My Soul, There Is a Country

My soul

there is a coun­try

Afar be­yond the stars

Where stands a wing­èd sen­try

All skill­ful in the wars.

There

ab­ove noise and dan­ger

Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles

And One born in a man­ger

Commands the beau­te­ous files.

He is thy gra­cious friend

And (O my soul

awake!)

Did in pure love des­cend

To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thi­ther

There grows the flow­er of peace

The rose that can­not wi­ther

Thy fort­ress

and thy ease.

Leave

then

thy fool­ish rang­es;

For none can thee se­cure

But One

who nev­er chang­es

Thy God

thy life

thy cure.