ADELAIDE ANNE PROCTER – EVENING CHANT POEM

EVENING CHANT POEM by Adelaide Anne Procter

STREW before our Lady’s Picture
Roses—flushing like the sky
Where the lingering western cloudlets
Watch the daylight die.

Violets steeped in dreamy odours,
Humble as the Mother mild,
Blue as were her eyes when watching
O’er her sleeping Child.

Strew white Lilies, pure and spotless,
Bending on their stalks of green,
Bending down with tender pity—
Like our Holy Queen.

Let the flowers spend their fragrance
On our Lady’s own dear shrine,
While we claim her gracious helping
Near her Son divine.

Strew before our Lady’s picture
Gentle flowers, fair and sweet;
Hope, and Fear, and Joy, and Sorrow,
Place, too, at her feet.

Hark! the Angelus is ringing—
Ringing through the fading light,
In the heart of every Blossom
Leave a prayer to-night.

All night long will Mary listen,
While our pleadings fond and deep
On their scented breath are rising
For us—while we sleep.

Scarcely through the starry silence
Shall one trembling petal stir,
While they breathe their own sweet fragrance
And our prayers—to Her.

Peace to every heart that loves her!
All her children shall be blest:
While She prays and watches for us,
We will trust and rest.