Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | VII. Death: Immortality: Heaven | | Nearer Home | | Phoebe Cary (1824–1871) |
| | | ONE sweetly solemn thought | |
| Comes to me o’er and o’er; | |
| I am nearer home to-day | |
| That I ever have been before; | |
| |
| Nearer my Father’s house, | 5 |
| Where the many mansions be; | |
| Nearer the great white throne, | |
| Nearer the crystal sea; | |
| |
| Nearer the bound of life, | |
| Where we lay our burdens down; | 10 |
| Nearer leaving the cross, | |
| Nearer gaining the crown! | |
| |
| But lying darkly between, | |
| Winding down through the night, | |
| Is the silent, unknown stream, | 15 |
| That leads at last to the light. | |
| |
| Closer and closer my steps | |
| Come to the dread abysm: | |
| Closer Death to my lips | |
| Presses the awful chrism. | 20 |
| |
| Oh, if my mortal feet | |
| Have almost gained the brink; | |
| If it be I am nearer home | |
| Even to-day than I think; | |
| |
| Father, perfect my trust; | 25 |
| Let my spirit feel in death, | |
| That her feet are firmly set | |
| On the rock of a living faith! | | | | |
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