Gently hath a sweet voice spoken;
One thing needful must ye choose;
O ye weary and heart-broken,
Can ye still this call refuse?
Seeking good on earth nor finding,
All your hope earth must defraud,—
Things of sense forever blinding
Eyes whose light is seeing God.
Patient Love, so wise and tender,
Standing mother-like apart,
Waits till love awakened send her
Each far-wanderer from her heart.
And that love, the one thing needful,
Bringeth life and conquers death;
Oh, let hearts be still and heedful,
Hearing what the sweet voice saith.
