Only a River Between Us

Only a riv­er be­tween us

Parting our dear ones awhile;

Only a veil that di­vides us

Hiding the light of their smile:

Only a sigh and a strug­gle

Only a mo­ment of pain;

Then

mid the splen­dors of Eden

We shall be­hold them again.

Only a place that is va­cant

When to our Sav­ior we bend;

Only a strain that is mis­sing

When our de­vo­tions we blend:

Only a voice

and a foot­step

Only a clasp of the hand

Drawing us on­ward and up­ward

Home to the bright pro­mised land.

Tho’ ’neath the clods of the val­ley

Forms that we cher­ish may sleep

God has com­mis­sioned His an­gels

Watch o’er our loved ones to keep.

Only the leaves of the vine-tree

Wither and lang­uish and die;

God hath trans­plant­ed its branch­es

Garnered its fruits in the sky.

Only a mo­ment of ang­uish

When at the Jor­dan we part;

Only a sil­ver cord brok­en

Hushing each throb of the heart:

After the storm

’twill be sun­shine

After our la­bor

re­pose;

Then we shall meet where the morn­ing

Never

no nev­er

will close.