ANOTHER VERSION
I
Welcome to thee, O White Paternoster!
And welcome to thyself!
Where didst thou sleep last night?
As He slept, the King of Light.
Where wilt thou sleep again?
As the poor will sleep, in want and pain.
And the night after that, where wilt thou sleep?
At the feet of St. Patrick my rest shall be deep.
II
Who are they out before thee I see?
Twelve fair angels defending me.
Who are they behind thee west?
The twelve apostles ever blest.
What may that at thy right hand be?
Holy water that Mary gave me,
That it might lead me, with guidance wise,
From this door to the door of Paradise.
III
The key of Paradise, that I need;
The vat of gold stands there, indeed,
With its cover above it, golden-bright;
Yonder where candles blaze alight;
Candles that cannot be removed
Till the full of my two hands shall be
The flowing fulness of stream and sea.
IV
O Men of the World who are shedding tears,
I put Mary with her Son between you and your fears,
Brigit with her mantle,
Michael with his shield,
And the two long white hands of God from behind folding us all,
Between you and each grief
All the years,
From this night till a year from to-night,
And this night itself, with God.
[A NIGHT PRAYER]
May the will of God be done by us,
May the death of the saints be won by us,
And the light of the kingdom begun in us;
May Jesus, the Child, be beside my bed,
May the Lamb of mercy uplift my head,
May the Virgin her heavenly brightness shed,
And Michael be steward of my soul!
[MARY'S VISION]
"Are you asleep, Mother?"
"I am not, indeed, my son."
"How is that, Mother?"
"Because of a vision I have of thee."
"What vision is that, Mother?"
"There came a slim dark man on a slender black steed,
A sharp lance in his left hand,
Which pierced thy right side,
Letting thy sacred blood pour down upon thee."
"True is that vision, Mother."
[THE SAFE-GUARDING OF MY SOUL]
The safe-guarding of my soul be Thine,
O Father Ever-mighty;
O Blessed Mary,
Nurse of the King of Glory;
Michael the angel,
Their peaceful messenger,
The twelve apostles, and
The Lord of Mercy,
So that they may be
Safe-guarding my soul
Unto the city of Glory.