Richard Watson Gilder

The Celestial Passion. Prelude

O white and midnight sky! O starry bath!
⁠     Wash me in thy pure, heavenly, crystal flood;
⁠     Cleanse me, ye stars, from earthly soil and scath;
     ⁠Let not one taint remain in spirit or blood!
Receive my soul, ye burning, awful deeps;
     ⁠Touch and baptize me with the mighty power
⁠     That in ye thrills, while the dark planet sleeps;
     ⁠Make me all yours for one blest, secret hour!
O glittering host! O high angelic choir!
⁠     Silence each tone that with thy music jars;
     ⁠Fill me even as an urn with thy white fire
Till all I am is kindred to the stars!
⁠     Make me thy child, thou infinite, holy night
⁠     So shall my days be steeped in heavenly light!