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President of the College of Wooster from 1873 to 1883, Archibald Alexander Edward Taylor published a volume of poems in his retirement years titled Claudia Procula and Other Verses (1899). From this volume we have extracted one composition which is reminiscent of the Psalmist who thirsts for God (Ps. 27:4; 42:2; 63:1).
ASPIRATION
Oh! how this wasting spirit faints
With thirst for things divine;
Deep cravings nought may satisfy,
But draughts of Christ’s new wine.And yet earth’s master appetites
Exhaust their utmost art,
With shrivelled husks of sin, to feed
This prodigal — my heart.Might I aspire Thy will to do,
As now they tempt to stray,
My winged feet should shape their course
Straight up the King’s highway.Dear Saviour, slay each flesh-born taste,
Destroy these grovelling aims;
’Till on the altar of my life
Burn only holy flames.Lift Thou my trembling, learning faith
Beyond this dome of blue,
And wide before its clay-touched eyes,
Spread some assuring view.Show me Thyself upon the throne. —
I’ve loved Thee on the tree;
The plait of thorns I know, but now
I would Thy true crown see.Oh! let the song the ransomed sing,
Come ringing through the gates;
For long and weary wears the day,
To him who far off waits.At least, O Lord, with radiant light,
Thine image here impressed,
Let me the wedding garment wear,
A welcome, chosen guest.Then loving Thee, and like to Thee,
My soul with peace shall beam,
As once the face of Moses shone, —
And earth fade, like a dream.
