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Church Hymnal 29

We Would See Jesus

Words: Anna Bartlett WarnerMusic: [unclear]Tune: [unclear]8.7.8.7

1We would see Jesus, for the shadows lengthen
Across this little landscape of our life;
We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen
For the last weariness, the final strife.

2We would see Jesus, the great rock foundation
Whereon our feet were set with sovereign grace;
Nor life nor death, with all their agitation,
Can thence remove us if we see His face.

3We would see Jesus; yet the spirit lingers
Round the dear object it has loved so long,
And earth from earth can scarce unclasp her fingers;
Our love to Jesus makes our love more strong.

4We would see Jesus; this is all we're needing;
Strength, joy and willingness come with the sight;
We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;
Then welcome day and farewell mortal night.

Words: Anna Bartlett Warner
Music: [unclear]
Tune: [unclear]
Meter: 8.7.8.7
Scripture: John 12:21; 2 Corinthians 4:18

Public Domain

The verse

Meter: 11.10.11.10 · the hymnal prints 8.7.8.7
Foot: iambic (da-DUM) · 60% of beats fit
Rhyme: ABAB

Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary · * a word sung short, as “heav’n”

Verse 1

We would see Jesus, for the shadows lengthen˘˘//˘˘˘///˘11A

Across this little landscape of our life;˘/˘/˘//˘˘/10B

We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen˘˘//˘˘//˘/˘11A

For the last weariness, the final strife.˘˘//˘˘˘/˘/10B

Verse 2

We would see Jesus, the great rock foundation˘˘//˘˘//˘/˘11A

Whereon our feet were set with sovereign grace;??˘/˘/˘/˘/10B

Nor life nor death, with all their agitation,˘/˘/˘/˘/˘/˘11A

Can thence remove us if we see His face.˘/˘/˘˘˘/˘/10B

Verse 3

We would see Jesus; yet the spirit lingers˘˘//˘/˘//˘10A*

Round the dear object it has loved so long,/˘//˘˘˘/˘/10B

And earth from earth can scarce unclasp her fingers;˘/˘/˘/??˘/˘11A

Our love to Jesus makes our love more strong.˘/˘/˘/˘///10B

Verse 4

We would see Jesus; this is all we're needing;˘˘//˘˘˘///˘11A

Strength, joy and willingness come with the sight;//˘/˘˘/˘˘/10B

We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;˘˘//˘/˘/˘/˘11A

Then welcome day and farewell mortal night.//˘/˘///˘/10B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.