Oh, pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the sky above; your quiet bark
By soft winds bless'd!
Still toil in duty and commune with Heaven,
World-wean'd and free:
God to his humblest creatures room has given,
And space to be.
Space for the eagle in the vaulted sky
To plume his wing;
Space for the ringdove by her young to lie,
And softly sing.
Space for the sunflower, bright with yellow glow,
To court the sky;
Space for the violet, where the wild woods grow,
To live and die.
Space for the ocean, in its giant might,
To swell and rave;
Space for the river, tinged with rosy light,
Where green banks wave.
Space for the sun, to tread his path in might
And golden pride;
Space for the glow-worm, calling, by her light,
Love to her side.
Then, pure and gentle ones, within your ark
Securely rest!
Blue be the skies above, and your still bark
By kind winds bless'd.