"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,"
Thoughtlessly the maiden sung.
Fell the words, unconsciously,
From her girlish, guileless tongue;
Felt her soul no need to hide:
Sweet the song as song could be,
And she had no thought beside.
All the words unheedingly
Fell from lips untouched by care,
Dreaming not that each might be
On some other lips a prayer -
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,"
'Twas a woman sung them now;
Sung them slow and heavily-
Wan hand on her aching brow,
Rose the hymn as storm-tossed bird
Beats with weary wing the air:
Every note with sorrow stirred,
Every syllable a prayer-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,"
Aged lips now sung the hymn,
Trustingly and tenderly;
Voice grown weak, and eyes grown dim-
"Let me hide myself in Thee."
Trembling though the voice and low,
Ran the sweet strains peacefully,
Like a river in its flow,
Sung as only they can sing
Who life's thorny path have press'd:
Sung as only faith can sing
When it views the promised rest-
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee."
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me"
Sung above the coffin lid:
Underneath lies restfully
All life's joy and sorrow hid.
Never more, O storm-tossed soul,
Never more from wind and tide,
Never more from billows' roll
Wilt thou ever need to hide.
"Black" thou wast, but not so now
Sacred hymn to show you how,
"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,"
Hidden now thou are in Me.
________
F.C.