Dollie Radford (1858–1920)

THE CLOUDS have gathered soon to-night,

They hang above the quiet sea,

And through the air a muffled sound

Is borne to me

From that dim island where the souls

Of all the Ages lie at rest;

It beats upon my throbbing brain

And troubled breast.

If thou wert standing on the shore

Beside me now, and held my hand,

I think that I should hear it plain

And understand

For there is one note in it all,

Which loud and clear has come to me,

And I have caught it in my heart

To tell to thee.

“Eyes steadfast from the watch of worlds,

Hearts big with secrets of the spheres,

We have no power to move you now

With hopes or fears.”

“No power,” thy soul has filled my soul,

Thy life has rounded all of mine,

Thy love has girt me with a strength

Which is divine.

And when that sound perchance one day

Comes to us with a mighty roll,

We two shall stand unmoved, and hear

And learn the whole.