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... I kiss each bead and strive at last to learn, To kiss the cross, Sweet Heart, To kiss the cross... (to kiss the cross)