The fatherless and widow, Lord, <br />Find hope and comfort in this word, <br />Which in thy Holy Book they see,- <br />'Leave all thy fatherless to me.' <br /> <br /> <br />This checks the dying husband's sigh, <br />As on his wife he turns his eye, <br />Who, at his bed-side bends her knee,- <br />'And let thy widows trust in me.' <br /> <br /> <br />'Thy Maker is thy husband;'-this <br />Soothes the keen anguish of the kiss, <br />Pressed by the wife upon his brow, <br />Who answers not to 'Husband!' now. <br /> <br /> <br />'Orphans and fatherless are we, <br />Our mothers widows!'-Thus, of old, <br />Did Zion's children plead with Thee; <br />And still that mournful tale is told. <br /> <br /> <br />But He hath come, who to his breast <br />Clasped such forsaken ones and blessed. <br />Here, Lord, are children left alone;- <br />Help us to clasp them to our own. <br /> <br /> <br />And bless thy servant, Lord, whose ear <br />These orphans' thanks can never hear,- <br />Thanks, that, although his eyes are dim, <br />They have a father found in him. <br /> <br /> <br />Time, with his softly falling sand, <br />Hath closed his ear, but not his hand. <br />Lord, when that sand shall all have run, <br />Shall he not hear 'Well done! Well done!' <br /> <br /> <br />Father of all, our hope, our trust! <br />When we are sleeping in the dust, <br />Let others rise, to soothe and bless <br />The widow and the fatherless.<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/hymns-and-odes-for-charity-occasions-iv/
