The Time of Waiting

Life is fleeting, joy is fleeting,
Coldness follows love and g:
Parting still succeeds to meeting.

If I say "Rejoice to-day,"
Sorrow meets me in the way:
I cannot my will obey.

If I say " My grief shall cease;
Now then I will live in peace ":
My cares instantly increase.

When I look up to the sky,
Thinking to see light on high.
Clouds my searching glance defy.

When I look upon the earth
For the flowers that should have birth,
I find dreariness and dearth.

And the winds sigh on for ever.
Murmurs still the flowing river,
On the graves the sunbeams quiver.

And destruction waxeth bold.
And the earth is growing old,
And I tremble in the cold.

And my weariness increases
To an ache that never ceases
And a pain that ne'er decreases.

And the times are turbulent,
And the Holy Church is rent,
And who tremble or repent?

And loud cries do ever rise
To the portals of the skies
From our earthly miseries;

From love slighted, not requited;
From high hope that should have lighted
All our path up, now benighted;

From the woes of humankind;
From the darkness of the mind;
From all anguish undefined;

From the heart that's crushed and sinking;
From the brain grown blank with thinking;
From the spirit sorrow drinking.

All cry out with pleading strong:
"Vengeance, Lord! how long, how long
Shall we suffer this great wrong?"

And the pleading and the cry
Of earth's sons are heard on high,
And are noted verily.

len this world shall be no more,
The oppressors shall endure
The great vengeance which is sure.

And the sinful shall remain
To an endless death and pain;
But the good shall live again, --

Never more to be oppressed;
Balm shall heal the bleeding breast,
And the weary be at rest.

All shall vanish of dejection,
Grief and fear and imperfection.
In that glorious resurrection.

Heed not then a night of sorrow,
If the dawning of the morrow
From past grief fresh beams shall borrow.

Thankful for whate'er is given,
Strive we, as we ne'er have striven,
For love's sake to be forgiven.

Then, the dark clouds opening.
Even to us the sun shall bring
Gladness, and sweet flowers shall spring.

For Christ's guiding love alway,
For the everlasting day,
For meek patience, let us pray.