We breathe our secret wish,
 The importunate longing which no man may see;
 We ask it humbly, or, more restful still,
       We leave it all to Thee.

       And last our amulet
 Of precious names we thread, and soft and low
 We crave for each beloved, or near or far,
       A blessing ere we go.

       The thorns are turned to flowers,
 All dark perplexities seem light and fair,
 A mist is lifted from the heavy hours,
       And Thou art everywhere.

A FAREWELL.

       Go, sun, since go you must,
 The dusky evening lowers above our sky,
   Our sky which was so blue and sweetly fair;
 Night is not terrible that we should sigh. 
   A little darkness we can surely bear;
 Will there not be more sunshine—­by and by?

       Go, rose, since go you must,
 Flowerless and chill the winter draweth nigh;
   Closed are the blithe and fragrant lips which made
 All summer long perpetual melody. 
   Cheerless we take our way, but not afraid: 
 Will there not be more roses—­by and by?

       Go, love, since go you must,
 Out of our pain we bless you as you fly;
   The momentary heaven the rainbow lit
 Was worth whole days of black and stormy sky;
   Shall we not see, as by the waves we sit,
 Your bright sail winging shoreward—­by and by?

       Go, life, since go you must,
 Uncertain guest and whimsical ally! 
   All questionless you came, unquestioned go;
 What does it mean to live, or what to die? 
   Smiling we watch you vanish, for we know
 Somewhere is nobler living—­by and by.

EBB AND FLOW.

 How easily He turns the tides! 
   Just now the yellow beach was dry,
 Just now the gaunt rocks all were bare,
   The sun beat hot, and thirstily
 Each sea-weed waved its long brown hair,
   And bent and languished as in pain;
 Then, in a flashing moment’s space,
   The white foam-feet which spurned the sand
 Paused in their joyous outward race,
   Wheeled, wavered, turned them to the land,
 And, a swift legionary band,
   Poured oil the waiting shores again.

 How easily He turns the tides! 
   The fulness of my yesterday
 Has vanished like a rapid dream,
   And pitiless and far away
 The cool, refreshing waters gleam: 
   Grim rocks of dread and doubt and pain

 Rear their dark fronts where once was sea;
   But I can smile and wait for Him
 Who turns the tides so easily,
   Fills the spent rock-pool to its brim,
 And up from the horizon dim
   Leads His bright morning waves again.

ANGELUS.

 Softly drops the crimson sun: 
   Softly down from overhead,
 Drop the bell-notes, one by one,
   Melting in the melting red;
 Sign to angel bands unsleeping,—­
   “Day is done, the dark is dread,
 Take the world in care and keeping.