 | Dryburgh Abbey and other poems |  |
23
SPIRITUAL VISION.
A wandering of the soul, as though it dreamed;
A world of thought—a spirit kingdom found—
The immortal portion from its clay redeem'd,
Reaching eternity at one bright bound!
A world of thought—a spirit kingdom found—
The immortal portion from its clay redeem'd,
Reaching eternity at one bright bound!
A dream? a vision?—no, this gorgeous Night,
These marvels beaming from a realm unknown,
Shine not without, within is all their light—
A mystery mirror'd in the soul alone!
These marvels beaming from a realm unknown,
Shine not without, within is all their light—
A mystery mirror'd in the soul alone!
Within, we have Eternity within!—
Yet, ever seeking, know not what we seek;
Possessing more than Prophets sought to win—
Yet, feeling darkness, shrink—and dare not speak!
Yet, ever seeking, know not what we seek;
Possessing more than Prophets sought to win—
Yet, feeling darkness, shrink—and dare not speak!
With hands stretched ever o'er that gloomy sphere,
Dividing earth from heaven, where all seem fled;
We call—but from the void no voice, once dear,
Brings us immortal accents from the dead!
Dividing earth from heaven, where all seem fled;
We call—but from the void no voice, once dear,
Brings us immortal accents from the dead!
The symbol of our hope dissolves away
'Midst tombs, unmindful of their sacred trust,
We question ashes,—commune with decay,—
And read Mankind's brief elegy—in dust!
'Midst tombs, unmindful of their sacred trust,
We question ashes,—commune with decay,—
And read Mankind's brief elegy—in dust!
24
The footsteps of a future doom we hear,
Against whose coming nought may e'er avail;
And vague presentment of some evil near,
Falls on our heart and turns its current pale.
Against whose coming nought may e'er avail;
And vague presentment of some evil near,
Falls on our heart and turns its current pale.
We tread upon the verge of mighty things;
We grasp the veil, but with unseeing mind;
Death hides the light, the soul, unconscious, brings—
And on the edge of fate we wander blind.
We grasp the veil, but with unseeing mind;
Death hides the light, the soul, unconscious, brings—
And on the edge of fate we wander blind.
Take thou a poet's counsel to thy heart,
Question thy spirit; make its wisdom thine;
Shut out the world—pride, pomp, and every part,—
As these retire—advance the worlds divine!—
Question thy spirit; make its wisdom thine;
Shut out the world—pride, pomp, and every part,—
As these retire—advance the worlds divine!—
Then spiritual loveliness appears;—
God's nature glows in every form we see;
The Mind's the Prophecy of other Spheres!
And in Itself its own Futurity!—
God's nature glows in every form we see;
The Mind's the Prophecy of other Spheres!
And in Itself its own Futurity!—
Turn to thy soul, eternity is there;
The key of the Invisible behold;—
Spirit thou art, of Spirit-worlds the heir;
All other secrets can thy Cross unfold!
The key of the Invisible behold;—
Spirit thou art, of Spirit-worlds the heir;
All other secrets can thy Cross unfold!
| Dryburgh Abbey and other poems | |