Ere time had meek quiescence brought,
Or soothed the tears it could not dry;
And yet I live, to faint and quail
Before the human grief I bear;
To miss thee so, then drown the wail
That trembles on my lips in prayer.
Thou praising, while I vainly thrill;
Thou glorying, while I weakly pine;
And thus between thy heart and mine
The distance ever widening still.