Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/71
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
THE TIME FOR PRAYER.
53
Ere falls the stealing step of dawn,
The night's soft dew, on her brown wings,
Upriseth from her nest the lark,
And, soaring to the sunlight, sings.
The night's soft dew, on her brown wings,
Upriseth from her nest the lark,
And, soaring to the sunlight, sings.
Thus may my soul sing on, and soar
Where sight tracks not her flight sublime,
Morn, noon, sweet eve, and ever in
This cool and fragrant hour of prime.
Where sight tracks not her flight sublime,
Morn, noon, sweet eve, and ever in
This cool and fragrant hour of prime.
For though the world enclose me round,
Strong Faith can carry me abroad
Where shines my home—Jerusalem,
The glorious dwelling-place of God!
Strong Faith can carry me abroad
Where shines my home—Jerusalem,
The glorious dwelling-place of God!
Then let my soul sing on, and soar
Above the world, beyond all time,
And dwell in that pure light, and breathe
The air from that celestial clime.
Above the world, beyond all time,
And dwell in that pure light, and breathe
The air from that celestial clime.
Sing on, and soar! sing on, and soar!
Till through the crystal gates of heaven—
No longer closed in upper skies—
Thou enter in to sing—Forgiven!
Till through the crystal gates of heaven—
No longer closed in upper skies—
Thou enter in to sing—Forgiven!
The Time for Prayer.
When is the time for prayer?
With the first beams that light the morning sky,
Ere for the toils of day thou dost prepare,
Lift up thy thoughts on high;
Commend thy loved ones to His watchful care:—
Morn is the time for prayer!
With the first beams that light the morning sky,
Ere for the toils of day thou dost prepare,
Lift up thy thoughts on high;
Commend thy loved ones to His watchful care:—
Morn is the time for prayer!
And in the noontide hour,
If worn by toil, or by sad cares opprest,
Then unto God thy spirit's sorrow pour,
And He will give thee rest:
Thy voice shall reach Him through the fields of air:—
Noon is the time for prayer!
If worn by toil, or by sad cares opprest,
Then unto God thy spirit's sorrow pour,
And He will give thee rest:
Thy voice shall reach Him through the fields of air:—
Noon is the time for prayer!
When the bright sun hath set—
Whilst yet eve's glowing colours deck the skies—
When with the loved, at home, again thou'st met,
Then let thy prayer arise
For those who in thy joys and sorrows share:—
Eve is the time for prayer!
Whilst yet eve's glowing colours deck the skies—
When with the loved, at home, again thou'st met,
Then let thy prayer arise
For those who in thy joys and sorrows share:—
Eve is the time for prayer!