At Day's End

(After studying an untitled picture by E. Thomas)

by

Anna McDonald

---

Man and his team of horses
Wend their homeward way
Under the shade of towering oaks;
Man and beast
In perfect unison
Slowly lift their weary legs
After a day's laborious work
In the scorching heat
Of the summer sun.

The towering mountains
In the background
Declare to all
"Lift up your eyes, you weary ones,
Lift up your hearts, you tired souls."

Evening is drawing nigh.
See the sun's setting rays
Turn to gold the leaves on the west side of the tall oaks.
The rock-lined pathway,
The soft flowing blue river,
The small frame house in the distance
All declare, with the mountains,
The majesty of God's creation.

There is peace in this valley.

The artist has depicted the Psalmist's thought: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork"

This is my Father's world . . .
I rest me in the thought,
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.

and the hymn writer's song of praise:

It is as if the painter is saying,
In every brush of color
In every object, big and small,
"Lift up your eyes, my friend
Lift them up unto the hills
From where your help will come
From Him who made heaven and earth...
He will protect you as you come and go
Now and forevermore."