The Cyber Hymnal ‎#12060

12060. The Turf Shall Be My Fragrant Shrine

1 The turf shall be my fragrant shrine,
My temple, Lord! that arch of Thine;
My censer’s breath the mountain airs,
And silent thoughts my only prayers.

2 My choir shall be the moonlight waves,
When murmuring homeward to their caves,
Or when the stillness of the sea,
E’en more than music, breathes of Thee!

3 I’ll seek, by day, some glade unknown,
All light and silence, like Thy throne;
And all the pale stars shall be at night,
The only eyes that watch my rite.

4 Thy Heaven, on which ’tis bliss to look,
Shall be my pure and shining book,
Where I shall read, in words of flame,
The glories of Thy wondrous name.

5 I’ll read Thy anger in the rack
That clouds awhile the day-beams track;
Thy mercy in the azure hue
Of sunny brightness breaking through!

6 There’s nothing bright, above, below,
From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,
But in its light my soul can see
Some feature of Thy deity.

7 There’s nothing dark, below, above,
But in its gloom I trace Thy love,
And meekly wait that moment, when
Thy touch shall turn all bright again!

Text Information

• First Line: The turf shall be my fragrant shrine
• Title: The Turf Shall Be My Fragrant Shrine
• Author: Thomas Moore (1816, alt.)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternative tune: BRENTFORD (English tune)

Tune Information

• Name: LOUVAN
• Composer: Virgil Corydon Taylor (1850)
• Meter: LM
• Key: A♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain