Saturday Poetry Corner: In The Still Air The Music Lies Unheard

 

 

"The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.  O LORD, Your loving devotion
 endures forever-do not abandon the works of Your hands."
(Psalm 138:8)

 

 

 

 

Roses, Convolvulus, Poppies, and Other Flowers
in an Urn on a Stone Ledge
(1680)
Rachel Ruysch
(1664-1750)
Dutch Golden Age still-life artist
Image courtesy/ National Museum of Women in the Arts
Washington, D.C./Wikipedia

 

 In the still air the music lies unheard;

In the rough marble beauty hides unseen.

To make the music and the beauty needs

The Master's touch and the Sculptor's chisel keen. 

Great Master, touch us with Thy skillful hands;

Let not the music that is in us die;

Great Sculptor, hew and polish us, nor let

Hidden and lost, Thy form within us lie. 

Spare not the stroke; do with us what Thou wilt;

Let there be naught unfinished, broken, marred;

Complete Thy purpose that we may become

Thy perfect image,  O our God and Lord. 

 

"In The Still Air The Music Lies Unheard"
(The Master's Touch)
(1861)
Horatius Bonar
(1808-1889)
Free Church of Scotland preacher and poet
Called, "The prince of Scottish hymn writers".