Eliza Scudder (1821–1896)

“Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?”

I CANNOT find Thee! Still on restless pinion

My spirit beats the void where Thou dost dwell;

I wander lost through all Thy vast dominion,

And shrink beneath Thy Light ineffable.

I cannot find Thee! E’en when most adoring

Before Thy throne I bend in lowliest prayer;

Beyond these bounds of thought, my thought upsoaring,

From farthest quest comes back; Thou art not there.

Yet high above the limits of my seeing,

And folded far within the inmost heart,

And deep below the deeps of conscious being,

Thy splendor shineth; there, O God, Thou art.

I cannot lose Thee! Still in Thee abiding

The end is clear, how wide soe’er I roam;

The Hand that holds the worlds my steps is guiding,

And I must rest at last, in Thee, my home.