Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

VI. Human Experience

The Master’s Touch

Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

IN the still air the music lies unheard;

In the rough marble beauty hides unseen:

To make the music and the beauty, needs

The master’s touch, the sculptor’s chisel keen.

Great Master, touch us with thy skilful hand;

Let not the music that is in us die!

Great Sculptor, hew and polish us; nor let,

Hidden and lost, thy form within us lie!

Spare not the stroke! do with us as thou wilt!

Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;

Complete thy purpose, that we may become

Thy perfect image, thou our God and Lord!