This Nature, though the snows be down,
     Thinks kindly of the bird of June. 
     The little red hip on the tree
     Is ripe for such.  What is for me,
       Whose days so winterly go on?

     No bird am I to sing in June,
     And dare not ask an equal boon. 
     Good nests and berries red are Nature’s
     To give away to better creatures—­
       And yet my days go on, go on.

     I ask less kindness to be done—­
     Only to loose these pilgrim-shoon
     (Too early worn and grimed) with sweet
     Cool deathly touch to these tired feet,
       Till days go out which now go on.

     Only to lift the turf unmown
     From off the earth where it has grown,
     Some cubit-space, and say, “Behold,
     Creep in, poor Heart, beneath that fold,
       Forgetting how the days go on.”

     A Voice reproves me thereupon,
     More sweet than Nature’s, when the drone
     Of bees is sweetest, and more deep,
     Than when the rivers overleap
       The shuddering pines, and thunder on.

     God’s Voice, not Nature’s—­night and noon
     He sits upon the great white throne,
     And listens for the creature’s praise. 
     What babble we of days and days? 
       The Dayspring he, whose days go on!

     He reigns above, he reigns alone: 
     Systems burn out and leave his throne: 
     Fair mists of seraphs melt and fall
     Around him, changeless amid all—­
       Ancient of days, whose days go on!

     He reigns below, he reigns alone—­
     And having life in love forgone
     Beneath the crown of sovran thorns,
     He reigns the jealous God.  Who mourns
       Or rules with HIM, while days go on?

     By anguish which made pale the sun,
     I hear him charge his saints that none
     Among the creatures anywhere
     Blaspheme against him with despair,
       However darkly days go on.

     Take from my head the thorn-wreath brown: 
     No mortal grief deserves that crown. 
     O supreme Love, chief misery,
     The sharp regalia are for Thee,
       Whose days eternally go on!

     For us, ... whatever’s undergone,
     Thou knowest, willest what is done. 
     Grief may be joy misunderstood: 
     Only the Good discerns the good. 
       I trust Thee while my days go on.

     Whatever’s lost, it first was won! 
     We will not struggle nor impugn. 
     Perhaps the cup was broken here
     That Heaven’s new wine might show more clear. 
       I praise Thee while my days go on.

     I praise Thee while my days go on;
     I love Thee while my days go on! 
     Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost,
     With emptied arms and treasure lost,
       I thank Thee while my days go on!