Page:Poems Craik.djvu/31

Shall I not then drop down from sphere to sphere
   Palsied and aimless?
Or will my being change so, that both fear
   And grief die nameless?

Rather I pray Him who Himself is Love,
   Out of whose essence
We all do spring, and towards Him tending, move
   Back to His presence,

That even His brightness may not quite efface
   The soul's earth-features,
That the dear human likeness each may trace
   Glorified creatures;

That we may not cease loving, only taught
   Holier desiring;
More faith, more patience; with more wisdom fraught,
   Higher aspiring.

That we may do all work we left undone
   Here—though unmeetness;
From height to height celestial passing on
   Towards full completeness.

Then, strong Azrael, be thy supreme call
   Soft as spring-breezes,