See the star that leads the day <br />Rising shoots a golden ray, <br />To make the shades of darkness go <br />From heaven above and earth below; <br />And warn us early with the sight <br />To leave the beds of silent night, <br />From a heart sincere and sound <br />From its very deepest ground, <br />Send devotion up on high <br />Wing'd with heat to reach the sky. <br />See the time for sleep has run, <br />Rise before, or with the sun, <br />Lift thine hands and humbly pray <br />The fountain of eternal day, <br />That as the light serenely fair <br />Illustrates all the tracts of air, <br />The sacred spirit so may rest <br />With quick'ning beams upon thy breast, <br />And kindly clean it all within <br />From darker blemishes of sin, <br />And shine with grace until we view <br />The realm it gilds with glory, too. <br />See the day that dawns in air, <br />Brings along its toil and care; <br />From the lap of night it springs <br />With heaps of business on its wings; <br />Prepare to meet them in a mind <br />That bows submissively resign'd, <br />That would to works appointed fall, <br />And knows that God has order'd all. <br />And whether with a small repast <br />We break our sober morning fast, <br />Or in our thoughts and houses lay <br />The future methods of the day, <br />Or early walk abroad to meet <br />Our business, with industrious feet, <br />Whate'er we think, whate'er we do, <br />His glory still be kept in view. <br />O Giver of eternal bliss, <br />Heavenly Father, grant me this; <br />Grant it all as well as me, <br />All whose hearts are fix'd on Thee, <br />Who revere Thy Son above, <br />Who Thy sacred Spirit love.<br /><br />Thomas Parnell<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/a-hymn-for-morning/
