| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). An American Anthology, 1787–1900. 1900. |
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| 40. The Chanting Cherubs |
| | | A Group by Greenough |
| | | By Richard Henry Dana |
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| WHENCE come ye, Cherubs? from the moon? | |
| Or from a shining star? | |
| Ye sure are sent, a blessed boon, | |
| From kinder worlds afar; | |
| For, while I look, my heart is all delight: | 5 |
| Earth has no creatures half so pure and bright. | |
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| From moon nor star we hither flew; | |
| The moon doth wane away,— | |
| The stars they pale at morning dew; | |
| We ’re children of the day; | 10 |
| Nor change, nor night, was ever ours to bear; | |
| Eternal light, and love, and joy, we share. | |
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| Then, sons of light, from Heaven above | |
| Some blessed news ye bring. | |
| Come ye to chant eternal love | 15 |
| And tell how angels sing, | |
| And in your breathing, conscious forms to show | |
| How purer forms above live, breathe, and glow? | |
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| Our parent is a human mind; | |
| His winged thoughts are we; | 20 |
| To sun nor stars are we confined: | |
| We pierce the deepest sea. | |
| Moved by a brother’s call, our Father bade | |
| Us light on earth, and here our flight is stayed. | |
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