Before Me

Sweet love, the days since last we met
Have dragged in shadow o'er me,
But lives my soul in pray'r that yet
Joy's harp shall sound before me
Before me in a ruddy glow,
Mid smiles and flow'rs before me.
I lift my gaze from all the pains
That now stand death-like o'er me;
Hope's radiant ringers count the gains
Of matchless meed before me.
The winds a priceless promise blow
Of guerdons rare before me.
'Twere hard 'mid mem'ries stained with tears,
While Woe's red sword waves o'er me,
To look beyond life's yearning years
Alone for light before me.
To peer so far across Death's flow,
And bliss be still before me.
But thou wert born mid crystal light,
And while thy love steals o'er me,
I'll gild the future with delight
And welcome what's before me.
I'll chain the fears that tire me so
And grasp the Heaven before me.