Waiting, Calmly Waiting

I am wait­ing

calm­ly wait­ing

While on Heav­en me­di­tat­ing

And the years so slow­ly ag­ing

In the drea­ry wastes of life;

I see man­sions past the riv­er

Where the sun­beams ev­er quiv­er

On the strand where mor­tals nev­er

Mingle more in hate or strife.

I am wait­ing

calm­ly wait­ing

For my home be­yond the skies.

I am wait­ing

calm­ly wait­ing

I am wait­ing for the prize.

I have heard the mys­tic voic­es

Rising high ab­ove the nois­es

Made by those whose blind­ed sens­es

Prate of higher life be­low;

I have learned to know how hol­low

Are the sub­stanc­es they fol­low;

I am sick of all their fol­ly

And am waiting now to go.

Life is but a field of bat­tle

Spite of all the sense­less prat­tle

Of its use­ful­ness and glo­ry

Where the best are al­ways slain;

Where the brav­est are no win­ners

And the nob­lest on­ly sin­ners

Where the in­cense that we of­fer

Rises con­stant­ly in vain.

I am sick of wrongs in­flict­ed

Where de­fense is in­ter­dict­ed

While I sit with lips un­op­ened

As my foes around me rave;

I would close my eyes for­ev­er

I would all life’s link­ings sev­er

For I know there’s truth and jus­tice

For us all be­yond the grave.