 | Songs for the Wilderness |  |
THE SLEEP OF THE BELOVED.
So he giveth his beloved sleep.
—Psalm cxxvii. 2.
The day has vanished, and the weary earth
Lies resting from a long day's toil and pain
And, looking for a new day's early birth,
Seeks strength in slumber for its toil again
Lies resting from a long day's toil and pain
And, looking for a new day's early birth,
Seeks strength in slumber for its toil again
We too would rest; but ere we close the eye
Upon the consciousness of waking thought
Would calmly turn it to yon star-bright sky
And lift the soul to him who slumbers now
Upon the consciousness of waking thought
Would calmly turn it to yon star-bright sky
And lift the soul to him who slumbers now
Above us is thy hand, with tender care,
Distilling over us the dew of sleep:
Darkness seems loaded with oblivious air,
In deep forgetfulness each sense to steep.
Distilling over us the dew of sleep:
Darkness seems loaded with oblivious air,
In deep forgetfulness each sense to steep.
Thou hast provided midnight's hour of peace
Thou stretchest over us the wing of rest;
With more than all a parent's tenderness,
Foldest us sleeping to thy gentle breast.
Thou stretchest over us the wing of rest;
With more than all a parent's tenderness,
Foldest us sleeping to thy gentle breast.
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Grief flies away; care quits our easy couch,
Till wakened by thy hand, when breaks the day—
Like the lone prophet by the angel's touch,—
We rise to tread again our pilgrim way.
Till wakened by thy hand, when breaks the day—
Like the lone prophet by the angel's touch,—
We rise to tread again our pilgrim way.
God of our life! God of each day and night!
Oh, keep us still till life's short race is run!
Until there dawns the long, long day of light,
That knows no night, yet needs no star nor sun.
Oh, keep us still till life's short race is run!
Until there dawns the long, long day of light,
That knows no night, yet needs no star nor sun.
| Songs for the Wilderness | |