RITUAL

RITUALBY WILLIAM ROSE BENÉT

BY WILLIAM ROSE BENÉT

LORD GOD, what may we think of Thee,Save that in stars we drink of Thee,Save that in the abundance of Thy sunlight we have seenThine excellent intention;And Thy marvelous inventionIn great and little living things and all the grades between?Lord God, what may we say to TheeWho know our hearts give way to TheeSurely at last in secret depths, though protest long denies,And that to live is wonderWith worlds above and underUnreached of any mortal heart, blurred to all mortal eyes?Lord God, the fitting praise to TheeRather would seem to raise to TheeOnly pure honesty of mind, waiting Thy stalwart will;Like as the hills believe Thee,Like as the seas receive Thee,Like as the trees whose rustlings cease,—who hear Thee and are still!

LORD GOD, what may we think of Thee,Save that in stars we drink of Thee,Save that in the abundance of Thy sunlight we have seenThine excellent intention;And Thy marvelous inventionIn great and little living things and all the grades between?Lord God, what may we say to TheeWho know our hearts give way to TheeSurely at last in secret depths, though protest long denies,And that to live is wonderWith worlds above and underUnreached of any mortal heart, blurred to all mortal eyes?Lord God, the fitting praise to TheeRather would seem to raise to TheeOnly pure honesty of mind, waiting Thy stalwart will;Like as the hills believe Thee,Like as the seas receive Thee,Like as the trees whose rustlings cease,—who hear Thee and are still!

LORD GOD, what may we think of Thee,Save that in stars we drink of Thee,Save that in the abundance of Thy sunlight we have seenThine excellent intention;And Thy marvelous inventionIn great and little living things and all the grades between?

LORD GOD, what may we think of Thee,

Save that in stars we drink of Thee,

Save that in the abundance of Thy sunlight we have seen

Thine excellent intention;

And Thy marvelous invention

In great and little living things and all the grades between?

Lord God, what may we say to TheeWho know our hearts give way to TheeSurely at last in secret depths, though protest long denies,And that to live is wonderWith worlds above and underUnreached of any mortal heart, blurred to all mortal eyes?

Lord God, what may we say to Thee

Who know our hearts give way to Thee

Surely at last in secret depths, though protest long denies,

And that to live is wonder

With worlds above and under

Unreached of any mortal heart, blurred to all mortal eyes?

Lord God, the fitting praise to TheeRather would seem to raise to TheeOnly pure honesty of mind, waiting Thy stalwart will;Like as the hills believe Thee,Like as the seas receive Thee,Like as the trees whose rustlings cease,—who hear Thee and are still!

Lord God, the fitting praise to Thee

Rather would seem to raise to Thee

Only pure honesty of mind, waiting Thy stalwart will;

Like as the hills believe Thee,

Like as the seas receive Thee,

Like as the trees whose rustlings cease,—who hear Thee and are still!


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