The Anniversaries Poems in Commemoration of Great Men and Great Events. By Thomas H. Gill |
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Ascension Day.
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Ascension Day.
“It is expedient for you that I go away.” —
Saint John xvi. 7.
O yearning gazers! doth the shining track
Of your upsoaring Lord your eyes half dim?
O lingering lovers! would ye bring Him back
Into the Vale of Tears,—yes, sunder Him
From opening skies and waiting cherubim,—
Yes, stint each angel's smile, each seraph's cheer,
To have Him all your own, to keep your Lover here?
Of your upsoaring Lord your eyes half dim?
O lingering lovers! would ye bring Him back
Into the Vale of Tears,—yes, sunder Him
From opening skies and waiting cherubim,—
Yes, stint each angel's smile, each seraph's cheer,
To have Him all your own, to keep your Lover here?
O let Him go! more sweetly will He stay
Within your hearts for this His Heavenward flight;
O mourn not that your Lover fades away
From those enamoured eyes! what full delight
To carry in your souls that Presence Bright!
O sigh not that those sweet lips sound no more,
Nor drop that balm divine, nor yield that heavenly lore!
Within your hearts for this His Heavenward flight;
O mourn not that your Lover fades away
From those enamoured eyes! what full delight
To carry in your souls that Presence Bright!
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Nor drop that balm divine, nor yield that heavenly lore!
Hark how the Spirit fills your inner ear
With these great tidings! with how full a flow
Streams down into your souls the Spirit's cheer!
O now your Master's mind indeed ye know,
Now with His love your hearts divinely glow,
Now, now abides the Saviour all your own,
Back to His glory borne, amidst His Father's throne.
With these great tidings! with how full a flow
Streams down into your souls the Spirit's cheer!
O now your Master's mind indeed ye know,
Now with His love your hearts divinely glow,
Now, now abides the Saviour all your own,
Back to His glory borne, amidst His Father's throne.
Lord! doth each step of Thy sad, thorny way
Bring us full cheer, tell us some glorious tale?
O! gladsome do thy lovers keep the day
Whereon Thou camest to the weeping Vale?
Nor burn our hearts Thy Heavenward flight to hail?
Why should our songs be scant, our service slack
On this Thy gladsome day, the day Thou wentest back?
Bring us full cheer, tell us some glorious tale?
O! gladsome do thy lovers keep the day
Whereon Thou camest to the weeping Vale?
Nor burn our hearts Thy Heavenward flight to hail?
Why should our songs be scant, our service slack
On this Thy gladsome day, the day Thou wentest back?
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O sweet return! but not for Thee alone!
To us Thou camest: we to Thee shall go.
Lord! when we sing Thy cheer, we sing our own;
O! if such sweetness streameth from Thy woe,
How must Thy joy our hearts with joy o'erflow!
We may not leave, sweet-voicëd Seraphim,
The glory of this day to your triumphant hymn.
To us Thou camest: we to Thee shall go.
Lord! when we sing Thy cheer, we sing our own;
O! if such sweetness streameth from Thy woe,
How must Thy joy our hearts with joy o'erflow!
We may not leave, sweet-voicëd Seraphim,
The glory of this day to your triumphant hymn.
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