Sun of My Soul

Sun of My Soul

Poetry is a relatively new 'language' for me to appreciate. Of course, a lot of lighter poetry has been something I enjoy, (have you ever read Eletelephony, for example?) but the longer, more serious poems left me high and dry. However, lately I have been developing a taste for it, much to my own surprise!  

10" x 10"
Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper

Ready to frame

The hymn I chose to paint for today's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge was unfamiliar to me in my childhood, and I really only 'heard' it when I started learning a piano piece based on it.
I like the piano arrangement I have, but the music of the hymn is not a favorite of mine. But I came across the words in a poetry book that I was reading, and found it appealing! And I have had the song in my mind ever since. 

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear

John Keble (1792-1866)

Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear,

It is not night if Thou be near;

Oh, may no earthborn cloud arise

To hide Thee from Thy servant’s eyes.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep

My wearied eyelids gently steep,

Be my last thought, how sweet to rest

Forever on my Savior’s breast.

Abide with me from morn till eve,

For without Thee I cannot live;

Abide with me when night is nigh,

For without Thee I dare not die.

If some poor wand’ring child of Thine

Has spurned today the voice divine,

Now, Lord, the gracious work begin;

Let him no more lie down in sin.

Watch by the sick, enrich the poor

With blessings from Thy boundless store;

Be every mourner’s sleep tonight,

Like infants’ slumbers, pure and right.

Come near and bless us when we wake,

Ere through the world our way we take,

Till in the ocean of Thy love

We lose ourselves in Heav’n above.