 | Songs of Religion and Life |  |
169
Moments.
In the beauty of life's budding,
When young pulses beat with hope,
And a purple light is flooding
Round thought's blossoms as they ope;
When the poet's song is dearest,
And, where sacred anthems swell,
Every word of power thou hearest
Holds thy spirit like a spell;
O these are moments, fateful moments,
Big with issue—use them well!
When young pulses beat with hope,
And a purple light is flooding
Round thought's blossoms as they ope;
When the poet's song is dearest,
And, where sacred anthems swell,
Every word of power thou hearest
Holds thy spirit like a spell;
O these are moments, fateful moments,
Big with issue—use them well!
When a sudden gust hath tumbled
Hope's bright architecture down;
When some prouder fair hath humbled
Thy proud passion with a frown;
When thy dearest friends deceive thee,
And cold looks thy love repel,
And the bitter humours grieve thee,
That make God's fair earth a hell;
O these are moments, trying moments,
Meant to try thee—use them well!
Hope's bright architecture down;
When some prouder fair hath humbled
Thy proud passion with a frown;
170
And cold looks thy love repel,
And the bitter humours grieve thee,
That make God's fair earth a hell;
O these are moments, trying moments,
Meant to try thee—use them well!
When a flash of truth hath found thee,
Where thy foot in darkness trod,
When thick clouds dispart around thee,
And thou standest night to God.
When a noble soul comes near thee,
In whom kindred vitues dwell,
That from faithless doubts can clear thee,
And with strengthening love compel;
O these are moments, rare fair moments;
Sing and shout, and use them well!
Where thy foot in darkness trod,
When thick clouds dispart around thee,
And thou standest night to God.
When a noble soul comes near thee,
In whom kindred vitues dwell,
That from faithless doubts can clear thee,
And with strengthening love compel;
O these are moments, rare fair moments;
Sing and shout, and use them well!
When a haughty threat hath cowed thee,
And with weak, unmanly shame,
Ignoble thou hast bowed thee
To the terror of a name;
And then God holds the mirror
Where thy better self doth dwell,
And thou dost start with terror,
And thy tears gush like a well;
O these are moments, blessèd moments;
Weep and pray, and use them well!
And with weak, unmanly shame,
171
To the terror of a name;
And then God holds the mirror
Where thy better self doth dwell,
And thou dost start with terror,
And thy tears gush like a well;
O these are moments, blessèd moments;
Weep and pray, and use them well!
In the pride of thy succeeding,
When, beneath thy high command,
Every soul must own the leading
Of thy strong-controlling hand;
When wide cheers of acclamation
Round thy march of triumph swell,
And the plaudits of a nation
Every thought of fear expel;
O these are moments, slippery moments;
Watch and pray, and use them well!
When, beneath thy high command,
Every soul must own the leading
Of thy strong-controlling hand;
When wide cheers of acclamation
Round thy march of triumph swell,
And the plaudits of a nation
Every thought of fear expel;
O these are moments, slippery moments;
Watch and pray, and use them well!
172
When the term of life hath found thee,
And thou smilest upon Fate,
And the golden sheaves around thee
For the angels' sickle wait;
When the pure love thou achievest
Doth the mortal pang expel,
And a shining track thou leavest
To dear friends that love thee well;
O these are moments, happy moments;
Bless God, with whom all issues dwell!
And thou smilest upon Fate,
And the golden sheaves around thee
For the angels' sickle wait;
When the pure love thou achievest
Doth the mortal pang expel,
And a shining track thou leavest
To dear friends that love thee well;
O these are moments, happy moments;
Bless God, with whom all issues dwell!
| Songs of Religion and Life | |