Sunlight on the Soul
O, THAT some spirit form would come,
From the fair realms of heaven above,
And take my outstretched hand in hers,
To bathe me in angelic love!
O that these longing, peering eyes,
Might pierce the shadowy curtain’s fold,
And see in radiant robes arrayed,
The friends whose memory I do hold
Close, close within my soul’s deep cell!
O, that were well! O, that were well!
I’ve often thought, at midnight’s hour,
That round my couch I could discern
A shadowy being, from whose eye
I could not, ah! I would not turn.
It seemed so sisterly to me,
So radiant with looks of love,
That ever since I’ve strove to be
More like the angel hosts above.
The hopes, the joys were like a spell,
And it was well! Yes, it was well!
And every hour of day and night
I feel an influence o’er me steal,
So soothing, pure, so holy, bright,
I would each human heart could feel
A fraction of the mighty tide
Of living joy it sends along.
Then why should I complain, and ask
Why none of heaven’s angelic throng
Come to this earth with me to dwell,
For all is well,—all, all is well!