Drifting down the silent ages,
Come the swiftly rolling years:
Solemnly unfold their pages,
Steeped in misery, blood, and tears;
See, there’s sorrow, pain and anguish,
War’s red carnage; plague and death;
Fire and famine; flood and earthquake,
Come to earth upon their breath.

Still the seasons in their grandeur,
Alternately come and go;
Springtime’s beauty, summer’s glory.
Autumn’s splendor, winter’s snow.
And the sun’s majestic glory
Floods the day with golden light;
While the moon in silver radiance,
With the stars keeps watch at night.

Sad and awful contradictions,
Joy and sorrow; light and gloom.
Rest and unrest; pain and pleasure;
Life and death, and blight and bloom.
Ever thus in solemn measure,
Ages ring their sad refrain;
Still a sweet chord, grand, triumphant,
Never fails to swell the strain.

And upon life’s storm tossed ocean,
Stands a figure grand, sublime;
Heav’n and earth are bowed in reverence,
Since upon the shores of time
He, the uncrowned King of glory,
Our sad earth in meekness trod;
Speaking pardon, peace and mercy.
Love to man, and love to God.

Peace on earth, good will to mankind,
Thus the angels sang His birth;
And the blessèd words are ringing
Grandly, sweetly round the earth;
Thus amidst the strife and anguish.
Though time’s night be dark and long,
If we pause and listen softly,
We shall hear the glorious song.

Peace? Yes, peace will reign when Jesus
Comes once more to claim His own;
Blood bought millions, souls He’s ransomed,
Gathered round His heav’nly throne.
There no more shall pain or anguish
Blight our joys, nor blast our home;
Never more shall Thy saints languish:
Come, Thou blest Redeemer, come.

T. Alcliffe Teske
Heart Echoes, 1887