| |
| DEEP on the convent-roof the snows | |
| Are sparkling to the moon: | |
| My breath to heaven like vapour goes: | |
| May my soul follow soon! | |
| The shadows of the convent-towers | 5 |
| Slant down the snowy sward, | |
| Still creeping with the creeping hours | |
| That lead me to my Lord: | |
| Make Thou my spirit pure and clear | |
| As are the frosty skies, | 10 |
| Or this first snowdrop of the year | |
| That in my bosom lies. | |
| |
| As these white robes are soil’d and dark, | |
| To yonder shining ground; | |
| As this pale taper’s earthly spark, | 15 |
| To yonder argent round; | |
| So shows my soul before the Lamb, | |
| My spirit before Thee; | |
| So in mine earthly house I am, | |
| To that I hope to be. | 20 |
| Break up the heavens, O Lord! and far, | |
| Thro’ all yon starlight keen, | |
| Draw me, thy bride, a glittering star, | |
| In raiment white and clean. | |
| |
| He lifts me to the golden doors; | 25 |
| The flashes come and go; | |
| All heaven bursts her starry floors, | |
| And strows her lights below, | |
| And deepens on and up! the gates | |
| Roll back, and far within | 30 |
| For me the Heavenly Bridegroom waits, | |
| To make me pure of sin. | |
| The sabbaths of Eternity, | |
| One sabbath deep and wide— | |
| A light upon the shining sea— | 35 |
| The Bridegroom with his bride! | |
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