Drawing Water.

Dark, as if it would not tell,         Lies the water, still and cool:     Dip the bucket in the well,         Lift it from the precious pool!     Up it comes all brown and dim,         Telling of the twilight sweet:     As it rises to the brim         See the sun and water meet!     See the friends each other hail!         "Here you are!" cries Master Sun;     Mistress Water from the pail         Flashes back, alive with fun!     Have you not a tale to tell,         Water, as I take you home?     Tell me of the hidden well         Whence you, first of all, did come.     Of it you have kept some flavour         Through long paths of darkling strife:     Water all has still a savour         Of the primal well of life!     Could you show the lovely way         Back and up through sea and sky     To that well? Oh, happy day,         I would drink, and never die!     Jesus sits there on its brink         All the world's great thirst to slake,     Offering every one to drink         Who will only come and take!     Lord of wells and waters all,         Lord of rains and dewy beads,     Unto thee my thirst doth call         For the thing thou know'st it needs!     Come home, water sweet and cool,         Gift of God thou always art!     Spring up, Well more beautiful,         Rise in mine straight from his heart.