| Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922. | | | | Amen | | By Arthur Christopher Benson (1862–1925) |
| | | RETURN, sad sister, Faith; | |
| Dim, unsubstantial wraith! | |
| Return, thy votary saith | |
| He needs thee now: | |
| Thou wert serenely fair! | 5 |
| But some diviner air | |
| Gleams on thy silver’d hair, | |
| And crowns thy brow; | |
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| Thou wilt return, and I | |
| Shall rather sing than sigh, | 10 |
| In that great company | |
| Of souls forlorn: | |
| One with all hearts that break | |
| For some belovèd’s sake, | |
| The hopeless hearts, that ache | 15 |
| And dare not mourn. | |
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| Wherefore, since pain and pride | |
| Must sleep unsatisfied,— | |
| Because Thy heart is wide, | |
| And dim our ken,— | 20 |
| To that vast prayer that rolls | |
| Beyond the frozen poles, | |
| With all desirous souls | |
| I cry, Amen. | | | | |
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