A little longer still—patience belovéd;

A little longer still, ere heaven unroll

The glory, and the brightness, and the wonder,

Eternal and divine, that waits thy soul.

2 A little longer ere life, true, immortal,

(Not this our shadowy life) will be thine own,

And thou shalt stand where winged archangels worship,

And trembling bow before the great white throne.

3 A little longer still, and heaven awaits thee,

And fills thy spirit with a great delight;

Then our pale joys will seem a dream forgotten,

Our sun a darkness, and our day a night.

4 A little longer, and thy heart, belovéd,

Shall beat for ever with a love divine;

And joy so pure, so mighty, so eternal,

No mortal knows, and lives, shall then be thine.

5 A little longer yet, and angel voices

Shall sing in heavenly chant upon thine ear;

Angels and saints await thee, and God needs thee;

Belovéd, can we bid thee linger here!