Jan. 10 and 11

I usually prefer to put things here that are more or less original to me, but now and then I run into things that strike a chord and just want to throw them out there into the ether. I have been using a couple of books that have readings dated for every day of the year. In one of them, yesterday and today's selections contained poems that jumped out at me. It seems the authorship of each has been lost to time.

Jan. 11:

They tell me I must bruise
the rose's leaf,
ere I can keep and use
its fragrance brief.

They tell me I must break
the skylark's heart,
ere her cage song will make
the silence start.

They tell me love must bleed,
and friendship weep,
ere in my deepest need
I touch that deep.

Must it be always so
with precious things?
Must they be bruised and go
with beaten wings?

Ah, yes! By crushing days,
by caging nights, by scar
of thorn and stony ways,
these blessings are!

Jan. 10:

Is there some problem in your life to solve,
some passage seeming full of mystery?
God knows, who brings the hidden things to light.
He keeps the key.

Is there some door closed by the Father's hand
which widely opened you had hoped to see?
Trust God and wait - for when He shuts the door
He keeps the key.

Is there some earnest prayer unanswered yet,
or answered not as you had thought 'twould be?
God will make clear His purpose by and by.
He keeps the key.

Have patience with your God, your patient God,
all wise, all knowing, no long lingerer He,
and of the door of all your future life
He keeps the key.

Unfailing comfort, sweet and blessed rest,
to know of every door He keeps the key.
That He at last when just He sees is best,
will give it thee.