When sorrow comes, as come it must, <br />In God a man must place his trust. <br />There is no power in mortal speech <br />The anguish of his soul to reach, <br />No voice, however sweet and low, <br />Can comfort him or ease the blow. <br /> <br />He cannot from his fellow men <br />Take strength that will sustain him then. <br />With all that kindly hands will do, <br />And all that love may offer, too, <br />He must believe throughout the test <br />That God has willed it for the best. <br /> <br />We who would be his friends are dumb; <br />Words from our lips but feebly come; <br />We feel, as we extend our hands, <br />That one Power only understands <br />And truly knows the reason why <br />So beautiful a soul must die. <br /> <br />We realize how helpless then <br />Are all the gifts of mortal men. <br />No words which we have power to say <br />Can take the sting of grief away - <br />That Power which marks the sparrow's fall <br />Must comfort and sustain us all. <br /> <br />When sorrow comes, as come it must, <br />In God, a man must place his trust. <br />With all the wealth which he may own, <br />He cannot meet the test alone, <br />And only he may stand serene <br />Who has a faith on which to lean.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-sorrow-comes/
