Classic Poem

Here , O my Lord, I see thee face to face;
Here would I touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand the eternal grace,
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.

Here would I feed upon the bread of God;
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

This is the hour of banquet and of song,
This is the heavenly table spread for me;
Here let me feast, and, feasting, still prolong
The brief bright hour of fellowship with Thee.

Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear;
The feast, though not the love, is passed and gone.
The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here,—
Nearer than ever,—still my Shield and Sun.

I have no help but thine; nor do I need
Another arm save thine to lean upon.
It is enough, my Lord, enough, indeed;
My strength is in thy might,—thy might alone.

I have no wisdom, save in Him who is
My wisdom and my teacher, both in one;
No wisdom can I lack while Thou art wise,
No teaching do I crave, save thine alone.

Mine is the sin, but thine the righteousness;
Mine is the guilt, but thine the cleansing blood;
Here is my robe, my refuge, and my peace,—
Thy blood, thy righteousness, O Lord my God.

I know that deadly evils compass me,
Dark perils threaten, yet I would not fear,
Nor poorly shrink, nor feebly turn to flee,—
Thou, O my Christ, art buckler, sword, and spear.

But see, the Pillar-cloud is rising now,
And moving onward through the desert-night;
It beckons, and I follow, for I know
It leads me to the heritage of light.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by:
Yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and love.