Pocahontas and Other Poems (New York)/"Oremus"

by Lydia Huntley Sigourney

"OREMUS"^[1]

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Oremus. Lo, the infant morn
Is in the curtain'd orient born,
And fleet the volumed mists away
Before th' exulting eye of day.
High soar the birds, the groves rejoice,
Mute Nature smiles to hear their voice,
Smiles through the crystal streams that shine,
And through the flowers their banks that line.
O man, creation's noblest heir,
Pour'st thou to God no grateful prayer?
Lift up the heart, his word believe,
And freely as ye ask, receive.

Oremus. Noon is riding high,
The manhood of the day is nigh,
The hour of fervour and of care;
Haste where cool shades thy strength repair,
Where clustering vines, and boughs that weep,
Shall lull thy weariness to sleep.
Know'st thou that cordial balm to gain
Which sooths the broken spirit's pain?
Know'st thou where grows the living bread?
Where Heaven's unrusting gold is spread?
Where hides the spell that heals the blind?
Go, seek the key of Heaven, and find.

Oremus. Twilight's pensive eye
Peers o'er the bulwark of the sky,
The night-watch of the stars is set,
The gibbous moon the clouds hath met,
That o'er her disk, with anger pale,
In playful arrogance prevail.
Day seals her casket close, to wait
For the last judgment's awful fate;
If pardon for thine erring deed,
Or guardian o'er thy couch there need,
Knock, and the gate of Heaven shall be
Thrown open to thy wants and thee.

Oremus: till the glittering store
Of youth and hope delude no more,
Till ripen'd years have stolen away,
And hermit age with temples gray,
And tottering staff, and vacant air,
Shall lead thee on, thou know'st not where,
Till he who wields the mortal sting
His never-erring shaft shall wing,
Crush the weak clay in ruins dread,
The cistern break with dew-drops fed,
Oremus: till seraphic lays
Turn prayer's imploring tone to praise.

1. "Let us pray."