The crag-pent breezes sob and moan where hidden waters glide; <br />And twilight wanders round the earth with slow and shadowy stride. <br />The gleaming clouds, above the brows of western steeps uphurled, <br />Look like the spires of some fair town that bounds a brighter world. <br />Lo, from the depths of yonder wood, where many a blind creek strays, <br />The pure Australian moon comes forth, enwreathed with silver haze. <br />The rainy mists are trooping down the folding hills behind, <br />And distant torrent-voices rise like bells upon the wind. <br />The echeu's* songs are dying, with the flute-bird's mellow tone, <br />And night recalls the gloomy owl to rove the wilds alone; <br />Night, holy night, in robes of blue, with golden stars encrowned, <br />Ascending mountains like to walls that hem an Eden round. <br /> <br />Oh, lovely moon! oh, holy night! how good your God must be, <br />When, through the glories of your light, He stoops to look at me! <br />Oh, glittering clouds and silvery shapes, that vanish one by one! <br />Is not the kindness of our Lord too great to think upon? <br />If human song could flow as free as His created breeze, <br />When, sloping from some hoary height, it sweeps the vacant seas, <br />Then should my voice to heaven ascend, my tuneful lyre be strung, <br />And music sweeter than the winds should roam these glens among. <br />Go by, ye golden-footed hours, to your mysterious bourne, <br />And hide the sins ye bear from hence, so that they ne'er return. <br />Teach me, ye beauteous stars, to kiss kind Mercy's chastening rod, <br />And, looking up from Nature's face, to worship Nature's God.<br /><br />Henry Kendall<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/evening-hymn/
