The rosary

The hours I spent with thee, dear heart

Are as a string of pearls to me;

I count them over ev'ry 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, sweetheart,

to kiss the cross.