Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | | “Abide with me” | | Henry Francis Lyte (1793–1847) |
| | | ABIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide; | |
| The darkness deepens: Lord, with me abide! | |
| When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, | |
| Help of the helpless, O abide with me! | |
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| Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; | 5 |
| Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away: | |
| Change and decay in all around I see; | |
| O thou, who changest not, abide with me! | |
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| Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, | |
| But as thou dwelt with thy disciples, Lord, | 10 |
| Familiar, condescending, patient, free,— | |
| Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me! | |
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| Come not in terrors, as the King of kings; | |
| But kind and good, with healing in thy wings: | |
| Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea; | 15 |
| Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me! | |
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| Thou on my head in early youth didst smile, | |
| And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile, | |
| Thou hast not left me, oft as I left thee: | |
| On to the close, O Lord, abide with me! | 20 |
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| I need thy presence every passing hour. | |
| What but thy grace can foil the Tempter’s power? | |
| Who like thyself my guide and stay can be? | |
| Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me! | |
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| I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless: | 25 |
| Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. | |
| Where is death’s sting, where, grave, thy victory? | |
| I triumph still, if thou abide with me. | |
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| Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; | |
| Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies: | 30 |
| Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee: | |
| In life and death, O Lord, abide with me! | | | | |
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