Thou dwellest not, O Lord of all <br />In temples which thy children raise; <br />Our work to thine is mean and small, <br />And brief to thy eternal days. <br /> <br />Forgive the weakness and the pride, <br />If marred thereby our gift may be, <br />For love, at least, has sanctified <br />The altar that we rear to thee. <br /> <br />The heart and not the hand has wrought <br />From sunken base to tower above <br />The image of a tender thought, <br />The memory of a deathless love! <br /> <br />And though should never sound of speech <br />Or organ echo from its wall, <br />Its stones would pious lessons teach, <br />Its shade in benedictions fall. <br /> <br />Here should the dove of peace be found, <br />And blessings and not curses given; <br />Nor strife profane, nor hatred wound, <br />The mingled loves of earth and heaven. <br /> <br />Thou, who didst soothe with dying breath <br />The dear one watching by Thy cross, <br />Forgetful of the pains of death <br />In sorrow for her mighty loss, <br /> <br />In memory of that tender claim, <br />O Mother-born, the offering take, <br />And make it worthy of Thy name, <br />And bless it for a mother's sake!<br /><br />John Greenleaf Whittier<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymn-for-the-house-of-worship-at-georgetown-erected-in-memory-of-a-mother/
