O Father, give the spirit power to climb

O FATHER, GIVE THE SPIRIT POWER TO CLIMB.


O Father, give the spirit power to climb
To the fountain of all light, and be purified.
Break through the mists of earth, the weight of the clod,
Shine forth in splendour, Thou that art calm weather,
And quiet resting place for faithful souls.
To see Thee is the end and the beginning,
Thou carriest us, and Thou dost go before,
Thou art the journey, and the journey's end.


By Boethius (480-c. 524), translated by Helen Waddell (1889-1965)

From More Latin Lyrics: From Virgil to Milton; fourth edition; translated by Helen Waddell. I have several more poems from this book marked for later sharing. Ms. Waddell can't translate into modern English rhyme-and-meter all of the Latin Christian lyrics from the Middle Ages; what's more important is that their messages are of a high poetic quality.