HYMN TO LIFE
Ah, Life, dear Life, how beautiful art thou!
All day sweet, chiming voices in my heart
Have hymned thy praises joyfully as now,
Telling how fair thou art!
All day sweet, chiming voices in my heart
Have hymned thy praises joyfully as now,
Telling how fair thou art!
This morn, while yet the dew was on the flowers,
They sang like skylarks, soaring while they sing;
This noon, like birds within their leafy bowers,
Warbled with folded wing.
They sang like skylarks, soaring while they sing;
This noon, like birds within their leafy bowers,
Warbled with folded wing.
Slow fades the twilight from the glowing west,
And one pale star hangs o'er yon mountain's brow;
With deeper joy, that may not be repressed,
O Life, they hail thee now!
And one pale star hangs o'er yon mountain's brow;
With deeper joy, that may not be repressed,
O Life, they hail thee now!
And not alone from this poor heart of mine
Do these glad notes of grateful love ascend;
Voices from mount and vale and woodland shrine
In the full chorus blend.
Do these glad notes of grateful love ascend;
Voices from mount and vale and woodland shrine
In the full chorus blend.
The young leaves feel thy presence and rejoice
The while they frolic with the happy breeze;
And pæans sweeter than a seraph's voice
Rise from the swaying trees.
The while they frolic with the happy breeze;
And pæans sweeter than a seraph's voice
Rise from the swaying trees.
Each flower that hides within the forest dim,
Where mortal eye may ne'er its beauty see,
Waves its light censer, while it breathes a hymn
In humble praise of thee.
Where mortal eye may ne'er its beauty see,
Waves its light censer, while it breathes a hymn
In humble praise of thee.
