Love

Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing,
    ’Neath which our spirits blend
Like brother birds, that soar and sing,
    And on the same branch bend.
The arrow that doth wound the dove
Darts not from those who watch and love.

If thou the bending reed wouldst break
    By thought or word unkind,
Pray that his spirit you partake,
    Who loved and healed mankind:
Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain,
That make men one in love remain.

Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given
    For faith to kiss, and know;
That greetings glorious from high heaven,
    Whence joys supernal flow,
Come from that Love, divinely near,
Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,

Through God, who gave that word of might
    Which swelled creation’s lay:
“Let there be light, and there was light.”
    What chased the clouds away?
’Twas Love whose finger traced aloud
A bow of promise on the cloud.

Thou to whose power our hope we give,
    Free us from human strife.
Fed by Thy love divine we live,
    For Love alone is Life;
And life most sweet, as heart to heart
Speaks kindly when we meet and part.

– Mary Baker Eddy, “Poems,” pp. 6-7

Audio attribution:
Words: “Love,” by Mary Baker Eddy (courtesy of The Mary Baker Eddy Collection)
Music: Désirée Goyette
Performed by Rebecca Minor
Music © 2016 The Christian Science Board of Directors