The Rosary

The hours I spent with thee, dear heart
Are as a string of pearls to me
I count them over, ev'ry 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