When Through the Whirl of Wheels

When through the whirl

Of wheels

and en­gines hum­ming

Patiently pow­er­ful

For the sons of men

Peals like a trum­pet

Promise of His com­ing

Who in the clouds is pledged

To come again.

When through the night

The fur­nace fires aflar­ing

Shooting out tongues

Of flame like leap­ing blood

Speak to the heart

Of love

alive

and dar­ing

Sing of the bound­less

Energy of God.

When in the depths

The pa­tient min­er striv­ing

Feels in his arms

The vi­gor of the Lord

Strikes for a king­dom

And his king’s ar­riv­ing

Holding his pick more

Splendid than the sword.

When on the sweat

Of la­bor and its sor­row

Toiling in twi­light

Flickering and dim

Flames out the sun­shine

Of the great to­mor­row

When all the world

Looks up be­cause of Him.

Then will He come

With meek­ness for His glo­ry

God in a work­man’s

Jacket as be­fore

Living again

Th’eter­nal Gos­pel sto­ry

Sweeping the shav­ings

From His work­shop floor.