The Rosary

The hours I spent with Thee, Dear Heart!
Or, as a string of pearls to Thee
I count them over, every one apart
My rosary, my rosary...

Each hour a pearl, each pearl a prayer
To still a heart in absence wrung
I tell each bead unto the end
And there a cross is hung...

O' memories that bless and burn
O' barren gain and bitter loss
I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross, Sweet Heart
To kiss the cross...

I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn
To kiss the cross, Sweet Heart
To kiss thе cross... (to kiss the cross)