Classic Poem

When I awake shall I Thine image bear,
O Thou Adored?
The image lost, in some pure Otherwhere
Oh, shall it be restored?
Already stealeth o'er my trembling soul
Some semblance sweet, —
The wavering outline of the perfect whole
Thy Touch shall yet complete?

When I awake shall I indeed cast by
All earthly taint,
And walk with Thee in white, Thy white, on high,
As seraph walks and saint?
Through endless, blessed ages shall I know
Thy Will alone;
Its all-pervading, perfect motions grow
More than mine own mine own?

The glories that no vision can forestall
With crystal gleam;
The peace, the rapture, and the holy thrall
Of Love that reigns supreme;
The death of all that meaneth self and time;
The gain of Thee,
My Lord, my God! the victory sublime
When only Thou shalt be, —

Thou, all in all, — all in Thy fulness lost,
And all, all found
Dear beyond price, no aspiration crossed;
Thou, only Thou our bound; —
Shall I behold, receive, possess, attain
All this and more
To tell whereof all tongues would strive in vain,
In vain all language pour?

Shall the Great Vision that transcends our dreams
At last unfold?
Thy Face, Thy Glory whence all glory streams
Shall I indeed behold
When I awake? Oh can it ever be,
All joys beside,
That I shall gaze and gaze, my God, on Thee?
I shall be satisfied.