SLOWLY, steadily, under the moon, Swings the tide in its old-time way; Never too late and never too soon, And the evening and morning make up the day. Slowly, steadily, over the sands, And over the rocks they fall and flow; And this wave has touched a dead man's hands, And that one has seen a face we know. They have borne the good ship on her way, Or buried her deep from love and light; And yet, as they sink at our feet to-day, Ah, who shall interpret their message aright? For their separate voices of grief and cheer Are blended at last in one solemn tone; And only this song of the waves I hear, -- "Forever and ever His will be done!" Slowly, steadily, to and fro, Swings our life in its weary way; Now at its ebb and now at its flow, And the evening and morning make up the day. Sorrow and happiness, peace and strife, Fear and rejoicing, its moments know; How from the discords of such a life Can the clear music of heaven flow? Yet to the ear of God it swells, And to the blessed round the throne, Sweeter than chime of silver bells, -- "Forever and ever His will be done!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 3. BY HER AUNT'S GRAVE by THOMAS HARDY THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 49. WILLOWWOOD (1) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI HATED by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON PSALM 148 by OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE SKETCHES OF THE TEXAS PRAIRIE: 'APRIL RAINS' by GEORGE BOND DOBBS HIS FERRY; A LEGEND OF THE LOWER HUDSON by WILLIAM ALLEN BUTLER AUTUMN by JENNIE COPPOCK CAFFREY |