George Willis Cooke, comp. The Poets of Transcendentalism: An Anthology. 1903.
Hymn and PrayerJames Freeman Clarke (18101888)
I
In whom we float as motes in summer sky,
May neither life nor death the sweet bond sever,
Which joins us to our unseen Friend on high.
Has raised our mind from earth, or pure desire,
Or generous act, or noble purpose brought,
It is thy breath, O Lord, which fans the fire.
Conscious of weakness, ignorance, sin, and shame,
Give such a force of holy thought and feeling,
That I may live to glorify thy name;
That I may rise o’er selfish thought and will,
O’ercome the world’s allurement, threat, and fashion,
Walk humbly, softly, leaning on thee still.
I ask, whose roots planted in me are found,
For precious vines are propped by rudest stake,
And heavenly roses fed in darkest ground.
Young plants are warmed, they drink my branches’ dew,
Let them not, Lord, by me be Upas-shaded,
Make me for their sake firm, and pure, and true.
Whose generous love has been my pride and stay,
Those, who have found in me some trace of gold,
For their sake purify my lead and clay.
Spent on my youth by saints now gone to rest,
Nor that deep sorrow my Redeemer tasted,
When on his soul the guilt of man was prest.
That we might fly a well deservèd fate,
Poured out his soul in supplication warm,
Looked with, his eyes of love on eyes of hate.
Let all this mercy on my heart be sealed,
Lord, if thou wilt, thy power can make me clean,
O speak the word, thy servant shall be healed.