IF I COULD ONLY WRITE A LINE The Religious And Inspirational Poetry of Mary Southers

by Charles C. Hagan Jr.

A book of over 200 poems. These poems are original, authentic and written by hand by Mary Southers in the 1930's and 1940's. Discovered hidden away in an old trunk some 33 years after her death. These poems have never been published or seen the light of day. For an african american woman with a limited education, her mastery of the written word is stunning. Some of these poems were read at church on various occasions and sent as Christmas, Easter, birthday and other gifts to friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Poem #1 LOVE THY NEIGHBOR Love thy neighbor If men would listen dear God Their blood would not be crimsoning the sod. If the world, dear God, Would obey your command There d be peace and happiness in every land. Love thy neighbor Men turn a deafened ear Your second greatest commandment they will not hear. Love thy neighbor! Dear God You plead near and far, men laugh in your face And march to hell called War ! Poem #2 MORE TIME I don t have to hurry like the atheist For I have more time than he He just has till the day he dies But I have eternity. Poem#3 PRAYER If you think in me Jesus My thoughts will be clear as dew If you speak out of me Jesus My words will be kind and true. If you work in me, Oh Jesus My deeds will be doubly blest Sanctified be all my labor Hallowed ever be my rest. Till then Jesus, all my being All I think and say and do Until my whole life shall mirror The great loving heart of you. IF I COULD ONLY WRITE A LINE If I could only write a line As prophets did in olden times A burning message of God s love Who sent his dear Son from above To suffer death upon the cross And counted it as gain, not loss. Oh, if I could only aspire To make the reader s thoughts rise If I could point some higher one to God Who along the wicked way has trod I really think I d be content That is what I think she meant. He said that we should bear much fruit So let us then in Him take root For without roots we cannot grow I want my life for Him to show I only want to shine for Him And may my glory be but dim. I only want to say and do The things that he would wish me to If I can only live this way I know I ll praise Him day by day. THE BELLS ON SUNDAY MORNING I like to hear the church bells Ring out on Sunday morn They bring back memories of happy days In the town where I was born. I used to hear the church bells ring When I was a little lad And my mother would say, now get up son And so would my dear old dad. And on those Sunday morns To church I d walk two miles But the country way was rendered gay By neighborly friendly smiles. At eventide those bells still ring In the town where I was born But the city s tumult shuts them out And leaves me quite forlorn. COME AND FOLLOW ME I see Him walking In the day's blue coolness to Galilee His footsteps making pathways Through the cornfields golden sea. I see Him in the woodlands Where silver brooks flow And I see Him by the seashore In the twilights ruby glow. I see Him in the city Where he lays a tender hand On the flesh of the wounded In a gray and stony land. But no matter where I see Him Always I seem to see His lips the same sweet words caressing Come and follow me. HIS EYES Oh I have seen the weary eyes The eyes of hurt and pain And I have seen the weeping eyes The eyes that weep in vain. And I have gazed at fearful eyes Of sick bewildered brains Yes, I have watched the empty eyes That look but do not see. And I have had the feeble eyes Of age look sad at me But oh, those eyes, those dying eyes That gaze from Calvary.

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2008