The Wall

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“What a dear old wall that is that runs along by the river there! I never pass it without feeling better for the sight of it. Such a mellow, bright, sweet old wall; what a charming picture it would make, with the lichen creeping here, and the moss growing there, a shy young vine peeping over the top at this spot, to see what is going on upon the busy river, and the sober old ivy clustering a little farther down! There are fifty shades and tints and hues in every ten yards of that old wall. . . . It looks so peaceful and so quiet, and it is such a dear old place to ramble round in the early morning before many people are about.” Jerome K. Jerome, “Three Men In A Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)” Ch. 6 (1889)

Psalm 43, for Terri

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A Lament

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause
Against a godless race;
From men deceitful and unjust
Deliver in Thy grace,
Deliver in Thy grace.

O Thou the God of all my strength,
Why hast thou cast me off?
Why go I mourning all the day,
While foes oppress and scoff,
While foes oppress and scoff?

O send Thou forth Thy light and truth,
Let them be guides to me,
And bring me to Thy Holy hill,
Thy dwelling place to see,
Thy dwelling place to see.

Then will I to God’s altar go,
To God, my boundless joy;
Yea, God, my God, Thy Name to praise
My harp I will employ,
My harp I will employ.

Why art thou then cast down, my soul,
What should discourage thee?
Any why with vexing tho’ts art thou
Disquieted in me,
Disquieted in me?

Hope thou in God; His praise shall yet
My thankful lips employ;
He is the spring of all my health,
My God, my boundless joy,
My God, my boundless joy.

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