Classic Poem

BLOW on, Thou mighty Wind!
The cloven tongues descending,
Fanned by Thy dewy Breath, shall blaze and burn,
A sacred flame unending.
Soon shall that Fire behold
Vile earth transformed to fine wrought gold;
And gloom of shadowy night
That flame shall kindle into light:
Therefore, Thou mighty Wind, blow on.

Blow on, Thou mighty Wind,
And waft to realms unbounded
The notes of Faith and Hope and tender Love
The Gospel trump hath sounded.
Those sweetly piercing tones,
That charm all wars and tears and groans,
Through earth and sea and sky
Upon thy rushing wings shall fly:
Therefore, Thou mighty Wind, blow on.

Blow on, Thou mighty Wind;
For, tempest-tossed and lonely,
The Church upon the rolling billows rides,
And trusts in Thy Breath only.
She spreads her swelling sails
For Thee to fill with favoring gales,
Till, through the stormy sea,
Thou bring her home where she would be:
Therefore, Thou mighty Wind, blow on.

Blow on, Thou mighty Wind,
On hearts contrite and broken,
And bring in quickening power the gracious words
That J ESU ' S lips have spoken.
Lo! then, from death and sleep,
The listening souls to life shall leap;
Then Love shall reign below,
And Joy the whole wide world o'erflow:
Therefore, Thou mighty Wind, blow on.

To God the F ATHER , S ON ,
By all in earth and heaven,
And to the H OLY S PIRIT , Three in One,
Eternal praise be given:
As once triumphant rang
When morning stars together sang;
Is now, as aye before;
And shall be so for evermore,
World without end. Amen. Amen.