Waiting

Only waiting till the shadowsAre a little longer grown,Only waiting till the glimmerOf the day's last beam is flown,Till the night of death has fadedFrom the heart once full of day,Till the stars of heaven are breakingThro' the twilight soft and gray.

Only waiting till the reapersHave the last sheaf gathered home;For the summer-time has faded,And the autumn winds have come.Quickly, reapers! gather quickly,All the ripe hours of my heart;For the bloom of life is withered,And I hasten to depart.

Only waiting till the angelsOpen wide the pearly gate,At whose portals long I've lingered,Weary, poor, and desolate:Even now I hear their footsteps,And their voices far away;If they call me, I am waiting,Only waiting to obey.

Waiting for a brighter dwellingThan I ever yet have seen,Where the tree of life is blooming,And the fields are ever green;Waiting for my full redemption,When my Saviour shall restoreAll that sin has caused to witherOn this dreary, mortal shore.