Re: The poetry of Philip Britts

O thou city of God,
With thy gates of pearl,
How near thou art.
Who yet did see the gleam,
As this tender babe
Became for us a bridge
To the new Kingdom.
How all are now enriched.
Who in the eternal heights
See the distant doors
That God unlocks.
The love of God pours down upon us,
It lowers to the grave
The earthly robe of dust.
What is not hallowed to the light must perish;
Those hallowed of the light
Stand joined in one,
Purified in the light of God,
Until the dawn
Banish the old death,
And they arise;
'Til from the halls of Light,
The shining city of God
Descends to us.
Then shall be given anew
What death once took from us,
And all the joy
In the ocean of God's love
Knows no more ending.

Found among Philip Britt's papers after his death, and shortly before the 
birth of his son Philip, on May 23, 1949.


Bruderhof Communities wrote:

> The longest drought shall pass;
> The heavens gather now.
> New life for tree and grass,
> Work for the plough.
>  
> On high in forest tops
> The eager bees do wing,
> See how the mighty trees
> Blossom and sing.
>  
> All life is joy again,
> The longest drought shall pass,
> Bringeth sweet drenching rain,
> Life for the grass.
>  
> Philip Britts, June 1945
>