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Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 231

When the worn spirit wants repose

Words: Mrs. Porter

Studio

1When the worn spirit wants repose,
And sighs its wish to be at rest,
How sweet to hail the hours that close
The labors of the week, and blest.

2How sweet to hail the Sabbath-day,
The day of holy rest;
From earthly cares and strife away
To regions pure and blest.

3Sweet day! I think how soon will cease;
Yet, while thy gentle radiance roll,
Breathe, heavenly Spirit, source of peace,
A sabbath o'er my soul.

4Soon will my pilgrimage be done,
The way-worn traveler be at rest—
That Sabbath dawn which needs no sun,
That day which fades no more.

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.8.9.8
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 61% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

When the worn spirit wants repose,/˘//˘/˘/8A
And sighs its wish to be at rest,˘/˘/˘˘˘/8B
How sweet to hail the hours that close//˘/˘/˘˘/9C
The labors of the week, and blest.˘/˘˘˘/˘/8B

Verse 2

How sweet to hail the Sabbath-day,//˘/˘???8A
The day of holy rest;˘/˘/˘/6B
From earthly cares and strife away˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
To regions pure and blest.˘/˘/˘/6B

Verse 3

Sweet day! I think how soon will cease;//˘///˘/8A
Yet, while thy gentle radiance roll,////˘//˘/9B
Breathe, heavenly Spirit, source of peace,//˘˘/˘/˘/9A
A sabbath o'er my soul.˘/˘/˘/6B

Verse 4

Soon will my pilgrimage be done,/˘˘/˘˘˘/8A
The way-worn traveler be at rest—˘??/˘˘˘˘/9B
That Sabbath dawn which needs no sun,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
That day which fades no more.˘/˘/˘/6C

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.