Gethsemane

In golden youth when seems the earth     A Summer-land of singing mirth,     When souls are glad and hearts are light,     And not a shadow lurks in sight,     We do not know it, but there lieu     Somewhere veiled under evening skies     A garden which we all must see -     The garden of Gethsemane.     With joyous steps we go our ways,     Love lends a halo to our days;     Light sorrows sail like clouds afar,     We laugh, and say how strong we are.     We hurry on; and hurrying, go     Close to the borderland of woe     That waits for you, and waits for me -     Forever waits Gethsemane.     Down shadowy lanes, across strange streams,     Bridged over by our broken dreams;     Behind the misty caps of years,     Beyond the great salt fount of tears,     The garden lies.    Strive as you may,     You cannot miss it in your way;     All paths that have been, or shall be,     Pass somewhere through Gethsemane.     All those who journey, soon or late,     Must pass within the garden's gate;     Must kneel alone in darkness there,     And battle with some fierce despair.     God pity those who cannot say,     "Not mine but Thine"; who only pray     "Let this cup pass," and cannot see     The PURPOSE in Gethsemane.