THE Shadow of the Rock!
Stay, Pilgrim, stay!
Night treads upon the heels of day;
There is no other resting-place this way.
The Rock is near,
The well is clear—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock.

The Shadow of the Rock!
The desert wide
Lies round thee like a trackless tide,
In waves of sand forlornly multiplied.
The sun is gone,
Thou art alone—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
All come alone;
All, ever since the sun hath shone,
Who traveled by this road have come alone.
Be of good cheer—
A home is here—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock?

The Shadow of the Rock!
Night veils the land;
How the palms whisper as they stand!
How the well tinkles faintly through the sand!
Cool water take
Thy thirst to slake—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
Abide! Abide!
This Rock moves ever at thy side,
Pausing to welcome thee at eventide.
Ages are laid
Beneath its shade—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
Always at hand,
Unseen it cools the noon-tide land,
And quells the fire that flickers in the sand.
It comes in sight
Only at night—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
‘Mid skies storm-riven
It gathers shadows out of heaven,
And holds them o’er us all night cool and even.
Through the charmed air
Dew falls not there—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
To angels’ eyes
This Rock its shadow multiplies,
And at this hour in countless places lies.
One Rock, one shade,
O’er thousands laid—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
To weary feet,
That have been diligent and fleet,
The sleep is deeper and the shade more sweet.
O weary, rest!
Thou art sore pressed—
Rest in the shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
Thy bed is made;
Crowds of tired souls like thine are laid
This night beneath the self-same placid shade.
They who rest here
Wake with Heaven near—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
Pilgrim! sleep sound;
In night’s swift hours with silent bound,
The Rock will put thee over leagues of ground,
Gaining more way
By night than day—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock!

The Shadow of the Rock!
One day of pain,
Thou scarce wilt hope the Rock to gain,
Yet there wilt sleep thy last sleep on the plain;
And only wake
In Heaven’s daybreak—
Rest in the Shadow of the Rock.

F.W. Faber