Poem of William Hermanns

               Mary Baker Eddy

 A vision like a candle cheered your eye,
as death's pale hands approached to touch your brow.
You rose and filled the heavens with a vow
to be a scribe of truth drawn from on high.

You wrote, "Afflicted, rise; the Christ is nigh.
Come, touch his healing garment here and now."
The Prince of Darkness came to make you bow
and called his band to stone and crucify.

A stranger in this world, you walked alone;
your inner light led to the mountain crest,
where you beheld the Tree of Life in bloom.

You blazed the path on which your vision shone,
then left this world to take a Sabbath rest:
Your path I climb, away from earthly gloom

                         William Hermanns    [P069]