When Christ went up to Heaven the Apostles stayed

Gazing at Heaven with souls and wills on fire

Their hearts on flight along the track He made

Winged by desire.

Their silence spake: “Lord why not follow Thee?

Home is not home without Thy Blessed Face

Life is not life. Remember Lord and see

Look back embrace.”

“Earth is one desert waste of banishment

Life is one long-drawn anguish of decay.

Where Thou wert wont to go we also went:

Why not today?”

Nevertheless a cloud cut off their gaze:

They tarry to build up Jerusalem

Watching for Him while thro’ the appointed days

He watches them.

They do His Will and doing it rejoice

Patiently glad to spend and to be spent:

Still He speaks to them still they hear His Voice

And are content.

For as a cloud received Him from their sight

So with a cloud will He return ere long:

Therefore they stand on guard by day by night

Strenuous and strong.

They do they dare they beyond seven times seven

Forgive they cry God’s mighty word aloud:

Yet sometimes haply lift tired eyes to Heaven—

“Is that His cloud?”