Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/830

 JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER

1807-1892

690. Vesta

O Christ of God! whose life and death Our own have reconciled, Most quietly, most tenderly Take home thy star-named child!

Thy grace is in her patient eyes, Thy words are on her tongue; The very silence round her seems As if the angels sung.

Her smile is as a listening child's Who hears its mother's call; The lilies of Thy perfect peace About her pillow fall.

She leans from out our clinging arms To rest herself in Thine; Alone to Thee, dear Lord, can we Our well-beloved resign.

O, less for her than for ourselves We bow our heads and pray; Her setting star, like Bethlehem's, To Thee shall point the way!