Not in my self I trust, being so weak

To noble deeds and proofs of lasting worth

But ever forms of grace and hope poured over us

When meekness in the heart with love communes!

Better than reason, brighter than the tropes

Laid by our sager minds who, for all times

Sought to mark down in sign that yet unseen...

Better this fruit of meekness, born of faith

Which, of itself, is as angelic might

Able to lift the lowly into heights

Of knowing, where the dryer air imbues

Essential manna: food of gods, the seed

Which nightly growing, scarce discerned, springs up

To perfect comfort, then more over-flown

Works righteousness in the world, from carnal strife

To life in liberty, our best revealed.

Blessed meekness, heart of saints and ever true

With faithfulness of hope! Great care you show

Where there is no demand, save principles

Most holy, by the proud unknown; exalting

Subtle sense, beyond surmise: submissive

Durand von Meissen

(2)

Tender, patient, always kind with kindness

Better than self-worth in self-service shown-

Anoint our hearts with mercy's shining balm

As in this world we all must yet forbear

And lead us straight. Held fast in you we live!

Such faithfulness of worth must we behold

And many hours again, turn aside

Ignoble ways, to awful wonder sped

Where so much lost of good our souls suspect

Rejoins when love of truth has led us on.

Yet all the best of faith, not always true

To life and deed, though evident in hope

Is made exempt from trial; better to prove

The gold of piety when fiercer tried.

Then faithfulness of worth in us is known

When, as is judged by some, we're given leave

To go our way when still is left behind

That care of grace we’d prove, flown from the heart.

So help this stumbling verse your good portray

Set down with hope to coax the one in all...

It tends the way of trial, your work to speak.

Durand von Meissen

(3)

How you seek consistently for worth

Through mundane laws that hourly drape the soul

And from the smallest things secure our truth

Distilling charity and faith of all!

Always, for grace, your comforting is new

Untainted by the loot of carnal gain-

Foul dross. Many for this are bound in chains

Though freedom shunts the naked tyrant’s rule.

To look, to sift, to ply our souls again

For better ways, to each more kindly given

Though warring yet with pride: wretched stain

Of brutal mobs, so dark in light of heaven!

Heaven in each to sing, a lovely song

No phantom self to trust, in each is all-

A cherished faith, for whom the brave are strong

And waiting for, your sacred cares installed.

Great sympathy, the worth of all conjoined

To open up for us a home-felt rest

With love confessed and truth in one soul coined-

To honor and, in deed, the upright quest!

Durand von Meissen

(4)

Oh that in this trial may spring

Such worthiness of heart, refined

Not of carnal mind!

Your secret’s long been kept

Of old, the seers saw and wept

But how can I, so frail

Train these reigns to follow?

More steady now, defend the gap...

Let not the breach become full

With pride's conceit, abominable.

Then to glimpse a true vision

And care with no solo burden

But for the proper meekness bidden

And yoke humility fast-bound

Not glancing here or there

Shall you affix the heart here-

New city, famed uncloven one

And rising of your morning sun

Out-braving that of brutish minds