Who, from the Gloomy Shades of Night

Who

from the gloomy shades of night

When the last tear of hope is shed

Can bid the soul re­turn to light

And break the slum­ber of the dead?

No hu­man skill that heart can warm

Which the cold blast of na­ture froze;

Recall to life the per­ished form

The sec­ret of the grave dis­close.

But Thou

our sav­ing God

we know

Canst arm the mor­tal hand with pow­er;

To bid the stag­nant puls­es flow

The ani­mat­ing heat re­store.

Thy will

ere na­ture’s tu­tored hand

Could with young life

these limbs un­fold

Did the im­pri­soned brain ex­pand

And all its count­less fibers told.

As from the dust

Thy form­ing breath

Could the un­con­scious be­ing raise;

So can the si­lent voice of death

Wake at Thy call

in songs of praise.

Since twice to die is ours alone

And twice the birth of life to see;

O let us

sup­pli­ant at Thy throne

Devote our se­cond life to Thee.