University of Virginia Library


315

IMMORTAL.

Into the heaven of Thy heart, O God,
I lift up my life, like a flower;
Thy light is deep, and Thy love is broad,
And I am not the child of an hour.
As a little blossom is fed from the whole
Vast depth of unfathomed air,
Through every fibre of thought my soul
Reaches forth, in Thyself to share.
I dare to say unto Thee, my God,
Who hast made me to climb so high,
That I shall not crumble away with the clod
I am Thine, and I cannot die!
The throb of Thy infinite life I feel
In every beat of my heart;
Upon me hast Thou set eternity's seal;
Forever alive, as Thou art.
I know not Thy mystery, O my God,
Nor yet what my own life means,
That feels after Thee, through the mould and the sod,
And the darkness that intervenes.
But I know that I live, since I hate the wrong,
The glory of truth can see;
Can cling to the right with a purpose strong,
Can love and can will with Thee.
And I feel Thee through other lives, my God,
That into Thyself have grown,
And are filled with the sweetness of Thine abode,
With the light that is all Thine own.
Because I have known the human heart
And its heavenly tenderness,
I am sure that Thou with Thy children art:
They bless me as Thou dost bless.
Shall I doubt Thy breath which I breathe, my God?
Shall I reason myself into dust?
Thy Word flows fresh through the earth abroad;
My soul unto Thee I trust!
Thou hast entered into humanity,
And hast made it, like Thee, divine;
And the grave and corruption it shall not see,
This Holy One that is Thine!