Classic Poem

We thank Thee, O God of earth and heaven,
Source and essence of all we know,
Thou, who the power to man has given
Thy life to witness,—Thy life to show
To us it is nothing to call Thee Father,
Mother, or Brother, or Bride, or Friend;
Manifold motions of Thee; or rather
The manifold rays in Thy love that blend.

Whether we see Thee as sole and single;—
Whether as Three on Thy name we call,—
Many natures in all things mingle,
Why not Three, in the source of all?
Whether in form as of Son and Father,
A dual Being Thou seem'st to bear;
Or whether in nature we see Thee rather,
Worshipping Godhood everywhere.

Whether in shape as of outer being
Fitted for flesh Thy face to see;
Or whether unto us Thy spirit seeing,
Thy flesh and Thy bones have ceased to be;
We bless Thy goodness, that workest to free us,
In all these forms Thy spirit to know;
What, alas! were we, should'st Thou only see us
In the shapes of our life which to men we show.

For the motions of life that make up being;
For being that blends them all in one;
For thought and emotion—for feeling and seeing
In the warmth and the light of an inner sun;
For life, with its joys of gaining and giving,
For death, which is life in another dress;—
Life,—that is more than merely living,—
Death, that is more than life,—and less!

For joys whereby the warmth is given
That eases the strain of the Spirit's strife;
For sorrows, that are as the winds of heaven,
Bracing the nerves of the inner life;
For strife springing forth from the just reaction
Of forces moving the life within;
For peace, whereto by some subtle paction
Strife moveth ever, its way to win.

For Fate, which setteth a bound to being,
A limit to knowledge, a law to ill;
For faith,—which is as the spirit of seeing,
For love,—which is as the soul of will;
For these, and how many a boon and blessing,
From these outpouring in gladsomeness;
Thy love, as the spirit of all confessing,
Thy Spirit, O Infinite Love! we bless!