Poems (Hornblower)/Hymn (When the bright presence of the day)

by Jane Elizabeth Roscoe Hornblower

For works with similar titles, see Hymn.

HYMN.

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When the bright presence of the day
Chases the lingering shades away,
 And nature bursts to light,
With wondering awe and sweet surprise
We see a thousand tints arise,
 To deck that presence bright.

The sun from ocean's bed doth rise,
And hastes along the glittering skies,
 A glorious pageant fair;
A thousand birds, with tuneful throats,
Delight the morning with then-notes,
 And harmonize the air!

And man walks forth to gaze around,
And, from the incense-breathing ground,
 To raise adoring eyes,
The Almighty Father to behold,
Beyond that shining dome of gold,
 Beyond those glittering skies.

How fair, how bright, how beauteous all,
As nature's matin festival
 Breaks on his 'raptured sense;
With thoughtful brow, with feeling heart,
In that blest choir he bears a part,
 And hails Omnipotence!

That bright, that beauteous day must fade.
Again in evening's cloudy shade
 That brilliant sun must set—
But joy, and gratitude,and love,
On which his soul hath soared above,
 Oh! these will linger yet—

And sweetly, 'midst the gloom of night,
As flies that vision from his sight,
 And darkness veils the earth—
Shall whisper of that future day,
Which gives a sun of fadeless ray
 To man's immortal birth.