Poems (Kimball)/"No one taketh your Peace away"

by Harriet McEwen Kimball

"NO ONE TAKETH YOUR PEACE AWAY."

THE long week's close: how sweet and clear
The curfew greets the tired world's ear!
"In sleep by night and in rest by day,
Peace be yours!" it seems to say.

Then folds the world its countless hands;
Unheeded slide the drowsy sands,
This last sweet night of the rounded seven
Falling noiselessly out of heaven.

In depths of more celestial blue
The sacred morn unfolds anew,
As if to yield to the weary breast
Balm of beauty as well as rest.

How hushed! the silence-quickened ear
Turned heavenward can almost hear
The white cloud trail, and the arrow of light
Earthward speeding in golden flight.

And over all; compassionate,
A tender Presence seems to wait,
Beyond the cloud, beyond the light,
Beckoning upward from height to height.

"In sleep by night and in rest by day,
May peace be yours," did the curfew say?
"I, only, can give you peace!" replies
A Voice that thrilleth the boundless skies.

Lord Jesus, turn us from the noise
Of endless strivings and empty joys,
To find forever Thy one true peace,
Rest from sorrow, from sin release!

Then will each morn of the week-day year
The Lord's Day morning mirror clear;
And every night will the curfew say,
"No one taketh your peace away."