" What I say unto you I say unto all, WATCH. "
Mark. 13:37.
It may be in the evening;
When the work of day is done,
And you've time to sit in the twilight
And watch the setting sun,
While the long bright day dies slowly
Over the sea,—
And the hour grows quiet and holy
With thoughts of Me,—
When you hear the village children
Passing along the street,
Among the thronging footsteps,
May come the sound of My feet.
Therefore I tell you " Watch!"
Let the door be on the latch
In your home—
For it may be through the gloaming
I will come!
It may be in the midnight
When 'tis heavy on the land,
And the black waves lying dumbly
Along the sand
When the moonless night draws close,
And the lights are out in the house;
When the fire burns low and red,
And the watch is ticking slowly
Beside the bed;—
Though you sleep tired on your couch,
Yet your heart must wake and watch
In the dark room;—
For it may be that at midnight
I will come!
It may be at the cockcrow:
When the night is dying slowly
In the sky;—
And the sea looks calm and holy,
Waiting for the dawn of the golden sun
Which draweth nigh;
When the mists are on the valleys shading
The rivers chill,
And my morning-star is fading, fading
Over the hill:—
Behold I say unto you " Watch!"
Let the door be on the latch
In your home,—
In the chill before the dawning
I may come!
It may be in the morning:
When the sun is bright and strong,
And the dew is glistening sharply
Over the little lawn
When the waves are laughing loudly
Along the shore;
And the little birds are singing sweetly
About the door;
With the long day's work before you,
You are up with the sun,
And the neighbors come to talk a little
Of all that must be done
But remember, I may be the next
To come in at the door,
To call you from your busy work
For evermore!
As you work your hearts must watch,
For the door is on the latch
In your room—
And it may be in the morning
I will come!
So I am watching quietly
Every day:
Whenever the sun shines brightly
I rise and say,
"Surely it is the shining of His face"—
And look unto the portals of His High Place
Beyond the sea;
For I know He is coming shortly
To summon me.
And when the shadow falls across
The window of the room
Where I am working my appointed task,
I lift my head to watch the door and ask
If He is come—
And the spirit answers softly,
In my room:
"Only a few more shadows
And He will come! "