For Those We Love Within the Veil

For those we love with­in the veil

Who once were com­rades of our way

We thank Thee

Lord; for they have won

To cloud­less day.

And life for them is life in­deed

The splen­did goal of earth’s strait race;

And where no sha­dows in­ter­vene

They see Thy face.

Not as we knew them any more

Toil worn

and sad with bur­dened care:

Erect

clear eyed

up­on their brows

Thy name they bear.

Free from the fret of mor­tal years

And know­ing now Thy per­fect will

With quick­ened sense and height­ened joy

They serve Thee still.

O full­er

sweet­er is that life

And larg­er

amp­ler is the air:

Eye can­not see nor heart con­ceive

The glo­ry there;

Nor know to what high pur­pose Thou

Dost yet em­ploy their rip­ened pow­ers

Nor how at Thy be­hest they touch

This life of ours.

There are no tears with­in their eyes;

With love they keep per­pe­tu­al tryst;

And praise and work and rest are one

With Thee

O Christ.