Felicita

A poem:

"Thanks to thee, Holy One,

Dwelling above-

Patron of maidens,

And mother of love!

Thanks! for the new life

which flows in my veins;

Thanks! for the past strife

Of sorrows and pains.

Thanks! for all suffering,

That in its stern rigor

Hath given my spirit

New beauty and vigor:

Thanks! for the sunshine

Which dawns on my soul-

Making the clouds of grief

Backwards to roll.

Thanks! for this feeling,

Whatever it be,

Thro' all my sense stealing

Like sweet melody;

Thanks! 'tis no evil

Which hideth away,

When at thine altar

My soul kneels to pray:

Thanks! that it leads me,

With heart warm and free,

Into thy presence,

As if 'twere from thee:

Thanks! for this feeling then,

Like thy love pure-

Help me, chaste mother,

That thus it endure:

Goodness its fountain-

Oh! let it still rise

Up, where the source is

Which goodness supplies.

Thanks then, thanks ever,

Blest Mother above-

Patron of loving hearts,

Thanks for this love!"

Kinney, E. C. (1855). Felicita. New York: James S. Dickerson.

The excerpt I chose was from pp. 117-118