The hours I spent with thee, dear heart,
Are as a string of pearls to me,
I count them over, ev'ry one apart,
My rosary, my rosary.
Each hour a pearl, each pearl a pray'r
To still a heart in absence wrung,
I tell each bead unto the end,
And there a cross is hung.
O memories that bless and burn,
O barren gain and bitter loss,
I kiss each bead, and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross, Sweet-heart,
To kiss the cross.