“The nest of the blind bird is built by God.”—TURKISH PROVERB.
Thou who dost build the blind bird’s nest,
Am I not blind?
Each bird that flyeth east or west
The track can find.
Each bird that flies from north to south
Knows the far way;
From mountain’s crest to river’s mouth
It does not stray.
Not one in all the lengthening land,
In all the sky,
Or by the ocean’s silver strand,
Is blind as I!
And dost Thou build the blind bird’s nest?
Build Thou for me
Some shelter where my soul may rest
Secure in Thee.
Close clinging to the bending bough,
Bind it so fast
It shall not loose if high or low
Blows the loud blast.
If fierce storms break, and the wild rain
Comes pelting in,
Cover the shrinking nest, restrain
The furious din.
At sultry noontide, when the air
Trembles with heat,
Draw close the leafy covert where
Cool shadows meet.
And when night falleth, dark and chill,
Let one fair star,
Love’s star all luminous and still,
Shine from afar.
Thou who dost build the blind bird’s nest
Build Thou for me;
So shall my being find its rest
Forevermore in Thee.