When Love Passed By and Other Verses/Sabbath, My Love
SABBATH, MY LOVE
I greet my love with wine and gladsome lay;Welcome, thrice welcome, joyous Seventh Day!
Six slaves the week days are; I shareWith them a round of toil and care,Yet light the burdens seem, I bear For thy sweet sake, Sabbath, my love!
On First-day to the accustomed taskI go content, nor guerdon ask,Save in thy smile, at length, to bask— Day blest of God, Sabbath, my love!
Is Second-day dull, Third-day unbright?Hide sun and stars from Fourth-day's sight?What need I care, who have thy light, Orb of my life. Sabbath, my love!
The Fifth-day, joyful tidings ring:"The morrow shall thy freedom bring!"At dawn a slave, at eve a king— God's table waits. Sabbath, my love!
On Sixth-day doth my cup o'erflow,What blissful rest the night shall know.When, in thine arms, my toil and woe Are all forgot. Sabbath, my love!
'Tis dusk. With sudden light distilledFrom one sweet face, the world is filled;The tumult of my heart is stilled— For thou art come, Sabbath, my love!
Bring fruits and wine, and sing a gladsome lay,Chant; "Come in peace, O blissful Seventh Day!
—1892