Poems (Tynan)/An Anthem in Heat

by Katharine Tynan

AN ANTHEM IN HEAT

Now praise the Lord, both moon and sun,
 And praise Him all ye nights and days,
And golden harvests every one,
 And all ye hidden waterways,
With cattle standing to the knees
 Safe from the bitter gadfly's sting;
But praise Him most, O little breeze
 That walks abroad at evening.

O praise Him, all ye orchards novw,
 And all ye gardens deep in green,
Ripe apples on the yellowing bough,
 And golden plum and nectarine,
And peaches ruddier than the rose,
 And pears against the southern wall;
But most the little wind that blows
 The blessed wind at evenfall.

O praise Him, hoary dews again,
 Drenching the meadows 'neath the moon,
And praise Him, hidden founts of rain,
 And amber brooks singing a tune,
And icy deeps of well-water,
 And each pellucid stream and spring;
But praise Him most, O wind astir,
 O blessed wind at evening

O praise Him now, ye burning days
 Of golden summer, hot and spent;
Planets and stars, see that His praise
 Be blown about the firmament.
Yet praise Him best, O little wind
 That out of heaven will blow and call,
Because, because our God is kind
 And bids us live at evenfall.