The Old Hymn Poem by Robert Kirkland Kernighan

The windows and the doors were op'ed,
The splendid church was full of light,
And all along the moonlit street
A stream of music thrilled last night.
A homeless tramp, beneath the trees,

Stood still to hear that river roll,
And falling on his helpless knees

Heard ' Jesu, lover of my soul.'

'Tis thirty years since last he heard

The cadence of that anthem sweet,
And all his startled soul was stirred

Alone upon the lonely street.
They sang the splendid hymn with grace

E'en children's voices swelled the song-
And down his dragged and stricken face

The scalding tear drops coursed along.

' Jesu, lover of my soul

Let me to Thy bosom fly.'
He heard the final sentence roll,

Then wandered onward with a sigh.
The music waked the better man,

For from the past, so sad and dim,
A girl with face all wet and wan

Came slowly forth and haunted him.