I prayed to hear Thy voice, O God: I longed
To feel Thy hand and know Thy certain love,
To have that quiet confidence to say,
"My Father—I, Your son." For this I strove.
I thought to shun too intimate exchange
Of human thoughts or many-sided wills,
To seek but Thine, not someone's proffered words,
Avoiding gifts that friendship's love fulfills.
Shall I not miss, by scanning distant skies, The very stars reflected at my feet?
And may I not with humble grace perceive
Thy presence in my neighbor that I meet?
In friendly forms Thine angels come and go,
And Jesus trod the dusty market place.
Oh, may I never fail, through pride, to hear
When Christ is speaking through my brother's voice.
