'When the Hands Must Loose That Now So Fondly Clasp' (poem) written by Caroline Noel

This poem was written by Caroline Noel to honour her husband. It tells of the joy that they experience now and also the reality that they will part.

It is also with that same certainty that I will meet up with Deborah again to worship and serve our wonderful Saviour.


When I give thanks to God, for all

His priceless gifts to me,

Believe that then, among the chief,

I give Him thanks for thee.


For all the love that He has rained

Upon me, from thine eyes,

That shone like the stars above my storms,

Calm, though they sympathize.


And if one day the hands must loose,

That now so fondly clasp,

Yet, e'en thouh parted, both will be

Within the same strong grasp.


One on Christ's bosom gently laid,

The other safely led

A longer road, unto the land

Where live the blessed Dead.


There meeting, who can guess the gleam

Of rapture, that will rise,

When we the light of that fair realm 

See in each other's eyes?


O deep unspeakable repose

Of knowing, that for aye

All that disturbed and hindered love

Has wholly passed away!


Sin, sickness, sorrow, chills of age,

And pangs of mortal fear,

Can never reach the land where Christ

Has wiped away each tear.


For Death has no dominion there,

Where Sin has never trod,

But souls transfigured, live and love

Within the Life of God.


Then fear we not to trust His Word,

And cherish Love's increase;

Since e'en its sharpest throes must pass

Into Eternal Peace.

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