Advent to Candlemas (Vol. 5)

Sleep, Sweet Jesus, Sleep

Sleep, sweet Jesus, sleep
At least a little while,
Before we take our flight
From the sword's cruel smile:
First ordered from our home
Into a hostile land
To register; and now
We face the swirling sand.

Sleep, sweet Jesus sleep
To give me time and space
To summon back the strength
Of the Spirit's warm embrace:
Once deep within my soul
Tonight it seems so far
Away from us and yet
It made us who we are.

O wake, sweet Jesus, wake,
I long to hear you cry,
To know that you are here
And not about to die:
I know that I am weak
To doubt what I recall
But you must save me first
Before you save us all.