October 1951

elf th Step R a b b i H e r h e~ r It . Bloom

Kingston

I should t m n o r e r rn;< life t o God, and t e a c h others the way; Yet I m m t do it aione, and I cannot. You will speak comforting words, And say a prayer of wisdom and strength and serenity; I have no Aaron’s rod which will bud a t my saying; And out of the aching, retching, black and purple depths, I cannot command God nor e v e n e n t r e a t Him r i l l come an echo of response and some coherence That He may h e l p my fellow-sufferers in the way. In the hunger t o be helped. I hear the whir of a motor and the cheery poodnight, You will bring t i d i n e s s of d r e s s and spirit t o h i s will, And the voice of one of t h e group; Or perhaps take him, at h i s brother’s urging You will go ‘way a c r o s s t h e f i e l d s and valleys And your friend’s of the fraternity, And past the lighted windows where there i s happiness and sorrow, T o some informal c o , ~ c l a v ethat I know s o well; And you will stop, And half aware, he’ll hear of t h e power of men, And there upon a bed, perhaps, there will be one in trouble, Thiough God, to help their fellows. K h o s e wife or whose brother’s anxious face He will come home, much talked t o and much comforted – T e l l s you a t a l e of pain, bewilderment and desperation. Somewhat confused, but s t i l l much comforted – Clutching a bar of hope; Though insubstantial, hope withal. You will return elated, Slatching your prayerful wish t o someone e l s e ‘ s prayerful wish; As you whir through the night, The sound of rubber of the a s p h a l t grinds out fulfillment, T h e lights are l e s s , the s t a r s impersonal – Indifferent, i t s e e m s , to that bright caravan Rhose luminous e y e s pierce t h e dark curtain of the lowering night. Within are hope and rapture and quiet confidence, And mutual c o n ~ r a t u l a t i o n sfor your work, and you t o them For having let you serve t h e Lord and H i s unhappy child. T h o s e men of mystery know of magnanimity, Are s t i l l of flesh and blood.