Thy Nature And Mine

By Walter M. Lindsay

Thou enterest in the House of God,
As freely as a child
Its father's presence; for on thee
The Holy One has smiled,
And, in thy breast, a dwelling made
For nature undefiled.

Between thee and the hosts of heaven
Is spread no sombre cloud;
The angels answer to thy need,
When thou in prayer art bowed.
Thy whisper, at the Holy gates
Their lips repeat aloud.

But I -- whene'er I seek to pray --
Feel that the words alone
Have passed my lips. My heart within
Is closed, as with a stone;
And my sepulchred soul is left
To make unheard its moan.

Unless an angel break the seal,
And roll that stone away,
I shall until the end, remain
In darkness, though the day
Break clearer in our common sky.
Oh! wherefore then delay!