The Rosary

The hours I spent with Thee, Dear Heart!
 Or, as a string of pearls to Thee,
 I count them over, every one apart,
 My rosary, my rosary . . .
 Each hour a pearl, each pearl a prayer,
 To still a heart in absence wrung,
 I tell each bead unto the end,
 And there a cross is hung . . .
 O' memories that bless and burn,
 O' barren gain and bitter loss,
 I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn,
 To kiss the cross, Sweet Heart,
 To kiss the cross . . .
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 I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn,
 To kiss the cross, Sweet Heart,
 To kiss the cross . . . (to kiss the cross)