Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900.

By Charles GoodrichWhiting

814 The Way to Heaven

HEAVEN is open every day;

In night also

He that would wend his upward way

May surely go.

There is no wall to that demesne

Where God resides; nor any screen

To hide the glories of that scene,—

If man will know.

The ladder which the Hebrew saw

Whenas he slept,

From earth God never doth updraw,

But still hath kept;

And angels ever to and fro

On errands swiftly glide and glow,—

For love above, for love below,

Its rounds have stept.

Thereon the saint doth daily mount

Above the stars,

Caring nowhit to take account

Of earthly bars;

Since well ’t is known to such as he

There are no guards but pass him free;

He hath the watchword and the key,

In peace, or wars.