th’eternal rock

 

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Mur, Eureka

 

(Who Died July Fourth)

We rain would have him tarry yet a while,

And labor on together as before;

But God has willed it otherwise; _ smile

We now may see trough tears, though hearts are sore.

 

Ours is a loss so great, but his is gain

For he has entered on a fuller life,

And we who morn must yet a while remain

To toil and strive amid the worlds grim strife.

 

But, oh the ties of human love are strong,

As to each other we are bound to true,

‘Tis but a portrait of the life beyond

Where love is full, complete and never new.

 

We miss him from the choir; his empty seat

Brings sadness to our aching hearts today

There where he loved to be so well,

And meet with God’s own people to sing and pray.

 

And he is missed in his accustomed place,

Amid life’s busy mart, and toilsome way,

Where daily we beheld that well-known face

At honest toil he worked from day to day.

 

He shall shall be missed,

In all the spheres he took a large and open part so well,

In social circles where he loved to be

He shall be missed more than we can tell.

 

But more he shall be missed within the home,

For fondest hopes and love were cherished there,

We know that loved one must be sad and lone

For him who did their joys and burdens share.

 

Inscrutable are God’s most holy ways,

And none can penetrate the dim unknown.

But we must how, and give to God due praise.

All shall be well for God protects his own.

 

All those who look on frenzied world

And fear that all hope is gone,

As the flag of sin is high flurred,

For sins hosts are marched on.

 

Now don’t forget the eternal God

Still sits on his heavenly throne,

And reigns supreme from his vast abode,

Ever watching over his own.

 

Then trust him through our darkest hour,

Tho the conflict be _ long,

We yet may rise by his mighty power

Overcoming every wrong,

 

This word we’ll give to the godless race

That threaten the God with spite,

The infinite marks through time and space,

The people who seek the right.

 

By faith in the unseen God alone,

Can we hope thus to prevent

For the broken reeds that _ has shown

In the end will surely fail.

 

Take heart although in the open field,

The enemy rage and mock,

The eternal is our strength and shield,

We’re safe in the unmoved rock.

-Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Springtime Charms (1899)

 

Nature, now is fairly wakened,

Wakened from its cold repose;

Now received by rain and sunshine,

And the warm spring wind now blows.

 

See the trees and grass now growing,

Mantling earth with robes of green,

Nature is adored with beauty,

Charming _ to be seen.

 

Rain descending, so refreshing,

Cheers the thirst earth again;

Beaming rays of heaves bright sunlight

Does for us new light regain.

 

Hear the tiny birds a-singing,

Singing, working all the day.

Swelling notes in song and are singing,

Ringing, singing out their day.

 

Flowers are blooming all around us,

springing into life anew;

Cheering us with their sweet odor,

As they bloom for you and me

 

Blessed sunshine, bless springtime!

Blessed showers – refreshing rain;

Blessed showers to cheer us onward,

_ return of spring again.

 

Come with me, when nature’s blushing,

And the sun sinks in the west,

Down behind the hills of ages;

Sinking slowly, there to rest.

 

Look towards the eastern horizon,

Lune fair, appears in sight,

Throwing out, with joy transcendent,

Such effulgent glowing light.

 

All around is clam and quiet,

Clear and cloudless is the sky;

Stars being to show their glory

As they twinkle there on high.

 

Lovers, hand in hand they wander,

Promenading to and fro,

Viewing nature’s charms so lovely,

As along the path they go.

 

Set these lovers thus parading,

Round about the parks they walk;

Filled with joy, delight and rapture,

As of loving things they talk.

 

Quietly fall the evening shadows,

Softly falls the evening dew;

Come my loved one, we must sever.

Come we not must say adieu.

 

Shining is the moon so brightly,

Stars are quivering in their train;

Glittering worlds revolving around us,

Mighty mighty are the same.

 

Now we draw the certain downstairs,

As night hushes us to sleep,

_ the hearts that were _,

Doth the thoughts of twilight keep.

 

_ _ view the works of nature,

Gilded _ powers divine;

Oh how beautiful and lovely

Is its face at every tide.

<!-- [if !supportLists]-->-         <!--[endif]-->Evan R. Fraser

 

 

 

 

Be Steadfast

 

Now we are troubled with the world’s alarms,

And shudder with dreaded fear.

As Hitler vaunts himself, and loudly warms

That nations must his edict hear.

 

Just see him as he lifts his puny hand,

Declaring with a mighty I;

Now know what lies ‘neath my command

On land, on sea, and in the sky.

 

Such boastings starts the world to think,

What next will be his threatened move?

Must we despair and tremble on the brink,

Nor none such breathings disapprove.

 

The answer comes as once before it came,

To one that boasted with great pride,

He and his armies met reverse with shame,

Because right was not on their side.

 

We must be calm ‘gainst boasters such as these,

Who speak with brazen frightfulness,

No man, nor men can do just as _ please,

For God doth rule in righteousness.

 

Let us be steadfast trusting in his plan,

And pray that love may more increase,

That he would check the foolishness of man,

And usher in the blessed reign of peace.

 

-Evan R. Fraser