Poems (Hornblower)/Sonnet (Father of Heaven! thy glorious smile of love)
For works with similar titles, see Sonnet.
SONNET.
Father of Heaven! thy glorious smile of love
Is ever round us in life's darkest gloom,
Chasing the clouds that deepen round our doom,
Lifting our thoughts to harmonies above—
Supernal, mystic strains! Oh ne'er remove
Thy gracious presence from thy creature's breast;
In Thee, alone, O God! our sweetest rest
We ever find—in Thee we live and move!
Breathe o'er us the high mysteries of thy grace,
Th' immortal dream, the heaven-informed desire;
Plume our weak spirits with thy holy fire,
And every meaner earthly thought efface.
So shall our souls, raised as on angel's wing,
To Thee their purest adoration bring.
Is ever round us in life's darkest gloom,
Chasing the clouds that deepen round our doom,
Lifting our thoughts to harmonies above—
Supernal, mystic strains! Oh ne'er remove
Thy gracious presence from thy creature's breast;
In Thee, alone, O God! our sweetest rest
We ever find—in Thee we live and move!
Breathe o'er us the high mysteries of thy grace,
Th' immortal dream, the heaven-informed desire;
Plume our weak spirits with thy holy fire,
And every meaner earthly thought efface.
So shall our souls, raised as on angel's wing,
To Thee their purest adoration bring.