The Poetical Works of George Barlow In Ten [Eleven] Volumes |
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| IX. |
 | X. |
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PRIESTS AND POETS
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| XI. |
 | The Poetical Works of George Barlow |  |
44
PRIESTS AND POETS
SONNET
Why are the priests and poets never at one?
Because the poet's heart is like the sea
Boundless and fearless, and his song should be
Equal with stars and with the changeless sun.
Because a priest speaks, and his work is done,
But poets' words sound on eternally.
Because the poet's soul is wide and free,
But priests' souls cease, like stagnant streams, to run.
Because the poet's heart is like the sea
Boundless and fearless, and his song should be
Equal with stars and with the changeless sun.
Because a priest speaks, and his work is done,
But poets' words sound on eternally.
Because the poet's soul is wide and free,
But priests' souls cease, like stagnant streams, to run.
Because their Christ bled nobly once, but now
Their souls are too insensitive to bleed
And gold, not thorns, circles their turgid brow;
For this it is that singers and the seed
Of singers hate and spurn and disallow
Their sealess flowerless sunless starless creed.
Their souls are too insensitive to bleed
And gold, not thorns, circles their turgid brow;
For this it is that singers and the seed
Of singers hate and spurn and disallow
Their sealess flowerless sunless starless creed.
July 2, 1881.
| The Poetical Works of George Barlow | |