Poem February 13, 1902 Issue

Dreaming or Waking

BY W.J.S.

Dreaming or waking I know not,
I heard or seemed to hear,
A sound like unseen singers,
Chanting an evening prayer.
The words are lost, forgotten
In that joyous and glad refrain,
Of Glory to God in the highest,
And peace on earth toward men."
It flooded the earth with music,
The stars caught it up, and then,
A sound came out of the heavens,
Like a loud, responsive Amen.

Dreaming or waking I know not,
I saw in the east afar,
A shadow like a cross beneath
A bright and rising star;
Yet while I looked, that shadow,
It seemed to fade from view,
And in its place there seemed to hang
A crown of golden hue.
And then again those singers
Shouted their glad refrain
That echoed to earth from Heaven,
I heard it again and again.
All nature seemed thrilling with music,
The stars together did sing,
Their voices seemed chanting Hosanna,
Hosanna to Christ the King.

Dreaming or walking I knew not,
Around me all was still;
Again I saw that shadowy cross,
Upon a lonely hill.
The darkness grew oppressive,
My soul was filled with fear,
And sounds like many weeping,
Fell on my listening ear.
I heard from out the darkness,
A voice that thrilled me through
Praying. "Oh Father, forgive them,
They know not what they do."
And then I heard one speaking,
In accents low to me,
Be not afraid, oh mortal,
Twas thus Christ prayed for thee.

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