Reely's Poetry Blog

by HENRY KIRKE WHITE (1785-1806)

O Lord, another day is flown;
     And we, a lonely band,
Are met once more before thy throne
     To bless thy fostering hand.

And wilt thou lend a listening ear
     To praises low as ours ?
Thou wilt! for thou dost love to hear
     The song which meekness pours.

And, Jesus, thou thy smiles wilt deign
     As we before thee pray:
For thou didst bless the infant train,
     And we are less than they.

Oh, let thy grace perform its part,
     And let contention cease;
And shed abroad in every heart
     Thine everlasting peace!

Thus chastened, cleansed, entirely thine,
     A flock by Jesus led,
The Sun of holiness shall shine
     In glory on our head.

According to the A Library of Religious Poetry (1885), Henry Kirke White came to the attention of poet Robert Southey when in his 18th year, he published a volume of poems.  However, just three years later, Henry died at the age of 21 "from over-study" at Cambridge.