 | Miscellaneous Poems |  |
99
Evening Hymn.
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be
with thee.”—
Isaiah xliii. 2.
The twilight hour is sweet at home,
When sounds from brook and woodland come,
Or old familiar bells, that bring
The memories grave of many a spring.
When sounds from brook and woodland come,
Or old familiar bells, that bring
The memories grave of many a spring.
At such soft times the genial air
Is fragrant with unbidden prayer,
And souls devout their longings pour
By Christmas hearth, or Whitsun bower.
Is fragrant with unbidden prayer,
And souls devout their longings pour
By Christmas hearth, or Whitsun bower.
And now upon the twilight sea
How may we choose but kneel to Thee,
While airs of Thine own breathing steal
O'er the hot calm, worn hearts to heal?
How may we choose but kneel to Thee,
While airs of Thine own breathing steal
O'er the hot calm, worn hearts to heal?
100
Now sails are moist with unseen dews,
Aërial lines of all bright hues
Lie on the level West afar,
And here and there one silent star.
Aërial lines of all bright hues
Lie on the level West afar,
And here and there one silent star.
O Lord, our Peace! and may we dare
With voices marred by sin and care,
To break the stillness, and upraise
The song of our unworthy praise?
With voices marred by sin and care,
To break the stillness, and upraise
The song of our unworthy praise?
Yea, as of old Thy Saints at eve
A blessing did of Thee receive,
When o'er the waves they took their way,
Thou to the mountain, Lord, to pray;
A blessing did of Thee receive,
When o'er the waves they took their way,
Thou to the mountain, Lord, to pray;
So may we trust that our frail bark,
Bearing aloft Thine awful mark,
Ere she began her ocean-race
Had portion in that word of grace.
Bearing aloft Thine awful mark,
Ere she began her ocean-race
Had portion in that word of grace.
For why? Thine everlasting Creed
Is ours, to say in time of need;
We waft the Name from coast to coast,
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
Is ours, to say in time of need;
We waft the Name from coast to coast,
Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost.
101
Ours too Thy prayer, according well
With Ocean's many-voicèd swell,
Which close to every ear begins,
Its way beyond all hearing wins.
With Ocean's many-voicèd swell,
Which close to every ear begins,
Its way beyond all hearing wins.
The surging prow, the flashing wake
Music at hand unwearying make;
Waves upon waves repeat the song,
And through unbounded space prolong.
Music at hand unwearying make;
Waves upon waves repeat the song,
And through unbounded space prolong.
We say the Prayer our Saviour taught,
As household words with homely thought;
But angels bear it on and on
In all its meaning, to the Throne.
As household words with homely thought;
But angels bear it on and on
In all its meaning, to the Throne.
The frailest bark that ploughs the main,
The simplest child may raise the strain;
Heaven, earth, air, seas, will hear the call
“Our Father” harmonizing all.
The simplest child may raise the strain;
Heaven, earth, air, seas, will hear the call
“Our Father” harmonizing all.
But, O, that to Thy Prayer and Creed
Thine high Commands we join'd indeed,
Written in heart, on hand engraven;—
Three seals in one of grace and Heaven!
Thine high Commands we join'd indeed,
Written in heart, on hand engraven;—
Three seals in one of grace and Heaven!
102
All we have been, forgive, O Lord,
Keep Thou to-night our watch and ward:
Safe may we slumber on the sea,
Thou at the helm, our hearts with Thee!
Keep Thou to-night our watch and ward:
Safe may we slumber on the sea,
Thou at the helm, our hearts with Thee!
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