ROCK OF AGES.
ROCK of Ages, cleft for me,"
Thoughtlessly the maiden sung;
Fell the words unconsciously
From her girlish tongue;
Sang as little children sing;
Sang as sing the birds in June;
Fell the words like light leaves down
On the current of the tune-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
"Let me hide myself in thee,"
Felt soul no need to hide;
Sweet the song as song could be-
And she had no thought beside
All the words unheedingly
Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not they each might be
On some other boys a prayer-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"-
'T was a woman sang them now;
Sang them slow and wearily-aching brow,
Rose the song as storm-tossed bird
Beats with weary wing the air,
Every note with sorrow stirred-
Every syllable a prayer-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"-
Lips grown aged sang the hymn
Trustingly and tenderly-
Voice grown weak, and eyes grown dim,
"Let me hide myself in thee."
Trembling though the voice and low,
Ran the sweet strain peacefully,
Like a river in its flow,
Sung as only they can sing
Who life's thorny paths have pressed;
Sung as only they can sing
Who behold the promised rest-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee."
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,"
Sung above a coffin-lid;
Underneath all restfully,
All life's joys and sorrows hid.
Nevermore, O storm-tossed soul!
Nevermore from wind or tide,
Nevermore from billows' roll
Wilt thou need thyself to hide.
Could those sightless, sunken eyes,
Closed beneath the soft gray hair,
Could those mute and stiffened lips
Move again in leading prayer,
Still, aye, still the words would be,
"Let me hide myself in thee."