The Hidden Years at Nazareth

The hid­den years at Na­za­reth!

How deep and still they seem

Like riv­ers flow­ing in the dark

Or wa­ters in a dream!

Like wa­ters un­der Sy­ri­an stars

Reflecting lights above

Repeating in their si­lent depths

The won­der of God’s love.

The hid­den years at Na­za­reth!

How deep and true they lie

As open to the smile of God

As to the Sy­ri­an sky!

As op­en to the heart of man

As to the ge­ni­al sun

With dreams of vast ad­ven­tur­ing

And deeds of kind­ness done!

The hid­den years at Na­za­reth!

How ra­di­ant they rise

With life and death in ba­lance laid

Before a lad’s clear eyes!

O soul of youth

for­ev­er choose

Forgetting fate or fear

To live for truth or die with God

Who stands be­side thee here!