Poems by Henry Van Dyke

All Poems Original Poems Translations

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The Window

All night long, by a distant bell,

The passing hours were notched

On the dark, while her breathing rose and fell,

And the spark of life I watched

In her face was glowing or fading, — who could tell? —

And the open window of the room,

With a flare of yellow light,

Was peering out into the gloom,

by Henry Van Dyke

Reliance

Not to the swift, the race:

Not to the strong, the fight:

Not to the righteous, perfect grace:

Not to the wise, the light.

But often faltering feet

Come surest to the goal;

And they who walk in darkness meet

The sunrise of the soul.

by Henry Van Dyke

New Year's Eve

The other night I had a dream, most clear

And comforting, complete

In every line, a crystal sphere,

And full of intimate and secret cheer.

Therefore I will repeat

That vision, dearest heart, to you,

As of a thing not feigned, but very true,

by Henry Van Dyke

A Home Song

I read within a poet's book

A word that starred the page:

"Stone walls do not a prison make,

Nor iron bars a cage!"

Yes, that is true; and something more

You'll find, where'er you roam,

That marble floors and gilded walls

Can never make a home.

by Henry Van Dyke

A Legend of Service

It pleased the Lord of Angels (praise His name!)

To hear, one day, report from those who came

With pitying sorrow, or exultant joy,

To tell of earthly tasks in His employ:

For some were sorry when they saw how slow

The stream of heavenly love on earth must flow;

And some were glad because their eyes had seen,

Along its banks, fresh flowers and living green.

by Henry Van Dyke

Arrival

Across a thousand miles of sea, a hundred leagues of land,

Along a path I had not traced and could not understand,

I travelled fast and far for this, — to take thee by the hand.

A pilgrim knowing not the shrine where he would bend his knee,

A mariner without a dream of what his port would be,

So fared I with a seeking heart until I came to thee.

O cooler than a grove of palm in some heat-weary place,

O fairer than an isle of calm after the wild sea race,

by Henry Van Dyke

A Child in the Garden

When to the garden of untroubled thought

I came of late, and saw the open door,

And wished again to enter, and explore

The sweet, wild ways with stainless bloom inwrought,

And bowers of innocence with beauty fraught,

It seemed some purer voice must speak before

I dared to tread that garden loved of yore,

That Eden lost unknown and found unsought.

by Henry Van Dyke

Echoes From the Greek Mythology

I - STARLIGHT

With two bright eyes, my star, my love,

Thou lookest on the stars above:

Ah, would that I the heaven might be

With a million eyes to look on thee.

Plato.

II - ROSELEAF

A little while the rose,

by Henry Van Dyke

If All the Skies

If all the skies were sunshine,

Our faces would be fain

To feel once more upon them

The cooling splash of rain.

If all the world were music,

Our hearts would often long

For one sweet strain of silence,

To break the endless song.

by Henry Van Dyke

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love,

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, hail Thee as the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.

All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain, flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting birds and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.

by Henry Van Dyke

America's Welcome Home

Oh, gallantly they fared forth in khaki and in blue,

America's crusading host of warriors bold and true;

They battled for the rights of man beside our brave Allies,

And now they're coming home to us with glory in their eyes.

Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!

Our hearts are turning home again and there we long to be,

In our beautiful big country beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

by Henry Van Dyke

America for Me

'Tis fine to see the Old World and travel up and down

Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,

To admire the crumbly castles and the statues and kings

But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.

So it's home again, and home again, America for me!

My heart is turning home again and there I long to be,

In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars,

Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.

by Henry Van Dyke