The Lamp of Poor Souls

In many English churches before the Reformation there was kept a little lamp continuallyburning, called the Lamp of Poor Souls. People werereminded thereby to pray for the souls of those deadwhose kinsfolk were too poor to pay for prayers and masses. Above my head the shields are stained with rust, The wind has taken his spoil, the moth his part; Dust of dead men beneath my knees, and dust, Lord, in my heart. Lay Thou the hand of faith upon my fears; The priest has prayed, the silver bell has rung, But not for him. O unforgotten tears, He was so young! Shine, little lamp, nor let thy light grow dim. Into what vast, dread dreams, what lonely lands, Into what griefs hath death delivered him, Far from my hands? Cradled is he, with half his prayers forgot. I cannot learn the level way he goes. He whom the harvest hath remembered not Sleeps with the rose. Shine, little lamp, fed with sweet oil of prayers. Shine, little lamp, as God's own eyes may shine, When He treads softly down His starry stairs And whispers, "Thou art Mine." Shine, little lamp, for love hath fed thy gleam. Sleep, little soul, by God's own hands set free. Cling to His arms and sleep, and sleeping, dream, And dreaming, look for me.