Tuesday, September 28, 2010

11. "Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight"



Mother's Evening Prayer
by Mary Baker Eddy

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
       O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!
       Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
       Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
       His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear,
       For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
       No ill, — since God is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
       In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
       "Lo, I am with you alway," — watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
       No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain,
       And mother finds her home and heav'nly rest.