 | [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes |  |
AT THE WATER'S EDGE.
There are little innocent ones,
And their love is wondrous strong,
Clinging about her neck,
But they may not keep her long.
And their love is wondrous strong,
Clinging about her neck,
But they may not keep her long.
Father! give her strength
To loosen their grasp apart,
And to fold her empty hands
Calmly over her heart.
To loosen their grasp apart,
And to fold her empty hands
Calmly over her heart.
And if the mists of doubt
Fearfully rise and climb
Up from that river that rolls
Close by the shore of time,—
Fearfully rise and climb
Up from that river that rolls
Close by the shore of time,—
Suddenly rend it away,
Holy and Merciful One!
As the veil of the temple was rent,
When the mission of Christ was done.
Holy and Merciful One!
As the veil of the temple was rent,
When the mission of Christ was done.
So she can see the clime
Where the jasper walls begin,
And the pearl gates, half unclosed,
Ready to shut her in.
Where the jasper walls begin,
And the pearl gates, half unclosed,
Ready to shut her in.
413
So she can see the saints,
As they beckon with shining hand,
Leaning over the towers,
Waiting to see her land.
As they beckon with shining hand,
Leaning over the towers,
Waiting to see her land.
Saviour! we wait thy aid,
For our human aid were vain;
We have gone to the water's edge,
And must turn to the world again.
For our human aid were vain;
We have gone to the water's edge,
And must turn to the world again.
For she stands where the waves of death
Fearfully surge and beat,
And the rock of the shore of life
Is shelving under her feet.
Fearfully surge and beat,
And the rock of the shore of life
Is shelving under her feet.
| [Poems by Cary in] The poems of Alice and Phoebe Cary with introduction and notes | |