Breathe on Me, Breath of God

BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD.


Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what Thou dost love,
And do what Thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure,
Until my will is one with Thine,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with Thee the perfect life
Of Thine eternity.

Amen.


By Edwin Hatch (1835-1889)

This is a poem of great symmetry—it is not only rhyme-and-meter, but each stanza has the same consonant count by line. Count by finger-- first line: 6, second: 6, third: 8, and fourth line: 6. There is freedom in order, and this freedom pours out a most powerful message.