Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | III. Faith: Hope: Love: Service | | “My times are in thy hand” | | Christopher Newman Hall (1816–1902) |
| | | MY times are in thy hand! | |
| I know not what a day | |
| Or e’en an hour may bring to me, | |
| But I am safe while trusting thee, | |
| Though all things fade away. | 5 |
| All weakness, I | |
| On him rely | |
| Who fixed the earth and spread the starry sky. | |
| |
| My times are in thy hand! | |
| Pale poverty or wealth, | 10 |
| Corroding care or calm repose, | |
| Spring’s balmy breath or winter’s snows, | |
| Sickness or buoyant health,— | |
| Whate’er betide, | |
| If God provide, | 15 |
| ’T is for the best; I wish no lot beside. | |
| |
| My times are in thy hand! | |
| Should friendship pure illume | |
| And strew my path with fairest flowers, | |
| Or should I spend life’s dreary hours | 20 |
| In solitude’s dark gloom, | |
| Thou art a friend, | |
| Till time shall end | |
| Unchangeably the same; in thee all beauties blend. | |
| |
| My times are in thy hand! | 25 |
| Many or few, my days | |
| I leave with thee,—this only pray, | |
| That by thy grace, I, every day | |
| Devoting to thy praise, | |
| May ready be | 30 |
| To welcome thee | |
| Whene’er thou com’st to set my spirit free. | |
| |
| My times are in thy hand! | |
| Howe’er those times may end, | |
| Sudden or slow my soul’s release, | 35 |
| Midst anguish, frenzy, or in peace, | |
| I’m safe with Christ my friend. | |
| If he is nigh, | |
| Howe’er I die, | |
| ’T will be the dawn of heavenly ecstasy. | 40 |
| |
| My times are in thy hand! | |
| To thee I can intrust | |
| My slumbering clay, till thy command | |
| Bids all the dead before thee stand, | |
| Awaking from the dust. | 45 |
| Beholding thee, | |
| What bliss ’t will be | |
| With all thy saints to spend eternity! | |
| |
| To spend eternity | |
| In heaven’s unclouded light! | 50 |
| From sorrow, sin, and frailty free, | |
| Beholding and resembling thee,— | |
| O too transporting sight! | |
| Prospect too fair | |
| For flesh to bear! | 55 |
| Haste! haste! my Lord, and soon transport me there! | | | | |
|
|
