Cana

James Freeman Clarke (1810–1888)

DEAR Friend! whose presence in the house,

Whose gracious word benign,

Could once, at Cana’s wedding feast,

Change water into wine;

Come, visit us! and when dull work

Grows weary, line on line,

Revive our souls, and let us see

Life’s water turned to wine.

Gay mirth shall deepen into joy,

Earth’s hopes grow half divine,

When Jesus visits us, to make

Life’s water glow as wine.

The social talk, the evening fire,

The homely household shrine,

Grow bright with angel visits, when

The Lord pours out the wine.

For when self-seeking turns to love,

Not knowing mine nor thine,

The miracle again is wrought,

And water turned to wine.