Let This Be Heaven

~H.R. Merrill 

Oh, God, let this be heaven— 
I do not ask for golden streets             
Or long for jasper walls 
Nor do I sigh for pearly shores       
      Where twilight never falls
Just leave me here beside these peaks      
       In this rough western land,
I love this dear old world of thine—       
      Dear God, You understand.

Oh, God, let this be heaven— 
I do not crave white, stainless robes      
       I’ll keep these marked by toil. 
Instead of straight and narrow walks      
       I love trails soft with soil; 
I have been healed by crystal streams,     
        But these from snow-crowned peaks 
Where dawn burns incense to the day      
       And paints the sky in streaks.

Dear God, let this be heaven— 
I do not ask for angel wings      
       Just leave that old peak there 
And let me climb ‘til comes the night—      
       I want no golden stair 
Then when I say my last adieu      
       And all farewells are given 
Just leave my spirit here somewhere 
Oh, God, let this be heaven!