A Hymn to Life
Robert Stamps

A hymn to Christ,
All Hope come true,
Who paid with love
His brother’s due.
And last of all,
Who’ll rout the foe,
And best of all,
Whose God we know.

A hymn to God,
Whose breath we’ve breathed,
Whose voice we’ve heard
And ways perceived;
Who asks our best,
But loved us first
And loves us still,
Despite our worst.

A hymn to love,
A hymn to life:
The love of child,
The love of wife.
No higher gift,
Save God alone,
Than these whom life
Has named our own.

A hymn to friends,
Life’s long surprise
Of opened doors
And widened eyes.
‘Round laughing fires
Of wit and art,
We dance a while,
Then weep to part.

A hymn to church,
Our waking place
To early calls
And gifts of grace,
Where simple hearts
Learn thoughtful ways,
And searching minds
Are led to praise.

A hymn to earth,
The bountiful,
In wonder still
More beautiful.
Our priestly part
Of this great whole:
To sound its praise,
To shape its soul.

Depart my soul;
Depart in peace.
Run swiftly to
A Higher Feast:
God’s Joy, for wine,
God’s Light, for bread.
Feast long my heart;
His table’s spread!