Askings

STAR, that shone in Bethlehem, 
Purer than the purest gem 
Upon mortal diadem,

Chief of all the stars that are, 
Shine into my soul, and there 
Leave thy beauty heavenly fair.

ROBE, that veiléd Jesus' form, 
Come and make my bosom warm, 
Shield it from the outward storm.

VOICE, that bade the wave be still,—
Laden with the Almighty will 
That the wild sea must fulfill,

Speak unto the storms within—
Swelling waves of shame and sin, 
And a blessed silence win.

POWER, that from the grave could call 
Swathed bondmen of the pall, 
Me uplift from Adam's fall:

Give me life anew to live,—
Life that earth can never give
With its comforts fugitive.

VINE, that art of all preferred, 
Clustered with the living word, 
O'er the walls thy yard that gird, 

Droop with fruits, that I may press 
Sweet wine for my thirstiness 
From thy purple wealth's excess.

SHEPHERD of the heavenly fold
Me upon thy bosom hold—
Lamb, forsaken in the cold.

MASTER of the little Few, 
Let me be thy servant too, —
Servant without guile, and true.

VICTOR, who didst conquer death 
By thy living power that saith 
Be, to all that perisheth, —

Speak, that I may rise again, 
When, by evil passions slain, 
In the grave my soul hath lain.

CHRIST, that over all things trod 
Earth and Death—and rose to God, 
Let my feet like thine be shod ;

So to rise and be at rest, 
Where the true lean on thy breast, 
And the least of all are blest.